Connect with us

Alabama

Graduation ceremonies begin at University of Alabama Friday

Published

on

Graduation ceremonies begin at University of Alabama Friday


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – There will be a lot of proud parents and students Friday at the University of Alabama as graduation ceremonies begin later on.

Several thousand graduates will get their diplomas in a series of ceremonies.

We found several graduates taking professional graduation photos on campus for the past couple of weeks ahead of official ceremonies.

Bryant Denny Stadium is one of the most popular places on campus for graduation photos. Seniors posed, used props, popped champagne and flashed smiles as cameras and even drones were used to take their pictures.

Advertisement

“So far, we’ve only been at the stadium, but we have two more locations. So, we’re working hard. She’s fixing hair, doing champagne pops, it’s great,” Madi Toney, said.

Students wanted something special to look back on about their time spent at the Capstone.

“Just taking photos around campus, you just commemorate your time on campus. And, just especially spending four years in the stadium there’s not much more of a perfect place to celebrate your graduation,” said Maeve O’Brien.

The first of eight commencement ceremonies over the weekend start at 1:30 p.m. Friday inside Coleman Coliseum.

UA says 6000 students will be graduating this year and 5400 of them will participate in ceremonies.

Advertisement

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.



Source link

Alabama

Alabama divorce rate considerably higher than many other states. Where it ranks nationally

Published

on

Alabama divorce rate considerably higher than many other states. Where it ranks nationally


play

Divorces in Alabama are climbing, putting the state among the leaders in the nation for marriage splits.

Advertisement

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama had one of the highest divorce rates in the country in 2023. Experts point to economic pressures, cultural factors and changing social norms as reasons more marriages are ending legally rather than quietly.

Here’s what to know about Alabama’s divorce rates and where it stands compared to other states.

What is the divorce rate in Alabama?

Alabama’s divorce rate is notably higher than that of many other states. According to the CDC, the most recent data puts the state’s divorce rate at roughly 3.2 divorces per 1,000 people.

A look at state-level trends shows that this hasn’t always been the case. In 1990, Alabama’s rate was about 6.1 per 1,000, but it has declined significantly over time and has stayed relatively stable in recent years.

The divorce trend explained

Experts point to a cultural shift as one reason Alabama’s divorce rate remains high. A recent Times report notes that more women in the state are rejecting traditional “trad-wife” roles, gaining financial independence and confidence to leave unhappy marriages. Psychologist and divorce attorneys say this trend reflects changing expectations around marriage, religion and personal identity in the Deep South.

Advertisement

How does Alabama rank nationally?

Compared nationally, Alabama’s divorce rate is still among the higher end of U.S. states’ rates. Here are the top 9 states with the highest divorce rates in 2023:

  • Nevada 3.8
  • Idaho: 3.4
  • Wyoming: 3.4
  • Oklahoma: 3.3
  • Alaska: 3.1
  • Utah: 3.1
  • Alabama: 3
  • Arkansas: 3
  • Florida: 3

Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.



Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Booger McFarland reacts to controversy surrounding Notre Dame over Alabama in College Football Playoff rankings

Published

on

Booger McFarland reacts to controversy surrounding Notre Dame over Alabama in College Football Playoff rankings


Three two-loss teams were present in the top-10 of Tuesday night’s updated College Football Playoff rankings. No. 8 Oklahoma led the way, followed by No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 10 Alabama. This led to debate amongst many, who believe that the Crimson Tide boast a much stronger resume than the Irish.

Alabama holds wins over four teams present in the latest CFP Rankings (No. 4 Georgia, No. 14 Vanderbilt, No. 20 Tennessee, and No. 22 Missouri), while Notre Dame is just 1-2 against such teams. The Irish downed No. 15 USC 34-24 on Oct. 14, but kicked off the season with back-to-back losses to No. 13 Miami and No. 3 Texas A&M.

ESPN‘s Booger McFarland broke down why the committee would have put Notre Dame over Alabama in the Rankings during a hit on Wednesday afternoon’s edition of ‘SportsCenter‘.

“I think the fact that they both have two losses lets you know that the committee views Notre Dame as the better team right now,” McFarland said. “Notre Dame is a hotter team. They lost their first two games, but have won eight in a row. And when you look at how they play and their physicality, they’ve got the best backfield in America with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The offensive line is really good. The defense is big and physical. They can cover man-to-man on the outside, and I think CJ Carr, as a young quarterback, is starting to come along.”

Advertisement

McFarland says committee looked at teams ‘in a vacuum’

“I think the committee just looked at these two teams and said ‘in a vacuum, they both have two losses. Who do we think is better right now?’ And I think they deemed that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are just the better team right now.”

“But let’s just remember, this is an incomplete resume. The committee has an enviable task of trying to figure out what the resume is going to look like when it ends, because we still have a couple weeks left in the season.”

Both teams opened the season with a loss, but in Alabama‘s case, it won its next eight games before falling at home to Oklahoma 23-21 on Saturday. Notre Dame opened with an 0-2 record, but is currently in the midst of an eight-game winning streak. With both programs facing unranked teams in their final two games of the season, it may take a win in the SEC Championship Game for Alabama to jump back over the Irish in the final CFP Rankings.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Alabama

Hunter Yurachek spells out why Oklahoma leapt over Alabama in College Football Playoff rankings

Published

on

Hunter Yurachek spells out why Oklahoma leapt over Alabama in College Football Playoff rankings


As usual, head-to-head is a popular topic in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Specifically in the back-end of the top-10, where many figured Alabama and Oklahoma wound up. With the Sooners winning in Tuscaloosa on Saturday afternoon, they jumped ahead of their SEC foes.

CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek explained the decision to rank Oklahoma over Alabama. A quite simple answer, saying the head-to-head comes into play.

“Oklahoma, obviously, got the nod based on their two-point win at [Alabama],” Yurachek said.

Both teams hold an 8-2 record heading into Week 13. Alabama previously sat at No. 4, meaning they dropped six spots to No. 10 due to the loss. Oklahoma moved up to No. 8 after previously being No. 11. There might have been an argument to be made for the Crimson Tide’s overall resume but not a strong enough one to overcome the result from around 72 hours before.

Advertisement

Two games remain on the regular season schedule for both. Alabama likely holds the easier path to the finish line, considering FCS Eastern Illinois is next up. However, the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium vs. Auburn is no joke. Head coach Kalen DeBoer knows his team will need to remain focused coming off the loss.

Oklahoma gets two SEC games in Norman, beginning with Missouri on Saturday. LSU then comes to town a couple of days after Thanksgiving, one where the Sooners hope to be celebrating a 10-2 record and birth into the CFP. Tests have flown past Brent Venables all season, passing a few and coming short in others. Two more passing grades get the job done.

Hunter Yurachek answers original question about Miami, Notre Dame

The answer provided by Yuracheck was originally a question about the situation regarding Miami and Notre Dame. In this scenario, the Hurricanes are comfortably below a team they beat to open the 2025 season despite the same record. ESPN’s Rece Davis was wondering if the head-to-head played a role there.

Eventually, Yuracheck got to that side of the equation. In the committee’s eyes, Miami and Notre Dame are not currently in a “comparable range.”

“So, if Miami and Notre Dame are in a comparable tier, comparable range, the head-to-head will be a significant data point that we will use.”

Advertisement

Slightly different than the situation with Alabama and Oklahoma, who are within a group of three. Notre Dame is right between them at No. 9, while Miami is back at No. 13.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending