Alabama
Notebook: Deuce Vaughn Rendered Ineffective by Alabama Defense
NEW ORLEANS — Whereas Kansas State working again Deuce Vaughn recorded one of the crucial electrical performs of the 2022 Sugar Bowl along with his 88-yard landing run within the first quarter, the remainder of the sport was a special story.
In actual fact, in the event you eliminated Vaughn’s landing play, then he completed the sport with simply 45 yards off 21 carries — removed from what was anticipated from one of many high working backs within the Large 12.
On the other aspect of the soccer subject, Alabama was additionally comparatively ineffective within the speeding division. The Crimson Tide was led by Jahmyr Gibbs, who completed the sport with simply 76 yards off 15 carries. Behind him had been freshman Jamarion Miller and Jase McClellan, who completed the sport with 44 and 42 speeding yards, respectively.
‘Department’ing Out
Alabama defensive again Brian Department had his greatest efficiency of the season, ending the sport with 12 complete tackles — together with 4 for a loss and a sack. 11 of hits 12 complete tackles had been solo, and he additionally recorded an interception.
After the sport, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban was fast to reward Department for his efforts in what was possible his final sport for Alabama.
“Brian Department has performed effectively for us all season lengthy,” Saban stated. “He made some large performs at the moment. The interception was large. We acquired off to an important begin within the second half with an enormous play and two scores within the first two minutes within the second half, which type of broke the sport open. His interception was an enormous a part of that.
“However he is been a really constant performer for us all 12 months. He performs the star place, however he might play security as effectively. He could not end the sport at the moment. He cramped up and we tried to provide him an IV. However nice competitor. Actually good teammate. A man that all the time performs laborious and offers his greatest always.”
The Longest Yard
Kansas State’s fifth drive within the first half was a prolonged one. Over the course of its seven performs for 73 yards, the drive took a complete of 10:32 off of the clock, leaving simply 1:01 remaining within the second quarter at its finish.
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The drive abruptly got here to a halt when the ball was turned over on downs on the Alabama 2-yard line. The play was adopted by the Crimson Tide’s longest drive of the sport in a seven-play, 98-yard landing drive that put Alabama up 21-10 at halftime.
It was a vital turning level within the sport, and Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. was very grateful to his protection following the second.
“Simply the brotherhood that was in there, I imply, it was superb,” Anderson stated. “I believe that is why I am so emotional proper now, as a result of all of these guys, they maintain a particular place in my coronary heart.
“They offer me a lot confidence. They imagine in me a lot. They assist me a lot. Greater than what folks know. And simply to be round them, it makes me so comfortable, so I am very excited, I am comfortable for these guys. Everyone stepped up, and I am tremendous pleased with this group.”
A Parting Phrase
Following Alabama’s 45-20 win over Kansas State, Saban was requested to provide a press release to summarize the season and his group’s efficiency. His reply did not disappoint, and we’ll him say it himself in his personal phrases:
“Circumstances do not make you,” Saban stated. “They reveal the type of character that you’ve got. And I believe this group revealed great character, aggressive character, in the best way they ready for this sport and the best way they performed on this sport.
“So you may say the circumstances — and we have had groups on this circumstance earlier than. We did not get within the playoffs. We got here and performed within the Sugar Bowl and we did not play very effectively. And we did not observe very effectively, and we did not put together very effectively.
“However this group did. They went on the market like a group, performed collectively as a group, they usually had been rewarded for it due to what they put into it.”
Tide-Bits
Sport captains for Alabama had been quarterback Bryce Younger, exterior linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and defensive again Jordan Battle, all three of that are everlasting captains for the Crimson Tide as voted on by their teammates … Introduced attendance: 60,437 … Kickoff temperature was 68 levels contained in the Superdome … Vaughn’s 88-yard landing run marked the longest speeding landing given up by Alabama in 20 seasons, and was additionally the second-longest in Sugar Bowl historical past … DeMarcco Hellams led the Crimson Tide with 13 tackles, whereas Department was the one different Alabama participant to report double-digit tackles (12) … Sport officers: Referee – Larry Smith; Umpire – Ken Zelmanski; Head Line Choose – Ryan MacDonald; Line Choose – Jeff Szink; Discipline Choose – Kyle DeBuse; Facet Choose – Gaylon WIlliams; Again Choose – Dennis Morris; Heart Choose – Thomas Riepenhoff; Alternate – Kole Knueppel; Replay Official – David Witvoet; Communicator – Nick Baniel.
Alabama baseball is kicking off the 2025 SEC Baseball Tournament bright and early.
Scheduled to take place from May 20 to May 25 at the Hoover Met, this year marks a historic expansion, featuring all 16 SEC teams for the first time, competing in a single-elimination format.
Alabama enters the tournament as the No. 9 seed, finishing the regular season with a 16–14 conference record and an overall record of 40–15. The Crimson Tide will face No. 16 seed Missouri on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. CT.
If Alabama wins, it will advance to the second round on Wednesday, May 21, to play No. 8 seed Tennessee at 9:30 a.m. CT. A victory in that game would set up a quarterfinal matchup against No. 1 seed Texas on Thursday, May 22, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Alabama baseball to play Tuesday in first game of 2025 SEC Tournament
The full tournament schedule is as follows:
First Round – Tuesday, May 20:
- Game 1: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 16 Missouri – 9:30 a.m. CT
- Game 2: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Kentucky – 12:30 p.m. CT
- Game 3: No. 10 Florida vs. No. 15 South Carolina – 4:30 p.m. CT
- Game 4: No. 11 Mississippi State vs. No. 14 Texas A&M – 8:00 p.m. CT
Second Round – Wednesday, May 21:
- Game 5: No. 8 Tennessee vs. Winner of Game 1 – 9:30 a.m. CT
- Game 6: No. 5 Georgia vs. Winner of Game 2 – 12:30 p.m. CT
- Game 7: No. 7 Ole Miss vs. Winner of Game 3 – 4:30 p.m. CT
- Game 8: No. 6 Auburn vs. Winner of Game 4 – 8:00 p.m. CT
Quarterfinals – Thursday, May 22 to Friday, May 23
- Game 9: No. 1 Texas vs. Winner of Game 5 – Thursday, May 22, 3:00 p.m. CT
- Game 10: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. Winner of Game 6 – Thursday, May 22, 6:00 p.m. CT
- Game 11: No. 2 Arkansas vs. Winner of Game 7 – Friday, May 23, 3:00 p.m. CT
- Game 12: No. 3 LSU vs. Winner of Game 8 – Friday, May 23, 6:00 p.m. CT
Semifinals – Saturday, May 24:
- Game 13: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 – 12:00 p.m. CT
- Game 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 12 – 3:00 p.m. CT
Championship – Sunday, May 25:
- Game 15: Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 14 – 2:00 p.m. CT
All games will be broadcast on SEC Network, with the championship game airing on ESPN2
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
Sarah Ashlee Barker scored her first WNBA points on Friday night in the Los Angeles Sparks’ season-opening 84-67 victory over the Golden State Valkyries.
The former Spain Park High School and Alabama standout drove into position for a 6-foot shot in the lane for her first WNBA basket with 4:35 remaining in the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Barker’s bucket was the first for an Alabama alumnus in the WNBA since Aug. 14, 2022, when Jasmine Walker scored for Los Angeles.
In 13:32 of playing time in her WNBA debut, Barker made 1-of-3 field-goal attempts and had two rebounds and one assist. Barker joined the Sparks as the ninth pick in the WNBA Draft on April 14.
Los Angeles is 1-0 after going 8-32, the WNBA’s worst record, last season. Golden State played the first game in franchise history after joining the WNBA as an expansion team.
Barker won Alabama’s Miss Basketball Award for the 2019-20 season, her final campaign for Spain Park High School in Hoover. Barker paced the Jaguars to the AHSAA Class 7A girls’ basketball championship that season. Spain Park also had won the 2018 title. Barker averaged 23.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game during her prep career.
Barker spent two seasons with Georgia before playing the past three with Alabama. During the 2024-25 campaign, Barker averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals in 28 games.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 88 into law, which will formally recognize the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles officers as state law enforcement personnel.
Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Starnes, R-Prattville, a retired ABPP officer, and carried in the Senate by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, the bill amends Section 36-21-40 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to include the ABPP and it’s probation and parole officers in the definitions of “law enforcement agency” and “law enforcement officer.”
While HB88 does not expand the powers, authority or benefits of ABPP officers, it provides clarity regarding their status. All ABPP officers are certified by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission and are required to maintain active training and education. Law enforcement personnel comprise over half of the Bureau’s staff.
ABPP Director Cam Ward appreciated the legislation, stating, “We are proud of our officers and grateful for their commitment to keeping communities across our state safe. Their job is not easy, but these men and women have sworn to serve and protect the people of Alabama. They uphold that mission every day – regardless of the dangers and difficulties they may face, and this bill is one way we can show our appreciation while recognizing their courage.”
HB88’s passage aligns with this session’s legislative trend to reinforce support for local law enforcement.
Recently, the Alabama Legislature approved HB202, dubbed the “Back The Blue” bill, which enhances legal protections for police officers by establishing stricter standards for the use of force and allowing officers to seek immunity in certain cases. While supporters argue that such measures provide clarity and support for officers making split-second decisions, opponents express concern over potential shielding of misconduct.
HB88 is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, further solidifying the role of ABPP officers within Alabama’s law enforcement framework.
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