Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired his headset for a spot on the College Gameday show panel following his 16th and final year with the Crimson Tide last season.

After carrying Alabama to six national championships and nine SEC championships, it was only natural that Saban would pick them to head to Atlanta for the conference title game this year until he didn’t.

During the SEC Media Days hosted in Dallas back in July, Saban picked Georgia to go against Texas in the SEC Championship, a move that has now been revealed as reverse psychology after his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Friday.

“I picked Georgia and Texas because it’s reverse rat poison for Alabama,” Saban said in the interview. “It’s a motivating factor for them not to get picked. I hated to be picked first or second because you don’t know how that’s going to impact your team psychologically. These kids are affected a lot by what they read, what they hear, and what they see. I didn’t want them to see anything too good.”

Saban admitted that the “rat poison” aspect will be a better source of inspiration for Alabama as they continue to get comfortable with new head coach Kalen DeBoer rather than projecting them to make it to the championship, let alone win it.

He also prefaced by saying that he strongly dislikes the process of making predictions, but it’s something that he will have to get used to as the season progresses and could very well work in his favor in regard to the success of the Tide.

“I always hated it. I’m going to hate it on this show,” Saban said. “I might as well say it right off the bat – this show, any show, or GameDay. Having to predict and make hypothetical decisions about who’s going to win a game? Who’s going to win the championship, who’s going to win what conference? I’ve always hated that.”

Although Saban has had mixed feelings about Texas over time, despite working alongside head coach Steve Sarkisian, he said that the Longhorns have the offensive depth and power to go and win the conference in their first season as members. Coming from somebody who knows the SEC and its competition like the back of his hand, Texas fans are pulling for Saban’s prediction to be right.

The number of residents pursuing academic credit and workforce credentials through Alabama’s community and technical colleges is the highest it has been since 2013, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) reports.

More than 170,000 residents enrolled in academic courses or registered for adult education and workforce training opportunities between August 2023 and July 2024, marking the first time since 2013 in which enrollment had reached those numbers.

Of the 170,000, 122,867 represent the academic headcount in credit-based programs. The remaining number represents those who are pursuing industry-recognized, job-ready workforce credentials that prepare residents for in-demand jobs throughout Alabama.

The surge in enrollment underscores the increasing demand for skilled workers and the value of community colleges as a vital resource for workforce development and economic growth.

“The slogan of the Alabama Community College System is that we make life better, and the challenge to do so successfully is evident in the support of Alabama’s leaders and in the number of Alabama residents achieving their goals through the colleges’ training,” said Jimmy H. Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System.

“This enrollment achievement reflects the growing recognition of the critical role that community colleges play in providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to students from all walks of life.”

The commitment of Alabama’s community and technical colleges to align programs with the needs of local and regional employers ensures graduates are job-ready and equipped with the skills required to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

“This enrollment milestone is a testament to the hard work of our faculty and staff, the relevance of our programs, and the trust that students and their families place in us. We are proud to contribute to Alabama’s future by educating the next generation of leaders, innovators, and skilled professionals,” said Olivier Charles, President of Bishop State Community College in Mobile.

The recent enrollment surge is particularly significant in light of ongoing efforts to increase Alabama’s college-going rates and labor force participation. ACCS’s initiatives, including scholarships, flexible learning options, and support services, have played a crucial role in making college more accessible to underserved communities.

Upcoming initiatives to continue the enrollment momentum include the expansion of online learning opportunities, partnerships with industry leaders, and the introduction of new programs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing.

“Alabama’s future is bright, and our community colleges are at the heart of it,” said Dr. Neil Scott, ACCS Vice Chancellor for Student Success. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on our mission to empower students, strengthen communities, and drive economic prosperity across the state.”

Reid State Technical College first-year student Darrian Middleton, who is studying in the college’s industrial electricity program, said he chose the college because he saw it as an opportunity to attend college.

“I took a break from high school and really lost hope on college after being turned down by a university, but when I found Reid State, I found my hope again,” he said. “It’s a two-year program but offers the same quality as a four-year. I believe it’ll get me on a path and allow me to go forward in life instead of staying in the same place.”

An Alabama man who contracted a listeria infection that has left him incapacitated and hospitalized for more than a month has filed a federal lawsuit against Boar’s Head, claiming the company’s since-recalled deli meat led to his condition.

Jeffrey Scott Cox, who became ill after consuming Boar’s Head bologna bought at a Publix in Huntsville in late July, “is unable to communicate, and it is currently unclear if he will survive,” the lawsuit states.

As of early August, more than 40 people have been sickened due to the outbreak and three people have died, the Associated Press reported.

Cox, according to the lawsuit filed Monday on his behalf by his mother, Elvira Cox, went to Crestwood Hospital after he had trouble breathing, began exhibiting weakness and one side of his face began to droop.

He eventually needed to be placed on a ventilator, and he was transferred to Huntsville Hospital.

On Aug. 7, Cox tested positive for listeria. For two weeks, he had “a significantly elevated temperature.”

Throughout the course of his hospitalization, the lawsuit states, Cox “has remained incapacitated…”

“He is unable to communicate, and it is currently unclear if he will survive,” according to the suit.

Efforts to reach Boar’s Head were not immediately successful.

According to the company’s timeline of its recall, Boar’s Head began voluntarily recalling its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst product on July 25 after learning it had potentially been contaminated by listeria. Nine other products made on the same line as the liverwurst were also recalled.

Four days later, after tests confirmed that the liverwurst was connected to a listeria outbreak, Boar’s Head expanded the recall to every product made in the same facility as the liverwurst.

“We enacted this broad and precautionary recall totaling seven million pounds because we believed it was the right thing to do,” the company said.

Several varieties of bologna were included in the recall.

Cox’s lawsuit accuses Boar’s Head of violating Alabama’s product liability law along with negligence and breach of implied warranty and merchantability.