Good morning West Alabama. It is November 26, 2024.

Morning Observations:

Coaches in all sports hate to let freshman address the media and they hold their breath when they do. First year players typically don't have the experience, or expertise, in dealing with media or understanding potential repercussions from saying the wrong thing. Auburn's freshman linebacker DeMarcus Riddic is learning that talking smack can have some consequences, especially on opposing team bulletin boards.

Riddic picked the Tigers over the Tide out of Chilton County High School in Clanton. Apparently, he has decided to taunt the Tide with his decision to play on the plains.

While meeting with the sports media Monday he let his mouth overload his posterior with several comments.

  1. He apparently never heard of Steelers defensive back Anthony Smith. In 2007 he guaranteed a Pittsburgh win over New England. The Patriots steamrolled the Steelers 34-13. Yesterday Riddic vowed "I will not lose to Bama while I'm here."
  2. Riddic continued to exhibit his lack of respect for an opponent by trashing Bama QB Jalen Milroe. "He is a good quarterback. He’s fast, but I mean, he’s not faster than me. He will not get out of that box this week."
  3. Riddic's big talk continued when he trashed Bama's own freshman sensation receiver Ryan Williams. "Ryan Williams ain't no big-time player to me." Williams has roughly the same season stats as Riddic. So, I guess Riddic ain't no big-time player either.
  4. Apparently, Riddic doesn't understand what or who a rival is. "Every rival team I played, I never lost to,” he bragged to reporters. You are not in high school anymore kid. Auburn lost to longtime rival Georgia 31-13.

But Riddic was not the only Auburn rookie to run his mouth. Wide receiver Cam Coleman made a prediction of his own about what is going to happen at Bryant-Denny.  "Really a revenge tour. We’re going in their place and we’re really just going to go into their crib and just take over and have fun while we’re doing it. This is going to be some of the last memories we make with each other so let’s go make it a memorable game.”

Auburn is coming off a big upset win over Texas A&M last weekend while the Tide didn't show up mentally or physically against Oklahoma. Tiger players for the first time this season are feeling their oats, but they have forgotten an old adage, respect your opponent.

AU Coach Hugh Freeze has to be cringing. Now his team has to go out and walk the walk after talking the talk. He has to be remembering the late comedian Flip Wilson’s character Geraldine Jones' catch phrase “Don’t let your mouth write a check your @$$ can’t cash!"

(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are not necessarily those of the ownership, staff or management of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)


Weather:

Around this time every year cold fronts moving through can have significant impacts on our weather. This year is no different, a cold front will bring the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms late Wednesday into Thanksgiving morning. Then the coldest temperatures of the season move in.

Read More: Possible Thanksgiving Severe Thunderstorms in Portions of Alabama

The Forecast:
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night
Showers, mainly after midnight. Low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thanksgiving Day
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to near 60 by noon, then falling to around 53 during the remainder of the day. West wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.

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Topping the News:

A candlelight vigil at Kaulton Park last night remembered those who have died by violence in Tuscaloosa this year. The Ceasefire Campaign is attempting to emphasize the need to do something to stop repeated shootings, many of them fatal.
Pastor Ransey O’Daniel says the violence impacts everyone, the victim and their family, the perpetrator(s) and their family, businesses and the entire community.
The Ceasefire Campaign hopes to meet with city leaders to develop a plan for ending the violence.


Police believe a deadly shootout in west Tuscaloosa earlier this month began as an attempted robbery, according to court documents filed in the wake of the city's 18th homicide this year.

Someone used large construction equipment to crash through a wall at the Woodstock Drugs in Bibb County early Sunday morning.  Police say the intrusion caused massive damage with will be expensive and take time to repair.

Owners report than the culprit stole hundreds of dollars of drugs.
No arrests have been made as yet.


Thanksgiving travel on the highways and airways are expected to be the biggest travel days every. So far all has been well with both.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International has reported no delays for departures or arrivals. However, weather Wednesday night and Thanksgiving Day could result in brief delays.
ALEA Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett is reminding motorist that troopers are out in force, not to hassle drivers but to help make sure they get to their destinations safely. Seat belt use, speeding, impaired and inattentive driving are being emphasized.


ALDOT work zones will not be active through the holiday travel period. However, the state agency reminds motorists, even though workers will not be present, orange barrels, uneven roadways and one lane passage will require drivers to slow down.


Tomorrow is “Operation Iron Ruck Day” in the state of Alabama. Governor Ivey made the declaration in advance of Saturday's Iron Bowl Game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Student veterans and ROTC members from the University of Alabama and Auburn University will ruck 151 miles to honor veterans who have lost their lives to suicide. This year, they are traveling from Jordan-Hare to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
22 veterans die every day by suicide. Participants will carry 22 pounds of donated materials to honor them. They will also carry the game ball with them.



Topping Sports News:

The Alabama Men's Basketball Team will carry a #9 AP Poll ranking into tonight's game in Las Vegas against #6 Houston.  The teams are meeting in the Player's Era Festival.
Tomorrow night the Tide plays Rutgers.


AP Poll (SEC Teams Highlighted):

1 - Kansas
2 - UConn
3 - Gonzaga
4 - Auburn
5 - Iowa State
6 - Houston
7 - Tennessee
8 - Kentucky
9 - Alabama
10 - Marquette
11 - Duke
12 - North Carolina
13 - Purdue
14 - Indiana
15 - Wisconsin
16 - Cincinnati
17 - Baylor
18 - Florida
19 - Arkansas
20 - Texas A&M
21 - Creighton
22 - Xavier
23 - Ole Miss
24 - Arizona
25 - Mississippi State


The Alabama women's basketball team is competing in the eight-team Emerald Classic this week. They kicked off the tournament against Alabama State with an 83-33 win.

Alabama will meet the Clemson Tigers in the tournament at 1:30 this afternoon.


 

From UA Athletics: The University of Alabama posted an all-time high overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 96 percent, improving one point from last year's mark. With that, Alabama is tied for tops among NCAA Power Five public institutions (tied with Clemson, Louisville, Michigan and Virginia) as well as the Southeastern Conference (tied with Vanderbilt).


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Have a terrific Tuesday!