Latest news with #AlabamaSportsHallofFame
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints great Mark Ingram II inducted to Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Congratulations are in order for Mark Ingram II. The former New Orleans Saints running back was inducted to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night, recognizing his achievements as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide. The headlining member of the Class of 2025, Ingram joined his former teammate Roman Harper (Class of 2023) with a bronze plaque at the Hall of Fame. Before he turned pro and spent 12 years in the NFL, 10 of them with the Saints, Ingram was the school's first-ever Heisman Trophy winner in 2009, the same year he helped the Crimson Tide win a national championship. He left Alabama with the fourth-most rushing yards in school history at the time (3,261) behind Shaun Alexander, Bobby Humphrey, and Kenneth Darby, though he has since been surpassed by runners like Najee Harris, Derrick Henry, and T.J. Yeldon. Advertisement Now he's being enshrined alongside the all-time greats. Located in Birmingham, Ala., the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame has collected more than 5,000 historic objects representing 300-plus inductees -- including some of the most iconic figures in American sports history like four-time Olympic gold medal-winner Jesse Owens, Major League Baseball record-setter Hank Aaron, and legendary Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Stop by and visit sometime. We'd be remiss to not mention Ingram's achievements with the Saints, too. He ran for 6,500 yards with the black and gold and retired as the team's all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdown runs (52), earning three Pro Bowl nods along the way. While his Saints career got off to a rocky start, Ingram developed into one of the better every-down backs of his generation by working on his skills as a receiver and pass protector, and in 2017 he made history with his then-rookie teammate Alvin Kamara. They became the first running back duo in NFL history to each gain more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage in the same season. Ingram's grip on the team's rushing records was brief, but he was happy to see someone he mentored take them from him. That team-first attitude endeared Ingram to Saints fans, and it remains one of his finest qualities to this day. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Alabama Sports Hall of Fame inducts Saints legend Mark Ingram II
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints great Mark Ingram II inducted to Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Saints great Mark Ingram II inducted to Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Congratulations are in order for Mark Ingram II. The former New Orleans Saints running back was inducted to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night, recognizing his achievements as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide. The headlining member of the Class of 2025, Ingram joined his former teammate Roman Harper (Class of 2023) with a bronze plaque at the Hall of Fame. Before he turned pro and spent 12 years in the NFL, 10 of them with the Saints, Ingram was the school's first-ever Heisman Trophy winner in 2009, the same year he helped the Crimson Tide win a national championship. He left Alabama with the fourth-most rushing yards in school history at the time (3,261) behind Shaun Alexander, Bobby Humphrey, and Kenneth Darby, though he has since been surpassed by runners like Najee Harris, Derrick Henry, and T.J. Yeldon. Now he's being enshrined alongside the all-time greats. Located in Birmingham, Ala., the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame has collected more than 5,000 historic objects representing 300-plus inductees -- including some of the most iconic figures in American sports history like four-time Olympic gold medal-winner Jesse Owens, Major League Baseball record-setter Hank Aaron, and legendary Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Stop by and visit sometime. We'd be remiss to not mention Ingram's achievements with the Saints, too. He ran for 6,500 yards with the black and gold and retired as the team's all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdown runs (52), earning three Pro Bowl nods along the way. While his Saints career got off to a rocky start, Ingram developed into one of the better every-down backs of his generation by working on his skills as a receiver and pass protector, and in 2017 he made history with his then-rookie teammate Alvin Kamara. They became the first running back duo in NFL history to each gain more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage in the same season. Ingram's grip on the team's rushing records was brief, but he was happy to see someone he mentored take them from him. That team-first attitude endeared Ingram to Saints fans, and it remains one of his finest qualities to this day.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Football Reacts to Major Announcement on Saturday
On Saturday, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame will formally induct eight new members, headlined by former Crimson Tide running back and 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram II. The event, part of the 57th annual induction ceremony at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, cements Ingram's legacy as Alabama's first Heisman winner and a trailblazer in the Saban era. Advertisement By the end of his three‑year Alabama career, he had amassed 3,261 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns, ranking seventh on the school's all‑time rushing list. Celebrating the historic achievement, Alabama Football took to X to reveal the news and give Ingram his flowers. The 35‑year‑old Ingram, born December 21, 1989, in Hackensack, NJ, burst onto the Tuscaloosa scene in 2008. As a freshman, he earned All‑SEC Freshman Team honors after rushing for 728 yards and 12 touchdowns in limited starts. His sophomore campaign remains one of the most decorated seasons in school history. He led the SEC with 1,658 rushing yards (6.1 avg.), secured unanimous All‑American distinction, and became the first Alabama player to win college football's most prestigious individual award, the Heisman Trophy. Advertisement Ingram's contributions peaked in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game against Texas, where his 116 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries earned him Offensive MVP honors in a 37–21 victory. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Drafted 28th overall by the New Orleans Saints in 2011, Ingram parlayed his collegiate success into a 12‑year NFL career. He totaled 8,111 rushing yards, 2,125 receiving yards, and 75 touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl selections in 2014, 2017, and 2019. After stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, he returned to New Orleans to finish his playing days and retired as one of the franchise's all‑time leading rushers. Advertisement Related: Steelers Make Official WR Move Amid George Pickens Rumors Related: George Kittle Reacts to 49ers Reunion With Former Backup Tight End
Irish Daily Star
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
Nick Saban to speak at Donald Trump address in Alabama amid protest fears
Legendary college football head coach Nick Saban will be joining President Donald Trump at the University of Alabama this week for a special commencement ceremony for the class of 2025. It was announced last week that the 47th U.S. President will be speaking to students in Coleman Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, for the special occasion, where he will now be joined by none other than one of the institution's very best in Saban, who led the university's football team to six national championships across a near-two decade spell between 2007 to 2023. The 73-year-old, who was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, is sure to be a big hit with students and other attendees on the day as he returns to campus - something the university will be hoping plays into its hands amid fears of the event, which starts at 6:30pm, drawing many anti-Trump protests . Read More Related Articles High school football coach steps down after 18 years and 5 state championships Read More Related Articles Notre Dame lands big transfer addition after losing Olivia Miles The state of Alabama has traditionally shown strong support for the 78-year-old but these protests are likely to involve both students and prominent outsiders. One such protest, dubbed "Tide Against Trump," is being organized by the UA College Democrats and is set to take place at Snow Hinton Park from 5-7pm. The demonstration will feature speeches from former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke and former Alabama U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. The student organization has expressed strong opposition to Trump's attendance, labeling it an "insult" and stating that "UA is not a fascist playground." Earlier this year, however, Trump issued a ban on what he referred to as "illegal protests" , insisting that schools or colleges that experience these protests will lose all federal funding. He's made it clear in the past that protests against him are not appreciated, despite his party's insistence on the importance of free speech in the US . Trump previously welcomed coach Saban and the Crimson Tide to the White House to celebrate the team's national championship success in 2017 The U.S. President took to his own social media site Truth Social in March to share quite a chilling statement, where he warned that students caught taking part in these protests would be expelled or arrested, while also mentioning that "agitators will be permanently sent back to the country from which they came". Not long after, though, educators and legal experts debunked Trump's warning , insisting his claim has no legal standing. "Trump's threat should chill and enrage anyone who cares about the First Amendment ," Gregory Magarian, a Washington University Professor of Law, said. "The First Amendment absolutely prohibits law enforcement from declaring an assembly unlawful because of the assembly's message — because, for example, an assembly happens to be a protest," Magarian explained, before also giving insight on Trump's goal to imprison, deport or expel 'agitators.' As for Saban, he's generally steered clear of politics, with the exception of supporting his childhood friend, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. However, the Alabama Democratic Party hinted in 2024 that it would welcome him running for the U.S. Senate against Tuberville under its banner. Trump previously issued a chilling warning to students planning on protesting at school or college (Image: Getty Images) During a conference call in 2020, Trump, while endorsing former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville's U.S. Senate run, mistakenly referred to Saban by the wrong name. "He's great, Lou Saban, what a great job he's done," Trump commented during his first presidential term. In light of Thursday's event, which will also include remarks from University President Stuart R. Bell, who stepped down earlier this year after 10 years, additional security measures will be in place and attendees have been advised to arrive at least two hours early. The university announced that students due to graduate in the spring will have priority seating on the night, with their guests also receiving complimentary tickets. Graduates from the summer and fall semesters, along with their guests, will also be eligible for free tickets. The rest of the student body, faculty, and staff can obtain tickets on a first-come-first-serve basis.
