Latest news with #TheTuscaloosaNews
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why a 'Bear' Bryant commercial is often shared on social media on Mother's Day
As we approach Mother's Day, which falls on Sunday, May 11, 2025, here's a look back at a story about the holiday's connection to legendary Alabama football coach Paul W. "Bear" Bryant that The Tuscaloosa News originally published on May 6, 2021: It's become a Mother's Day tradition. Advertisement Somewhere in the world of social media, folks will begin sharing video of a heart-tugging South Central Bell Co. commercial from the 1970s that features legendary University of Alabama coach Paul W. "Bear" Bryant. The 30-second ad ends with Bryant asking viewers if they've called their mothers today. A YouTube video of the Bryant/Bell ad has been viewed more than 300,000 times. Last year, tweeted the video, garnering 210 retweets and nearly 500 "likes." The ad begins with Bryant, clad in a crimson sweater, hanging up the phone in his office. "One of the first things we tell our players is to keep in touch with their families. And when our freshmen first arrive, we ask them to write a postcard home, right then," Bryant says in a gravelly voice as the camera gradually gets closer. Advertisement "You know, we keep them pretty busy, but they always have time to pick up the phone and call. And it's really important to keep in touch. "Have you called your mama today? I sure wish I could call mine." Legend has it that Bryant, who died in 1983 at the age of 69, veered away from the script and ad-libbed the last line. The ad ends with a vocalist singing South Central Bell's slogan, "Reach out and touch someone." More: Mother's Day 2025 deals and specials for fast food, brunch, dining: What to know in Alabama Bryant's mom was Ida Mae Kilgore Bryant of Moro Bottom, Arkansas. He was the 11th of her 12 children and grew up to play college football at the University of Alabama. Advertisement As a coach, Bryant won 323 games in 38 years. He started his career at the University of Maryland, moved on to the University of Kentucky, then Texas A&M University before settling in at his alma mater. During 25 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Bryant earned six national championships and 13 SEC titles, while launching the careers of future NFL legends Joe Namath and Ken Stabler. When asked why he was leaving Texas A&M for Tuscaloosa, Bryant had a simple answer: "Mama called." This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Mother's Day has longtime connection to legendary coach 'Bear' Bryant
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What Kalen DeBoer sees in Alabama football 'healthy' quarterback competition into June
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Once again, when Kalen DeBoer addressed the Alabama football quarterback battle, the Crimson Tide head coach did not address the quarterbacks by name. But he lauded Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell at SEC Spring Meetings May 27 for what they have been able to do away from campus. "These guys did a great job, all three of them, of really doing some of those leadership things, and going places, and bringing guys with them," DeBoer said. "It wasn't like one quarterback took three guys, and another quarterback took these four. They all did it together." Advertisement June, DeBoer said, will be the "next step" to finding and naming a starter, finding the quarterback who consistently leads the Alabama offense down the field with the "least number of mistakes." "No one has a significant amount of playing time reps in a game," DeBoer said. "But obviously they are at different levels and have shown different things that they can do at a high level already this spring." The only quarterback he named was the quarterback Alabama had to replace: Jalen Milroe, the signal caller who had elements of his game DeBoer really had never had to navigate before in an offense with Milroe's running ability. "Jalen was certainly different," DeBoer said. "I mean that in a positive way. I mean that with the utmost respect of what Jalen's game is all about because he's got some special elements to his game when it comes to running that I really had not been able to coach or very few have seen." Advertisement Along with a quarterback competition, DeBoer said Alabama is working to navigate the "balancing act" of an offense that will use many more options in the run game with Milroe off to the NFL and with three pass-first options at DeBoer's disposal. While Simpson has been widely considered as the favorite, DeBoer continues to call Alabama's quarterback situation a competition, a "healthy one" at that. "I think they all respect each other," DeBoer said. "They are all going as hard as they can. They are going to step on each other's toes at times in terms of that leadership role and things like that, but so be it." Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer talks Alabama football 'healthy' quarterback competition
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Ryan Williams EA Sports College Football 26 billboard is in Tuscaloosa. Here's where it is
Not only is Ryan Williams a video game cover athlete. He is now on a billboard too. The Alabama football sophomore wide receiver made a billboard promoting the EA Sports College Football 26 video game. Williams shares the video game's cover along with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Advertisement An Alabama billboard promoting the game shows Williams, congratulating him on being the College Football 26 cover athlete. Williams' billboard will be in multiple locations in both Tuscaloosa and Mobile. Ryan Williams billboard Tuscaloosa locations Here's where Williams' billboard is in Tuscaloosa: Midtown Across the river by Milanos at 1301 McFarland Blvd. 15th Street by Cookout Lurleen Wallace Blvd. on both ways of the Hugh Thomas Bridge Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Where is Ryan Williams EA Sports College Football 26 billboard?
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Kalen DeBoer feels Alabama football hasn't 'held back' with strength of schedule
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Kalen DeBoer is eager to listen. When asked about the possibility of an expanded SEC conference game schedule from eight to nine games, the Alabama football coach said he's "open to hearing the conversations" without having many concrete opinions himself. Advertisement But there is a question that comes to DeBoer's mind when it comes to the relationship between an expanded conference schedule and strength of schedule. "Yeah, you kind of wonder what would have happened to other people if they had the chance to play our schedule last year, and it would only get tougher," DeBoer said. Alabama lost three games in the first regular season of the DeBoer era, falling on the road to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff and lost to ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan, securing Alabama's first season with less than 10 wins since 2006. And heading into 2025, DeBoer doesn't feel Alabama is letting up in terms of strength of schedule with 10 games against Power 4 teams, highlighting non-conference meetings with Florida State and Wisconsin. Advertisement "I know we haven't held back at this point on anything when it comes to playing a tough schedule, non-conference wise," DeBoer said. DeBoer's question moving forward revolves around strength of schedule from conference to conference with the limited number of cross-conference pollination opportunities within the regular season. But for the Alabama coach, that's above his pay grade. "I'm just going to play the games that we can schedule and adjust accordingly as we change the SEC games if that is the case," DeBoer said. Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer feels Alabama football hasn't 'held back' with strength of schedule
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Will Alabama football be healthy in fall camp? Kalen DeBoer gives Crimson Tide injury update
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Kalen DeBoer is confident. The Alabama football coach, once the Crimson Tide takes the field this August, will be fully healthy. At SEC Spring Meetings May 27, DeBoer said there are "too many, as a whole, that are still coming off of last season," who missed sprung practice. Heading into the summer workouts DeBoer said "there'll be a pretty good group that now is in full swing" and a few that will be limited. Advertisement 'But by the time we hit August, we feel very confident that we will have everyone back and be ready to roll at the level we need to," DeBoer said. Players like linebacker Deontae Lawson, defensive back Keon Sabb and Domani Jackson were out for spring, while offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, defensive lineman James Smith and linebacker Justin Jefferson were limited. Ryan Williams was also held out for the Alabama football A-Day scrimmage. Alabama also had an extremely limited tight end room with Marshall Pritchett, Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis out with injuries, leading to the additions of Brody Dalton and Jack Sammarco via the transfer portal. Not only is DeBoer confident that he will have a full Alabama roster come August, he predicted that is hungry. Advertisement "Guys are pouring everything into it right now," DeBoer said. "They are almost over the top with the work they want to put in because of the desire they have to, you want to be great and have an amazing season. Coming off of last year, they want to prove some people right and prove some people wrong." Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer gives Alabama football injury update
