Abby Mccreary

The entire state of Alabama and quite possibly the football world watched “Gravedigger” unfold last November, when Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe connected with wide receiver Isaiah Bond on fourth and 31 to win the Iron Bowl.

Kalen DeBoer spoke in his first press conference as the head coach of Alabama football last Saturday. Here are the three main takeaways.

CW / Riley Thompson Students visit Nick Saban’s statue at the Walk of Champions after his retirement announcement.

As a novice journalism student, walking into your favorite team’s press conference, full of beat writers you read weekly and photographers whose pictures you fawn over, can be intimidating enough on its own. Now add Nick Saban to the mix — a man whose legend has already been made and whose formidable presence in media...

Roll Tide pins. Alabama buttons. A Crimson Tide needlepoint belt bought for a birthday. Even crimson beaded friendship bracelets. It sounds like just another game day in Tuscaloosa, but for one Birmingham native, it was the best way to say goodbye.

CW/ Elijah McWhorter Outfielder Lauren Johnson (#18) swings at the ball during the game against Wallace State.

CW / Riley Brown Alabama guard Loyal McQueen (#0) dribbles the ball against South Florida on Nov. 16, 2023, at Coleman Coliseum.

Last week the Alabama women’s swimming and diving teams competed in the NCAA championships in Athens, Georgia, where five Crimson Tide athletes combined for 10 All-America honors and finished 23rd as a team. Junior Avery Wiseman led the way with three second-team All America honors including the 100-yard breaststroke, 200 breaststroke and 200 medley relay....

CW / Riley Thompson Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer watches during practice.

The death of old rivalries, student-athlete travel time increasing, concerning TV money grabs — there’s a lot not to like about collegiate conference realignment. One rarely addressed concern, though, is the environmental costs of sports teams traveling to their new conference opponents. In the Big 12, a trip from Utah to Central Florida is about...