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June 28, 2019

ARTICLES OF INTEREST June 22, 2019 – June 28, 2019

FOR SPECIFIC NEWS STORIES, SEE THE FOLLOWING PAGE NUMBERS:

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SPORTS 29

The Birmingham News

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

UA BOT would support UAB's push for new conference By: Joseph Goodman

The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System would likely support a push by

UAB to join the American Athletic Conference, according to independent sources familiar with

the governing body's thinking.

The support of the UA Board of Trustees is an enormous step towards progress for a university

system that is emerging as one of the healthiest in the country. A move to the AAC by UAB

would put the UA System in position to have the top football programs among both the Power 5

and Group of 5 conferences.

Imagine a college-football postseason that features Alabama in the College Football Playoff and

UAB playing in a New Year's Six bowl game as the automatic Group of 5 qualifier. That

scenario isn't farfetched considering the rapid rise of UAB football since its return to the sport

two years ago. It hasn't lost at home since The Return, and won Conference USA last season.

The Big East is expected to announce in New York on Thursday the addition of the University of

Connecticut. That move would give the AAC 11 member universities, and potentially create an

open spot in the conference. A recent report by the Cincinnati Enquirer suggested that the AAC

might not replace UConn with a football-playing member, but if the league chooses to add a new

member, then UAB brings a strong resume to the table.

Asked if the UA Board of Trustees would support a move by UAB to the AAC, one top-level

university source said the Board would be "all in" in support of conference realignment. Another

UA Board of Trustees insider said its appointed members, who govern the University of

Alabama, UAB and UAH, would "for sure" support UAB in a bid to join the AAC.

Support by the UA Board of Trustees for UAB athletics was the subject of intense scrutiny

during UAB's decision to end football in 2014. For a move to the AAC to even be a possibility

for UAB it would need support and behind-the-scenes backing from the UA Board of Trustees,

which is one of the most powerful entities in the state.

Considering how contentious the saga over football became in 2015, detractors of the UA Board

of Trustees will linger for years and naysayers of UAB athletics will persist as well. All the

bluster aside, no one can dispute the massive growth ofUAB's undergraduate campus since the

return of football.

With the support of the UA Board of Trustees, UAB has invested over $400 million in facilities

over the last five years. UAB also recently completed a $1 billion fund-raising campaign. In

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The Birmingham News


addition to those enhancements, UAB was named the top young university in the country last

year, and has partnered with the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County and others to build a new

downtown football stadium.

The new downtown stadium will give UAB one of the most impressive and unique home fields

among Group of 5 teams in the country.

UAB football was left behind in 2013 when its peer universities and traditional rivals moved

from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference. U AB athletics were then left for

dead in 2014 when president Ray Watts made the difficult decision to shutter a football program

that was hemorrhaging money, didn't have the proper facilities or support to thrive and played at

Legion Field, a cavernous tomb of a stadium.

Now a media darling with a movie-script worthy comeback story, UAB football has a new $23

million on-campus football complex, and a state-of-the-art football stadium scheduled for

completion in 2021 located in ESPN' s top television market for college football. Coverage by

ESPN has played a major role in the resurrection ofUAB football, and that relationship could

carry weight behind the scenes if the network wants a 12th team added to the AAC for

contractual and content purposes.

In addition to the potential ofUAB football, the university recently built one of the top on

campus soccer stadiums in the country (BBV A Field), and a new track-and-field complex. UAB

was a university that didn't properly support its athletics when it was passed over during

conference realignment in 2013. That is no longer the case.

If reports are true, then UConn is moving back to the Big East to compete once again with its

traditional basketball rivals. A move to the AAC would do the same for UAB and member

schools in the league. Traditionally, Memphis is one ofUAB's top rivals, but the Blazers also

shared conference basketball rivalries with Cincinnati and Houston. On the football field, UAB's

top CUSA rivals were Memphis, East Carolina, UCF, Houston and Tulane.

Support for UAB by Memphis to join the AAC could carry considerable weight, and allow both

schools to rekindle their football rivalry. The Battle of the Bones, which features one of the best

rivalry trophies in all of college football, hasn't been played since 2012. The renewed non

conference basketball series between UAB and Memphis has benefited both universities in

recent years. Memphis plays at U AB this season.

Since the return of UAB football, the university's president (Dr. Watts), Birmingham and

Jefferson County have played important roles in positioning UAB for the future. Now is the time

to take the next step forward, and having the support of the UA Board of Trustees could make

the difference.

3

Birmingham Business Journal Friday, June 21, 2019

UAB President Ray Watts on growth plans, UAB's building boo1n and the future of the BBA

As the University of Alabama at Birmingham celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Magic City's

economic engine is growing on several different levels.

Enrollment once again hit a record in fall 2018 and is trending even-higher for 2019. A building

boom that started in connection with the school's master plan update is ongoing, changing the

face of the Southside. And the school's role �n the local economy is growing as well, fueled by

rising research dollars and commercialization efforts.

Ray Watts, who has served as president since 2013, doesn't expect those trends to slow down

anytime soon. Watts recently sat down with the BBJ to talk about his tenure at UAB, the

school's future and more.

On a key goal that's top of mind: We want to cure some serious diseases. A great example is our

cystic fibrosis team. Over the last 10, 15, 20 years, they took science and helped develop a new

therapy, which has totally changed the future of cystic fibrosis. There are two drugs now - both

of which they worked on - that can almost stop its progression. So, they're within the realm of

potentially curing those patients, and we have opportunities like that in various cancers and other

areas. We obviously want to have a big impact on Alzheimer's because it's the looming public

health threat. And we just won one of the eight NIH Udall Parkinson's Centers of Excellence.

We hope to win one of the Alzheimer's Centers of Excellence from NIH. But, we're going to

tackle those serious diseases - autism spectrum disorders, very big area, big problem. We're

going to double down on it. We're going hard with Children's and with the School of Medicine.

On enrollment growth plans: I would say probably somewhere in the 25,000 range over the next

five or six years. We think we can accommodate that with the planned buildings and growth and

everything that we have. And, ifwe get there and the demand is greater, then we'll continue to

build the infrastructure and have the people to continue to grow. We've not set any limits on

enrollment.

On whether Birmingham can be a global leader in precision medicine: We intend to be. And we

are already on the leading edge. We want to be one of the most innovative centers in the country,

in the world, and really develop a national center of excellence, and we're doing that. That's

going to be huge in our future, both in research but also in innovation and commercialization. All

of these are going to be new discoveries and new intellectual property, and we're going to

change the future. And some of them will be potential blockbusters.

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Birmingham Business Journal

Friday, June 21, 2019

On the future of the BBA, for which Watts previously served a two-year term as chair: The BBA

is looking how to reshape itself for the next decade, and what I have emphasized is we need a

very strong recruitment team for technology-based companies. And it needs to be a partnership,

which it is ... What we have determined is we've got a strong enough startup pipeline that we

don't need to recruit startups except through our Velocity Accelerator Program. We've got that

cooking. What we need to begin to recruit are companies that are 10 to 30 people, 30 to 75, 100

to 250 to 500 to 1,000. So, that's part of our new emphasis on workforce. And now a new

emphasis on recruitment of technology-based companies, and we have to change our whole

incentive plans and packages. We did that to retain Shipt successfully. So it can be done.

Everybody came to the table. To me, that's a really exciting part of the future and obviously we

need top talent. If you're going to be the best, you've got to get the best people. I think we need a

very strong leader of the BBA who's a forward thinker, a go getter, but has been there and done

it and can help others learn and multiply the force. And, we've got to build out a technology

recruitment team, not just at BBA but throughout the city. And we're doing that.

On UAB's role in the startup scene: I think we are and have to be, if not the main driver, one of

the main drivers, because our talented faculty and students are innovating all the time. They face

challenges in the research lab and the hospital and the operating room, in educational spaces, in

engineering, etc. We need to be able to translate those into commercial opportunities that help

others do things better but also drive commercial revenue back to the city, the whole community

and to the state, and to U AB.

On his dynamic with UAB leaders: We've always recruited leaders who will be collaborative. If

they're not going to be collaborative - no matter how smart they are - we don't want them

because they won't be as productive as when we work together. I don't make decisions that

impact the university without everybody being on the same page and once everybody's had a

chance to have input. And we involve our faculty as much as possible, our students, our staff, our

staff council. We listen to them about ideas of how we can do things better, and it's amazing, if

you listen, how many good ideas come, and then it builds unity. So, we've never had a better

spirit of cooperation at UAB. We've always had a good one.

5

The Tuscaloosa News

Monday, June 24, 2019

Tiara Pennington honored to be Miss Alabama By Drew Taylor/ Staff Writer

Dedra Eastland Pennington has seen a lot in her years involved in Alabama beauty pageants.

In 1986, Pennington placed third runner-up in the Miss Alabama pageant, her first time ever

competing in the statewide pageant. For years, she would remain involved in the program, from

being a local director to being an official judge, a role that often would involve her judging up to

five regional pageants per year. She remembers watching Kalyn Chapman being crowned Miss

Alabama in 1993, a moment made even more vivid due to her being the first black woman to be

named Miss Alabama in the pageant's history.

However, all those memories pale next to watching her daughter, Tiara, being named Miss

Alabama earlier this month.

"There is nothing compared to seeing your own daughter crowned," Pennington said. "It was like

an out-of-body experience."

Tiara, 20, has kept very busy in the weeks since, from doing interviews to making public

appearances. Last week, she was called at the last minute to make an appearance at the Miss

Mississippi pageant.

"I really love that every day is different," Tiara said. "I'm just trying to take it one day at a time."

The Helena native first got into pageants after being involved in dance for 10 years and wanting

to find something different to do. While not initially wanting to push her into beauty pageants,

Dedra felt her daughter would like being involved in the world she was a part of for so long.

"What I tell people all the time it is a mentorship program because there have been so many

people who have played a part in who she is," Dedra said.

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The Tuscaloosa News

Thursday, June 27, 2019

University of Alabama to keep parking rates flat By: Ed Enoch

Parking permit rates at the University of Alabama will remain unchanged for the upcoming school year as

the campus continues work on a five-year master plan for parking.

Vice President of Financial Affairs Matt Fajack announced earlier this month the rates would remain flat.

Perimeter and handicap annual permits are $240. Student commuter permits and green permits for faculty

and staff are $345. Student residential permits are $400. Reserve permits are $660. Rose Administration

reserve permits for faculty and staff are $680. Motorcycle permits are $100.

Director of Transportation Services Chris D'Esposito said the rates would remain unchanged for 2019-

2020 as work continues on a campus parking master plan.

"We are trying to take a step back and do a formal five-year transportation plan," he said.

The move breaks a trend of annual rate changes which have historically increased $20-$30 in recent

years. The university said the increases were needed to fund maintenance and operating costs for the

parking facilities, campus buses, student services and road paving.

The university announced development of the master plan last fall after suspending plans for an evening.

parking permit following opposition from members of the campus community.

The university cited campus safety and additional revenue as the reason for the new permit, but critics

raised concerns about the burden on departments with evening events and performances, the possible

strain on community relations, and the financial impacts on graduate students and other communities who

may not be able to easily bear the additional cost.

The master plan is being developed by a working group of faculty and staff, students, and consulting firm

Kimley-Horn, D'Esposito said.

"We have a broad spectrum of people and what we want to do is try to dissect where we are to date and

where we want to go in the future," D'Esposito said.

As part of its work, the firm will come to campus to observe parking and transportation operations and

conduct town halls, he said.

The goal remains to complete the work on the plan by early next year and announce any

recommendations, D'Esposito said. The university hopes to complete the plan by January or February.

7

The Tuscaloosa News Friday, June 28, 2019

Don Salls, Alabama's oldest living football player, turns 100 By: James Ogletree

The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.

That ancient Chinese proverb is No. 68 of 160 tips forme_r Alabama football player Don Salls hails as keys to a long, healthy life in his 1995 book, "Live and Love To Be 100."

Salls, who holds a doctorate in physical education and nutrition from New York University, reached the triple-digit milestone on Monday. He's the oldest living Alabama football player, but he doesn't look a day over 80.

"I did live to be 100 and it did turn out to be right," Salls said during a special birthday celebration on Monday, June 24 at the Paul W. Bryant Museum. "I never thought I'd make it to be 100, but I might as well say I made 100 and it worked."

The new centenarian took the first step of a literal thousand-mile journey in 1938: a bus ride from White Plains, New York, to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

That step framed the next Bo-plus years of his life. He's lived in Alabama ever since, and his journey has taken him from a football national championship to Nazi gunfire to graduate school to coaching to teaching, writing and educating - and it isn't over yet.

No.134

A healthy heart is found in a youthful body. If you've got one, you've got the other.

Even when Salls' wife, Diane, can't make the hour-long trip to see him at the William F. Green State Veterans' Home, the two still talk on the phone every day. He asks a nurse to call "Lady Di" for him, and he always starts by asking, "How's my sweetheart today?"

Then the former physical education professor and author ensures his sweetheart is still taking all her necessary vitamins.

"He always tells me, 'Darling, are you taking your C and E every day? Because it reaches every cell within your body, and those are very, very important for you,"' Diane said.

In 1962 Don wrote a booklet called "Ten Static Exercises In One Minute" containing a series of simple, six-second exercises. He sold thousands of copies, and he continued to write and educate people about their health even after his retirement in 1981. He even occasionally stopped students to offer simple reminders to eat right and exercise.

In the preface to his book he reminds readers that their lives are precious and encourages them to do everything they can to look after their bodies.

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The Tuscaloosa News


"(Nutrition and exercise) are very important to my precious husband," Diane said.

No.139

Volunteer. Give of yourself and live well with yourself.

After Don feasted on his massive chocolate cake at a birthday celebration at the veteran's home on June 21, he read some of his birthday cards. Many friends and former players expressed gratitude for his kind gestures, but one card brought tears to Diane's eyes.

It was from Bill Kinzy, 82, a former JSU football player under Salls. Kinzy had accepted a walk-on spot in the spring of 1958 and was hoping to somehow get a college education. At the end of the spring, Salls called him to his office.

"He said, 'Son, you've got a scholarship. You've got one as long as you want it,"' Kinzy said. "He's just a special person. He's probably one of the best people I've ever known.

" ... I never did have a daddy. My grandparents raised me. He was sort of a daddy for me.

Kinzy later became a high school football coach, principal and 22-year superintendent, and attributes much of that to the coach who extended a hand to the young man with no money and no home to go back to.

He adds that he wasn't the only one, saying many of Salls' former players have similar stories of how the former coach impacted their lives.

"He loved coaching. He loved to be around the students," Diane said. "He had a very tremendous passion."

Before he served his players for 19 years, Salls served his country. He was awarded a Purple Heart after sustaining a wound to his hand during World War II, and also earned a Bronze Star with an oak leaf cluster for heroic service in a combat zone.

"Don gives of himself every single day by his smiles (and) by his loving, kind words to others," Diane said.

No.144

''Aging is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and only you can decide the kind of person you'll become." - Walter Bortz, M.D.

Ken Gaddy, director of the Bryant Museum, met Don more than 20 years ago, when he came by the museum fairly often. Gaddy said it takes strangers only a moment to see his gentle, kind spirit.

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The Tuscaloosa News


"He's an outgoing guy, fun guy, smile on his face, never-met-a-stranger type of person," Gaddy said.

Two Sundays ago, Don and Diane were sitting in church together and listening to the choir sing old hymns, when Don, already singing along loudly, suddenly started conducting the choir from the congregation. Diane merely smiled and let him be, knowing the joy he was feeling.

Days before his 100th birthday, Diane predicted her husband could live five more years.

"The biggest reason for that is the love of the Lord, the love for people, and just having that love and hope in his heart," Diane said. "Being around someone like that - I mean, it's like they have sunshine in their heart. And he exudes that feeling to others."

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The Tuscaloosa News

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Alabama to add 164 new pre-I{ classrooms Staff report

. .

The state will add 164 new prekindergarten classroOtns in 38 counties this fall under the Alabama First Class Pre-K program.

New classrooms will expand access to the state-funded, voluntary pre-kindergarten program to 21,636 children in the 2019-20 school year, with more than 1,2oz classrooms statewide, moving closer to Alabama's goal of serving up to 70% of eligible 4-year-olds.

The Alabama Legislatureapproved Gov. Kay Ivey's recommended budget increase for the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, which includes the largest ever singleyear expansion of First Class Pre-K.

In addition to funding new classrooms throughout the state, the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education will continue to ensure pay parity for all First Class Pre-K teachers with

the same 4% pay raise as K-12 public school teachers in the upcoming school year.

"Alabama's First Class Pre-K program is truly the model of the nation," Ivey said. "By adding 164 classrooms, we are ensuring more of our youngest learners are getting a strong start to their educational journeys, which will lead them to .an even stronger finish in their· careers. Other states across the country want to emulate what we are doing with early childhood education here in Alabama, and much of that is thanks to the tremendous leadership of Secretary (of Early Childhood Education) Jeana Ross."

A new study shows that students who participate in First Class Pre-K are more likely to be proficient in math and reading, with no evidence of fade out of the benefits of high quality pre-K over time.

These long-term results hold true even after the study con -trolled for student demographics

and other variables such as poverty. Students who attended First Class Pre- K are more likely than other students to be proficient in reading and math, all else equal, and this academic advantage continues into at least middle school.

"Thank you to our state leaders for ensuring that even more children and their families are provided the high quality early learning experiences that will positively impact their educa -tional achievement and future success," Ross said. "We are committed to quality and equity in early childhood education -without compromise."

Pre-K classrooms will be added this fall at Central Elementary, Rock Quarry Elementary, Verner Elementary, Myrtlewood Elementary, Taylorville Primary, Westwood Elementary, Walker Elementary, Buhl Elementary, the Creative Child Development Leraning Center and Shelton State Community College.

11

The Birmingham News


Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill to announce Senate plans on Tuesday By: Mike Cason

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill will announce on Tuesday whether he will run for the

U.S. Senate next year.

Merrill had previously said he would make an announcement before the end of June whether he

will seek the Republican nomination for the seat held by Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat.

U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne of Fairhope, former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore,

former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville, state Rep. Arnold Mooney of

Shelby County, and businessman Stanley Adair of Haleyville have all said they are seeking the

Republican nomination. The primary will be March 3.

Jones, who defeated Moore in a special election in 2017, is running to keep the seat.

Merrill has notified the Federal Election Commission about the formation of a fundraising

committee for the Senate campaign.

Merrill represented a Tuscaloosa district in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 to

2014 before winning the secretary of state's office in 2014. Voters elected him to a second four

year term last year.

Merrill scheduled a press conference for Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol.

12

The Tuscaloosa News


Secretary of State John Merrill will run for U.S. Senate seat

By: Drew Taylor

Secretary of State John Merrill will run in the the Republican primary for Alabama's U.S. Senate seat.

On the steps of the Capitol building in Montgomery on Tuesday, Merrill announced his candidacy. Merrill and others are looking to reclaim the Senate seat from Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who was elected in 2017 in a close race against former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. Merrill will continue to serve as secretary of state during the campaign.

"This is something I have not pursued, but it has pursued me," Merrill said regarding the number of people he says have encouraged him to run for office.

Merrill, a longtime Tuscaloosa resident, has served as Alabama's secretary of state since 2014. He previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 to 2014, representing District 62.

In his campaign announcement, Merrill said he decided to run because he did not see a "proven, conservative reformer" in the pool of candidates. He said he felt like none of the announced candidates could do as good of a job for Alabama as he could.

Specifically, Merrill said Alabama needed someone in the Senate who would support President Donald Trump's agenda, especially when it comes to stopping illegal immigration by building a wall on the Mexican border.

"Until we decide that Democrats are going to quit using the immigration conversation as a cash cow , and until Republicans are going to stop using the immigration conversation as a cash cow to raise money for campaigns, we're not going to get anything done," he said. 'That's what we have to decide: Is it worth it enough to make the difference that we're going to have to make in order to cause this thing to stop, to re-evaluate it and to make sure we're moving forward on that particular order."

In addition, Merrill reiterated a point he has made for a while: Jones does not fully represent the people of Alabama and needs to go.

"I want to ask you to join me as we take back our Senate seat and give it back to the great people of Alabama," he said.

Merrill joins five other candidates running on the Republican ticket for the seat. Last week, Moore announced he would run for the seat again. Other candidates who have

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The Tuscaloosa News

Wednesday,June26,2019

announced their candidacy in the race include former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-lndian Springs), U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne and Haleyville businessman Stanley Adair.

Alabama Rep. Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, publicly endorsed Merrill's campaign, a move Jones said is rare because he has never endorsed any candidates before. Jones and Merrill served together in the House and were office mates for years.

"What I've found from all of that is John has the mind and intellect to get the job done," Jones said.

The Republican primary will be held March 3, 2020. The general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2020.

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The Tuscaloosa News

Sunday,June23,2019

New law will help Medicaid recoup money from estates

By: Mary Sell and Will Whatley

MONTGOMERY-Federal rules allow state Medicaid programs to recover money it spent on

some enrollees after their deaths, including costs for recipients' nursing home care and other

medical care.

But Alabama Medicaid doesn't always find out when a recipient or their spouse dies and their

assets, like their homes, are sold, state officials said.

Now, a new law will require specific notice to Medicaid at the commencement of a probate

proceeding. "I think it's important that we do all we're allowed to do in the Medicaid program to

make it as efficient as possible," bill sponsor Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said this week.

According to the agency, Medicaid's estate recovery program recouped about $522,000 in fiscal

year 2018. The agency will be able'to recover $3 million to $5 million with these new measures,

according to a fiscal note attached to the bill.

The bill requires that Medicaid receive notice when a probate estate is opened in Alabama,

according to Commissioner Stephanie Azar' s office. Before this bill, Medicaid did not receive all

required notices.

States can't recover money from the estate of a deceased Medicaid enrollee who has a surviving

spouse, child under age 21 or a child of any age with a disability.

"When Mr. Jones goes to the rest home and has little income, Mrs. Jones is still in house," Orr

said. "We're not going to kick anyone out."

But later, when Mr. and Mrs. Jones are deceased, Orr said, their house may get sold.

"But Medicaid wasn't getting notified and has no way to recoup its expenditures on Mr. Jones'

healthcare.

" ... If someone had a significant asset like a house, why should the government be responsible

for paying all their medical care expenses?" Medicaid is the state's largest non-education

expense and one that grows almost every year.

"On the cost of Medicaid, as far as the General Fund budget, one of the things we want to do is

lessen the abuse of the system," bill co-sponsor Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, said Thursday.

"There were individuals and citizens who work the system, creating an abuse situation." Senate

Bill 76 was approved in the Senate 30-to-0 and in the House 98-to-3. "Anytime we can save

Medicaid money, that helps the budgets and the greater need so that those who truly need the

help can receive it," Orr said. "We do not have endless resources."

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The Tuscaloosa News


'True Justice' explores lawyer who defends death row inmates

By: Russell Contreras

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson rarely slows down, friends and family say. It seems he's always looking over details on death penalty cases from his Montgomery, Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative. If he's not speaking on the criminalization of black men, Stevenson is researching another historical site connected to an episode of racial violence.

But a new HBO documentary on Stevenson attempts to get him to sit, speak and explain why he believes the legacy of lynchings of African Americans in the U.S. is directly linked to those who have wrongly been put on death row. In his mind, racial structures of oppression have remained in the U.S. judicial system since the Jim Crowera and the death penalty is merely their direct descendant.

"Most people don't know about our history of lynching," Stevenson told The Associated Press in a phone interview shortly after receiving news Friday that the Supreme Court had overturned the death sentence for Curtis Flowers , a Mississippi black man. "People have never been required to talk about it. But when you sit and think about it, the correlation is there."

Stevenson said the white lynch mob transformed into a formal judicial process in which often white prosecutors, white judges and largely white juries are tasked with deciding if a poor, black male accused of a crime is sentenced to death.

"True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality," set to air Wednesday on HBO, shows how the Harvard-trained attorney is now dedicating his life to forcing the U.S. to face the violence experienced by its communities of color.

The Delaware-born Stevenson gained national attention in 1993 after he helped exonerate Walter McMillian, a 46-year-old black pulpwood worker on death row. McMillian had been sentenced to death for the 1986 fatal shooting of an 18-year-old white woman in an Alabama town where Harper Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird." But Stevenson was able to prove that a key witness had lied and prosecutors withheld important evidence.

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The Tuscaloosa News


The attorney then helped exonerate Anthony Ray Hinton in 2015, an African American man who spent 30 years on death row in Alabama after he was convicted for the 1985 slaying of two fast-food managers. Stevenson was able to show that experts could prove Hinton's mother's gun, the one prosecutor said was using in the killings, couldn't have been the one used in the shooting.

In the documentary, Hinton talks about sitting on death row and being forced to smell the burning flesh of other inmates in the electric chair as a jail guard taunted him.

The film comes as the country prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of "Red Summer" - a period in 1919 when white mobs attacked and murdered African Americans in dozens of cities across the U.S. Hundreds of African Americans, some still in their World War I uniforms, were lynched, tortured and forced from homes amid heightened racial tensions and the rise of the revived Ku Klux Klan.

It also comes as Latino academics and activists with the group Refusing to Forget are working to educate the public on violence committed by white mobs and the Texas Rangers that claimed thousands of people of Mexican descent in the American Southwest from 1910 to 1920.

Stevenson said he hopes the documentary helps other communities of color think about how they can memorialize historical sites connect to their unique past. But he said African Americans have a distinct history connected to slavery and that should not be ignored.

"This kind of lawlessness affected all kinds of communities of color," Stevenson said. "But it's not the same. Lynching starts with enslavement. Black people didn't come-here as immigrants."

"True Justice" will be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, and other streaming platforms.

17

The Tuscaloosa News

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Fake Uber driver facing new charges By Stephanie Taylor/ Staff Writer

The Northport man who admitted he posed as an Uber driver to pick up intoxicated young

women was arrested on new charges Friday.

Investigators say they've identified a total of three women targeted by Tommy Wayne Beard, 62.

He's now charged with two counts of kidnapping and impersonating a ride share driver, under a

new law passed last year.

After his first arrest involving a 22-year-old college student found unconscious in his back seat

in March, Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit investigators searched Beard's home and electronic

devices and found evidence identifying two additional victims. They had spoken with one of the

women before, when she called police at least a year ago.

"One of the victims was discovered walking out of the woods in that part of the county and we

didn't know what happened to her," said TCVU assistant commander Capt. Kip Hart. "She

didn't know what happened to her."

Investigators found evidence at Beard's home that connected him to that woman, Hart said. The

other woman's information was found on Beard's phone, he said.

Tommy Beard, the man accused of posing as an Uber driver and luring inebriated college

students into his car, was taken into custody by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Friday,

March 8, 2019.

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit investigators Amy Randolph, Keith Hamner and Matt Duncan

escort Tommy Wayne Beard to jail Friday. [Staff photo/Stephanie Taylor]



March 8, 2019.

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit investigators Amy Randolph, Keith Hamner and Matt Duncan

escort Tommy Wayne Beard to jail Friday.

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Saturday, June 22, 2019



March 8, 2019.

Beard was first arrested in March a few days after Tuscaloosa County Sheriffs deputies found

an unconscious University of Alabama student in his back seat. The deputies were patrolling

U.S. Highway 43 North and saw his vehicle parked on the side of the highway near the

intersection of Wallace Drive, less than a quarter mile from Beard's home.

Deputies awakened the woman, a 22-year-old student who from out-of-state, who said she last

remembered being at a downtown bar. Beard admitted he had posed as an Uber driver and

picked her up, investigators said.

The deputies seized "fully erect artificial male genitalia" Beard was wearing, a bottle of hair

conditioner, his cell phone and an Uber vehicle mounted light from the vehicle. They also found

a loaded gun. The officers found photos of another young woman on his phone.

Beard was allowed to go home, but investigators obtained a warrant to charge him with first

degree kidnapping a few days later on March 8. He bonded out of jail the same day on $45,000

bond. A grand jury that heard the evidence issued indictments affirming the felony first-degree

kidnapping charge and adding the felony second-degree kidnapping and misdemeanor charge of

impersonating a transportation network service driver.

A grand jury reviewed evidence in the case and issued indictments charging him with first

degree kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping and the impersonation charge.

Hart said Beard could face more charges as the investigation continues.

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The Tuscaloosa News


Hoping for clarity, NCAA adjusts transfer waiver guidelines

By: Ralph D. Russo

Following fresh concerns about the handling of athletes switching schools, the NCAA approved

several adjustments Wednesday to the guidelines used to determine when waivers can be granted

to transfers seeking immediate eligibility to play.

The adjustments approved by the Division I council will require schools requesting a waiver for

an incoming transfer to provide more documentation to support the argument - and more

detailed verification of athletes' claims about why they are leaving the original school.

"The overall goal of these adjustments was to provide the membership with as much information

and knowledge and education as to what they need to be including in their waiver requests," said

Brandy Hataway, NCAA director of academic and membership affairs. "I don't know ifl'd say

it's extra (information). A lot of it is information that was already being requested in the process.

It's just now letting schools know on the front end rather than them submitting their requests and

staff going back to them and saying we need x, y, z."

The move comes 14 months after a directive helped clear the way for immediate eligibility for all

approved requests. Previously, the legislative relief available to athletes requesting a transfer

waiver was a sixth year of eligibility. Only in cases where the student was a victim of egregious

behavior by a school could immediate eligibility be granted.

Since the change, high-profile cases involving quarterbacks Shea Patterson of Michigan and

Justin Fields of Ohio State have been decided in favor of the players. But the overall rate of

approval of waiver requests during that time has been about the same as previous years.

What has gone up significantly is the number of waiver requests.

Attorney Tom Mars, who has worked on waivers for Patterson, Fields and other college athletes,

said "massive, widespread confusion" about why waivers are granted has caused the uptick in

requests. He said he gets two or three calls and email a day from parents and head coaches

seeking assistance.

"More often than not, the parents and coaches asking for my help have already convinced

themselves that the student-athlete they want me to represent should get a waiver just because

some other player they read about was given one," Mars told AP in an email. "On top of that,

some head coaches have been putting undue pressure on their compliance staff to pursue waiver

requests that don't stand a chance of being granted."

The waiver process affects football and basketball players more often because those sports do not

allow students to transfer without having to sit out a season at their new school. In most of the

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so-called Olympic sports, athletes are allowed to use a one-time exception to the so-called year

in-residence rule and play right away.

The year-in-residence rule was debated and examined anew by college sports administrators in

2017 and '18. A package of transfer rules reforms passed last year by the NCAA- separate

from the change to the waiver process - left the status quo in place. Sitting out a season was

still required for most transfers in high-profile sports.

Changing the waiver rules to allow the opportunity for more athletes to become immediately

eligible seemed like a compromise move, but it has only led to more complaints about how the

waivers are granted. There was recent criticism of the NCAA after the denial of a waiver to

Illinois tight end Luke Ford, who says he transferred from Georgia to be closer to home because

of ailing grandparents.

The latest changes focus on the four guidelines (out of 13) most frequently cited in waiver cases:

Claims of athletes being run off a team by a coach; claims of egregious behavior by the original

school; injured or ill immediate family member; and injury or illness to the athlete.

The changes could lead to fewer requests being granted since it appears to raise the bar on what

is required by a school to make a case for immediate eligibility for an athlete. Hataway said the

measure approved by the council was not meant to curb the number of approvals and a review of

the guidelines is annually done by the committee.

"Most of what's in here is what was already being done," she said .. "It's just putting it in writing

so that way the members would have better clarification on the front end."

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The Birmingham News


Mitsubishi moving North America headquarters from California to Tennessee By: Associated Press

Mitsubishi Motors announced on Tuesday that it is relocating its North America headquarters from California to Tennessee, a move that will bring the Japanese automaker closer to its sister company Nissan and strengthen Tennessee's growing reputation as an epicenter of the automotive sector.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe - who made the announcement with Mitsubishi Motors North America- say the headquarters move from Cypress, California, to Franklin, Tennessee, will result in an $18.25 million investment in the region and approximately 200 jobs.

Lee and Rolfe added that they met with Mitsubishi's global executives last week to convince them to move to Tennessee while in Japan during the Republican governor's first trade mission. It is unclear what financial incentives state officials offered Mitsubishi to move to Tennessee.

"As we drive toward the future, this is the perfect time for us to move to a new home. While we say farewell to the Golden State with a heavy heart, we're excited to say hello to Music City," Fred Diaz, Mitsubishi Motors North America's president and CEO, said in a statement.

Franklin is located just south of Nashville, also known as "Music City," and is home to the state's most powerful Republicans, ranging from Gov. Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackbum and House Speaker Glen Casada.

Mitsubishi's relocation announcement is the latest move in an industry that has found a warm reception in recent years in the American South, where politicians tend to take a dim view of labor unions and aggressive regulation.

"Over the years, Tennessee has become the epicenter of the Southeast's thriving automotive sector, and I'm proud Mitsubishi Motors will call Franklin its U.S. home and bring 200 highquality jobs to Middle Tennessee," Lee, who took over the office this year, said in a statement.

Mitsubishi Motors' North America headquarters has been located in California since 1988. The company expects the relocation will begin in August and will be completed by the end of the year. Initially, a temporary office will handle operations to allow the company time to identify a permanent office.

Company officials say the move is part an ongoing effort to "reinvent every aspect of Mitsubishi Motors in the U.S.," as well as strengthen the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.

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The Birmingham News Friday, June 28, 2019

Nissan has a production plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, and owns a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors.

Last week, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. shareholders approved the ouster of Carlos Ghosn, who was pivotal in the Japanese automaker's three-way partnership with Nissan and French automaker Renault until he was arrested on financial misconduct charges last year. Ghosn says he is innocent.

Mitsubishi shareholders then approved the appointment of Renault's chairman Jean-Dominique Senard to replace Ghosn. Renault owns 43% of Nissan.

Mitsubishi has also faced its own scandals.

In 2016, the company disclosed it falsified mileage data. That followed a massive cover-up over decades of auto defects thought to have helped cause a fatal accident. In 2004, its president, Katsuhiko Kawasoe, was arrested. He was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years, and did not serve time in jail.

Along with the Nissan plant, German automaker Volkswagen operates a plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee - the state's fourth most-populated city. The company unveiled earlier this year an $800 million expansion at the Tennessee plant, which is expected to create 1,000 jobs for electric vehicle production beginning in 2022. It's set to receive $50 million in state incentives.

Recently, Volkswagen workers voted against forming a factory-wide union-handing a blow to the United Auto Workers' efforts to gain a foothold among foreign auto facilities in the South.

Meanwhile, General Motors also has a large manufacturing plant in Tennessee. Additionally, more than 900 auto suppliers, including large ones such as Hankook Tire and Bridgestone Americas, operate in Tennessee.

Tennessee officials say the state has the fastest rate of headquarter job growth among states in the Southeast.

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The Birmingham News


What to know about construction at Jacksonville State University this summer By: William Thornton

It's been 16 months since an EF-3 tornado hit the campus at Jacksonville State University,

causing roughly $100 million in damage. Even now, more than a year later, construction is still

taking place, with everything from roof replacement to new classrooms happening.

The tornado struck the Calhoun County campus ori March 19, 2018, severely damaging 23

buildings and impacting 50 more. However, since it was during Spring Break, no one was

injured.

It's been 16 months since an EF-3 tornado hit the campus at Jacksonville State University,

causing roughly $100 million in damage. Even now, more than a year later, construction is still

taking place, with everything from roof replacement to new classrooms happening.

The tornado struck the Calhoun County campus on March 19, 2018, severely damaging 23

buildings and impacting 50 more. However, since it was during Spring Break, no one was

injured.

As many as 40 buildings on campus needed new roofs. One was Bibb Graves Hall.

Want to know what's up at other Alabama schools? College Construction 2019

Other buildings, such as Logan Hall, had more substantial damage. In this photo taken right after

the storm, the effects of the storm are apparent. Logan, the three-story residence hall for

freshman females, is now repaired and refurbished.

Logan Hall was ready for students by' the fall of 2018.

The tallest building on campus, Houston Cole Library, needed roof repairs and sustained damage

to its 11th and 12th floors. You can see scaffolding on the top.

One place where you can see how the school was able to take the storm damage and use it to

modernize some buildings on campus is at Maso� Hall. Work is currently taking place at this

home of the David L. Walters Department of Music, the Department of Family and Consumer

Science and JSU's famous Southerners and Marching Ballerinas.

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The Birmingham News


When the tornado came through campus, it ripped the roof off Mason Hall and tore all the

HV AC units out of the walls, leaving severe water damage inside the building to the tune of

about $4 million.

JSU kept only the structure and the roof-top HV AC units and is building a new Department of

Music. It will have all new elevators and wheelchair accessible restrooms, a performance center

with fixed seating and theatrical lighting, and a loading dock.

Another illustration of how the storm changed campus is at Stephenson Hall, which is getting a

40-year, impact-resistant asphalt shingle roof. Instead of it being fastened with two nails, needs

six, and it's going be a different kind of nail that the building had before. Instead of a 15-pound

felt mat underneath the roof, the building has a 30-pound felt.

Brewer Hall was in the midst of being renovated when the storm struck. It lost some windows,

had some roof and brick facade damage. However, much of the renovation work was not

impacted by the tornado.

The building's classrooms have new lighting and tiles, a computer lab, theater-style seats, movie

screens and speakers,

Pete Mathews Coliseum reopened in December for basketball games, but it is getting upgrades

including new locker rooms, training rooms, referee suites, a swimming pool and auxiliary gym.

The storm did not impact one major project going on at JSU - the construction of its 102,000-

square-foot, $32 million Recreation and Fitness Center, located on the southeast comer of

campus.

Turner Construction collaborated on the project with architect Moody Nolan and civil engineer

4Site. Construction began in October 2017 and finished this February. Turner continued work on

the project as cleanup efforts took place across the campus, completing the facility ahead of

schedule while managing various project changes.

The facility, with a mostly glass exterior, includes four gymnasiums, a weight and fitness area, a

wellness center, an elevated walking track, racquetball courts, a small leisure pool and

whirlpool, a 40-plus-foot climbing wall, group exercise studios and locker rooms. There is also a

lounge area where students can gather between classes.

Another facility which took no damage from the storm was Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case

Stadium, which was also under construction at the time.

The stadium includes a 1,000 seat spectator grandstand with a shade canopy, seven VIP suites,

press box to include radio and television broadcast booths and a game operations center. There's

also a new clubhouse, locker room, lounge, team meeting area and athletic training treatment

area.

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The Birmingham News Friday, June 28, 2019

The stadium was dedicated last September.

Probably the most visible reminder of the storm is Merrill Hall, the former home of JSU's School

of Business and Industry. The building, which was damaged beyond repair, will be demolished

beginning July 22, the school announced this week.

The building opened in 1970 and housed a 44-foot tall, 17-foot wide mosaic, titled "The

Fountain of Leaming," which came through the storm and was disassembled and put into

storage. JSU officials say it will eventually be reinstalled in a future home. The school has

moved into the former Kitty Stone Elementary School, where it will remain until a permanent

home is built.

As for a new building, JSU is considering a design similar to Merrill's large glass window design

that was a campus showpiece.

Lurleen B. Wallace Hall, which housed the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is also

going to have to come down. However, JSU officials are uncertain as to when. It could happen

following the demolition of Merrill Hall. The nursing school is now at the former RMC

Jacksonville Hospital.

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The Tuscaloosa News


Shelton State to offer prekindergarten classes By: Drew Taylor

For the first time, Shelton State Community College will offer pre-kindergarten classes for a select group of students.

From now until July 1, Shelton State's child development program will be taking applications for its own First Class Pre-K program, available through a grant from the Alabama State Department of Education. This year, Shelton State will select 36 students to take part in two classes.

On July 1, a random lottery will be held, and selected families will be notified by email and phone calls about whether their children were selected or not.

Holly Glasgow, child development instructor at Shelton, said that the college previously had a kindergarten program for children up to s years old, but that it closed in 2000. With the state devoting more money toward pre-K programs the last few years, Glasgow saw an opportunity.

"For me, it's important that as a community college, we are building in our community," Glasgow said. "We get to really focus on what our community needs."

In both Tuscaloosa City Schools and the Tuscaloosa County School Systems, preK programs are growing, but there are only so many slots available for students. Toward the end of the 2018-19 school year, TCS had 150 children on a waiting list to get into one of the school system's programs while TCSS had nearly 400

students on the waiting list.

No information was available Thursday on how many students would be in both systems' programs this coming school year.

Each year, the state has added more money to the First Class budget in order to provide more classrooms and teachers for pre-K programs. At the end of the last regular session of the Alabama Legislature this spring, Gov. Kay Ivey approved a new budget with an additional $25 million that would add 164 new pre-K classrooms across Alabama, bringing the total number of classrooms to 1,202.

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At TCS, new classrooms have been added at Central, Rock Quarry, Verner, Arcadia and Southview elementary schools while TCSS received new classrooms at Myrtlewood, Taylorville, Westwood, Walker and Buhl elementary schools.

In a few years, the First Class budget has grown to more than $96 million. Through the recent expansion, nearly 21,000 students will be served in some form of pre-K program.

"Alabama's First Class Pre-K program is truly the model of the nation," Ivey said in a written statement announcing the expansion. "By adding 164 classrooms, we are ensuring more of our youngest learners are getting a strong start to their educational journeys, which will lead them to an even stronger finish in their careers. Other states across the country want to emulate what we are doing with early childhood education here in Alabama, and much of that is thanks to the tremendous leadership of [Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education] Secretary Jeana Ross."

Glasgow said the teachers in Shelton's program would be students in the child development program who are learning to become early childhood teachers.

"We're turning out new teachers for them, but we have to make sure we are meeting the needs of units," she said.

Glasgow said she believes getting children involved in pre-K is a valuable part of ensuring early success for students.

"It gives children a foothold in education that is a positive experience," she said. "This gives us the opportunity to set that foundation so that they love to come to school and that they are well taken care of."

For more information on the program, visit www.sheltonstate.edu/prek.

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The Tuscaloosa News


MR. GOLF: Sucher's tie for 2nd in Travelers a pleasant surprise By Ian Thompson

Zack Sucher has struggled mightily with injuries the last few years, so it was a major, and

pleasant, surprise when he put his game, and body, back together and posted a tie for second in

the Travelers Championship, that concluded Sunday in Hartford, Connecticut.

The former UAB standout golfer had been showing signs his game was coming around, with

some recent top finishes on the Web.com Tour (now called the Korn Ferry Tour), but still the

Mobile native had to be over the moon with his top PGA Tour finish by far, four back of

champion Chez Reavie. Sucher' s previous best was a tie for 20th in 2015 and just playing in any golf event until recently looked a bridge too far.

"First year I can remember in a long time where I'm pain-free and it's feeling really good. It's

nice to be out here," Sucher told www.pgatour.com.

Constant pain in his left leg has been an issue for years and two years ago to the week he needed

major surgery on his left ankle and knee and that sidelined him for more than a year. In 10 Korn

Ferry Tour tournaments this year, he has two top tens, along with three PGA Tour starts.

"The last few years I had on the (Korn Ferry Tour) were a bit of a struggle," said Sucher, who

has a win and 13 other top 10s on that circuit. "And every time I made it here (he's had PGA

Tour status in 2015 and 2017), it seemed the harder I worked, the more the left leg would hurt."

However, courtesy of a sponsor exemption to get into the field and his stellar play in the

tournament, all has changed with his top two at the Travelers. He finished at 13-under-par and

his year and career is now really looking up.

State Girls Junior

The 56th Girls State Junior Championship at Goose Pond Colony Resort (Lake Course) in

Scottsboro starts today and will be played through Wednesday.

Many eyes will be on defending champion, Michaela Morard of Huntsville, who won last year by 14 shots, carding an overall score of 205 (-11) at Montgomery Country Club. She is a 2020 University of Alabama golf team commit.

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U.S. Junior qualifier

Congrats to Garrison Guthrie of Auburn and Tyler Lipscomb of Carrollton, Georgia, who

advanced from sectional qualifying, hosted by The Country Club of Birmingham (West Course)

on Wednesday, to the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, to be played at Inverness Club in

Toledo, Ohio, July 15-20.

They both shot one-under-par 70's to claim the two spots on offer.

Price Brown of Mobile, Thomas Fischer of Birmingham, and Evans Gross of Birmingham all

shot 71 and had a three-way playoff for the alternate positions. Brown made par on the first

playoff hole to become the first alternate and Fischer made birdie on the second playoff hole to

become the second alternate.

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The Tuscaloosa News

Saturday,June 15,2019

Alabama adds Ramirez to swim team staff

Staff report . amonnt of experience both . as a coach and as a champi-

Alabam'a fi rst- year · onshipdiverinhisownright. swim coach Coley Stickels I have no doubt that he will announced this week the add to Alabama's amazing addition of Rio Ramirez legacyofdivingexcellence." to his staff as the Crimson A five-time confer-Tide's diving coach. ence coach of the year,

"We're excited to have Rio Ramirez joins the Tide folon board to lead our diving lowing seven seasons as contingent," Stickels said. FIU's diving coach, where "He brings a tremendous he mentored Olympians,

All-Americans, conference divers of the year and conference champi ons while helping the Panthers to five-straight conference team titles.

"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to be part of the Barna family," Ramirez said. "I am looking forward to building on the legacy that characterizes

this great University and this amazing team."

A four-time NCAA champion during his career at the University of Miami who broke the NCAA Championships record off the platform (901.60 points), he brings a wealth ofexperience atthehighest levels of diving to the Tide' s staff.

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The Tuscaloosa News


Alabama players leading way for US softball teams By: Staff Report

Four Alabama standouts donned the red, white and blue over the past week for international competition representing USA Softball.

Four-time All-American Haylie McCleney and the USA Women's National Team played a three-game series against Japan, while rising sophomores Montana Fouts and Skylar Wallace and incoming freshman Alexis Kilfoyl traveled to Paris, with the U-19 National Team for four games at the Achille Challenge before heading to Dublin, Ireland, for a game against the Irish national team.

Wallace started all four games in the Achille Challenge, hitting .364 (4-for-11) with three RBIs and three runs scored. In a lopsided 11-2 victory over the French team, she was named the game's MVP after a 2-for-3 day at the leadoff spot, including a three-run triple. In a rematch against France to close out the weekend, she went 2-for-4 with a double, a pair of walks and two runs scored. In a contest against Ireland following the Achille Challenge, she smashed a fourthinning grand slam in the eventual 13-0 victory.

Fouts started in the circle in the Achille Challenge game against Japan, tossing three shutout innings to earn the win, allowing just three hits. She earned her second win of the week in the game against Ireland, going nine-up, nine-down over three innings with seven strikeouts. Kilfoyl tossed four innings as part of a combined shutout over France, fanning four with just one hit and one walk surrendered.

McCleney started all three games in the Japan All-Star Series, rebounding from a 6-4 loss in game one with a 7-2 victory in game two before falling 1-0 in extrainnings in the series rubber match Tuesday inside the Tokyo Dome. The Morris,Alabama, native, currently in her sixth season with Team USA, earned a pair ofhits and drew a walk across the three-game series.

Both teams return to the United States July 1-7 for the USA Softball International Cup in Columbus, Georgia.

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The Tuscaloosa News


Alabama's Nate Oats says waiver process for Quinerly

may be "more difficult"

By: Cecil Hurt

University of Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats said on Thursday that new NCAA guideline

recommendations regarding the issuance of transfer waivers could make an appeal by Crimson

Tide guard Jahvon Quinerly "more difficult," but added that Quinerly, who transferred from

Villanova and is seeking a waiver related to false accusations that arose in the Federal fraud trial

of former Arizona assistant coach Book Richardson, "has a great case."

Oats was speaking on the SEC's summer basketball teleconference along with the league's other

13 coaches.

"I'm guessing it will make it more difficult," Oats said when asked about the guidelines, which

are designed to bring more standardization to the unpredictable waiver process. "I don't really

know. It seems like they fluctuate every couple of years. They say they're going to get more

strict, and they get more strict for a year or two and then all of a sudden, they start granting a lot

more waivers and then they get back to being more strict. So, I'm hoping we just caught the bad

end of the pendulum swing with that."

Quinerly, a 2018 McDonald's All-American, is currently enrolled at UA and going through

skills work with the Crimson Tide team. He would need an NCAA waiver in order to be eligible

for the 2019-2020 season.

"I do think he's got a really good case," Oats said. "Our compliance office thinks he has a great

case with just being accused of being put under the spotlight of that FBI when their family had

nothing to do with that. It's (unfortunate) that somebody else lied about him and he was put in a

precarious situation that affected his freshman year in a real negative light.

"He needs a fresh start. It's not one of those deals, though, where he's going back close to home,

so I don't know how it will affect it. I'm going to let our compliance handle that. I think

Jahvon's in a great place. Hopefully, we'll get him to play. If not, he's going to be working hard,

and we're going to get him a lot better if he's not able to play this year. So, either way, we'll be

alright."

Oats also commented on another transfer guard, Beetle Bolden of West Virginia, who arrived on

campus last weekend.

"Beetle was held out of the first workout just as they were getting some stuff from West

Virginia stating he had graduated," Oats said. "He's actually coming off some injuries at West

Virginia, so he's h,eld him out of some of the live stuff just to ease him back into everything. But

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he doesn't miss much. In all the shooting drills, he's immediately one of the best shooters on the

team, which that's the biggest reason we brought him in -because we needed shooting.

"He's also a leader. He's our only senior on the team, and he's vocal. Even when he's not in the

drills, he's been pretty vocal. His freshman and sophomore years, they won a lot of games at

West Virginia, so he knows how to win. Hopefully, we can get him healthy, he can bring us

some shooting and some leadership and help us win a lot of games next year."

Oats continues to express optimism about the upcoming season.

"Obviously, we've got a somewhat new roster," he said. "I think seven out our 13 guys will be

new (with) six returning guys. I like our talent. It's great that Kira Lewis is playing on the USA

U19 Team (in the FIBA U-19 World Cup in Greece beginning on Saturday.) That will give him

some great experience. He's one of the better point guards in the country, so it's nice to walk in

your first year and have a really talented point guard, especially with the way that we play and

how fast we play, and he's one of the better transition point guards in the country.

"We've got four juniors (John Petty, Herb Jones, Alex Reese and Galin Smith) and I think those

guys came in as a pretty heralded class -they came in with Collin Sexton, and he's been in the

NBA. So, hopefully, these four will play with a little bit more of a chip on their shoulder.

They've got something to prove."

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The Birmingham News Wednesday, June 26, 2019

How Alabama's 2-for-1 football series with

South Florida is structured

By: Michael Casagrande

The one-off contract games have been part of Alabama's schedule for years. Home-and-homes returned to future schedules a year ago and now details of the Crimson Title's first two-for-one deal are coming into focus.

The series with South Florida, which includes home games in 2024 and 2026 with a trip to Tampa in 2023, was announced May 23. The contract obtained through an open records request shows a little more about how this agreement is structured.

Like in the home and-home with Notre Dame, both schools will pay the visitors for making the trip for away games. Alabama-USP is different because there isn't symmetry in the arrangement.

South Florida will play Alabama $400,000 for the 2023 game in Tampa. Alabama will then pay USF $400,000 for the first Tuscaloosa game in 2024. Then for the second visit, South Florida will receive $1 million.

A few other specifics:

Tickets: The visiting team will be allotted 5,000 tickets including seats for marching bands

Cancelation fees: There are also penalties should either side back out of the deal. The deal calls for $1.5 million per game not played if cancelled 18 months before kickoff and $2 million inside 18 months.

Conference scheduling: Immediately after the cancelation clause is a paragraph dealing with conference scheduling. Since these games are scheduled well in the future, there's always a chance the respective conferences could change the required number of league games. The SEC has considered nine-game schedules to replace the current eight-game requirement. Well, if either conference changes the minimum requirement for league games that would impact the playing of Alabama-USP games, the two schools agree "to discuss in good faith a future date(s) for the game( s) to be played."

Officials: Referees for games played in Tuscaloosa will be assigned by the SEC and the game in Tampa will be assigned by the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

Alabama and South Florida have met just once previously. A 40-17 Tide win in 2003 was the first game of the Mike Shula era and the last Alabama game played in Legion Field.

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