Happy Gump Day everyone. Unfortunately, we open this one with some sad news.
He developed close relationships with all of Alabama’s coaches, including Nick Saban and most recently Kalen DeBoer. On his radio show in 2013, Saban joked: “Let me say this about Eddie, he’s a part of Alabama football tradition. He’s been doing this for 53 years. But this guy is a double agent. You have to take the flag down and throw it if it’s against the offense. Now he’ll throw them against the defense. I’ve had to threaten him since I’ve been here.”
Alabama Director of Sports Medicine Jeff Allen paid tribute to Conyers, writing: “We lost a true Alabama legend today. Eddie Conyers was a remarkable man who was a part of this program from Coach Bryant’s early years through this season. I will always cherish the conversations we had in practice over the past 19 seasons. He loved Alabama and he loved our players.”
Eddie was an icon in Tuscaloosa. We will miss him.
Charles Bediako has proven to be the difference maker for the basketball team, and his trial is growing more ridiculous by the day.
“Neither Mr. Bediako nor his lawyers have the slightest doubt that this Court would preside over this matter with anything other than fairness and impartiality,” the document reads.
Bediako’s defense argued that since the University of Alabama is not a party to this lawsuit and Judge Roberts has no “financial relationship” with Bediako, the court is not violating judicial ethics.
The plaintiff’s response also noted that the NCAA’s request was based on extensive media scrutiny, including a variety of “unflattering” Reddit posts regarding Judge Roberts, and described members of the anonymous website’s community as “informed and reasoned observers.”
Among the usernames included in the exhibits provided by the NCAA in its recusal motion, Bediako’s response highlighted “m5fer,” “WitOfTheIrish” and “auditirt.”
Regardless of what one thinks about the merits of the case, a lawyer citing Reddit comments is patently absurd. This is an unserious argument. Maybe Roberts will recuse himself, but every other justice on this court has degrees from Alabama.
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We got a glimpse of early enrollee QB Jett Thomalla during playoff practice. He was awarded a fifth star by Rivals.
“The more we looked at the quarterback group, outside of the top two being Jared Curtis and Keisean Henderson, we felt more and more that Jett Thomalla had made a very good case as the No. 3 quarterback in the cycle,” wrote the scout of rivals. Thomalla had a fantastic senior season, threw 58 touchdowns, he is Nebraska’s best QB prospect in recent memory.
“While he played on a loaded team that really didn’t play many close games in 2025, when you look at the arm talent and the ability to make tough throws, I’m not sure anyone other than Curtis and Henderson has filmed better tough throws than Thomalla.”
You can check out highlights from Thomalla’s senior season below.
He certainly looks the part.
Jett is unlikely to win the 2026 QB competition, which will be closely watched throughout camp.
Ty Simpson led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff and has the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft thanks to a shallow quarterback class. That leaves the starting job open in Tuscaloosa.
Redshirt junior Austin Mack and redshirt freshman Keelon Russell are the two leading candidates. Mack served as the Crimson Tide’s backup last season and was forced into action in the Rose Bowl when Simpson fractured a rib during the game. Russell was the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 recruiting cycle and the QB is considered by many to be the future of the program.
Mack completed 24 of 32 attempts for 228 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. Russell completed 11 of 15 for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Russell probably has the higher ceiling, but Mack has spent more time on offense.
Alabama also signed two quarterbacks during the 2026 recruiting cycle: top-100 prospect Jett Thomalla and three-star Tayden Kaawa.
Finally, there are rumors of another targeting foul that would not result in the ejection.
“If we get to that point, we have to be very good in our definition of what a blatant targeting call is,” Shaw said. “The guiding principle is that we cannot go backwards on targeting. It will be an interesting discussion in the rules committee and the commissioners will be part of that discussion as well.”
Jon Steinbrecher, MAC commissioner and chairman of the College Football Officiating (CFO) board, is open to the conversation, he told Yahoo Sports.
“It’s a very harsh sanction but it was effective,” Steinbrecher said. “Anyone who wants to do something else, I want to hear the conversation about that.”
This is similar to basketball where you have a “flagrant 1” and a “flagrant 2”. The first marker for me would be whether the offending player has his head down. This is dangerous for both parties and should continue to attract full punishment.
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That’s about it for now. Have a good day.
Rolling tide.
