What is the biggest event in Birmingham, AL? Plus bring money to this city? Every year!

Maybe if I were born in Alabama, I would understand the attitudes the fans of these two great schools have towards each other. The dynamics around my house aren't much better, as my wife is Bama,Big Al crazy; and my daughter is Auburn, War Eagle insane. As the one sane person in the house (my opinion only and often challenged) I find myself liking both teams. It hasn't always been this way, as I was an Auburn fan while Shula was around (couldn't stand him), converting to Bama as someone who likes Saban; never really liked Tubbs either (something about that smirk he would get, probably reminded me of myself) but I tolerated him, but now Malzahn comes aboard and I like him also. Now I will pull for both until Iron Bowl and then I will have to make a decision.That's my story-now here's my complaint- you people,both groups of fans, are way too rude to each other! A little prodding and crowing is okay-most of us enjoy that and that makes the game good - BUT- the behaviors I have seen go over the line.Serious name calling and arguing, not limited to the males of our species either. My observation while unscientific, tends to lean towards the ladies being more vocal and harsh.The behaviors I saw this season would make your mothers ashamed. The question is-WHY? Most states are lucky to have one team consistently viewed as a national contender, yet Alabama has two and Troy is looking better also. Having grown up north of here in a city that isn't known for college football, but spends a fortune and has intense rivalry similar to that associated to Texas for high school football, I can't understand the problem. Maybe you expect too much, or just take winning for granted. It shouldn't be that way. Many years ago I took a lot of "stuff" (censors-you know what I wanted to say) because I decided to support an NFL team that had a new quarterback from the south. Of course I could have chosen Dallas like every one else, but I liked this big old goofy redneck and I never was good at just following along with the crowd. Boy was it bad for a while, until we started winning. Long story short, I never got mad at those folks and didn't offend anyone, but I did have that Tuberville smirk as Bradshaw and crew won Super Bowl after Super Bowl. Point is, enjoy your game, support your team, but don't be offensive. Either team wins- state and residents of Alabama win. If you need someone to cuss, there's always USC, UCLA, Ohio State, and others, but this should be one BIG football loving family. Looking forward to next year and I don't want to have to choose to support SLIPPERY ROCK to have a good time without being offensive or rude.

ps-didn't mean to leave out UAB-they need our support too! and think about it-we're much better at cussin' those yankees and west coasters than our own!

     No offense to the proud people of New Orleans, but it's good to be home!  My six days in the Big Easy were certainly eventful:  How about a few thoughts on the Bourbon Street Beatdown, the additions to the Auburn coaching staff and other thoughts swimming around inside my brain?

     Perhaps I should have seen it coming:  A Utah Utes team that had all the motivation in the world (see: sportscasters like me going gaga over Saban & his football team) taking a confused Alabama team to the woodshed.  Don't tell me that a decimated UA offensive line did not contribute to the loss. There were so many new faces at different positions it looked like a day at the local auto plant.  Did the Utes have anything to do with it? You Betcha!... I was very impressed with Utah QB Brian Johnson and DE Paul Krugar. After talking with both, I found them to be smart, witty and well-behaved...  When Kruger blasted by OT Mike Johnson early in the Sugar Bowl to sack JP Wilson, I'm thinking 'This could be a long night for the Tide'- (and it was)... Is Andre Smith to blame for the Alabama loss? As my co-hort Mike Dubberly says, Andre doesn't play defense... Was it really  Andre's uncle who is to blame for all of this NCAA mess?  I am told that Andre Smith was in tears as he was sent home last week...  Downtown New Orleans is certainly back, but outlying areas still sport the struggles from Hurricane Katrina... To me, Javier Arenas looked like one of the few Alabama players who truly wanted to win the Sugar Bowl... Terrance Cody tells me he got some wild looks from people while walking down Bourbon Street.  The big guy says he just laughed to himself...  While he grew up wanting to be a receiver, UA defensive back Rashad Johnson tells me the George Teague take-away in the 1993 Sugar Bowl is the best play he's ever seen on the football field... I think this entire Nick Saban thing is getting a bit out of hand.  Before he walked to the podium for assorted media briefings in New Orleans, his underlings would scope the room. Saban would often be accompanied to newsers by out-of-uniform police officers. Who is this guy, Obama? Meanwhile, Utah coach Ty Wittingham would conduct one-on-one interviews in the hallway...  Does Nick Saban wear down his assistants?  I tend to think it's more a state of college football:  Good assistants take jobs elsewhere to improve their standing on the coaching carousel... Does Kevin Steele to Clemson surprise you? It shouldn't, as Steele has been snooping around for some time... Have the Fox network people struggled with those bowl broadcasts? From my standpoint it's more of a technical issue as the network has not executed...  I love what Auburn football coach Gene Chizik has done since being on the job:  Superb choices with assistants such as Malzahn and Taylor, a great job of cementing previous commitments, and an A+ in sending his message: He will not back down from any coach in the tough SEC...  Terry Bowden to UNA? Look- the guy has missed out on some big-time coaching jobs.  Terry has been out of coaching for ten years:  In the world of college football, that is an eternity... Did ESPN overdo their coverage of the Rose Bowl? Your answer? The game was on ABC, which owns ESPN...  Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson will be reunited with Mike Shula later this month.  The Jax Jags coaching staff will coach the Senior Bowl south team- that means Mike coaches JP...  The Auburn mens basketball team winning 7 straight?  Alabama winning 5 straight? How about that?...  My thoughts and prayers are with Auburn swim coach Richard Quick, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor...  Why do the TV networks have aerial views of domed stadiums?  I don't know about you, but I enjoy seeing a live picture of a roof every time the network bumps back in from a break...  Rodney Garner opts to stay with the Georgia Bulldogs rather than head to Rocky Top:  This guy has been a wanted man!... I wait in line at the post office for 20 minutes today.  One window is open and the line is out the door.  At long last, a second worker opens her window amid cheers from those in line.  Seconds later, the postal worker in window #1 puts up a "This Window Closed" sign and walks away. Great customer service, eh?...  Let's see: My kids have a dog, 3 cats, a few hermit crabs and a few baby chickens (soon to be given to a local farmer). Now they want a gerbil.  When will the madness end? (I know- when I say "no"). I'll say right now I need to go grab some grub- catch you on TV, and thanks for stopping by!

How can it be that in the 21st century we can have all these technological advancements, but when it comes to the National Football League and its overtime format we are still in the caveman era. 
         The Colts and the Chargers game is decided in o-t and yet the league's MVP never got a chance to win the game in the extra period.  San Diego wins the toss and takes the ball and scores to win and advance.  Peyton Manning sat on the sideline and watched and never got a chance under the current rules.  Now granted the Indianapolis defense could have done its job and stopped the Bolts offense.  But Indy did not and thus under the current rules lost.
     However I have a solution and one that will give both sides a chance to run their offense and have both defenses try and stop their opponent.  Just like in basketball play a shortened period.  Set the clock at seven minutes and play a shortened game.  Just like an extra quarter, but with a two minute warning and each team gets two time outs.  The winner is determined by the team with the most points.  If no winner is determined after the extra time then continue play from that point on until some one scores without using a clock.
      A seven minute overtime period would allow, in most cases, both teams to get its offenses out on the field.  Usually scoring drives in the NFL do not last more than seven minutes, so both teams would have the same opportunity and the fans could have the thrill of going through another finish with some drama.
     It would have been fun and fair to see if Manning could have led his team down the field to tie with the hope of winning it later.  Instead under the current format he didn't have a chance and we the fans missed out on a great opportunity.
    My overtime scenario would be a win win situation, that is except for the team that loses.


Sheldon Haygood

Blah, what a mess. First i predict SEC playoff, Fl. 31-Bama 17. Then, Sugar Bowl, Utah 24-Bama 17. The outcome was Fl. 31-Bama 20 and then Utah 31-Bama 17. So, all in all, the Final prediction was a 31-17 score. This Digital broadcasting has got my predictor all outta sync. I'll try to do better next Season. Oh and P.S.. Miss Lena, Madonna says, Right On! I jus couldn't let this go without having a little Fun with it.   

Paul finebaum gave utah no chance against ala but what happened was clear to me and everyone in the country that no one is scared of SABAN or ala. Ala. has a good team but not ANY better than Ole Miss LSU FLA GA. i believe next year we will see that for sure. Ala came very close to losing three games i know to go 12-0 you have to have the breaks go your way no matter what team you are.I watched the post game show on fox6 or should i say the university of ala at fox6 they were already making excuses for ala losing. I know they had key injuries but a championship team should be able to overcome that look at fla they had several key injuries and still beat ala bad they could play that game every week and the outcome would be the same fla is just that good.  Now for the coaching decision auburn i think they made a good move he will surround hisself with a good coaching staff and auburn will be just fine. As far as any coach being scared of saban that's the biggest joke i have ever heard. what really disappointed me was charles barkley playing the race card that was uncalled forand paul finebaum ran with it , but race was never mentioned when ala hired shula and not sly croom.That was very biased.That's why i've always said fox6 and most of the media always leans to ala and leaves auburn outunless it's something negative. these are my comments i would love to hear yours.

The Crimson Tide laid an egg tonight in the Sugar Bowl.  What an embarassing performance for the state of Alabama.  The Tide lost big to inferior talent.  At least a couple of questions were answered and one lingering question remains.

First, it is clear that Alabama was over-rated all year.  Up until tonihjt, Alabama had an outstanding season, but there is no excuse for this loss.  The Tide was both unprepared and unmotivated for this game.  Players stood around and watched Utah tun up and down the field.  Secondly, Alabama had no business being in a BCS bowl.  I, along with many other Tide fans, noticed a different look and sound out of the players after the Florida loss.  It was like the season was over,and looking back it was..

Finally,one question will linger into the future.  That is, does Nick Saban have the coaching talent to movitate the Tide to the top?  He was badly outcoached tonight and his team was an embarrasment.  Unfortunately, we cannot expect next season to be as good as this one.  While the talent abounds at the University, there are several key holes to fill.  Nick Saban is an outstanding recruiter,  but will he be successfull in consistently coaching the Tide all the way to the ultimate prize?  That question remains.  Again, the Tide had a better than expected year until tonight.  Forget what Nick has done in the past.  It is what he does in the future that is important.  As die hard Tide fans, the top is the only place to be.

Charles Barkley marches to a different drummer.  I have never agreed with his wild ideas.  There is no question that he was a great basketball player in his time.  He has often spoken about his attempt at being a role model.  Allthough it is tough to identify with his lifestyle, he is now no doubt a role model.

You probably think I am crazy.  After all, he was just arrested for a DUI in Scottsdale, Arizona.  True.  However, how he approach this sets him apart.  In this day and time when pro athletes make millions of dollars (including Barkley) and take the attitude that they are well above the law and could never be wrong, Barkley readily admitted his guilt.  He talked of how he was embarrased about what he did and he accepted full responsibility for it.  He even went as far as thanking police for their efforts.

Barkley's actions in this case created a new found respect by me.  He has enough money that he could easily beat this rap.  Instead, he did the right thing.  He taught my children that you can make mistakes that you are well not proud of but the best thing you can do is own up to it.  What a breath of fresh air by a guy they see on TV constantly!

Congratulation Charles!  You did something bad, but then you turned around and did something better.  You did not point the finger at anyone but yourself .

We need more good guys like you!! 

The Sugar Bowl will be played out in New Orleans tonight, and we want to know who you think will win. Now, seeing that we're in Alabama, we understand your loyalty may not be toward Utah, but we'll pose this one to you anyway.

Who will win the Sugar Bowl?

Alabama or Utah, give us your pick. Wow us with your comments, and we may use them on FOX6 News!

I am an avid Al. fan and the news that Andre Smith has been suspended from the Sugar Bowl is most disapointing. Why would a seemingly good person in every other way put this game and his career in jeparody.  Examples of Pac man Jones and Plaxico Burrus should be lessons learned by all college and pro players. Where is your self discipline as an adult, Andre?

I didn't think it would happen, but Auburn acquired the services of Gus Malzahn from Tulsa. I lobbied for him since the Tub's announcement and someone else must be on the same wavelength. While I admit to being a Tide fan, I also like Malzahn and this will make thing interesting and touchy around my house-as the wife might scalp me for pulling for Auburn now also. Malzahn can bring excitement and wins to Auburn with his knowledge of the "SPREAD" offense as he did to Arkansas and Tulsa. Congratulations are in store and I'll get beat up at home, but "GO WAR EAGLES"- ya' done good!

The PapaJohns.com Bowl is taking place in Birmingham with a good amount of excitement for the event. With a domed stadium on the way, we can only dream of what could be in store for the bowl in the future.

Do you think more people would attend the PapaJohns.com Bowl if Birmingham had a domed stadium?

Leave a comment and let us know what you think of the PapaJohns.com Bowl having a domed stadium. Your comment could make it onto FOX6 News.

       I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!  It's been another wild year in sports, so before it gets even wilder, let me be the first to wish you a Happy New Year.  I'll be following the Crimson Tide in the Big Easy from December 29th to January 3rd.  Our Sugar Bowl preview special will air a half hour before the Fox network folks begin their coverage of the Alabama- Utah game.  Be with us January 2nd at 6 pm as yours truly, Mike Dubberly, Sheldon Haygood and Paul Finebaum preview the big game from the Superdome and from the Fox6 studios.  The Fox national team then takes the ball from us at 6:30 CT to bring you the big game.

     While in New Orleans, I'll try my best to bring you entertaining and informative material, as I know that there's nothing more boring than a local TV talking head reading a few headlines.  Dubberly joins me in the bayou on Friday morning to offer up more ideas and insight, and Finebaum will offer us live insight from Birmingham or New Orleans (depending on Paul's travel plans).

     I'll be back to blogging daily starting Monday, January 5th- by then I'm sure my head will be full of info that I will look forward to sharing with you.  Be safe- and I'll see you on TV!

After much conversation with Auburn and Bama fans, I think there may be a silver lining to the Chizik fiasco. If the players out there are undecided or having second thoughts about committments to Auburn, and don't have a shot at Bama, Troy could be the winner in this thing! They have a good team and program that keeps improving. I'm sure they feel Alabama has 3 major teams and I wouldn't dispute that claim. I'll be watching their bowl game this Sunday, only wish it was Saturday. Come on UAB- we could stand a 4th major team!

why do boys/men watch sports?

I received two e-mails this morning trying to convience me what a great pick to run the football team was. One from Dye another from Jay ( THE LYING AD ) Jacbos. I am glad they feel they have to send e-mails to try and change my mind. Sorry guys the support is not here nor the money.

     Thanks for all of your responses to my recent blogs.  After a full day of covering the new Auburn hire, a few things have stood out as I watched Gene Chizik take center stage.  As I've stated in previous posts, Chizik is a no-nonsense guy.  While in my opinion he did not hit a grand slam at today's newser, he connected on a solid ground rule double.  Chizik rarely smiled, he was rarely engaging-  but he was all business, touting his smash-mouth style, his strength as a recruiter, and his love for Auburn.  This guy is the son of a marine, a former Florida Gator football player who received his undergraduate degree from UF and his masters degree from Clemson. I was impressed with his no-nonsense approach.

     What does Chizik have that Tommy Tuberville does not?  Energy. Hunger.  Drive.  Now before you send these words directly to Tommy and Suzanne, remember that Tubs himself would be the first to tell you that he needs to take a break to re-charge his batteries.  Tuberville certainly has many an edge over Chizik, but perhaps it's a no-nonsense, thirsty approach that Auburn fans need.

     And those critics (including Alabama fans, some laughing with delight?). I have two words:  Gene Stallings.  When Bebes took over the Alabama head coaching job, he arrived in Tuscaloosa with NFL seasons of 4-11, 7-8, 7-9 and 5-6.  After losing his first three games at Alabama, the rest of the story is quite literally history.  Stallings averaged 10 wins a season for seven years, and with Saban now in control, many Tide fans would take those kind of numbers. Now Stallings was not recruiting against Nick Saban, but before you send Chizik's Auburn coaching career to the graveyard, you may want to see what the man brings.

     The wild card in all of this? The talent level that Chizik can land in Auburn.  If Chizik visits a top blue-chipper one night, and Nick Saban visits the same kid a night later, which coach gets the player?   While most figure Saban walks away with the athlete, what will make the difference in Chizik's success is how often he can steal some of the top talent in our state.

          Now, many more questions need to be answered:  What coordinators will "Mean Gene" bring in?  What kind of offense will he run?  Whither the Auburn assistants that have received pink slips? Will Chizik see more de-commits? Will Uncle Lowder keep to himself? Will the Osmose guy stay in the seats? How long will Jay Jacobs be around, and what will Charles Barkley say next?

     Thanks for keeping Fox6 Sports #1.  I really do appreciate your feedback, both positive and negative.  I must say that many Fox6 viewers blasted Finebaum today for being too negative, while others thought he was right on!  Not to sound like Jay Jacobs here, but it's your passion that makes this job so much fun!   I'm taking Tuesday off to catch my breath- I'll see you Wednesday on Fox6 News and on this website.

Being an introvert and not a socialite, i will be be in my bedroom,  watching the Sugar Bowl on my 13" Daewoo TV...using my rabbit ears antenna, munching on corn chips, french onion dip,drinking Sams orangette cola, all the while waiting for the Magical sports Wizard to bring my compatable former female cheerleader over to watch it with me.  I do all this while waiting for my 40 dollar coupons to come in the mail so i can convert my rabbit ears into a transducer so i can get my TV signal Up and running before Analog goes out, and digital comes in. Yikes what a Switchover. I know this doesn't warrant a public service announcement or a party guide, but i thought it was worth writing about anyway. Rollllllll Tide Roll but i predict Utah 24, Bama 17. Hope we all have a Fun Sugar Bowl.     

Congradulation to the Auburn nation on a good seletion of Chizik. You have made Alabama (not the state but the WINNING TIDE)Happy. While watching the firing announcement of TUB, Jay Jacobs appeared to be lying.  He stated that TUB was asked 3 times if he was sure that he wanted to leave, and in his resigning was given 5 million  $check (go figure).TUB was fired and in turn was asked to sign a prepared statement by the AD officals(this was done to save face). CHARLES BARKLEY and ESPN  said it best, Turner Gill was not hired because of the color of his skin, and the fact that he is married to a white woman. Chizik is a proven Loser, Gill is a proven leader. After Auburn's AD-Jacobs maded the above statement of asking TUB to stay 3 x's(which was not the truth),he ended his press conference -with "God bless you. I thought that was funny, in the words Judge Judy if his mouth is moving he is lying.  Jacobs statement smells like that cow pasture that the Bear use to speak of.  I just hope people in this state will one day look beyond color,and see the person.

It is another slap in the face for the state of Alabama and the University of Auburn,when will you rise above low level thinking.  I have no dislike for Chizik, do not know him. Maybe he wil be what Jacobs is looking for.

OK- We've solved all coaching, sewer, and mayoral problems right? Let's get to a real concern- where is the best place in Birmingham area (no-not New Orleans) to watch the Sugar Bowl? Consideration must be given to size of screen for viewing, ability to seat many, quality and types of things to stuff our faces with, and of course-adult libation! My friends and I have all season been fixtures at Wild Wings on 280, but we can be led astray. Who's got a special or something we can't do with out? I figure at least this should qualify as a public service announcement, or party guide- take your choice. I'll be out there somewhere- where will you be?