As Jacksonville State went through its second practice of the spring this past Monday, Rodriguez looked as if the next game was Saturday and not in the fall. He was every bit as focused and intense as he was in the heart of the season. So were his players.

Monday's state semifinals were as much like bull-riding as they were basketball. Spring Garden was the bull, and when the gate door slung open, Elba was the poor cowboy trying to hang on for dear life.

Brennen Norton's game-ending homer in the 13th overshadowed it, but New Jax State coach Steve Bieser artfully managed seven pitchers to cover the 13 innings in a 6-5 win over Memphis. These pitchers may be better than we thought.

Mark Edwards' opinion: New Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer won the press conference Saturday, and here's betting he'll win more than a few football games, too.

At the start, the Saban-Alabama marriage looked like it would have some OK times, some better times, and probably would end when Saban chased after another shiny object. Who would've thought it would turn out this well?

Monday's Rose Bowl left us wondering how in the world Alabama didn’t win it, but also wondering how in the world they were even in it in the first place. The Tide never could eliminate the critical, basic mistakes that haunted them all year.

I keep hearing all this talk about misinformation on the Internet, so I decided to do something about it. Some fetching bits of trivia have popped up in my social media feeds, but I decided maybe I should fact check them.

The playoff committee caused a firestorm for inserting Alabama into the four-team field instead of Florida State. Anniston Star Senior Editor Mark Edwards examines some of their points, and checks back on Saturday's SEC game.

"If someone’s mentioning you for a job in a good way, that’s a good thing, right? It must mean your program is doing OK," Rich Rodriguez said after JSU hammered Louisiana Tech 56-17. "You don’t want it to be the other way. I’ve been the other way before."

Typically, we call this cupcake week because neither Alabama nor Auburn play anybody terribly difficult the week before their annual showdown. Neither school is playing a true cupcake, however, as somebody snuck a little sand into the batter.

BIRMINGHAM — Does Spring Garden's Avery Steward ever get nervous?

Dana Bryant said what defines her players isn’t their skill. It’s not the defensive ways of Madi Hay, the offensive trickery of Lily Henry and Allie Bryant, or anything else on the court, but it’s the way they play with the “heart of a champion.”

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze described this week as "time for us to put up or shut up” for his quarterbacks. Payton Thorne put up 20-of-26 passing for 230 yards and three TDs. For the first time against an SEC foe, Thorne showed he belongs.

As usual recently, Alabama was in serious doubt of losing Saturday, but rallied to beat Tennessee 34-20. That left players smoking cigars, as they do after vanquishing the Vols, and Nick Saban talking about how much he enjoys coaching this team.

With the JSU fan base wondering if Zion Webb should be benched, the seventh-year quarterback produced a career high 364 total yards in a 20-17 win over CUSA preseason favorite Western Kentucky. Afterward, Webb said, "Keep doubting."

Does Alabama pass the eye test? Does this Crimson Tide look like one of the nation's three or four best teams? After watching Alabama all season, including Saturday's skin-of-their-teeth 24-21 home win over Arkansas, the answer seems obvious.

Jacksonville State got a big benefit from playing on ESPN the past three weeks, but there was still a cost to playing four games in 18 days. We saw that compact schedule catch up to the Gamecocks on Tuesday night.

Nick Saban says a lot of things are trying his patience these days, but his Alabama defense doesn't appear to be one of them. If the Crimson Tide is going to do something this season, that's the group that will lead the way. It certainly did Saturday.

So, who will be Jax State's starting quarterback next week when the Gamecocks play at Coastal Carolina: longtime starter Zion Webb, or Logan Smothers, who shined Saturday when he replaced an ill Webb behind center?

Let's change UTEP to the University of Texas El Intercepted Passo, as they served as the heal on a day made to celebrate Jacksonville State's official debut in the FBS. The Gamecocks won 17-14, and a former walk-on made the saving play.