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PAGE 6B May 2024
Alabama Opens DeBoer Era with 2024 A-Day Football Game
Sideline Sports AUBURN NAMES TENNIS COACH - Jordan Szabo (SAY-bo), a two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Assistant Coach of the Year, has been named Auburn women’s tennis head coach . A former men’s tennis player at Texas A&M, Szabo has been the associate head women’s coach at his alma mater for the past two seasons and is in his seventh season with the women’s program in College Station. Szabo has helped the Aggie women to three consecutive Southeastern Conference regular season titles, four straight conference tournament final appearances, while in the NCAA Tournament they have reached the Elite Eight the last two seasons and Sweet 16 every year since 2019. FREE FISHING DAY - On Saturday, June 8, 2024, Alabamians and out-of-state visitors alike will have the opportunity to fish for free in most public waters including both freshwater and saltwater. Free Fishing Day allows residents and non-residents to enjoy the outstanding fishing Alabama has to offer without purchasing a fishing license. The event is part of National Fishing and Boating Week, which runs June 1-9. Free Fishing Day takes place during Alabama’s red snapper season. While fishing license requirements are waived for Free Fishing Day, those fishing for red snapper will still need a $10 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement. Alabama’s State Public Fishing Lakes also still require a fishing permit on Free Fishing Day, and fishing in a private pond requires the pond owner’s permission. Some piers may also require fees and permits. Anglers looking for a new public fishing spot are encouraged to explore the fishing section of www.outdooralabama.com. AUBURN AMBUSH - AMBUSH, the Auburn Alumni Association's annual engagement tour will feature four locations in 2024 and include appearances from Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze, head men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl, Athletics Director John Cohen and other guests. The AMBUSH tour will provide a social meet and greet with alumni and, in the process, help raise scholarship funds for future generations of Auburn students. The AMBUSH destinations include: June 25 (Birmingham AL); July 2 (Lake Martin, AL); July 17 (Houston, Texas ); and July 17 (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX). The specific locations, those attending and other details are not yet available. SEC SOFTBALL CHAMPS - The Florida softball team secured its sixth Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship with a 6-1 victory over No.5-seed Missouri in the 2024 tournament championship game. The Gators are now 46-12 overall. Freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock (26-6) turned in her second consecutive complete- game performance in the circle to help secure the victory. Rothrock held Missouri to just six hits over seven innings and allowed only two walks compared to her six strikeouts. The SEC All-Tournament Team Selections from Florida include: Skylar Wallace (MVP), Mia Williams, Korbe Otis, and Keagan Rothrock. GEORGIA BASKETBALL - Georgia native RJ Godfrey, a two-time first-team All-State player at North Gwinnett High School in 2021 and 2022, has signed a letter- of-intent to join the Georgia Bulldogs next season. Godfrey will be a junior after playing two seasons at Clemson. A 6-8, 228-pound forward, Godfrey averaged 6.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 59.4 percent from the field in 36 games played for Clemson last season. After averaging 5.8 ppg in the first 32 games of the season, he contributed 8.3 ppg in the Tigers’ run to the “Elite Eight” of the NCAA Tournament. Godfrey was tabbed as one of the nation’s top-50 small forwards in the Class of 2022 by Rivals.com (No. 38) and ESPN.com (No. 44). He is the son of Georgia football legend Randall Godfrey, one of the greatest linebackers to ever play for the Bulldogs. GONZALEZ SIGNS WITH JSU - Jacksonville State Women's Basketball coach Rick Pietri has announced the signing of junior college standout Clara Gonzalez. She is a native of Barcelona, Spain, but played two years of junior college basketball at Cochise College in Sierra Vista, Arizona where she shined. As a freshman, Gonzalez averaged 4.1 points per game and 0.8 assists per game. Gonzalez also averaged 1.1 rebounds per game as a freshman. She shot 39.2% from the field and 27.5% from three-point range. Her sophomore season for the Apaches saw Gonzalez's numbers drastically improve. Gonzalez averaged 9.4 points per game on 39.4% shooting from the field and 32.3% shooting from three in her sophomore campaign. Gonzalez also averaged 2.6 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, and started all 34 contests for Cochise as a sophomore. She was an 80.9% free throw shooter as well. Gonzalez had a stellar game in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Region 1 Championship game with a 17-point performance as her team dominated Eastern Arizona College 68-49. During her time at Cochise, Gonzalez's squad went 54-14 with an ACCAC Region 1 Championship in her sophomore year and an ACCAC Region 1 Runner-up as a freshman. Gonzalez's teams also had two national tournament berths. VANDERBILT BASKETBALL - The Vanderbilt men’s basketball program has added Virginia Tech transfer Tyler Nickel to the 2024-25 roster. A 6-foot-7 wing, Nickel comes to Nashville following a sophomore campaign with the Hokies where he averaged 8.8 points per contest. Nickel made seven starts at Virginia Tech last season and shot 39.9 percent (59-of-148) from beyond the arc. Nickel scored a career-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 5-of-7 from three-point range in the Hokies’ 87-72 win over Clemson on Jan. 10. The outburst was one of 17 games in double figures for Nickel on the season. He also hit multiple three-pointers in 19 contests and three-or-more triples in 10 games. He twice grabbed a season- and career-best seven rebounds, the most recent occurrence coming against Florida State in the ACC Tournament where he also scored 18 points. Nickel also produced a career-high six assists in the Hokies’ win over Virginia while adding 13 points and four boards. Nickel has two years of eligibility remaining.
The Alabama Sports Officials Foundation (ASOF) has announced the Hall of Fame class for 2024. Ten individuals will be inducted at the ASOF banquet in Oxford, Alabama on Saturday, August 3. The candidates include two former Alabama mayors, former President of the Amateur Softball Association, Professional Football Officials, College Supervisors of Officials, SEC officials and AHSAA District Directors. All ten have worked multiple AHSAA sports championships. Pat Adkison Gene Patrick Adkison worked seven different AHSAA sports, 39 years each in both football and softball and worked basketball, baseball and wrestling at the collegiate level. He began his officiating career by taking an officiating course while attending Troy State University, and once he began his tenure at Gadsden State in 1965, he taught officiating for 27 years. Adkison was instrumental in the administration of softball in Alabama, as well as the United States. He was the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) umpire in chief for 14 years before appointing fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Max Wilkes as the UIC. Adkison served as ASA state commissioner for 35 years and was the President of the ASA of America for four terms. He attended Emma Samson high school, Troy State and the University of Alabama. Alan Cosby Dr. Robert Alan Cosby began his basketball officiating career with the AHSAA in 1989. He had the honor of working his first basketball game with fellow inductee, Pat Adkison, and has worked numerous state championships during his career. Cosby started officiating at the collegiate level in 1992, where he continues to officiate for multiple conferences. He worked the 2006 National Junior College Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas, and followed that the next year by working the NCAA Division II Elite 8 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Cosby also worked multiple conference tournaments for the Gulf South Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference, Sun Belt Conference, Southern States Conference and the Alabama Junior College Conference. While still officiating at the collegiate level, he also served as the AHSAA Northeast district director. A graduate of Southside High School, Gadsden State Community College and Jacksonville State University, he is currently serving as the Superintendent of Etowah County Schools. Don English Leslie Donald English has officiated sports for 48 years, mainly in the sport of football. He credits his uncle Bob “Chief” Wells for getting him started when he was a fire fighter in Birmingham in 1972 as a member of the Birmingham Football Officials Association (BFOA) when four person crews were used and officials had red and white flags. In 1981, he moved to the Mobile area and joined the Mobile Metro Football Officials Association (MMFBOA), where he served as lead trainer, rules interpreter and secretary. English served as a referee camp instructor for over 20 years and worked six AHSAA state championship games and the Alabama/Mississippi Football Classic. He attended Glenn High School, Jefferson State Community College and University of Alabama-Birmingham. George Evans George Patrick Evans is one of two former mayors being inducted this year. He served as Mayor of Selma from 2008 until 2016 and served as the president of the city council for the eight years prior to becoming mayor. Evans began officiating for the AHSAA in 1968 in the sports of basketball and football and would work numerous state championships and serve as the West Central District director. He officiated for numerous collegiate conferences after joining the SWAC in 1979, where he later became the coordinator of officials. Evans advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division I tournament, working games coached by Bobby Knight, Jim Boeheim and John Calipari. He was inducted into the AHSAA Hall of Fame in 2002. A lifelong resident and native of Selma, he graduated from Selma City Schools and attended St. Mary’s College, Livingston University and Troy State University. Mickey Haddock James M. “Mickey” Haddock is one of two former mayors being inducted this year after serving as the Mayor of Florence from 2012-16. He started his officiating career in 1975 by working the sports of football, baseball and softball. Haddock worked football state championship games in 1985 and 1988 and was asked to be a football The University of Alabama's White team (offense) defeated the Crimson squad (defense), 34-28, in the 2024 Golden Flake A-Day Football Game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. A total of 72,358 fans were in attendance to witness the first game action of the Kalen DeBoer era. Running back Jam Miller earned the Dixie Howell Award as the game’s Most Valuable Player, finishing with 83 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. Quarterback Jalen Milroe finished with 100 yards on 3-of-9 passing with a long of 52 yards to Germie Bernard. Bernard led receivers with 122 yards on three catches. Other Spring Awards for the Crimson Tide include: Dixie Howell Memorial Award (Game MVP) – Jam Miller • Dwight Stephenson Award (Most Valuable Lineman) – Tyler Booker • Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award – Jaeden Roberts, Justin Jefferson • Jerry Duncan “I Like to Practice” Award – Olaus Alinen, Richard Young, Robbie Ouzts, Que Robinson, Devonta Smith • Billy Neighbors Defensive Lineman Award – Tim Keenan, LT Overton, Tim Smith • Paul Crane Offensive Lineman Award – Tyler Booker • Bobby Johns Defensive Back Award – Keon Sabb, Domani Jackson • Johnny Musso Offensive Back Award – Justice Haynes, Jam Miller • Ray Perkins Receiver Award – Germie Bernard, Kobe Prentice
camp instructor in 1992. In 1984, he began his collegiate football officiating career in the Gulf South Conference and joined the SEC in 1996, where he worked as a line judge for 15 seasons. Haddock worked six bowl games and was selected to serve as president of the SECFOA in 2010. He went on to serve as an SEC replay official and worked the 2019 Rose Bowl in that capacity. A lifelong resident of Lauderdale County, Haddock attended Central of Florence high school, Northwest State and the University of North Alabama. Mike Murphy James Michael Murphy served over 35 years in basketball officiating, working at both the high school and collegiate levels and also worked baseball for eight years. As a member of the Capital City Basketball Officials Association, Murphy served as a board member and assigner for many years and worked numerous AHSAA state basketball tournaments. He joined the Gulf South Conference, what was known as one of the most respected division II conferences in the country, and later became the conference’s Supervisor of Officials for both the men’s and women’s basketball. Murphy attended Jeff Davis high school and the University of Montevallo. Steve Newton John Stephen “Steve” Newton, Sr., retired from officiating in 2021 with 46 years of service. He was a part of the Fox 6 Sideline Show for five years, providing a segment on high school rules and was a referee state camp instructor with the AHSAA for many years. Newton served on the initial mechanics manual committee when the AHSAA developed its own manual and held many administrative positions with the Birmingham Football Officials Association (BFOA). He worked numerous state championship games, as well as several games televised on ESPN. Newton was also a referee at the collegiate level in the Gulf South and Southland conferences and worked as a replacement official for the National Football League in 2001. He attended Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, and Auburn University. Keith Robertson Keith Crews Robertson has worked the sports of football and baseball at the high school and collegiate levels and also worked a stint in the Regional Football League (RFL), working the championship game in 1999. In addition to his 18 years experience in baseball and 43 years in football, Robertson also officiated high school basketball for 18 years. He worked many AHSAA state championship games, as well as many playoff games at the collegiate level in Division II and Division I-AA. Robertson served eight years as a football district director and also served as an umpire camp instructor for the AHSAA. He also served as one of the first baseball district directors. He attended Anniston High School, Auburn University and Jacksonville State University. Kathy Odom White Kathy Odom White is known as one of the best high school volleyball officials in the state of Alabama. She officiated high school volleyball for 26 years and collegiate volleyball for 12 years before retiring in 2021. White helped mold many volleyball officials while serving as a state instructor for the AHSAA. She was the founder and first president for the Tri-County Volleyball Officials Association and held numerous administrative positions during her officiating tenure. White was honored as district official of the year six times and state official of the year twice and worked numerous state tournaments and retired after working the 7A state championship. She attended Berry High School and Brewer State Junior College. Bill Young William “Bill” H. Young, Sr., has over 36 years of service with the AHSAA in basketball but also worked the sports of baseball, football, and softball. While working in multiple women’s collegiate conferences, (SEC, ACC, CUSA, Sunbelt, OVC, ASUN, SWAC, Southland and Big South), he continued to significantly contribute to high school basketball, especially with the association he helped form - the Big East Basketball Officials Association. Young also officiated at the junior college level in Alabama and in Georgia. In addition to working numerous state championships, he also worked the NCAA Division II Final Fours twice and worked in the NCAA Division I Tournament 16 times. Young attended Benjamin Russell High School and Troy State University. • Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award – Jihaad Campbell, Deontae Lawson • Derrick Thomas Community Service Award – Jayshawn Ross, Isaia Faga, Red Morgan, Justin Okoronkwo • Bear Bryant Outstanding Non-Scholarship Award – Sam Willoughby, Graham Roten, Jay Loper, Kolby Peavy, Noland Asberry, Chase Davis • Ozzie Newsome Most Improved Freshman Award – Joseph Ionata, Caleb Odom, Cole Adams, Dylan Lonergan, Austin Mack, Wilkin Formby, Red Morgan, Zabien Brown, Jaylen Mbakwe, Zavier Mincey, Peyton Woodyard • Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award – Emmanuel Henderson, Ty Simpson, Elijah Pritchett, Josh Cuevas, James Brockermeyer, Qua Russaw, Damon Payne, Keanu Koht, Brayson Hubbard, Justin Jefferson • Mal Moore Leadership Award – Tyler Booker, CJ Dippre, Jalen Milroe, Malachi Moore, Deontae Lawson • Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award – Kendrick Law, Jah-Marien Latham
2024 ASOF Hall of Fame Class
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