Bama Central

Crimson Tide Roll Call: Sept. 5, 2020

Your daily briefing on what's going on with Alabama athletics

Christopher Walsh

Today is … National Tailgating Day (we understand if that makes you want to cry a little this year).

BamaCentral Headlines

• Cover: Sylvester Croom and Rick Davis: An Unlikely Friendship That Became About One Color, Crimson

• University of Alabama Sees Another Dramatic Rise in Confirmed Coronavirus Cases

• Recruiting Corner: 2022 In-State Prospects to Watch as Alabama's High School Football Season Marches On

• All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL By Team

• Friday Night Lights: Alabama Commitment Anquin Barnes More Than Standing Out

• Crimson Tikes: Waste Not, Waist A Lot

• All Things Bama Podcast: Defensive End Prospects, How Alabama Finishes with No. 1 Recruiting Class

Did you notice?

• Director of Athletics Greg Byrne notified Tide Pride members in a letter that “the athletics department is facing a potential $75 million revenue shortfall” and is reducing its operating budget by 22 percent. The moves follow a planned 20 percent of capacity at Bryant-Denny Stadium and having fewer home games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• NFL Auction is selling the first Miami Dolphins jersey signed by Tua Tagovailoa. As of Friday night the bidding was up to $5,100, but the auction will go until Sept. 20. The money raised will benefit charities in Hawaii, Alabama, and South Florida. 

• The Dolphins released quarterback Josh Rosen, indicating that the team feels Tagoavailoa's hip injury has healed enough for him to be able to play during next week's season opener. NFL cutdown day is Saturday.  

• Raiders coach Jon Gruden said he “Took it personally” when former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs wasn't named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

• Japan's Women's Softball League begins its 2020 season on Saturday. Kelly Kretschman is playing for the Toda Medics.

• Justin Thomas shot the first round of the PGA Tour Championship at 66, and was in third place at -11 after starting the day at -7 due to his previous performances. The tournament is being played through Monday at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta.

Countdown to the Crimson Tide’s 2020 opener

21 days

On this date in Crimson Tide history:

September 5, 1981: Alabama opened the Year of 315 (as in Paul W. “Bear” Bryant going for the career wins record) with a 24-7 victory at LSU. Quarterback Ken Coley directed the Crimson Tide wishbone in the rout on national television. – Bryant Museum

Crimson Tide quote of the day:

“I love football. I really love football. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the second best thing in the world.” – Joe Namath

We’ll leave you with this … 

Published
Christopher Walsh
CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of BamaCentral, which first published in 2018. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004, and is the author of 26 books including Decade of Dominance, 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Nick Saban vs. College Football, and Bama Dynasty: The Crimson Tide's Road to College Football Immortality. He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.

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