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Columbus Ga LocalNews, 1909 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA (2024)

01/12/2024

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — An Alabama judge has ruled in favor of the City of Phenix City over Russell County in a gas tax revenue dispute.

Judge Brooke Reid ruled in favor of Phenix City against Russell County in a lawsuit over the distribution of gasoline tax proceeds.

The 6-year-old lawsuit began when the city claimed Russell County unilaterally stopped paying gas tax revenue it owed the city. In 2018, Russell County claimed a 1968 act. The act required Russell County to pay the City of Phenix City gasoline revenue was repealed.
Russell County then stopped distributing proceeds to Phenix City, sparking the years-long dispute.

As Reid ordered, Russell County must resume paying the gasoline tax immediately.

According to the Assistant City Manager Chan Gamble, since the start of the lawsuit in various maintenance projects have been put on hold since they were unable to receive additional funding from the county.

WRBL spoke with Phenix City Manager Wallace B Hunter about the results of the lawsuit. Here's what he had to say on the topic.

"We're trying to make sure we advance our city, and we're not stagnate. That from taxation to anything else" shared Hunter.

Attorney Chan Gamble says Phenix City might be owed up to $2 million. According to City Manager Hunter the funds will be used to maintain Phenix City roads. As of now, there is yet to be a date for when these projects are set to begin.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — An Alabama judge has ruled in favor of the City of Phenix City over Russell County in a gas tax revenue dispute. Judge Brooke Reid ruled in favor of Phenix City against Russe…

01/11/2024

Columbus, Ga (WRBL)- One last pleasant day today before those storms tomorrow. After a chilly start, readings warmed into the 60s. Clouds moved back in this afternoon across the southern half of the viewing area, and will continue to stream in overnight.

Tomorrow morning we will start to watch a strong storm system moving through the southeast. There is still uncertainty about how well this will hold up as it progresses toward the east. While this system does not have the same flood threat as Tuesday's system, there is a greater tornado threat going into Friday afternoon. Primary threats include damaging winds up to 60mph, hail, and isolated tornadoes.

Behind this line of storms, we will remain breezy for the first half of the weekend before winds die down Sunday morning. This will allow for widespread frost that morning as temperatures drop below freezing Sunday.

Our next system moves in Monday night into Tuesday morning. This will bring a few showers Monday night but as it continues to move through Tuesday morning, some of us may even see a few snow flurries.

Tuesday morning's cold front will bring very cold arctic air with it. By Wednesday of next week, morning lows are set to drop down into the teens.

Columbus, Ga (WRBL)- One last pleasant day today before those storms tomorrow. After a chilly start, readings warmed into the 60s. Clouds moved back in this afternoon across the southern half of th…

01/11/2024

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) -- A retired Columbus real estate executive has been appointed by the governor to the Georgia Board of Regents.

Mat Swift will sit on the board that governs the 26 Georgia public colleges and universities.

It has been more than a decade since Columbus had a representative on the Board of Regents.

Swift brings the history of the Columbus State University-community relationship. He also has been on the state Economic Development Board. Gov. Brian Kemp and University System Chancellor Sonny Perdue are pushing for more workforce development from higher education institutions.

“Columbus is the second largest city in the state of Georgia, and Columbus needs to have a representative on that board," Swift told WRBL. "And so I'm honored. I'm very humbled by the governor asking me to go there. And I'm pleased to go there and do whatever I can for the 3rd District.”

Columbus State University President Stuart Rayfield praised the selection.

“Regent Swift is going to do a tremendous job and it is always a real advantage to have someone who lives in your community to be sitting on the Board of Regents," Rayfield said. "They understand your context. They understand what's going on within the community, and they're able to help advocate for the university in the context of what's going on in the Chattahoochee Valley.”

Swift is the retired President of the W.C. Bradley Co. Real Estate Division. As the University System pushes for more degrees that are compatible with workforce development, Swift brings valuable insight to the Board of Regents, Rayfield said.

“Matt Swift's engagement and participation and economic development for the state is going to be tremendously helpful as the Board of Regents considers new degree programs, as they consider new facilities, etc," she said.

Swift said he will continue to push for economic development projects and jobs for Georgians.

“Quite frankly, I think we're going to continue to have a strong relationship with the economic development folks," Swift said. "But I also think by going with the with Regents, I'll be able to continue this emphasis, which is both the Gov. Kemp, as well as Chancellor Perdue. They are really putting an emphasis on education in the workforce.”

Retired Synovus Chairman Jimmy Yancey was the last Columbus resident to serve on the board of Regents.

Swift replaces Dr. Tommy Hopkins on the Board of Regents. Hopkins is from Griffin and served the state 14 years in that role. Rayfield and Swift praised Hopkins for his work on the board.

Prior to becoming the Columbus State president, Rayfield worked on the University System office.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A retired Columbus real estate executive has been appointed by the governor to the Georgia Board of Regents. Mat Swift will sit on the board that governs the 26 Georgia…

01/11/2024

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — The Columbus River Dragons are becoming known for more than their hockey skills. Over the past month, a few of the team’s social media posts went viral on social media, racking up millions of views on platforms like Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

The most popular to-date video plays on a trend inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Team Communications Manager Olivia Crew reaches out to fist bump players as they enter the Columbus Civic Center on game day Dec. 16, instead surprising them by turning over hand to reveal friendship bracelets.

“I think people love to see athletes, especially professional athletes, out of the athlete character,” said Crew, who took on her role in summer 2023.

Crew thinks showing fans the players’ personalities played a major role in the virality of the video. It currently has 2.5 million views on Instagram, 1.8 million on Facebook and nearly 120,000 on TikTok.

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Columbus Council vote clears way for pro baseball at refurbished Golden Park in 2025

Nevertheless, the success of the post was a pleasant surprise. Before it was posted on Dec. 18, much of the River Dragons’ social media content failed to reach more than 15,000 viewers, although posts started picking up steam in December. Some hit the screens of as many as 452,000 viewers.

“We are a smaller team in Columbus – we’re minor league hockey – it’s not necessarily on everybody’s radar, so to be able to have that wide a scope of an audience is really cool,” said Crew. She added some comments on the viral post were in German, indicating the video had even reached Europe.

Since the post went up, Crew said the team’s following across social media platforms has increased by roughly 4,000 – what she called “huge” for the team. The Columbus River Dragons currently have about 10,500 Instagram followers, 14,000 Facebook followers and nearly 4,000 TikTok followers.

According to Crew, analytics for social media accounts show that the team’s majority following is still local. She views that as good thing, because it shows locals who may not have known about the team before are now interested.

“It definitely is the cherry on top,” said Crew. She added, “The goal is to continue that traction and … give our fans a reason for why they may want to come to one of our games.”

Although posts seemed to have returned to more standard view counts over the past weeks, Crew said ticket- and merch sales have been positively impacted. She hopes more with reveal-type posts and following other social media trends will help the team’s momentum.

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Plus, continuing to trend may be more likely now than ever.

The National Hockey League (NHL) reported in 2022 that 80% of users on their social media channels were millennials or members of Gen Z. Both the NHL and National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) announced partnerships with TikTok in the same year. Also in 2022, the NHL reported a 26% increase in female fans since 2016, making its fanbase 37% female.

Since 2021, some hockey teams have seen marked increases in game attendance and public interest, as reported by the New York Times. The article states some of this may come from an interest in hockey romance novels promoted through BookTok, a TikTok subcommunity.

Despite the impact of BookTok and social media comments on River Dragons posts which seem to play into the hype, Crew isn’t trying to feed into the trend.

She said, “People love it [but] I try no to necessarily go into that with the content.”

The move may be in the team’s best interest. Previously, teams like the Seattle Kraken played into BookTok trends, but it wasn’t long before players and families felt like the trend had gone too far, moving beyond harmless crushing on players to sexual harassment.

According to Crew, the team’s current social media strategy is to keep post fun and a little silly, with plenty of opportunities to show off athlete personalities. Recent posts showcase the players learning a TikTok dance, showing off their gameday fashion and serenading fans wearing Santa hats.

“It really helps engage the fans more and it helps just bring that extra spark to the team that you already love,” said Crew.

The River Dragons will play next on Jan. 12 at the Columbus Civic Center in a match against Elmira River Sharks – the first of two back-to-back faceoffs between the teams. They will play again on Jan. 13.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — The Columbus River Dragons are becoming known for more than their hockey skills. Over the past month, a few of the team’s social media posts went viral on social media, racki…

01/11/2024

MIDLAND CITY, Ala (WDHN) — A federal judge has ordered the mayor of Midland City, Cynthia Gary, to respond to allegations that the city refused to pay a former police chief by February.

In late December 2023, Jimmy Singleton filed a lawsuit against Midland City, accusing Mayor Gary, the same woman who hired him in 2021, of refusing to pay him overtime.

According to Singleton, he complained multiple times to Mayor Gary about the long hours with no overtime pay, and the mayor agreed to change his contract to get paid hourly, but he would only receive overtime pay after he had been on duty 50 hours a week.

Singleton said he had worked over 2,000 hours of unpaid overtime during his service for the city.

Singleton was fired from his position in September 2023 and said he has not been paid for any of his accrued sick or vacation time.

In the lawsuit, Singleton also said he was forced to perform the duties of a police officer as Midland City Police Chief and was restricted in his managerial duties by the mayor.

Officer Singlton was not allowed to hire or fire any employees without Mayor Gary's permission. The schedule Officer Singleton made for other police officers was subject to Mayor Gary's approved. Officer Singlton did not recieve a budget and could not make purchases without Mayor Gary's approval.

Lawsuit filed by Jimmy Singleton

Singleton claims Midland City and Mayor Gary violated the Fair Labor Standard Act, which establishes the minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards and protects employees.

The former police chief is asking to be awarded his unpaid wages, damages, and fees.

Before becoming chief in Midland City in 2021, Singleton served with the Dothan Police Department and the Napier Field Police Department.

After Singlton's dismissal, Mayor Gary told WDHN that she felt ambushed by the Midland City Council Members, who voted Singleton out unanimously.

Court documents show Midland City has not responded.

MIDLAND CITY, Ala (WDHN) — A federal judge has ordered the mayor of Midland City, Cynthia Gary, to respond to allegations that the city refused to pay a former police chief by February. In late Dec…

01/11/2024

OZARK, Ala (WDHN)— Retired Judge Ben McLaughlin died Wednesday afternoon.

Judge McLaughlin was 83 at the time of his death.

He served as a judge in the 33 Circuit, Dale and Geneva Counties, from 1976 to 2013.

No funeral arrangements have been made available as of Thursday morning.

OZARK, Ala (WDHN)— Retired Judge Ben McLaughlin died Wednesday afternoon. Judge McLaughlin was 83 at the time of his death. He served as a judge in the 33 Circuit, Dale and Geneva Counties, from 19…

01/11/2024

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A 45-year-old Arizona man has been booked on nine felony charges, including aggravated assault on law enforcement, after being arrested for allegedly selling a dead man’s sports utility vehicle.

According to the Yavapai County (Arizona) Sheriff’s Office, investigators found probable cause that Michael Macinnis sold a stolen 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe taken from a Cordes Lakes residence he occupied without permission after the homeowner died last year.

Macinnis allegedly forged documents to make it appear he was the estate’s representative before selling the SUV to a Flagstaff resident, the sheriff’s office said in a statement issued on Thursday.

As deputies tried to take him into custody on Jan. 3, Macinnis allegedly resisted arrest, slamming a metal door on a deputy’s wrist. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies subdued the suspect and were taking him to jail when they noticed he was becoming increasingly incoherent and drowsy.

The deputies learned Macinnis had swallowed up to 40 fentanyl pills before his arrest, but then had tried to purge his stomach of the drugs. County jail medical staff administered Narcan – also known as naloxone, a medication to counter drug overdoses – and called an ambulance to take Macinnis to a hospital. The suspect survived the event.

Yavapai County is north of Phoenix. Cordes Lakes is a community along Interstate 17.

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A 45-year-old Arizona man has been booked on nine felony charges, including aggravated assault on law enforcement, after being arrested for allegedly selling a dead…

01/11/2024

PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL) — A Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge has ruled in favor of the City of Phenix City over Russell County in a gas tax revenue dispute that has been going on for nearly six years.

Judge Brooke Reid issued her ruling on Wednesday in a 2018 lawsuit filed by the city against the county. The lawsuit was prompted when the city claimed the county unilaterally stopped paying gas tax revenue it owed the city.

In 1968, a local act of legislation was put into place which required Russell County to pay the City of Phenix City gasoline revenue.

In 2018, Russell County claimed the act was repelled, and stopped distributing proceeds to Phenix City, sparking the years-long dispute.

As ordered by Reid, Russell County is obligated to immediately resume paying the gasoline tax.

Not only that, but attorney Chan Gamble says Phenix City might be owed up to $2 million.

“This is a just result and a huge win for the City of Phenix City. Hopefully, Russell County has been setting these funds aside as the total of rearage could amount to as much as $2,000,000," said Gamble. “The whole purpose behind the tax originally was to provide the City additional revenue for road maintenance and construction as Phenix City has the largest population in Russell County and that its roads are more heavily trafficked.”

WRBL spoke with Russell County Commission Chance Corbett, who said the county's attorneys are currently looking at what its next steps are and whether or not an appeal is necessary.

A press conference is being held at the City Council Chambers at 2 p.m.

PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL) — A Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge has ruled in favor of the City of Phenix City over Russell County in a gas tax revenue dispute that has been going on for nearly s…

01/11/2024

(WRBL) — Schools in the local area are closing or adjusting their schedules ahead of another weather aware day on Friday, Jan. 12.

See below for a constantly updating listing of delays and closings:

Russell County School District: Virtual/remote

Phenix City Schools: Virtual/remote

(WRBL) — Schools in the local area are closing or adjusting their schedules ahead of another weather aware day on Friday, Jan. 12. See below for a constantly updating listing of delays and closings…

01/11/2024

EUGENE, Ore. (WHNT) — The Alabama coaching search is underway and Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning has made it clear — He's not leaving Eugene.

The Ducks coach posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, a video of him confirming that he will remain the Ducks head man.

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Local reaction to Nick Saban’s retirement

"I want to be here in Eugene for as long as Eugene will have me. This place has everything that I could possibly ever want," said Lanning. "There's a little bit of a problem in society today with people looking for what's next, whether it's an opportunity and the reality is grass is not always greener, in fact the grass is damn green in Eugune"

Multiple reports across the country previously said that Lanning was a top candidate to replace Saban.

Lanning, whose roots in Alabama begin when he was a graduate assistant under Saban in 2015, has served as Oregon's head coach for the last two seasons. The Ducks posted a 22-5 record under Lanning. Before being hired by Oregon, he was on Kirby Smart's staff at Georgia as defensive coordinator at Georgia from 2019-2021.

Alabama's coaching search is underway after Saban announced his retirement on Wednesday. According to 247 Sports, the team was told that the school ‘hoped’ to have a new head coach in place within 72 hours.

The Alabama coaching search is underway and Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning has made it clear — He’s not leaving Eugene.

01/11/2024

GEORGIA (WRBL) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is delivering the annual State of the State Address on Thursday morning.

You can watch that address in the video player above at 11 a.m.

GEORGIA (WRBL) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is delivering the annual State of the State Address on Thursday morning. You can watch that address in the video player above at 11 a.m.

01/11/2024

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) - A heavy police presence descended upon Oakwood Apartments in Opelika Thursday morning as an armored truck and unmarked Tahoe SUVs occupied the scene. The front door of one apartment seemed to bear the marks of a forced entry.

Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey informed WRBL investigators executed two simultaneous search warrants within Oakwood Apartments. The nature of the operation and specific details surrounding the warrants remain undisclosed. We will share more info as soon as we get it.

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – A heavy police presence descended upon Oakwood Apartments in Opelika Thursday morning as an armored truck and unmarked Tahoe SUVs occupied the scene. The front door of …

01/11/2024

(WKBN) – Longtime NFL head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have mutually agreed to part ways as of Thursday, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.

Belichick's tenure in New England lasted 24 years, and he is regarded as one of the most successful NFL head coaches of all time and the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era.

He won a record six Super Bowl titles as a head coach with quarterback Tom Brady. He has the most NFL playoff victories as a head coach (31), and he is the third in regular season wins (302).

Belichick was previously an assistant with the New York Jets and New York Giants. He was also the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1996.

Since Brady left the Patriots in 2020, the Patriots have declined under Belichick's direction. In 2023, New England finished with an AFC-worst record of 4-13.

At this time, no announcement has been made regarding whether or not Belichick will coach elsewhere.

A news conference is planned for later in the day, during which team owner Robert Kraft and Belichick will address the decision.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Longtime NFL head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have mutually agreed to part ways as of Thursday, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.

01/11/2024

GEORGIA (WRBL) — A total of 6,737 guns were found at airport checkpoints across the country in 2023, according to TSA.

451 one of those fi****ms were intercepted at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), making it the airport with the most firearm discoveries.

The number is slightly up from 2022, when 448 guns were seized from ATL.

According to the TSA, one firearm was discovered for every 61,646 Georgia passengers screened. That's more than double the national rate of one firearm found for every 127,447 passengers screened.

The TSA says fi****ms can only be taken on a plane if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and put in a checked bag. Fi****ms are prohibited from carry-on bags.

Travelers who bring fi****ms to security checkpoints may face criminal citations, arrest by local law enforcement, or up to nearly $15,000 in civil penalties.

Anyone catching a flight is encouraged to refresh themselves on what they can bring along at the TSA website.

GEORGIA (WRBL) — A total of 6,737 guns were found at airport checkpoints across the country in 2023, according to TSA. 451 one of those fi****ms were intercepted at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Inter…

01/11/2024

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01/11/2024

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) -- After winning six national championships in 17 years as Alabama's head football coach, Nick Saban announced his retirement Wednesday.

Saban claimed nine SEC championships with the Tide and finished with a 206-29 record in Tuscaloosa. In 10 seasons of the College Football Playoff, he qualified for it eight times.

His players received 66 All-America honors at Alabama, and the four Heisman Trophy winners he coached are tied for the most in college football history. Bear Bryant is the only person who was the head coach at Alabama, as Bryant was there for 25 years.

Below is a recap of Saban's illustrious tenure at Alabama:

Saban accepts job -- January 2007

Saban accepted the position at Alabama following a two-season stint as the NFL's Miami Dolphins head coach. His introductory press conference was on Jan. 4. The previous Crimson Tide head coach, Mike Shula, was fired in his fourth season as the top man in Tuscaloosa. The Tide struggled under Shula and officially finished 10-23 overall and 5-19 in SEC play with him in charge after the NCAA forced Alabama to vacate 16 wins from Shula's tenure.

Before assuming one of the most coveted positions in college football, Saban was the head at Toledo, Michigan State and LSU, winning a national championship with the Tigers in 2003.

Saban starts the rebuild -- 2007 season

The Tide suffered from growing pains in Saban's first season at the helm. Saban won his first game with the Crimson and White against Western Carolina on Sept. 1, but that win was later vacated by the NCAA. His official win was a 41-17 victory over No. 20 Tennessee in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Though Alabama sustained an infamous loss to Louisiana-Monroe, the Tide downed Colorado in the Independence Bowl to cap off the season. Officially, Alabama finished 2-6 overall and 1-4 in SEC action.

A return to national relevance -- 2008 season

Alabama returned to national relevance and defeated every opponent during the regular season. Some of the top victories included No. 9 Clemson in the Georgia Dome on opening weekend, No. 15 LSU in Death Valley and a 36-0 dismantling of Auburn.

For the first time since 1999, the Tide won the SEC West. In the SEC Championship Game, however, Tim Tebow and No. 2 Florida claimed the SEC championship with a 31-20 victory. Alabama made the Sugar Bowl, but fell to No. 7 Utah, 31-17. The Tide reached No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches' polls during the season and finished the campaign No. 6 in both rankings.

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Local reaction to Nick Saban’s retirement

Alabama finishes on top -- 2009 season

With 16 starters returning from 2008, the Tide was expected to be in contention for the SEC championship again. Just like in 2008, Alabama rolled its way through the regular season with wins over No. 7 Virginia Tech, No. 20 Ole Miss, No. 22 South Carolina and No. 9 LSU.

Learning from the prior season's SEC Championship Game, Alabama won its first SEC championship since 1999 with a 32-13 victory over No. 1 Florida. In the BCS National Championship Game, Alabama put away Texas, 37-21, and the Tide hoisted the crystal football in the Rose Bowl for its first national championship since 1992.

The 2009 campaign marked the first time an Alabama won the Heisman Trophy, as running back Mark Ingram II got the nod over Stanford running back Toby Gerhart.

A step back -- 2010 season

Though the Tide notched victories in its first five games, Alabama fell at No. 19 South Carolina. Alabama's national championship hopes were gone No. 10 LSU defeated the Tide in Tiger Stadium. No. 2 Auburn overcame a 24-point deficit in the Iron Bowl to crush the home crowd on its way to a national championship.

In the Captial One Bowl, No. 15 Alabama clobbered No. 7 Michigan State, 49-7, to finish the campaign with 10 wins. The Tide was No. 10 in the final AP Poll.

Reclaiming glory -- 2011 season

Though the 2010 season was disappointing by Tide standards, Alabama got 17 starters back for 2011. Alabama registered eight straight wins until the "Game of the Century" against No. 1 LSU. In the confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama lost 9-6 in overtime as the nation's No. 2 program.

The Tide, however, won its next three games and downed Auburn, 42-14, at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Despite not playing in the SEC Championship Game, Alabama was ranked No. 2 in the BCS rankings following conference championship weekend.

With that, the Tide earned a ticket to another BCS National Championship Game. In a rematch against No. 1 LSU, Alabama showed who owned the Big Easy with a dominating 21-0 victory, and Saban put a second national championship with Alabama to his name.

Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer -- 2012 season

Though the Tide lost defensive stars Dont'a Hightower and Dre Kirkpatrick and running back Trent Richardson, Alabama picked up right where it left off and won its first nine games, which included victories over No. 8 Michigan, No. 13 Mississippi State and No. 5 LSU.

Alabama, the No. 1 program in the nation, was upset by No. 15 Texas A&M and eventual freshman Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Johnny Manziel 29-24 in Tuscaloosa. Though it was a surprising loss, Alabama won 49-0 over Western Carolina and Auburn to cap the regular season.

Alabama nearly held off No. 3 Gerogira in the SEC Championship Game, 32-28. The Tide's resume was good enough to earn its third national championship game appearance in four seasons. Against No. 1 Notre Dame, the Tide took Miami Gardens by storm and won the BCS National Championship Game, 42-14. With the win, Saban established a new Alabama dynasty.

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A heartbreaking finish -- 2013 season

With quarterback A.J. McCarron back as the starter for the third straight season, Alabama took care of business in its first 11 contests, earning quality wins versus No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 21 Ole Miss and No. 10 LSU.

But when the Iron Bowl rolled around, Alabama's fortunes ended. Tied at 28, Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal with one second left in regulation. The kick ended up in the hands of Auburn's Chris Davis, who took it back 109 yards with clock at zero for the game-winning touchdown that would be known as the "Kick Six."

Alabama missed the SEC Championship Game and BCS National Championship Game, settling for the Sugar Bowl. Still shaken from the stunning Iron Bowl loss, Alabama dropped the Sugar Bowl, 45-31, to No. 11 Oklahoma, resulting in a disappointing conclusion to the campaign.

Start of a new era -- 2014 season

The 2014 season brought along Blake Sims as the new starting quarterback. It also marked the start of the College Football Playoff, a departure from the BCS in which four teams would be picked by a committee to play off for the national championship.

In its fifth game of the year, No. 11 Ole Miss knocked off No. 3 Alabama, 23-17, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Though it was early loss for the Tide, it beat No. 21 Texas A&M, No. 14 LSU, No. 1 Mississippi State to clinch a sport in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama handled No. 16 Missouri, 42-13, in the Georgia Dome and was selected as the No. 1 seed for the College Football Playoff.

Facing No. 4 seed Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama for the second straight season couldn't pull out of the Big Easy with a victory. The Tide was upset, 42-35, and the Buckeyes went on to secure the College Football Playoff National Championship. With the loss, it appeared the Alabama dynasty was over.

Saban shows who's king -- 2015 season

With Jake Coker under center and Derrick Hennry taking handoffs, Alabama was seeking to prove the naysayers wrong and claim its first championship since 2012. It seemed as though the Tide's hope for revenge had vanished when it suffered a 43-37 loss to No. 15 Ole Miss in the third game.

But Alabama had not given up, and it took care of No. 8 Georgia, No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 17 Mississippi State enroute to the SEC Championship Game. In Atlanta, the Tide suffocated the Gators, 29-15, and was the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff.

In the Cotton Bowl Classic, No. 3 Michigan State failed to compete with Alabama and were trampled, 38-0. The College Football National Championship game in Arizona saw Alabama face No. 1 seed Clemson. A 95-yard touchdown return by Alabama running back Kenyan Drake propelled the Tide to its first national championship in the new era.

Six seasons after Ingram took home the Heisman Trophy, Henry was presented with college football's most outstanding player award by leading the nation with 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground.

Just short -- 2016 season

With future NFL star quarterback Jalen Hurts under center for the Tide, Alabama entered pushed off No. 20 USC, No. 19 Ole Miss, No. 16 Arkansas, No. 9 Tennessee, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 13 LSU and Auburn to enter the SEC Championship Game undefeated.

No. 15 Florida could not bite No. 1 Alabama, and the Tide made sure it was a sure bet for the College Football Playoff with a 54-16 victory. As the No. 1 seed, Alabama silenced No. 4 Washington, 24-7, in the Georgia Dome.

In the national championship game, Alabama was staying ahead of No. 2 seed Clemson and led 31-28 in the final minute. But with one second remaining, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson found receiver Hunter Renfrow around the goal line for a two-yard touchdown to give Clemson a 35-31 win in Tampa.

A spectacular finish -- 2017 season

With Hurts and Tagovailoa as quarterbacks, Alabama recorded a 24-7 victory against No. 3 Florida State opening week in Atlanta's newly minted Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Though Alabama didn't face a particularly grueling schedule, it held off No. 19 LSU and No. 16 Mississippi State until falling to No. 6 Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Like in 2011, Alabama missed out on the SEC Championship Game but was afforded the chance at the national championship when it earned the No. 4 seed in the CFP. It avenged its loss to Clemson in the Sugar Bowl for a date No. 3 seed Georgia in Atlanta.

In the big game, Alabama was down, 13-0, at halftime. That's when Saban pulled Hurts and inserted true freshman Tagovailoa for the second half. The Tide and Bulldogs went into overtime tied at 20.

Though Georgia converted a field on goal on the first possession, Alabama was not deterred. Tagovailoa was sacked for a 16-yard loss on his first overtime snap, but then he helped record the "2nd and 26" play when he threw a 41-yard pass to true freshman receiver DeVonta Smith for a walk-off finish.

A disastrous finish in the Bay Area -- 2018 season

With Tagovailoa in the driver's seat, Alabama made the regular season look like another day at the office. With wins over No. 22 Texas A&M and No. 16 Mississippi State, not to forget about a 29-0 stomping over No. 3 LSU in Baton Rouge, Alabama remained as the No. 1 team in the nation.

It downed No. 4 Georgia, 35-28, before taking care of No. 4 seed Oklahoma, 45-34, in the CFP semifinal. Just when it seemed the Tide controlled college football, No. 2 Clemson stunned Alabama in Santa Clara, California, with a 44-16 victory. Alabama never led failed to score in the second half.

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November fade -- 2019 season

Though the Tide stayed in the win column through October, No. 2 LSU and future Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow took Tuscaloosa by storm and downed No. 3 Alabama, 41-46.

Three weeks later, Alabama was on the losing end of the Iron Bowl. With Mac Jones at quarterback following Tagovailoa sustaining serious against Mississippi State, Alabama and Auburn went back and forth until Auburn caused Alabama to commit penalties late in the game to secure a 48-45 victory. Jones threw two pick-sixes during the game.

With two regular-season losses, Alabama earned a spot in the Citrus Bowl against No. 14 Michigan. The Tide won, 35-16, and ended the campaign No. 8 in the AP Poll.

All Tide -- 2020 season

The 2020 regular season featured Alabama against 10 SEC teams and no nonconference program because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With Jones under center, the Tide downed No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 3 Georgia and No. 22 Auburn before reaching the SEC Championship Game. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian served as the acting head coach for the Auburn game with Saban in COVID-19 protocols.

Alabama then clamped the No. 7 Florida, 52-46, and earned the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. It took care of business versus No. 4 seed Notre Dame, 31-14, in the Rose Bowl. In the national championship game, Alabama handled third-seeded Ohio State, 52-24, in Miami Gardens for Saban's sixth national championship with Alabama. Alabama outscored its opponents by an average of 48.46-19.38.

Smith received the Heisman Trophy by recording 23 touchdowns and 1,856 receiving yards.

Former assistant coach downs Saban -- 2021 season

College football returned to normal in the 2021 season after the COVID-19 pandemic changed 2020. Bryce Young, a sophomore, started for the Tide at quarterback. Alabama downed No. 14 Miami (FL), No. 11 Florida and No. 12 Ole Miss before falling to Texas A&M on a field goal at Kyle Field. The Tide didn't let up, as it won the rest of the games in the regular season, including a four overtime, 24-22, thriller against Auburn.

Alabama won 41-24, in the SEC Championship Game versus No. 1 Georgia to build a strong case for the College Football Playoff. As the No. 1 seed, it handled fourth-seeded Cincinnati, 27-6, in the Cotton Bowl.

Georgia head coach Kiry Smart, a defensive coordinator under Saban from 2008-15, beat his former boss in the national championship game. As the No. 3 seed, Georgia put together a strong second half in Indianapolis to win, 33-18.

Despite Alabama not winning the national championship, Young became the first Tide quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy. He finished the campaign with 50 total touchdowns and 4,872 yards passing.

SEC road games end Alabama's chances -- 2022 season

Alabama nearly fell at Texas in the second game of the season but pulled out a 20-19 victory. It also had tight contest versus Texas A&M in Tuscaloosa but held the Aggies off 24-20.

At a rowdy Neyland Stadium, Alabama fell, 52-49, to No. 6 Tennessee for its first loss of the campaign. A few weeks later, No. 10 LSU ended any hopes Bama held for making the College Football Playoff by defeating the Tide, 32-31, at Tiger Stadium.

Despite knowing in early November a national championship was off the table, Alabama went ahead and won its final four games, including a 45-20 victory over No. 9 Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. Young declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and was selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers.

Saban's last rodeo -- 2023 season

Though critics shared their doubts about Alabama, the Tide pushed through the campaign. In the second game of the season, No. 11 Texas outplayed No. 3 Alabama and beat the Tide, 34-24, in Tuscaloosa.

After playing quarterbacks Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner in an ugly 17-3 win at South Florida in Week 3, Saban decided quarterback Jalen Milroe was the Tide's best quarterback. Under Milroe, Alabama downed No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 17 Tennessee and No. 14 LSU. In the SEC Championship Game, Alabama put off No. 1 Georgia, 27-24, and snuck into the College Football as the No. 4 seed.

In the Rose Bowl against first-seeded Michigan, Alabama led in the fourth quarter until Michigan notched a touchdown with 1:34 left in the fourth quarter. That forced the game into overtime, where Michigan struck first. Alabama faced a fourth-and-three from the 3-yard line but a low snap from center Seth McLaughlin led to Milroe trying to run the ball into the end zone. Milroe was stopped short of the end zone in what turned out to be the final play of Saban's career.

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Saban announces retirement - January 10, 2024

Two days after Michigan won the national championship over No. 2 seed Washington, Saban ended his coaching career at 72 years old. He leaves behind a legacy Tide fans will always remember and helped build the University of Alabama's national image.

“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me,” Saban said in a release. “We have enjoyed every minute of our 17 years being the head coach at Alabama as well as becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. It is not just about how many games we won and lost, but it’s about the legacy and how we went about it. We always tried to do it the right way. The goal was always to help players create more value for their future, be the best player they could be and be more successful in life because they were part of the program. Hopefully, we have done that, and we will always consider Alabama our home.”