COLLEGE NOTES: Bama basketball to open against familar foe; Richt, Ward to speak at local event
COMBINED REPORTS
The Alabama men’s basketball team will take on Iona next season in the opening round of the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational, which will be held Thursday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 28 at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports near Orlando, Fla.
In addition to the Crimson Tide and Gaels, the field will include Belmont, Dayton, Drake, Kansas, Miami (Fla.) and North Texas.
The first-round matchup between UA and Iona will tip at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2 on Nov. 25, will be a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament opening game in which the No. 2 seed Tide held on to down the 15th-seeded Gaels, 68-55.
Richt, Ward headline annual Landmark event
Former Georgia and Miami head football coach Mark Richt headlines the 15th annual Gridiron Kickoff, hosted by the Landmark Church.
Richt will be joined by 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward, who played at Florida State while Richt was the Seminoles’ quarterback coach.
Rich and Ward will talk football and life at the men’s only event, scheduled for Aug. 2 at Landmark’s LIFEcenter, located at 1800 Halcyon Boulevard behind Buddy Watson Park just off Taylor Road.
The cost is $15, which includes a barbecue dinner and a laminated SEC helmet schedule. Tickets are limited and are available at the church office or online at www.landmark.church.
Saban makes Dodd preseason watch list
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2021 Dodd Trophy presented by PNC,
Saban is among 17 coaches and one of five former Dodd Trophy winners on this year’s list.
The Dodd Trophy presented was established in 1976 to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field. The award honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character. The winner of the 2021 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
SWAC Media Day set for Tuesday
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will host its annual SWAC Football Media on Tuesday at 10:00 am CST at the Sheraton-Birmingham.
The event will be streamed live on ESPN3. All 12 SWAC head football coaches and two student-athletes from each institution will be in attendance to address the media about the upcoming 2021 football season.
Senior running back Ezra Gray and sophomore linebacker Colton Adams will join head coach Donald Hill-Eley at the event. The trio can be seen on ESPN3 beginning at 10:32 am CDT for a 10-minute segment, before having time on radio row, virtual interviews, and time with television affiliates.