Alabama’s renovation of Bryant-Denny Stadium to top $100 million

By Bryan FischerSep 6, 2019, 5:27 PM EDT

The House that Nick Saban is helping renovate is getting a little pricer to update.

The Alabama Board of Trustees approved an updated budget revision on Friday, confirming a number of reports that show the renovation of Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa is going to cost some $106 million for the school instead of the previously announced $92.5 million.

Construction is set to begin after the Crimson Tide wrap up their home slate against Western Carolina on Nov. 23 and is expected to be completed by the time the 2020 campaign rolls around.

“We realized this is an aggressive construction schedule we are going to be talking about. However, our contractors are confident. They have expressed they will deliver this on time,” AD Greg Byrne told the Tuscaloosa News.

The budget for the project has actually been increased twice before and includes some rather significant upgrades — including new video boards, an updated press box, new locker rooms and additional premium seating among other items.

Bryant-Denny has already seen two major updates to the north and south end zones the past decade but this upcoming renovation is among the biggest work yet being done to the venue. The driving force behind it all is a new 10-year, $600 million initiative by the school to upgrade a number of athletics facilities on campus.

Naturally this being Alabama, the home of the football team is receiving the lion’s share of that commitment as the Tide enter the 2020’s with a stadium featuring all the latest bells and whistles.

Utah State player upgraded to fair condition after collapse

Associated PressMar 25, 2023, 1:50 AM EDT

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Utah State redshirt freshman wide receiver Josh Davis is in fair condition on Friday, one day after collapsing at spring football practice following sudden cardiac arrest, the university announced.

Davis, initially was listed in critical condition, was breathing on his own. He is in the intensive-care unit at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah.

Davis’ parents arrived in Utah on Thursday evening.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Davis, who is from Carlsbad, California, collapsed at Merlin Olsen Field and was immediately treated by the training staff, the university said. He was taken to Logan Regional Hospital.

The university said Davis was stabilized in the Logan hospital before being moved to Ogden.

Alabama suspends freshman defensive back after drug arrest

Associated PressMar 20, 2023, 10:32 PM EDT

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell has been suspended from the team following his arrest on a drug charge.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday after the first practice of spring that Mitchell was suspended from the team “and all team activities until we gather more information about the situation and what his legal circumstance is.”

The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mitchell and another man, Christophere Lewis, last week on a charge of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. Lewis also was charged with carrying a concealed gun without a permit.

“Everybody’s got an opportunity to make choices and decisions,” Saban said. “There’s no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You’ve gotta be responsible for who you’re with, who you’re around and what you do, who you associate yourself with and the situations that you put yourself in. It is what it is, but there is cause and effect when you make choices and decisions that put you in bad situations.”

Mitchell, who is from Alabaster, Alabama, was a five-star prospect rated the 34th-best player and No. 3 safety in the 247Composite rankings.

Mitchell was driving the vehicle during a traffic stop. After deputies smelled marijuana, Mitchell picked up a baggie of marijuana from the passenger floorboard, according to the department’s Facebook post.

Sheriff’s deputies found “an additional significant amount of marijuana, a set of scales, a loaded handgun between the passenger seat and center console, and a large amount of cash,” according to the department’s Facebook post.