Alabama Crimson Tide: Wednesday News & Notes

The biggest headline coming out of Tuscaloosa this week is that Bill O’Brien has been hired as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, meaning he is no longer affiliated with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Many Bama fans had long awaited the departure of O’Brien, and the news finally broke Tuesday morning.

Alabama now has vacancies at both coordinator positions that must be filled. The announcement of former defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s departure dropped nearly two weeks ago. While the DC situation is still a blistering hot topic, the offensive coordinator opening provides something a little more fresh for the fan base to chew on.

Several names have been tossed around in the wake of O’Brien’s exit, including Oklahoma OC Jeff Lebby, Buffalo Bills quarterback coach Joe Brady, and former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury.

All of these names, as well as several others that have been discussed, are intriguing for different reasons. Still, nothing with any substance has come to the surface.

Alabama Crimson Tide: Bama in the NBA

The Alabama Crimson Tide has always been well-known for populating the NFL with its former players, particularly under Coach Nick Saban. Now, the Alabama basketball program is beginning to fill the NBA with Tuscaloosa products.

Point guard Collin Sexton is averaging 14.3 points per game in his first season with the Utah Jazz after being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sexton is having a down year by his standards, and is mostly coming off the bench for the Jazz. Still, he remains the most recognizable Alabama player in the modern NBA.

Herb Jones has blossomed into a key player and fan favorite for the New Orleans Pelicans. Jones is averaging 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game this season, and has started every game he has played in. Just as he did in college, Jones is excelling on the defensive end of the floor.

Kira Lewis Jr. also plays for the Pelicans, but has not seen much action this season. Former Alabama Crimson Tide teammate John Petty Jr. joins Jones and Lewis Jr. in the Pelicans organization, playing for the G League Birmingham Squadron.

JaMychal Green averages 6.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for the world champion Golden State Warriors.

JD Davison (Boston Celtics) and Keon Ellis (Sacramento Kings) are both rookies on two-way contracts. Davison and Ellis are both trying to make their marks in the league after suiting up for Alabama basketball just last season.

Alabama Crimson Tide: Senior kicker ties the knot

Just weeks after surprising the fan base with the announcement of his return to Alabama, Will Reichard was married over the weekend. He married his high school sweetheart, who is also a fellow Alabama grad.

Reichard is one of the top kickers in Alabama history, and will play a big role on next season’s team. The rising fifth-year senior is already the all-time leading scorer in Tide lore with 426 points. If he hits 22 more field goals in 2023, he will pass Leigh Tiffin to become the school’s all-time leader in made field goals.

Reichard would need 36 made field goals to become the NCAA all-time record holder in made field goals. While this likely won’t happen, Reichard can cement himself firmly in the NCAA’s top ten with a solid season.

That would be quite an accomplishment, but it probably wouldn’t be the biggest highlight of Will Reichard’s year.