The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • B2

2B FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER BOXING ShoBox: The New Generation, Orlando, Showtime, 8 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Kent St. at Ohio, CBS Sports Network, 5:30 p.m. Marquette at Georgetown, Fox Sports 1, 5:30 p.m. Milwaukee at Detroit, ESPN2, 6 p.m.

Xavier at Butler, Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Princeton at Columbia, ESPNU, 6 p.m. Washington St. at Arizona, PAC-12 Network, 7 p.m. Oregon at Stanford, PAC-12 Network, 9 p.m.

COLLEGE GYMNASTICS Centenary at LSU, SEC Network, 6 p.m. COLLEGE HOCKEY Minnesota at Michigan Big Ten Network, 5:30 p.m. COLLEGE WRESTLING Minnesota at Iowa, Big Ten Network, 8 p.m. FIGURE SKATING U.S. Championships: Rhythm Dance, Nashville, USA, 3:30 p.m.

U.S. Championships: Free, Nashville, 7 p.m. GOLF PGA Tour: The Sentry Tournament of Champions, Second Round, Kapalua Resort, Kapalua, Hawaii, GOLF, 5 p.m. BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL NIBC: Oak Hill Academy vs. La Lumiere La Porte, ESPN2, 8 p.m.

HORSE RACING NYRA: Day at the Races, Fox Sports 2, 1:30 p.m. NBA Milwaukee at Brooklyn, ESPN, 6:45 p.m. Atlanta at LA Lakers, ESPN, Bally Sports Southeast, 9:05 p.m. NHL Calgary at Carolina, Bally Sports South, 6 p.m. Washington at St.

Louis, NHL Network, 7 p.m. ROBERTO CLEMENTE PBL BASEBALL Playoff: Gigantes de Carolina at Indios de Semifinal, Fox Sports 2, 5 p.m. SPEED SKATING U.S. Olympic Trials: and 500m, Milwaukee, USA, 5 p.m. TENNIS ATP Cup Semifinal; Adelaide 1-WTA, Melbourne 1 and 2-WTA Quarterfinals, Tennis, 5 a.m.

ATP Cup Semifinal; Adelaide 1-WTA, Melbourne 1 and 2-WTA Semifinals, Tennis, 6 p.m. TALK SHOWS Keyshawn, JWill and Max, WTXK-FM 107.5, WTXK-AM 1210, 5 a.m. The DA Show, WMSP-AM 740, 5 a.m. The Wake-Up Call, with Michael Butler, WTLS-AM 1300, WTLS-FM 106.5, 6 a.m. Sportsline, with John Longshore and Barry McKnight, WMSP-AM 740, 7 a.m.

Greeny, WTXK-FM 107.5, WTXK-AM 1210, 9 a.m. Three Man Front, WMSP-AM 740, 10 a.m. MAX Roundtable, Doug Amos, Charlie Trotman and Darrell Dapprich, WTXK- FM 107.5, WTXK-AM 1210, 11 a.m. The Matt McClearin Show, WMSP-AM 740, noon River Region Sports, with Graham Dunn, WTLS-AM 1300, WTLS-FM 106.5, noon Paul Finebaum, SEC Network, WTXK- FM 107.5, WTXK-AM 1210, WTLS-AM 1300, WTLS-FM 106.5, 2 p.m. Maggie and Perloff, WMSP-AM 740, 2 p.m.

The Chuck Oliver Show, WMSP-AM 740, 6 p.m. ON THE AIR March 19. have to save myself in order to be ready for the Lee said. Helping Auburn compete for team ti- tles is the priority. roster is overloaded with returning seniors, so Lee can to ease in.

also most daunting aspect of it all. Her scores will now have a direct im- pact on overall performance. An individual sport transforms to a team game. really had to grow up because I had to take on so many responsibilities by Lee said. like: We have to actually work as a team in order to work and to be great together.

So the one thing that still trying to Graba has been impressed with how she has handled the transition. she still a premier athlete in my opinion, the best athlete in the Graba said. Depth to handle the stage 2021 season ended in sud- den heartbreak. It was the No. 15 nation- al seed for NCAA regionals when CO- VID-19 cases forced the Tigers to drop out of the event.

were Graba said. felt like we were going in the right direc- tion. We had a real shot, we believe, of at least top All but one of the seniors re- turned for an optional extra year of eligi- bility. Now the expectations are set even higher. challenge is selecting lineups on such a deep roster.

The Lee factor adds a wrinkle. now even more attention on our program, and with that comes tele- Graba said. on TV, when broadcast, you get practice routines for your Still, so much competition in the room that goal is make practice harder than the Injuries also the Tigers last year, drop- ping their ranking by the postseason. With Lee plus the depth, Auburn is posi- tioned to keep its talent healthier for March. we lose a couple of girls, then we plug somebody in within a quar- ter of a 10th of that scoring Graba said.

why I believe that this is not a high goal for us. a real- istic goal for us to get to the Gymnastics Continued from Page 1B can be." This season, Bowers has been Geor- gia's leading receiver with 52 recep- tions, 846 yards and 12 touchdowns. Linebacker Henry To'o To'o, who played high school football in California like Bowers, said it comes down to play- ing sound football. The Crimson Tide also needs to tackle and cover Bowers in space. "He did a lot of things against us last game," To'o To'o said.

"Just really honing into the fundamentals and being able to execute in our game." To'o To'o could be among those who will have to either cover or tackle Bow- ers, depending on where he lines up and how Georgia uses the freshman. Ala- bama defensive coordinator Pete Gol- ding said the Crimson Tide can't put a certain player on him at all times. That would give too much away to the of- fense. Sometimes that means doubling him. Other times, it's jamming him at the line of scrimmage.

"Get some bigger guys on him at times if the is an issue," Gol- ding said. "If the speed becomes a prob- lem, obviously you've got coverages to try to put a DB on him." Georgia's running game makes it dif- to zero in only on Bowers, though. Golding said Alabama can't just focus on designing ways to defend the tight end because then Bulldogs can hurt you elsewhere. "It's being multiple, it's having a plan for wherever he's at to have things, to be able to help you," Golding said. "But a lot of guys got him covered, and a lot of guys are doubling, he still goes up and makes the play.

It's about contesting it, making them execute and doing a good job." Contact Alabama reporter Nick Kelly: Follow him on Twitter: Bowers Continued from Page 1B Alabama football coordina- tor Bill O'Brien took part in free agency plenty while he was in the NFL. Before coming to Tuscaloosa, O'Brien served as general manager and coach of the Houston Texans. He also spent seasons as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots. So, he's quite familiar with what free agency is like in the pros. On Wednesday, ahead of Alabama's matchup against Georgia (13-1) in the College Football championship at 7 p.m.

CT on Jan. 10 at Lucas Oil Sta- dium in Indianapolis, O'Brien was asked if he felt like he hit the free agency jack- pot when Alabama added former Ohio State receiver Jameson Williams through the transfer por- tal. "You know, it is similar to free agency but with- out the rules, to be honest with you," O'Brien said. "There are some rules in college, but the portal is an interesting deal. And I'll stay away from that.

I'll let coach (Nick) Saban handle that." Three thousand football players in Division II and III have entered the portal the past two months, SI reported Monday. O'Brien didn't say more about the portal, but he talked more on Williams and how he "hit the ground running" when he joined the Crimson Tide (13-1). "I think Bryce (Young), the rest of the guys did a great job with him helping him out," O'Brien said. "John Metchie, all those guys that play receiv- er out there that have been here, they did a great job. And he picked it up fast and obviously he's a huge part of our success." This season, Williams has caught 75 passes for 1,507 yards and 15 touch- downs.

He had four touchdowns of 70- plus yards this season. O'Brien said Williams has excellent speed, is an excellent route runner, competitive, smart and instinctive. "I think that's something that the great ones have those traits," O'Brien said. "Everybody's a little bit Everybody's built Everybody has skill sets. speed things like that.

But the best ones that I've been around and Jameson's in that category, they all have that competitive spirit that's really hard to some- times." Alabama OC: Transfer portal 'similar to free agency' Nick Kelly Tuscaloosa News USA TODAY NETWORK O'Brien AUBURN On the heels of shocking news, Auburn depleted re- ceiver room received a jolt Wednesday as senior Shedrick Jackson announced he will return for his extra year of eligi- bility. Jackson was No. 2 receiver in 2021, compiling 40 catches, 527 yards and one touchdown. It was arguably the most important touchdown of the season, a game-winner saving them from a loss to Georgia State on fourth- and-goal in the minute. It was a frustrating season at times Jackson struggled with drops early, and the receivers had trouble getting sepa- ration but the Tigers will happily wel- come him back.

It was a breakout year in many ways too for Auburn legend Bo nephew. Before 2021, She- drick Jackson had 10 catches for 130 yards in his college career. And his return revitalizes a position group that lost promising sophomore Kobe Hudson to the transfer portal this week. Hudson was the leading receiver. If Jackson had not returned, Auburn would be losing its top three re- ceivers for the second straight season, and its returners would have a com- bined 487 career yards.

Instead, Jackson more than doubles that total with his experience. always been impressed with coach Bryan Harsin said after season opener against Akron. think a leader. I think got a level of maturity that makes him suc- cessful on and the Auburn wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (11) celebrates after he catches a pass for a touchdown against Georgia State earlier this season. BUTCH Senior receiver Shedrick Jackson returns to Auburn for extra year Bennett Durando Montgomery Advertiser USA TODAY NETWORK NFLPA to investigate claims against Bucs The NFL Players Association plans to investigate Antonio allega- tions that Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians and the organiza- tion are trying to cover up incidents of mismanagement, which led to Brown's abrupt exit from the team on Sunday.

NFLPA spokesperson George Atal- lah told USA TODAY Sports on Thurs- day that because Brown has yet to con- tact the players' union, details remain scarce. However, NFLPA plan to follow standard operating procedure and investigate Brown's claims of med- ical mismanagement just as they would anytime a player makes such al- legations. Brown removed his jersey and pads in the third quarter of game against the New York Jets, tossed them aside and walked the following a conversation with Arians. He re- leased a statement Wednesday night through his attorney claiming the coach him for refusing to play while injured. Brown also said he learned that the Buccaneers had injected him with a and sometimes dangerous painkiller that the NFLPA has warned against Following the game, Arians declined to share much insight into the incident but said Brown was no longer a mem- ber of the team.

The following day, Arians denied he had any knowledge that Brown was in- jured and said the wide receiver had been cleared by the medical team to play. Brown, in his statement, called Ari- comments He also said an MRI on his ankle on Mon- day revealed broken bone fragments stuck in his ankle and that he will be having surgery..