Alabama Gymnastics, Women’s Hoops Shine at Home; Football Preps for Next Chapter in the Trenches
It was a packed weekend in Tuscaloosa, and the Crimson Tide faithful got plenty to cheer about - from high-flying gymnastics routines to a gritty women’s basketball win, and a football program already laying the foundation for its next era in the trenches.
Gym Tide Delivers Season-Best Performance in Home Opener
In front of 9,216 fans at Coleman Coliseum, Alabama gymnastics made its long-awaited home debut - and didn’t disappoint. The No.
3 Crimson Tide posted a season-high 197.500 to edge out No. 7 Missouri, who turned in a strong 197.225 of their own.
This meet was a showcase of both star power and depth. Freshman Jasmine Cawley continues to impress early in her collegiate career, taking the vault title with a 9.925. On bars, junior Chloe LaCoursiere delivered a near-flawless routine that earned a 9.975 - a mark that speaks to her precision and poise under pressure.
But the night belonged to senior Gabby Gladieux. She was electric on floor, scoring a 9.975, and capped her night by winning the all-around with a 39.575. That kind of veteran leadership and consistency is exactly what Alabama needs as it pushes through the SEC gauntlet.
Crimson Tide Women’s Hoops Outlasts Mississippi State in Thriller
Just two days later, Alabama women’s basketball added another chapter to its growing résumé. In a back-and-forth battle that featured 18 lead changes and 10 ties, the Tide outlasted Mississippi State, 85-79, in a high-energy SEC contest.
Jessica Timmons was the engine behind the win. The junior guard poured in a career-high 28 points, going 11-for-11 from the free throw line and 3-for-6 from deep. Her ability to control the tempo and deliver in clutch moments was the difference.
She wasn’t alone. Alabama had five players in double figures - Diana Collins (15), Karly Weathers (13), Ace Austin (10), and Naomi Jones (10) - all stepped up.
Jones, in particular, made the most of her 22 minutes, finishing with 10 points, four boards, six blocks, and a game-best +23 in the plus-minus column. That kind of impact in limited minutes is rare - and invaluable.
Weathers also added five steals to her stat line, a testament to her defensive instincts and hustle. Meanwhile, star forward Essence Cody made her return to the floor, logging 15 minutes. Getting her back to full strength will be key as the Tide looks to climb the SEC standings.
Bediako’s Eligibility Battle Hits Critical Juncture
In what’s become one of the more bizarre eligibility sagas in recent memory, Charles Bediako’s status hangs in the balance. A hearing is set for Tuesday, where a judge will rule on a preliminary injunction that could determine whether Bediako remains eligible for the rest of the season - or if his brief return becomes a one-game footnote in Alabama basketball history.
If the injunction is granted, Bediako would be cleared to continue playing under head coach Nate Oats. If not, he’d be deemed ineligible under NCAA rules and likely return to the G-League.
Most around the program are optimistic, but with the current climate of college athletics, nothing is guaranteed. Either way, the outcome could have significant implications for the Tide’s frontcourt depth moving forward.
Reinforcements in the Trenches: Delgatty, Sanders, and Simmons Step Up
Alabama football is already retooling, and the offensive line is front and center in that process.
Enter Racin Delgatty - a 6-foot-4, 300-pound center from Cal Poly who brings both experience and edge. After starting all 12 games last season and earning All-Big Sky Second Team honors, Delgatty arrives in Tuscaloosa with 21 games under his belt and a reputation for playing with a mean streak. He allowed just 11 pressures on 460 pass-blocking snaps in 2025 - numbers that speak to his consistency and toughness.
With two-year starter Parker Brailsford off to the NFL, Delgatty is the presumed favorite to take over at center. But Michigan transfer Kayden Strayhorn will be in the mix, keeping competition healthy. Whoever wins the job will be snapping to a new starting quarterback - a critical piece in Alabama’s offensive puzzle.
At guard, redshirt sophomore William Sanders is ready to make his move. The 6-foot-3, 308-pounder came in with the 2024 class and has drawn praise from former first-round pick Tyler Booker, who called him a student of the game with a relentless drive to improve.
“He’ll be borderline annoying sometimes, just asking me ‘How I look? How I look?’”
Booker said. “But I appreciate that from him because he had a want to learn.
He loves the game of football, you can tell.”
Sanders is in line to compete for one of the starting guard spots, and if he locks it down, it could go a long way in stabilizing a unit that’s seen plenty of turnover.
On the defensive side, London Simmons is poised to take on a much larger role in 2026. After earning early playing time as a true freshman, Simmons now finds himself as one of the most experienced returners on a defensive line that’s been hit hard by NFL departures (Keenan and LT Overton) and portal exits (James Smith, Kelby Collins, Jordan Renaud).
Simmons credits his mindset for earning that early trust from coaches: “Not thinking you’re a true freshman, just acting like a vet,” he said. “Doing everything you do over and over just like a vet.”
Defensive line coach Freddie Roach believes Simmons’ path can serve as a blueprint for other young players looking to make an immediate impact. With Alabama in need of new leaders up front, Simmons’ development will be one of the key storylines to watch this offseason.
Third-Year Coaching Magic? History Says It’s Possible
As Alabama enters a new chapter under its current coaching regime, history offers a bit of intrigue. Three Crimson Tide head coaches - Wallace Wade, Gene Stallings, and Nick Saban - all won national championships in their third seasons.
Wade went 10-0 in 1925, capping the season with a Rose Bowl win over Washington. Stallings followed suit in 1992, leading Alabama to a perfect 13-0 record and a Sugar Bowl victory over Miami. And in 2009, Saban delivered his first of six titles in Tuscaloosa, beating Texas in the BCS Championship to complete another 13-0 campaign.
While history doesn’t guarantee anything, it does set a compelling precedent. Year three has been kind to Alabama coaches in the past - and with new faces emerging on both sides of the ball, the foundation is being laid for another potential run.
From the gym to the hardwood to the gridiron, Alabama’s athletic programs are showing why they remain among the most compelling in college sports. And with spring just around the corner, the next wave of storylines is already beginning to take shape.