More Iron Bowl History

In case you didn't notice, I have been on a history kick lately. We have been doing stories in advance for the Iron Bowl this year and one of our stories is about the history of the annual Alabama-Auburn game. This is a picture taken of that first game played in Birmingham. Thanks to the Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa for the photos and all their help. This picture has written on it "Dorsey makes first touchdown (four points)". I don't know if Dorsey played for Alabama or Auburn, but notice that a touchdown counted only 4 points back then. Also notice the people sitting on the top of the fence watching the game. And I don't know if you can see it or not, but the guy at the left of the picture in the hat is a referee. I also think he has a cane, maybe instead of a flag he would bopp you in the head with his cane. Anyway, thought this was an interesting photo. And yes, Auburn won the game 32-22.

Yeah, But Did They Tailgate?

Trivia question, where was the very first Alabama-Auburn game played? If you said Birmingham, give yourself a pat on the back. Carson and I went in search of this historical marker today. It marks the spot for the very first Iron Bowl, played way back in 1893.
Sadly, Auburn, known then as A&M College, won the first meeting by a score of 32 to 22. If you ever want to find the marker for yourself it's near St. Vincents Hospital, on the corner of 8th Street South and University.
What was then known as Base Ball Park is now home to office buildings.

Visit To Bear Bryant's Gravesite

Today, Carson and I went to a place I had always wanted to visit but just never got around to. We visited Bear Bryant's gravesite at Elmwood Cemetary in Birmingham. We are doing some stories in advance for the Iron Bowl and we went to the cemetary for one of the stories. First of all, there is a crimson line painted on the drive that takes you to his gravesite. The most surprising thing I quess was just how simple the site was. Just a simple headstone marking this as the family plot and a plaque marking his grave. Nothing at all about his being a coach, nothing about Alabama. Just simple. I'm sure those of you out there who are Alabama fans and who were alive at the time remember where you were when you heard that the Bear had passed away. I know I do. And I remember the pictures of hundreds of thousands of people lining the road to say goodbye as his funeral procession passed down the road. So to see his gravesite today brought back all those memories. Those of you who are not Alabama fans probably dont understand our fascination with Bear Bryant. All I know is that growing up all I wanted to do was play football for the Bear at Alabama. And he remains a big part of Alabama football, and hopefully always will.

Dont Try This At Home

Having just finished shooting our story for the day, we were in Guntersville and looking for some lunch.
Then across the scanner comes this, "Medics respond to Allred Marina, reports of a plane crash, plane is in the water and sinking.".
Well, nothing gets your blood pumping faster than hearing breaking news and knowing that you are close to the scene and may beat police and rescue personal to the scene. Sure enough, we get out there first and beat the responders by a couple of minutes.
Seems a man flying a boat plane was either attempting to land or flying too close to the water with his landing gear down. Wheels hit the water and plane flips into the lake. Luckily, the pilot was able to get out with only scratches and was picked up by a couple of fisherman close to the crash.
Thanks to Alabama Marine Police who took us out to the site in their patrol boat.

Picture of The Day, plus New Contest

Sometimes I go back through our archive tapes here at the bureau and I come upon stories like this. A group of senior citizens calling themselves the California Raisins, go to nursing homes and entertain the residents. Personally, they look more like grapes than raisins, but their hearts are in the right place anyway. Now, my faithful readers, the rest will be up to you. I want to see what kind of funny caption you can come up with for this picture. Make it short, sweet and funny. Winner gets an all expense paid trip to anywhere in the world within a one block radius of their own home. Travel expenses not included.

Jerry, You Are My Hero

Carson and I had to work in Huntsville Tuesday. While we were there, Jerry asked why he didn't make it on the blog this weekend. So here is a photo of your humble photog sitting on the set with Jerry and Kym. I think I kinda look good up there, what do you say? Jerry, if you need someone to sit in for you while you are on vacation just give me a call.

Kids Count, Sand Mtn. Version

Saturday was the Kids Count On the Road event here in Albertville. Thanks to all the folks here in Sand Mtn. who came out and showed the love for Channel 19. Couple of people asked to be put up on the blog, so of course I am more than happy to comply. Here is a picture of ace reporter/weekend anchor Amber Moody interviewing a young man in the Kids Speak Out area. And then there is Keith. Keith Lowhorne spent all day cooking hot dogs for all the thousands of people who came out for the event. Just how many weiners did you cook up, Keith?

Quarters From Heaven

Well, not exactly but it was quarters from Philadelphia. $800,000 worth of them to be exact. They were on the side of the interstate after the tractor trailer they were being hauled in catches fire on Interstate 59 in DeKalb County this morning. The fire caused the trailer to break in half, dumping over 3 million new, uncirculated Kansas state quarters on the road. The fire ruined the quarters, which will have to be bagged back up and sent back to the mint to be melted down and re-coined. The driver of the truck told us that he was responsible for every quarter in the truck, so the workers were going through the grass looking for every one. Needless to say, there were quite a few police, deputies and a State Trooper on the scene watching over everything. Not quite pennies from heaven, but pretty strange anyway.

Sand Mtn. Sales Lady

I want to finally introduce to the other member of the Sand Mountain Bureau team. This is Patsy Russell, she does sales in the Sand Mtn. area. As important as we think news is, without sales we wouldn't be able to put on a newscast everyday. Poor Patsy has to drive to Huntsville about three days a week and still do sales here on the mountain. But, Patsy, why do they call you "Hussy"?

What A Guy!

This is Marshall County District Attorney Steve Marshall. Carson and I ran into him eating lunch Wednesday at Wanda's cafe in Guntersville. The reason Mr. Marshall gets put up on the blog today is because he said my blog is much better than Carson's blog. And for that, you Steve Marshall, are the first ever Sand Mtn. Photog's person of the day. Yes, Mr. Marshall, today is indeed your lucky day. Sorry, there are no wonderful prizes to go with this award, but the honor of being selected should be award enough. We appreciate you and all the hard work you do. Now get out there and prosecute some bad guys!!

Where Is All the Gas?

These is the scene at many gas stations across DeKalb County. A lot of stores are out of gas and others are limiting the amount each customer can buy. According to fuel suppliers, a rush by folks to fill up because of rumors of outages dwindled the supply. So, seems even the record high prices isn't stopping folks from buying gas and going where they need to. Around here, we have not seen any change in the traffic on the road. Highway 431 is always crowded around lunchtime and that hasn't changed one bit. Which brings up a question we ask ourselves everytime we go out on the road, "Where are all these people going?". I understand people working and getting groceries and such, but what about all these other cars? Do you really need to be out right at noon with nowhere to go? Just how high do prices have to go before people cut out some driving?

Pictures From Tuscaloosa

As promised, here are some photos I snapped before the game while Bama warmed up. Prothro and Darby both had good games for the Tide, and most fans were just glad to see them back on the field. And of course Big Al always has a great game. Since I'm shooting video during the game it's impossible to snap some photos of game action but I'll put up some video stills of the game as soon as I get the tapes back. The Tide was flat to start the game, but they picked it up after half-time and hey, a win is a win.

What A Day!

We don't get that many visitors here at the Sand Mtn. Bureau so I like to put up pictures when we have a special one. Tonight, Carson went to shoot the Fyffe at Sylvania football game and he got to drive the Ch. 19 Weather Endeavor there and back to the bureau. This will go up with the Skylink picture, and soon I need to put up a picture of Skycam 19 when it visited us here. Oh, Carson had to shoot football because your faithful photog had to go to Fayetteville and shoot at the funeral for the Huntsville police officer who was shot and killed this week. So, I left Fayetteville at about 6:15 to head back to Sand Mtn. to shoot football at Section. Thanks to Carson for getting the Sylvania game for tonight's highlights. Tomorrow I'm off to Tuscaloosa to shoot the Alabama - Middle Tenn. State game. Unfortunately, it is a very late start so I hope to get some pictures from that game on Sunday. Have a great weekend!!

On A Happier Note

Found this picture of Carson and me. We were doing a story at the Marshall County courthouse in Albertville and ran into world famous photographer Robert O. Johnson and he wanted to take a picture of us. So there you go. Your faithful Sand Mtn. Bureau team hard at work and just happy to be here. Are we 2 good looking guys or what? Would "studly" be an appropriate word? I think so.