Fired mid-season by Auburn, coordinator Tony Franklin back in Sun Belt with Middle TennesseeMURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Getting fired isn’t easy. Call Tony Franklin an optimist because the offensive coordinator says he’s glad he went to Auburn and got fired seven games into his tenure. Nick Saban and Alabama have sky-high expectations despite losses on and off the fieldFalcons’ receiver Harry Douglas suffers season-ending knee injury during drillFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons’ depth chart at wide receiver doesn’t look much like coach Mike Smith planned. Brazil and Alabama are in, Milwaukee and Richmond out of 2010 IndyCar scheduleSPARTA, Ky. — The IndyCar series is heading back to South America. IndyCar racing comes to NASCAR country, with Alabama track getting IRL eventBIRMINGHAM, Ala. — IndyCar racing is coming to NASCAR country. Southeastern Conference, ESPN launch SEC Network to air syndicated football, basketball gamesBIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southeastern Conference football and basketball games not shown on ESPN networks will be available in more than 54 million homes on the SEC Network, the new name for the league’s syndication deal with ESPN. Alabama appeals NCAA ruling that forced the football program to vacate 21 winsTUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama said Thursday it has taken the first step toward appealing a ruling by the NCAA that forced the Crimson Tide football program to vacate 21 wins. NCAA places 16 Alabama programs on probation, football team will forfeit winsTUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The NCAA placed Alabama’s football program and 15 other of the school’s athletic teams on three years’ probation for major violations due to misue of free textbooks. Six-time Olympic swim coach Richard Quick diesAUBURN, Ala. — Auburn swimming coach Richard Quick, who won 13 NCAA titles with three schools during a career that spanned four decades, has died of cancer. He was 66. Alabama attorney general closes investigation into Andre Smith case involving sports agentMONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Attorney General Troy King has closed the investigation into former Alabama star Andre Smith’s alleged dealings with a sports agent. Gardiner’s walk-off grand slam puts top-seeded Florida in Women’s College World Series finalsOKLAHOMA CITY — Ali Gardiner was in a prolonged slump, her team was in a tough spot and she hadn’t been on the best terms with her father lately. Pinch-hit grand slam lifts Alabama to 6-2 win, knocks out defending champ Arizona StateOKLAHOMA CITY — Pinch-hitter Jazlyn Lunceford hit her first career grand slam to lift Alabama to a 6-2 win against defending champion Arizona State and knock the Sun Devils out of the Women’s College World Series. Alabama hands powerhouse Arizona record-setting 14-0 defeat at Women’s College World SeriesOKLAHOMA CITY — Charlotte Morgan homered and drove in three runs in Alabama’s 14-0 victory over Arizona, the most lopsided game in Women’s College World Series history. Cowboys shortstop hits 3 home runs, leading Oklahoma State to 10-6 win over Alabama in NCAAsCLEMSON, S.C. — Shortstop Tom Belza hit three homers, one more than he had all season, to lead Oklahoma State to a 10-6 victory over Alabama in the NCAA tournament on Friday. Hot start sends defending champion Arizona State to 7-3 win against MissouriOKLAHOMA CITY — Arizona State’s grounders kept bounding and bouncing until the Sun Devils had taken the first step toward defending their Women’s College World Series title. |