sports

A federal judge just signed off on arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports Friday, clearing the way for schools to begin paying their athletes millions. One answered question is whether the state of Alabama will challenge it.

Ricky Fernandez is the Director of Marketing and Promotions for the Rocket City Trash Pandas. He's also the on-filed emcee for the Minor League Baseball team. He talks to Quick-Fire Quips host Baillee Majors about what he and the players do to attract luck during games. Plus, the secret "underground sweet tea operation" and how shoes make him think of Alabama.

Tyler McKay is the head coach of The University of Alabama’s Wheelchair Tennis team in the Adaptive Athletics program. He's from Minnesota, and had never eaten grits before moving to the South! He talks to Quick-Fire Quips host Baillee Majors about adjusting to life in Alabama and learning Southern phrases after leaving the Midwest. Plus, his favorite hidden gem in Tuscaloosa.

The NCAA championships for beach volleyball are changing locations due to the impact of the Southern California wildfires. The May 2-4 contests are now coming to Alabama. The release announcing the switch said it was a mutual decision between the NCAA and the Orange County Sports Commission.

Alabama guard Mark Sears is getting family support on social media after spending the entire second half of the Crimson Tide's 80-73 win against LSU on the bench. His mom took to Facebook with two different posts.

The University of Alabama cheer team is bringing home a national title for the seventh time. According to RollTide.com, the squad's "performance in the final round of the Cheer Division IA Co-Ed Championship cemented its status" for the award. The news outlet reports the win is UA's first co-ed title since 2015.

Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. remains hospitalized with a head injury suffered in an October game, the school said hours after announcing that he had died. The athletic department sent out a retraction Wednesday.

The Alabama Crimson Tide is doing well in athletics so far this year. The football team is favored by 11.5 points against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, and both men’s and women’s basketball teams at UA are dominating as their season kicks off. However, those aren't the only sports The University of Alabama is known for.

Fall is here, but healthcare professionals say the risk of dehydration is still with us. Colder weather reportedly reduces your body’s ability to know when you’re thirsty. Dr. Brett Bentley, a physician at University Medical Center and associate professor at the University of Alabama, said the most common way to check how hydrated you are is by doing the urine color test.

Registration continues as the City of Mobile will host the 101st Annual National Public Parks Tennis Championships, which are taking place Sept. 20-22. Port City leaders are billing the “Tennis on the Bay” tournament as a weekend full of fun activities and exciting competitions.