PRESS PICKS (Opening Week): Ancient Arthur ushers in another season of football
STAFF REPORT
The ancient-armed quarterback with the orange background is back once again. Let’s call him Arthur.
More picks from the select media in the River Region begin Week 0 headed towards the month of January and the College Football Playoff.
Everybody is anticipating a big season. Nevermind if the teams have been rebuilt or is facing a season without the superstar that either graduated, left early or got a better offer.
If the talk of expanding the regular season comes to fruition, this weekend on the calendar might become a regular occurrence on the schedule for all (as in last weekend of August). If the Big 10 has its way, having 28 teams in the playoffs, the season might start in late July.
But what we have football, not sure how good, but football nonetheless.
Montgomery takes center stage with the annual FCS Classic featuring two ranked teams, No. 7 UC Davis and No. 11 Mercer. Historical records provide the fact that no game in the collegiate ranks played at Cramton Bowl has never featured a battle of ranked teams. Ranked teams have played in this game with the highest ranked team being Alabama at No. 5 on a couple of occasions.
A handful of other games are featured but the slate is relatively lite.
The rest of the college football world gets underway next week. In the meantime, enjoy a Big XII battle across the big pond (Kansas St vs Iowa St) and several solid openers in high school football.
Enjoy the beginning. The end is closer than you think.
2024 Final Standings (Bow/Playoff Picks)
1. Michael Butler 195-79 (12-12) .712
2. Tim Gayle 193-81 (14-10) .704
3. Graham Dunn 191-83 (17-7) .697
4. Doug Amos 189-85 (13-11) .690
5. Wesley Lyle 180-94 (14-10) .657
6. Mike Peacock 178-96 (10-14) .650
7. Lindsey Bonner 164- 95 (13-11) .633
8. Barry McKnight 161-113 (18-6) .586
9. Rick Hendrick 160-114 (13-11) .584
10. Rosie Langello 171-79 (0-0) .684
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Wetumpka
Park Crossing at Selma - Selma
P. Julian at Paul Bryant -Julian
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - Tallassee
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - Lee-Scott
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Kansas St
Fresno State at Kansas - Kansas
Stanford at Hawaii - Hawaii
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - UC Davis
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Wetumpka
Park Crossing at Selma - Selma
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - P. Bryant
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - MA
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - Lee-Scott
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Kansas St
Fresno State at Kansas - Kansas
Stanford at Hawaii - Stanford
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - UC Davis
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Wetumpka
Park Crossing at Selma - Selma
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - Tallassee
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - ACA
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Kansas St
Fresno State at Kansas - Kansas
Stanford at Hawaii - Stanford
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - UC Davis
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Wetumpka
Park Crossing at Selma - Park Crossing
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - MA
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - ACA
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Kansas St
Fresno State at Kansas - Kansas
Stanford at Hawaii - Hawaii
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - Mercer
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Wetumpka
Park Crossing at Selma - Selma
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - Tallassee
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - ACA
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Kansas St
Fresno State at Kansas - Kansas
Stanford at Hawaii - Hawaii
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - UC Davis
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Prattville
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Wetumpka
Park Crossing at Selma - Park Crossing
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - Tallassee
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - Lee-Scott
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Iowa St
Fresno State at Kansas - Fresno St
Stanford at Hawaii - Stanford
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - Mercer
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Beauregard
Park Crossing at Selma - Selma
P. Julian at Paul Bryant -Bryant
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - Tallassee
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - ACA
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Iowa St
Fresno State at Kansas - Kansas
Stanford at Hawaii - Stanford
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - Sam Houston
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - Mercer
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Beuregard
Park Crossing at Selma - Selma
P. Julian at Paul Bryant -Julian
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - MA
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - ACA
Holtville at Trinity - Holtville
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Kansas St
Fresno State at Kansas - Fresno St
Stanford at Hawaii - Stanford
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - Mercer
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Wetumpka
Park Crossing at Selma - Park Crossing
P. Julian at Paul Bryant -P. Bryant
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - Tallassee
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - Lee-Scott
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Dadeville
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Iowa St
Fresno State at Kansas - Kansas
Stanford at Hawaii - Hawaii
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - UC Davis
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Prattville vs. Pike Road (K/O Classic-Thurs.) - Prattville
Wetumpka at Beauregard - Wetumpka
Park Crossing at Selma - Park Crossing
P. Julian at Paul Bryant -Julian
Montgomery Academy at Tallassee - MA
St. James at Catholic - Catholic
Alabama Christian at Lee-Scott - Lee-Scott
Holtville at Trinity - Trinity
Stanhope Elmore at Marbury - Stanhope Elmore
Dadeville at Elmore Co - Elmore Co
Iowa St vs. Kansas St (Dublin, Ireland) - Kansas St
Fresno State at Kansas - Kansas
Stanford at Hawaii - Hawaii
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky - WKU
UC Davis vs Mercer (FCS Kickoff) - Mercer