When someone talks about the South, a few staples come to mind.
A pitcher of sweet tea and a rocking chair swaying on the porch. A church plastering every inch of a small town street. And finally, a good night’s sleep after the local high school football team wins under the Friday night lights, then wakes up on Saturday to sweat it out for your alma mater.
All of this was true in my hometown of Great Falls, South Carolina. But we did things a little differently than other one-stop light towns. What more could you expect from a town nicknamed “Flopeye”?
While we cheered on the boys in the fall, my neighbors looked forward to the winter when the 11-time state champion Red Devils would take the court for basketball. For me, not much has changed, which is why I’m so excited for my latest journey covering Alabama basketball for the Tuscaloosa News and USA Today Sports Network.
Don’t get me wrong, I know that in Alabama we eat, sleep and breathe football, and that came to my attention while I was researching the place I would soon be calling home, learning that Alabamians are sometimes also called “Blazers,” “Bummers” and “Burners” based on their affiliations.
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Now you’ll also see my Crimson Tide football byline, cheering on my talented colleagues Chase Goodbread, Collin Gay and Anna Snyder.As the daughter whose dad decided that Clemson cheerleader uniforms were more of a necessity than baby blankets and who made me learn my ABCs to the band’s “Cadence Count,” I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still excited to be on the sidelines.
But my greatest hope is that my reporting will remind Tuscaloosa News readers of the pomp and tradition that comes with Alabama basketball — not just the 18 national championships over 121 football seasons and the “five other teams.”
With Nate Oats’ squad reaching the first Final Four in franchise history, this season is a great time to remember the people and factors that built Alabama men’s basketball into what it is today. Learn about Crimson Tide legends like Wimp Sanderson, Mark Gottfried, Ennis Whatley and Reg “The Mule” King, and what remains to be seen from these 25 NCAA Tournament appearances and those yet to come.
That being said, I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to uncover untold stories of the present and past and give a new perspective on those you know and love.
So don’t be a stranger. My inbox is open at X (@emilee_smarr). I want to know about my new area of coverage from a fan’s perspective, so consider this an invitation to send me a message. It can be anything: fond memories of Alabama basketball, advice for incoming freshmen, thoughts on the 2024-25 season, or you just want to say hi. If you look at my social media profiles you’ll see I’m a Clemson alum and covered the team during the Tigers’ playoff run from 2018-2021, but fear not; if it’s a good story, I’ll bite.
After spending the past three years covering high school sports for the Palm Beach Post in the sweltering heat of South Florida, I have to say I can’t wait to trade the sparkling azure waters I see from my Jupiter address for Tuscaloosa and wake up to the sounds of games at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Covering the return of Tiger Woods is cool, but it’s also nice to be able to wear sweaters and have four seasons instead of one, especially since there’s a movement to write about one of the most iconic pieces of sports culture in the sport.
Emily Smarr covers University of Alabama men’s basketball and Crimson Tide sports for the Tuscaloosa News and can be reached at esmarr@gannett.com.
