Alabama

Nearly an hour-and-a-half to kickoff, and there is already a tangible buzz in the revamped Georgia Dome. There are new red and black seats instead of the old teal (nice touch), the weather is a lot better than the last time I was here, and that gaping hole in the top level above the press box has, of course, been long repaired.

So let’s get going. Quite a bit has been said and written in the buildup to this game … Nothing left to do now but watch it all transpire …

Alabama coach Nick Saban just walked out of the tunnel with two police officers and a cameraman shadowing his steps.

(Read the full post about ‘The Georgia Dome is ready to go …’…)

On my way back to the interstate after last night’s Georgia Tech-Jacksonville State game (where I wrote this column on JSU’s famous new QB), I passed a hotel in downtown near the CNN center and had to serve to avoid a large moving truck parked on the street. It was the Alabama football equipment truck (pictured). Yes, the Crimson Tide is here. The team itself arrives in Atlanta later today for tomorrow’s big opener against the Clemson Tigers. It’s finally here, and we at the Bama Beat blog couldn’t be more excited … (Read the full post about ‘Countdown to Clemson …’…)

Packing up and moving out … Meanwhile, per an online update, Tulane has announced plans to move football operations to Birmingham to clear a path for the tropical storm swirling in the Gulf of Mexico. … The second opponent on the University of Alabama’s football schedule will travel to the state a week early. Due to concern about Tropical Storm Gustav, Tulane’s football team will relocate Saturday to Birmingham to continue preparations for its Sept. 6 season opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Green Wave is expected to practice at Samford University.   (Read the full post about ‘Tulane is headed to Birmingham’…)

Wanted to pass along this bit of breaking news that comprises the start of my notebook in Friday’s Press-Register. …

TUSCALOOSA - Redshirt freshman receiver Brandon Gibson won’t be available to play in Alabama’s first two games as a result of an inadvertent secondary NCAA rules violation.

The university’s compliance department discovered that Gibson, who signed with Alabama out of UMS-Wright, unknowingly committed a violation while still in high school by accepting transportation to a Crimson Tide sporting event with a friend whose father was a UA booster and could be viewed as “a representative of the institution’s athletic interest.”

UA officials self-reported Gibson’s trip last year to the NCAA.

“Our recommendation for a two-game suspension was approved by the NCAA,” UA associate athletics director for compliance Mike Ward said in a statement to the Press-Register.

(Read the full post about ‘Tide’s Brandon Gibson out two games for NCAA compliance issue’…)

New York TimesGustav is nearing Jamaica with a current track that takes it toward Louisiana. Tulane athletics officials met this morning to discuss a contingency plan for next week’s game at Alabama in case Tropical Storm Gustav follows the path of Katrina toward New Orleans in the coming days. The Green Wave’s football program could wind up relocating next week to Jackson, Miss., or Samford University in Birmingham, Tulane coach Bob Toledo told The Tuscaloosa News today. “I don’t know which yet, but we have a plan,” Toledo said. Gustav is currently aimed at Jamaica and tracking toward the Gulf Coast. Obviously, the possible arrival of another hurricane is ringing alarm bells throughout New Orleans. (Read the full post about ‘Tulane’s team keeping an eye on Gustav’…)

THe Birmingham Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has opened two shelters to accommodate some of those who may be fleeing Hurricane Gustav from other Gulf Coast states such as Louisiana.

The shelters, accessible to travelers along I-20 or I-20/59, are Canaan Baptist Church, 2543 Morgan Road SE, Bessemer, 35022, and First Baptist Church Irondale, 6001 Old Leeds Road, Birmingham, 35210.

According to the Birmingham Area Red Cross chapter, “Many … local hotels have been booked for the evening/weekend so the decision to open local shelters was prompted by calls from at least one local police department fielding questions about shelters from travelers.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it expects a “huge number” of Gulf Coast residents will be told to leave the region this weekend, the Associated Press reported.

(Read the full post about ‘Red Cross opens two Birmingham area shelters for Gustav evacuees’…)

While Alabama officials monitored Hurricane Gustav’s progress in the Gulf of Mexico, no evacuations had been ordered and no shelters had been opened as of Friday afternoon.

But Integral Hospitality president Bill Murray said reservations were mounting at the Hampton Inn Suites and Holiday Inn his company manages in Birmingham. Rates were reduced at the hotels, which could be full by Sunday, to accommodate people fleeing Gustav.

“We’re suspending rules like taking pets at the Hampton so people will be comfortable,” Murray said. “You’re just trying to make life as easy as possible for these folks who are having to be away from home.”

Lee Sentell, director of Alabama tourism, said Friday night that many people from Louisiana were reserving hotel rooms in Birmingham, Hoover, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery.

(Read the full post about ‘Fear of Gustav fuels hotel reservations in north Alabama’…)

Tonight should see mostly clear skies with a slight chance of rain, and the pattern is expected to continue throughout the weekend, with daytime temperatures in the 90s.

Tonight’s low should be in the upper 60s, while Saturday’s high is expected to be around 94, with the overnight low around 70. The chances of rain on Saturday and Sunday are about 20 percent.

For more information, check the National Weather Service short-term forecast.

Regions Financial Corp. said it has assumed about $900 million in deposits at a Georgia bank declared insolvent at its close of business today by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Gov. Bob Riley today declared an official state of emergency due to the imminent threat posed by Hurricane Gustav so the governor can invoke various emergency preparedness measures.