LOVE THE PAPAJOHNS.com BOWL BUT...

How about playing the game in Tuscaloosa. Let the teams stay in Birmingham, enjoy Birmingham, but on the day before the game, do a walk-thru at Bryant-Denny and a trip to the Bryant Museum. Then play the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. No concession problems. Top quality locker rooms, scoreboards, etc.

This bowl is growing and deserves a better facility and Birmingham is a long way from building it.

Move it to Tuscaloosa before we lose the game. It can always come back to Birmingham if the city ever builds that dome- Jim Dunaway

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM JIM AND RYAN

THANK YOU for being a loyal listener of Dunaway and Brown. I wanted to give you a heads up on a major change that we will announce on the air today.

We are moving to the 10:00am-2:00pm time slot but we are staying on AM 690.

Ryan and I were told about the move Tuesday.

I know a lot of listeners expected us to move into The Roundtable time slot, but that was never a good move for the company.

Our take on this is simple:

1.We are happy to be able to continue to do a show that we are proud of; The content, the tone, the moral foundation is all something we are committed to keeping.

2.The station will make a few other changes that will surround us with better programming.

3. Like a player on a team, we are employees and have to trust the men and women who make the play calls that they are doing what is best for the team to win.

Ryan and I are excited that we can continue to do a show together. We feel this is just another step to our long term goals and we plan on being together doing The Dunaway and Brown Show for the next 25 years (Jim reaches retirement age after 2034 football season)

Thank you for your support and great sports conversation over the last five years and I hope you will move with us every time it happens over the next quarter century.

God Bless,

Jim Dunaway

OAK MOUNTAIN STUDENT INSPIRES YANKEES SKIPPER

Notice the yellow bracelet on Yankees ManagerJoe Girardi's left wrist. It was given to him by Oak Mountain High School student Mark Newton.

I've known Mark for about 6 months. He is battling cancer. He got a clean bill of health about a month ago, but the 11th grader and his family still want to help and encourage other young people who are fighting for their lives.

Mark's a big Yankees fan and went to the last two games in Atlanta. Thursday night, Braves GM Frank Wren brought the Newton's down to meet some of the Braves and Brian McCann spent a lot of time with Mark. The Yankees took the field and Derek Jeter talked with Mark about his sister who had Hodgkins just like Mark. Jeter started taking batting practice, and Girardi stepped down off the viewing step from behind the cage and talked with Mark. Then he let them watch batting practice from the step. After Jeter finished with his cage session, he tossed Mark his bat (awesome) Then Girardi got one of Mark's "Mighty Warriors of Prayer" yellow bracelets (Brown and I and many others are wearing them). The Yankees skipper wore it during the game and will keep it in a box of others he has received. He takes them to every game.

Great story.

As you see, Girardi is wearing it and praying for Mark and other children who are fighting the disease.

WHO WILL GET THE GUARD?

CBS 42 and Dunaway and Brown first reported Tuesday that Parker Guard Eric Bledsoe still has some interest in Memphis despite the departure of John Calipari.

Sources tell us that Bledsoe is scheduled to visit Memphis this Thursday.

Alabama's Anthony Grant, Calipari at Kentucky, UAB and others are still trying to sign the guard from the Birmingham High School. One source says grades may still be a major hurdle but if he qualifies, Bledsoe could play this season.

TV, RADIO IS ALL ABOUT "THE SPLASH"

The New York Times gives us this Tuesday morning: Fox and MSNBC surge in ratings because of their decision to "pound away at the poles" in politics. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/business/media/27cnn.html?8dpc

Sports coverage is no different.

Listen to talk radio any day, and it's all about the extreme.

Real opinions have been replaced by "extreme" statements and story lines that seem to be huge for four hours (maybe a week) and then fade into nothing, never amounting to anything.

Hey, I'm as a guilty as anyone. I've hosted the Alabama Football Show for 5 of the last 7 years. Surely there is an Alabama fan or ten that likes my radio show or TV sportscast more because I stand next to Coach Saban 14 times a year on his coaches show.

Here's where I try to be different. If I don't really believe it, I don't say it.

Shocking, I know.

There are times we get beat on stories and times we are wrong, but we are never wrong for ratings or phone calls.

Would our jobs be easier if we picked Nick Saban's every comment to pieces? You bet.

Would I need to know things about the other 10 SEC schools if I just bashed Gene Chizik every day to get Auburn fans mad enough to call? (Show prep would be easier)

As a conservative southerner, it's hard for me to really believe CNN is playing it down the middle, but I admire the attempt.

I admire strong, controversial opinions, but only if they are real feelings and not some fabricated attempt to try and get you to call the show.

My fear is this, you want to be played.

You want the host to say bad things about your team one day and your rival the next because it somehow makes life more exciting for you.

Much like the millions of WWE fans over the years who bought tickets to see Wrestle-Mania, even though they knew it was scripted. You tune in knowing it's all an orchestrated series of calls, comments, and make believe.

Don't feel shame. I used to cheer for the Washington Generals.

Just remember us when someone pulls the mask off Tommy Gallion, or stops hitting Andre Smith over the head with a metal folding chair. Don't forget to check in with us during commercial breaks between Tommy Tuberville taking the Texas A&M job and Nick Saban's handlers censoring questions he is asked by the media like he's coaching football in Bryant-Stalin Stadium outside the Kremlin.

Just remember those of us not screaming about Global Warming or Tea Parties.

We'll be here. Everyday, 2-to-6pm, in our own little world.

MIKE McNEIL UPDATE

Reports from Auburn Tuesday night were that Mike McNeil has surgery Tuesday. Doctors put a pin in his leg to help the healing process after Mike suffered what we are told was a complete break of his shin (tibia), about six inches above his ankle. A family friend in Mobile said some of his Auburn teammates visited him at the hospital and that he expects to be in a protective boot for almost 2 months. He does expect to be ready for the start of camp in August.

TWITTER UPDATES TO dandbradio about BRACKETS

KaraKennedyWhy did I have to say anything about my bracket? I jinxed it. Look at what happened to FSU. Or did their President jinx them?

lazludThe losses by West Virginia and Stephen F Austin killed my 6-year-old daughter's bracket

jarspikeGlad I chose Siena, so much for the "amazing" ACC teams and how good they are

rlfordWhy is CBS referring to the BCS during the NCAA basketball tourney?

(*Dunaway Note: I totally agree, BCS is strictly a football reference)

palladinotNot a bad night for my bracket. Siena, Cleve St, Mich St win, FSU loses. Final Four still alive. #madness

msudawgdang. i knew I should have taken cleveland state and wisconsin.

vulcansmuse#NCAA bracket count: 23/32 no thanks to Wake, OSU, WVU, BC, Tennessee, VCU, FSU, Clemson, & Miss State. FSU/VCU/BC ruined my Sweet 16.

WolfeReportsMy bracket is teh suxxors. Many thanks, Wake. Demon Deacons? More like Demon Douchebags. Argh.

(*Dunaway Note: Preach it brother, I had them in Final 4)

btaylor1978lost a Final Four team in the first round, but that's OK! Go CSU!

iRDR"Frontdesk (of hotel)"..."Um, yeah, this Wake Forest and we're gonna need an EARLY checkout" LOL, Wow

Thanks folks! If you are not signed up on TWITTER yet, go to Twitter.com and stay informed and intheknow...don’t forget to “follow” dandbradio

ESPN to Televise A-Day

ESPN to Televise A-Day Spring Football Game on April 18

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama’s annual A-Day Game will be televised live to a national audience by ESPN on Saturday, April 18. A-Day is the 15th and final practice of the spring with kickoff from Bryant-Denny Stadium scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (CDT). Admission will once again be free to the public.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase the University of Alabama and our football program,” said head coach Nick Saban. “A-Day is a special weekend at Alabama and our fans have responded with two of the largest crowds to ever watch a college football spring game the last two years. That positive energy and enthusiasm by our fans has had a significant impact on our success. I encourage all of our Crimson Tide fans to fill Bryant-Denny Stadium on April 18th and show everyone why we have the best fans in the land. There’s nothing better than coming out of the tunnel to a full stadium, whether that is A-Day or at our home games in the fall.”
Over the last two years, Alabama leads the country in spring game attendance with a combined total of 170,338. UA set a college football record in the spring of 2007 as a capacity crowd of 92,138 watched Saban’s first A-Day at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Last year’s attendance of 78,200 led the SEC and was the second-largest in the country. Florida (61,000), Arkansas (40,200), Auburn (35,000) and LSU (33,624) rounded out the top five in terms of 2008 spring game attendance in the SEC.
ESPN reaches more than 98 million households and has partnered with the SEC for 26 years. Coverage will be expanded this year as the 11:30 a.m. (CDT) league match-up will now be an ESPN Regional Television syndication game. On-air talent for A-Day has not yet been determined by the network.
“College football fans follow the sport year round and as proven in the past, Alabama has some of the most loyal and passionate followers in the country,” said Dave Brown, vice president, ESPN programming and acquisitions. “We look forward to capturing the exciting atmosphere at Bryant-Denny Stadium and to provide a preview at the 2009 Crimson Tide. We thank Alabama for their cooperation in making this work.”
Alabama made 10 national television appearances last season, which was tied for the most in the country. Three of those games were on ESPN (Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi State) and four Crimson Tide games were the site of ESPN Gameday (Clemson, Georgia, LSU and Florida).
Alabama starts spring practice on Friday, March 13 and then will take the next week off for spring break. The second practice is scheduled for Monday, March 23.

RESURRECTION MORE IMPORTANT

Dear Misguided Souls,

I have heard your comments that Nick Saban thinks he's a god. Turns out, he doesn't.

The Alabama Coach is portrayed as a guy who puts football ahead of everything. He just changed his spring practice schedule. The reason? The April 11th practice was on Easter Weekend and he did not want to interfere with family plans of his players and coaches. Now Alabama will practice just once before Spring Break and resume after spring drills.

So if you are scoring at home, Nick Saban sees The Resurrection as MORE IMPORTANT than Resurrecting a Program.

How many of us will clear our schedule that weekend?

Sincerely,

Often Misguided Radio Host

ANDRE WILL BE FINE

I hope you enjoyed Antoine Caldwell on the Dunaway and Brown Show Tuesday.  He is a great rep for not only Alabama Football but the College game in general.  

He and I have something in common, we both believe Andre Smith's draft status WAS NOT CHANGED by what happened this past weekend at the NFL Combines.

There is no doubt in my mind that Andre will still be a Top 15 pick (In fact, I still think Top 10).  I know there was discussion at one time of him being the first guy taken in the draft, but if you were paying attention, pre-combine conversations had turned to two other tackles being taken before him because of his body type etc.

Andre Smith was a big story at the combine, there is no denying that.  Andre has made a couple of major errors since the SEC Championship game.  Andre will also find out, that as the draft gets closer, his talents and potential will garner more interest from NFL Teams than a slip up in protocol at the NFL Combines.

I believe Nick Saban called longtime friend and NFL scout/analyst Chris Landry (Also on our show Tuesday) to get him and Andre together.  Landry has given Andre some solid advice that he will follow.  The March 11th Pro Day in Tuscaloosa will meet NFL teams expectations and Andre Smith will make millions of dollars.  

The NFL Combine will not hurt his draft status, two better prospects at tackles will.

The drama that seemed so big over the weekend was the product of a media gathering in Indianapolis with very little "real news".  Timing is everything, and there are those who pump a story for every drop to fill air time (both local and national on-air talent)

Andre joins recent college stars like Vince Young, Ted Ginn and Brady Quinn as guys not working out at the combine. 

It is now Andre Smith's job to make sure that his career starts better than those three.

OOPS! KIFFIN DID IT AGAIN!

Fresh off two secondary violations, Lane Kiffin seems to have done it again. Today (Friday) on Knoxville radio station WNML with host Dave Hooker, the Vols coach made a comment about prospect Bryce Brown. Kiffin was commenting about the momentum in recruiting, when one great recruit picks Tennessee, that opens the door for more and more top prospects to pick UT. Here's the quote that should have the UT compliance office talking with the SEC folks here in Birmingham, Kiffin says, "Great players like Bryce Brown are going to announce"...

This is Recruiting 101, easy stuff, you never mention a recruit. NCAA rules do allow you to say that you are recruiting an athlete, and you can use his name, but the violation comes when you make even a one word comment on his talent...in this case the phrase "Great player like Bryce Brown".

There should be no penalty, and Tennessee will be able to keep recruiting Brown (who was scheduled to visit Knoxville today) However, a large number of secondary violations does become a problem if they continue to stack up.

Coach Kiffin continues to stub his toe, and 11 SEC fan bases seem eager to pile on.

AUDIO Right Now online http://dandbradio.com

FOLLOW SPORTS HEADLINES AND D&B

I thought we'd give this a try.  If you are interested, go to twitter.com

When you search, look for Jim Dunaway or DandBradio

Here's what I'll do: Interesting stories I see during the day; Breaking Sports News; Instant Read on Coach and Players after interviews; Big Games; or my travel to and from stadiums... I'll update you with one or two lines on twitter.

Jim Dunaway

BLAKE BURGESS PICKS AUBURN

Vestavia Center Blake Burgess has picked Auburn.

The 6-4, 260lbs. Burgess committed to Gene Chizik's staff over the weekend. He picks Auburn over Clemson.

Burgess is projected as a defensive lineman in college, but with two years of offensive line experience at the 6A power will give Auburn coaches some options.

Burgess is expected to redshirt the first year while putting on weight. He voted All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and All-Metro Birmingham after the 2008 season.

Blake is the son of syndicated radio personality Rick Burgess of Rick and Bubba, and the grandson of Division Two National Championship, Jacksonville State Coach Bill Burgess who is also an Auburn Alum who played for the Tigers back in 1961-63.

DUNAWAY SUPER BOWL PARTY FUN

Here are a list of the BIG BOARD ITEMS at the Dunaway Super Bowl Party this year... all party goers must put a token on each prop bet... all in fun

1. Last Song Springsteen sings at halftime
2. What color will liquid be poured on winning coach
3. Length of National Anthem
4. Larry Fitz receiving yards
5. How many times NBC shows Bill Bidwell (Cards Owner)
6. How many times NBC shows Kurt Warner's wife
7. Promos for NBC Prime Time Shows
8. How many passing yards for Big Ben
9. Who will be game MVP
10. How many times announcers talk about any Manning
11. The yards rushing difference between James and Parker
12. Sponsor of 1st commercial after game kicks off
13. How long will the first touchdown be
14. The longest field goal yardage
15. First coaches challenge by who and over turned or not
16. Number of blimp shots
17. Number of Roger Goodell shots 
18. Cutaways of troops watching around the world
19. Number of sacks in the game
20. Winner and combine point total of the two teams

All bets are from the moment the game kicks off and ends once the clock hits zero unless it is a special category like national anthem, liquid color etc.

Price is right rules... closest without going over

ties move to the next category (for example if you tie on #16, it carries over to #17) If there is a tie on #20, it rotates back to the top of the board with #1 and moves forward from there

Have a good time

PRAY WITH ME

Like most of you, I have spent this Tuesday watching the amazing scene in Washington with new President Barack Obama entering the White House and President Bush there to welcome him.

Amazing. Chills. Tears. More Chills.

I pray that President Obama becomes the greatest President in the history of this great country.  I pray that the person who follows him takes us to even greater heights; and the president after that and after that and so on...

As the Bible reads, I pray that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  1 Timothy 2: 1-4

We Are One.  We are the United States of America.

God Bless.

D&B LISTENERS GONE WILD

You love to hate him but Pelham Gator is a good dude. He stopped by the Dunaway and Brown Studios Monday and showed off his new Gator Tatoo in honor of the 2008 National Title

BIG ORANGE STAFF LOOKS GOOD IN LIVING COLOR

Congrats to former Auburn assistant Eddie Gran. He is enroute to Knoxville to join the Tennessee coaching staff. Gran joins Lance Thompson, Ed Orgeron, Monte and Lane Kiffin on a coaching staff that looks really good on paper. Gran is a good man and a solid coach who has tutored an all-pro list of NFL runningbacks at Ole Miss and Auburn.

My question today is this (and it was posed last night in a telephone conversation I had with a member of the Knoxville media);

Does Lane Kiffin plan on making any minority hires?

I know my friend Charles Barkley has his hands full right now, and I assume former Tennessee players haven't noticed, but this UT staff is not meeting many BCA guidelines.

ESPN analyst Chris Low reports that Tennessee will make a run at Frank Wilson. If that is successful, that would be another solid recruiting hire with a man who has ties to Coach Orgeron from Ole Miss. Wilson would also be Kiffin's first minority hire. Stan Drayton remains on the staff as a hold over from Phil Fulmer's staff.

I'm sure Kiffin is like a lot of us. I'm sure he doesn't see the world in black and white, but as we have learned during the Chizik hire at Auburn, the road to a media firestorm can be paved with good intentions. That's my free tip to the new coach in the league.

Tennessee will do the right thing I'm sure, but space is limited, they better hurry.

CRYSTAL CLEAR AGAIN... SEC IS THE BEST

Thanks to a dominating Florida Gators defense, the Gators have planted the Southeastern Conference Flag atop College Football again.

Truth is though, when the SEC is truly at its best... the SEC Champ doesn't win the national title because the teams beat each other up.  

So, this is more about Florida than it is about the SEC.  Long ago the Gators became the athletic department that everyone else in the Southeastern Conference is chasing.  2 Football National Championships in 3 years, but also the great basketball, baseball and women's sports success they have enjoyed makes the Gator Nation the cream of the crop in the best conference in America.

Last night was a shining moment for the SEC.  This is only the third time in modern football that the same conference has won the national title in three straight years.  The last time was 1978-80 with Bear Bryant's Alabama teams in '78, '79 and Vince Dooley's Georgia team in 1980.

Now Urban Meyer stands with the giants.  Most of us didn't think we would say that when he entered the league four years ago.  Today though, he's #1 and the program he built is unbeaten and ranked #2. (Utah)

My radio partner Brownie hit the nail on the head earlier this week when he said Meyer's legacy is written as great already, but he will not become legendary until he wins big with Tim Tebow.  Fair or unfair coaches can benefit from great players (Phil Jackson with MJ and Kobe; Mike Shanahan with John Elway etc.)  However, Urban Meyer is in the one room and if two or three years from now, he holds up another crystal football... he'll sit at the table with the greatest of all-time.

Send your thoughts to: theshow@DandBradio.com

URBAN MEYER STARTS HIS SEC RUN

Steve Spurrier did it in the '90s and Urban Meyer is going to have one more year of Florida domination next season. Think about it, with Matt Stafford leaving Georgia today, who is going to have a better QB situation than Florida next year. Tim Tebow will comeback and the gulf between the best QB and the 2nd best QB in the SEC will be huge. Here's how I grade them;

EAST


Florida- (A+) Tebow


Georgia- (Incomplete) Likely a true freshman or Joe Cox


Tennessee- (B-) Crompton in a new system


South Carolina- (C+) Garcia, Smelley and the Spurrier's kitchen sink


Kentucky- (C-) Hartline and company less than dynamic


Vanderbilt- (C+) Adams and company





WEST


Alabama- (Incomplete) Greg Mac or Star Jackson or maybe AJ McCarron


Auburn- (C+) Burns and company can grow with Gus Malzahn


LSU- (B-) Jefferson looked really good in bowl, can he keep it going


Arkansas- (B) Mallett transfers from Michigan and finally starts


Ole Miss- (B+) Snead could be this 2009's John Parker Wilson


Miss State- (C) Lee has raw talent but can Mullen bring it together





And as always, there will be all the unknowns to add in between now and September 3rd... but it's easy to see that Tim Tebow holds the keys to the Georgia Dome when he returns.

COME ON TIDE FAN, USE YOUR FOOTBALL IQ

Death and taxes just got a neighbor. This world has things you can set your clock by and Alabama fans have provided a third. Bashing a Tide Player after a loss.

Our favorite punching bag is back. Hello John Parker Wilson, where have you been all season.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but how did JPW play any worse than any other guy in crimson. JPW didn't wear jersey #24 and make 9 tackles because Utah saw that they could throw it at #24 all night long forcing him to make tackles to save touchdowns. JPW didn't wear jersey #88 and jump off sides a few times. He wasn't billed as "Mount Anything" before the game only to be equalized by the Utes speed. JPW didn't play ole' with the Utah blitz allowing 8 sacks and mardi gras size of rushed throws. He didn't get suspended. John Parker Wilson had a bad Sugar Bowl game. So did Nick Saban. Add Jim McElwain. Soon to be Clemson Coach Kevin Steele, check.

Let's face it, there were a few sour notes in the Million Dollar Band and I thought Big Al mailed it in.

It's time to man up Bama nation. Butts were kicked. Utah was hungry. Utah was aggressive. Utah was dang near perfect right out of the locker room. Remember the question we asked all week... What's a Ute? Apparently it's a small animal that eats elephants.

Blaming John Parker Wilson is easy. It makes you feel better. It helps us keep the dream alive that Nick Saban has no kryptonite.

My football IQ tells me that Alabama would have been in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl without John Parker Wilson.

Remember the way he managed that high pressure opener with all those true freshman? Remember the blackout in Georgia where JPW slung the pigskin all over that Sweet Georgia Night? Remember the overtime pass in the "scalp Nick Saban" atmosphere in Baton Rouge? Remember how he never missed a start despite being hit on more frequently than Erin Andrews during the Rose Bowl pregame warm ups.

Let's move forward as a fan base. Give credit to Utah. Respect what the season brought Alabama. A BCS Bowl bid, a trip to the SEC Championship Game. Rivalry wins over Tennessee, LSU and Auburn and a National Number One ranking for the first time during the regular season since 1980.

Without John Parker Wilson, most of that would not have happened in 2008.