He Can Bat, but Can't
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** AUBURN BASKETBALL Justin Knox family upset Bama won’t let him transfer to UAB Top recruit t was reported last week Another school in the bama,” Darien Knox said. Cothron to that Justin Knox wants to University of Alabama Sys- “But this bull they’re put- Itransfer from Alabama to tem. ting my nephew through, play his final season of col- Those restrictions have it’s unnecessary. The kid sign with AU lege basketball. angered the Knox family doesn’t deserve that.” That’s not the end of the and caused them to file an Particularly, he said, be- By KEVIN SCARBINSKY story. appeal with the university to cause Justin Knox plans to Darien Knox, Justin’s un- remove the restrictions. leave Alabama this summer News staff writer cle, told The Birmingham “Personally, I love Ala- after earning his under- Luke Cothron wanted to make one thing News that Alabama will al- graduate degree in just clear Tuesday. low the transfer but has put three years. Had Jeff Lebo remained as the Auburn three restrictions on it. He plans to play next sea- coach, the 6-foot-8, 210-pound power for- The elder Knox also pro- son at another school as a ward said, he wouldn’t have considered vided The News a copy of graduate student. signing with the Tigers. the conditional release. Darien Knox said the When Auburn hired The restrictions say that family understands the re- Tony Barbee, Cothron Alabama will not release the strictions against transfer- said, he decided to give Tuscaloosa native to trans- ring to schools on the NEWS FILE the school a closer look. fer to: schedule, though the Justin Knox averaged 6.3 points and He must’ve liked what he Another school in the schedule isn’t complete, saw. SEC. and to schools in the 3.7 rebounds in 19.8 minutes a game last season, when he played in all 32 Cothron, who was one A school on Alabama’s of the top uncommitted Luke Cothron 2010-11 schedule. See SCARBINSKY Page 3C Alabama games, starting 17. prospects left in the class of 2010, told The Birmingham News that UAB BASEBALL he’s committing to play his college basket- ball at Auburn and that he’ll sign with the Tigers in the next two weeks when he re- turns home to Huntsville. He’s currently finishing the school year at Flora Macdonald Academy in Red Springs, N.C. Cothron, who originally committed to North Carolina State last fall before de-com- mitting during the season, gave several rea- sons for choosing Auburn. “Because of Tony Barbee,” he said. “He can help me get to the next level. It’s close See COTHRON Page 3C NFL Interviews with rookies go from NEWS STAFF/BERNARD TRONCALE UAB senior Digger Towe had ankle surgery in March and was told by doctors his season was over. Although he still limps X’s, O’s to ??? when he runs, he returned to the field last weekend as a pinch hitter. By BARRY WILNER The Associated Press Some of the queries are just weird. Occa- sionally, they’re intrusive and in question- able taste. Following the storm surrounding Dol- HE CAN BAT, BUT CAN’T RUN phins General Manager Jeff Ireland asking Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute, for which Ireland later apologized, NFL rookies at minicamps UAB catcher Digger Towe last weekend told The Associated Press they fielded some oddball inquiries from team had ankle surgery six weeks executives before the draft. Bengals fourth-round pick Geno Atkins said one club, he couldn’t recall which, ago, but now he’s back asked him about his sexual orientation. “The only unusual question I got was if I By STEVE IRVINE The 6-foot, 215-pound was straight or gay,” said Atkins, a defensive News staff writer catcher, who is from Char- tackle from Georgia whose father, Gene, lotte, Mich., and played at played 10 seasons in the league. “And that AB senior Digger Indian Hills Community was about it. Towe had an at-bat College in Iowa before com- “ ‘McDonald’s or Burger King?’ I think during last week- ing to UAB, had his final col- ‘pillow or blanket?’ was another one. Those end’s Conference lege season stalled when he were the strange, unusual ones I got. I was UUSA series against broke his right ankle bone Houston. and suffered ligament dam- See Rookies Page 3C Towe struck out. age after a collision at the However, the final result plate in a loss to Cal State didn’t ruin what was actu- “ ‘McDonald’s or Burger King?’ I think Fullerton on March 14. ‘pillow or blanket?’ was another one. ally a special trip to the plate “I had two doctors tell me Those were the strange, unusual ones I for Towe. I was done for the season,” got. I was like, ‘What does that have to “I don’t think anybody Towe said. do with football?’ ” saw it but I had tears in my Towe, who spent six NEWS STAFF/BERNARD TRONCALE eyes in the third base weeks on crutches after the GENO ATKINS coach’s box,” said UAB head injury, had other plans. In the first 15 games before his ankle injury on March 14, Blazers Ex-UGa defensive lineman coach Brian Shoop. See TOWE Page 3C catcher Digger Towe hit .304 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. and fourth-round Bengals pick “When you lose who you think is your most talented, dangerous player and your leader, it’s a significant loss.” THUMBS UP BRIAN SHOOP UAB baseball coach on senior catcher Digger Towe, who can bat but can’t run after an ankle injury in March Mike Sherman. The Texas A&M football ALABAMA FOOTBALL coach is visiting U.S. troops in Iraq, honoring a school tradition that recognizes fallen Aggies. Sherman left Sunday and UA fans get inside stories from wanted to meet the troops close to “Aggie Muster,” the day of remem- Saban at Crimson Caravan stop brance for former and current students who died in the preceding year. It is By DON KAUSLER JR. into Birmingham. Bama fan held every April 21. Sherman also per- News staff writer “I think we’re going to move the Tommy Brown Georgia (State) game to a Thurs- sonally paid the trip expenses. The secrets are out. Alabama as Caravan day,” said Randy Tate, a fan from might move its game preceding Jasper. stops in town the Iron Bowl to a Thursday night. THUMBS DOWN What else did he learn at an “We don’t need It might play a game soon in Dal- event that was closed to the news a Tiger Prowl. Maurice Purify. A Cin- las. And the key to keeping Nick media? “We might play a game in We don’t need to Saban as Alabama’s head football cinnati Bengal is in trou- Texas,” Tate said. wear our hats coach is keeping his wife, Terry, ble with the law again. And one more thing: backwards. NEWS STAFF/MARK ALMOND happy. This time it’s Purify, a “As long as we don’t make Terry We’re So said some of the estimated wide receiver. He was arrested on a Alabama football coach Nick Saban mad, he’s going to be all right,” Alabama.” 1,100 members of various Tide hugs a young fan during Tuesday’s Tate said. misdemeanor charge of disorderly con- Pride groups who paid to see and Crimson Caravan stop in duct following a scuffle at a northern hear Saban speak Tuesday night See ALABAMA Page 3C Kentucky night spot. Birmingham. when the Crimson Caravan rolled.