DEVELOPING: Former Bama AD Moore Passes At 73

The University of Alabama has said former AD Mal Moore died on Saturday at Duke University Medical Center. Moore had been in the Durham, N.C., hospital since March 13 with pulmonary problems.

"The University of Alabama is sad to report that longtime Director of Athletics Mal Moore passed away Saturday at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Mr. Moore was 73 years old. Further details will be available later," the athletics department said in a statement.

Moore had been battling pulmonary problems for close to a month. It was announced earlier this week that Moore needed a lung transplant.

Moore was a freshman on Bryant's first Alabama team in 1958, and he played for Bear Bryant's 1961 national championship team. Bill Battle, his teammate, was hired to replace him two days after Moore stepped down on March 20. He was going to be placed in a position as a special adviser to Alabama President Judy Bonner.

Since 1999, the athletics department has made more than $200 million in capital improvements and won national championships in football, gymnastics, softball and women's golf.

After his playing career, he then spent 22 seasons as a coach, including time with Gene Stallings for the St. Louis and Arizona Cardinals.

Here's head football coach Nick Saban talking about Moore ten days ago when he initially stepped down...
((HT: WIAT-TV))

DEVELOPING: Mal Moore Steps Down

The University of Alabama announced today that Mal Moore is stepping down today from his position as athletic director and will only focus on being special assistant to President Judy Bonner.

Moore, you'll remember, was hospitalized last week- both at Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham and Duke University.

"I cannot adequately express what the University means to me," Moore said in a press release. "It has been a part of my life for more than 50 years, and I feel honored to have served the Crimson Tide as a player, coach and administrator. I am so appreciative of the University administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes and fans who have made my tenure as director so very meaningful, memorable and special."

Moore played at Alabama under "Bear" Bryant, and also served as an assistant coach under him.

Here's an interview Moore did with WVUA's John Huddleston about his legacy and other topics...

4 Alabama FB Players Arrested In Robbery-Assaults

Four University of Alabama freshman football players- Eddie Williams, Tyler Hayes, Dennis Pettway and Brent Calloway were arrested Monday from a couple of robberies on campus. Williams, Hayes and Pettway are each facing two counts of 2nd degree robbery.

The victim of one robbery was allegedly attacked by Williams, Hayes and Pettway. The victim claimed that his backpack, containing a MacBook Pro, was taken. An hour or so later, another incident occurred where the victim told Tuscaloosa (AL) police that he had been assaulted, knocked unconscious, and his wallet had been taken.

Calloway and Williams (pictured, right, thanks Tuscaloosa Police Department)

, face charges of fraudulent use of a credit card when he allegedly used the second victim's credit/debit cards to buy snacks from a vending machine on campus.

Williams was also charged with having a pistol without a permit on Sunday when police pulled him over after driving erratically and found a gun in his pants pocket on a search.

Here are the statements released from campus:

UA Athletic Director Mal Moore

"This is a very serious matter and we are very disappointed in the actions that have resulted in the charges against these student-athletes. In this type of situation, the Athletics Department works in conjunction with the University. We will have more to say at the appropriate time."

And, the HQ is sure, a very unhappy head coach UA Nick Saban:

"The young men charged are indefinitely suspended as we continue to gather information and talk to the appropriate people. The University and football program have strict guidelines regarding issues of this magnitude. This behavior is unacceptable for any student-athlete at the University of Alabama and not representative of our football program."

Here's Calloway doing a lot of what he did this past season... practice...
((HT: Michael Casagrande))