After the wait of more than a month, the BCS college football championship game itself was quite a letdown. Notre Dame gave Alabama hardly any competition at all last night. As a result, the Crimson Tide cruised to its third national title in four years.
Although today’s a Tuesday, the Advance papers in Alabama published a special edition to commemorate the victory. Here’s the version that was distributed in Birmingham.
The front pages in Huntsville and Mobile varied only in the strip across the top and the front-page sponsor.
The front page picture of Alabama defendere C.J. Mosley — who, with five tackles, was named defensive player of the game — is by staffer Vasha Hunt.
Jennifer Conklin, director of publications for the Alabama Media Group — who sent us today’s section — tells us:
Because everything we do at the PubHub is a collaboration, the list of participants is long. We work really hard to foster an environment where everyone participates and has a voice. For all of those named below there were countless others weighing in with opinions and strengthening copy and design along the way.
Jason Whaley took the lead on our cover and inside poster page. Kent Kasey worked on the Twitter feed page and several of the others inside. He also coordinated all of the moving parts and set up page toppers. Presentation manager Kimberly Worner did the two photo pages. Ike Morgan and John Reimer also took on a page or two. Statewide publications manager Scott Walker designed the bowl wrap-up page and curated some content.
Curator Charles Hollis and statewide curation manager Tom Arenberg led the effort in working with reporters to develop stories and coordinate coverage.
And Greg Richter and Jim Carson kept the great headlines coming all night and kept the copy moving.
Let’s take a look at the inside of the section. Click any of these for a much larger view.
Page two (below, left) was a fun page, if only because of the tweets. Half the page was devoted to some of the buzz during the game last night. I don’t know how you felt, but the Twitter feed was the most interesting part of the game.
Here’s a quick sample.
On page three (above, right) focuses on Alabama’s first-ever victory over Notre Dame. The photo is by Vasha Hunt.
Also, notice the interesting trivia embedded in the page headers. The one here on page three notes that Notre Dame gave up only nine offensive touchdowns all year, but then allowed four in the first half last night.
Page four contained a story about Alabama’s offensive line, an expanded box score and a couple of sidebars.
In particular, I love the visual focus on Alabama’s center, Barrett Jones. The pictures were by Vasha Hunt.
Page six held a number of notebook items as well as a screencap of quarterback A.J. McCarron‘s girlfriend Katherine Webb. She received quite a bit of prominent on-camera time last night.
Pages five and seven were full-page ads.
Here’s the center spread, featuring a picture by C.W. Griffin of the Miami Herald.
Page 10 (below, left) focused on Notre Dame. Both pictures were from McClatchy Tribune.
Page 11 (above, right) consisted of a review of last night’s broadcast.
Page 12 (below, left) is a color picture page. Most of the pictures — including the large one in the center — are from McClatchy Tribune. Staffer Julie Bennett shot the photos at the bottom.
Page 13 (above, right) lists key moments of the game, illustrated with photos by Julie and Vasha.
Page 14 (below, left) shows the celebration back in Tuscaloosa, as shot by staffer Ben Flanigan.
Page 15 reviews all of this year’s bowl season, presented in a large grid. Down the left side of the page is by-the-numbers material.
Find all the Alabama Media Group’s BCS game coverage here.
Average circulation for the Birmingham News is 103,729. Circulation for the Huntsville Times is 44,725 while the Mobile Press-Register circulates 82,088 papers on the days it publishes.
Meanwhile, around the rest of the state, a picture of coach Nick Saban holding up the crystal football trophy seemed to be the way to put together a front page today.
Left: Tuscaloosa News
Circulation: 28,130
Photo: “Photoillustration” by staffers Michelle Lepianka Carter and Anthony BratinaRight: Fort Payne Times-Journal
Circulation: 5,518
Photo: Romeo Guzman, Associated Press
Left: Anniston Star
Circulaton: 19,563
Photo: Stephen Gross, staffCenter: Gadsden Times
Circulation: 15,279
Photo: Dave Hyatt, staffRight: Montgomery Advertiser
Circulation: 32,847
Photo: Mickey Welsh, staff
Left: Dothan Eagle
Circulaton: 28,383
Photo: Jay Hare, staffCenter: Florence Times Daily
Circulation: 23,905
Photo: Gary Cosby Jr., staffRight: Selma Times-Journal
Circulation: 4,280
Photo: Kenty Gidley, University of Alabama
These last eight front pages are all from the Newseum. Of course.
