PICAYUNE —
Picayune's Malcolm Faciane already wears a national championship ring on one finger.
Monday night, the tight end for the University of Alabama can earn one for the other hand.
Faciane and the Crimson Tide look for back-to-back BCS National Championships when Alabama takes on Notre Dame at Sun Life Stadium just outside of Miami.
A former Maroon Tide standout, Faciane is a reserve tight end for head coach Nick Saban's squad. Alabama beat LSU 21-0 last season for its second national title in three seasons.
Also, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron should feel right at home in when the second-ranked Crimson Tide take on No. 1 Notre Dame for the BCS national title on Monday night at Sun Life Stadium.
That's because he's seen himself playing there for years.
Sun Life is the home of the Miami Dolphins — and the Miami Hurricanes, the team that McCarron grew up rooting for. He strongly considered attending the school and playing for the 'Canes.
"I love 'The U,'" said McCarron, a native of Mobile, Ala. "But I just felt like at the end of the day, it was the best situation for me to stay in the state."
McCarron is tall and lean, reminiscent of former Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey, who just happens to be one of the Alabama star's favorite players. McCarron also grew up idolizing former Hurricanes like Willis McGahee, Andre Johnson and Kellen Winslow.
"What probably attracted me the most is, just like whenever you're a little kid, the team that's winning the most is probably your favorite," McCarron said.
He ultimately picked the Tide over Oklahoma and Miami.
And even though McCarron was a 2-year-old at the time, Alabama's win over the Hurricanes for the 1992 national title seems like it's a topic of regular discussion in his house.
"My dad went to that game and missed my brother being born to go to that game," McCarron said. "My mom was not happy."
(The Associated Press contributed to this report).
Sports
Big game has local flavor to it
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Season ends for Maroon Tide
Picayune’s magical playoff run came up just short of a spot in the state finals.
Homestanding Pascagoula, the defending Class 5A state champs, took a hard-fought 5-3 win over the Maroon Tidee in game three of the best of three South State finals here Saturday before a capacity crowd at Ingalls Field. -
Season ends for Maroon Tide
The season came to an end for the Picayune baseball team Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 loss to homestanding Pascagoula here at Ingalls Field in the third and deciding game of the Class 5A South State championship series.
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Tide stays alive
And it all comes down to this.
Picayune and Pascagoula will face off in a one game, winner take all
showdown today at 2 p.m., at Ingalls Field for the Class A South State
prep baseball championship and the right to play for the state title. -
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Host Pearl River opened Region 23 Tournament play in dominating fashion here Thursday in Wildcat Stadium, demolishing top-seeded East Central 12-1 in eight innings and now faces second-seeded LSU-Eunice (La.) in Friday’s second round at 7 p.m.
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Panther pitcher shuts out Maroon Tide
Pascagoula’s Andrew Crane continued his dominance of Picayune Thursday night.
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Season ends for Lady Hornets
Poplarville's season came to and end in the Class 4A South state finals Tuesday night.
The visiting Lady Hornets fell to Newton County 10-2 in game two of the best-of-three series. -
Lady Hornets face Newton County
Two more wins, and Poplarville will be playing for the Class 4A state championship in fast-pitch softball.
The Lady Hornets have a chance at getting that first victory today. -
Polderman’s, Mitchell win titles
The Picayune Maroon Tide and the Pearl River Central Blue Devils both competed in the Class 5A South State track and field championships this past Saturday at Long Beach High School.
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Tide sweeps; Devils swept
Picayune finished the regular season nine games under the break even mark.
But, four games into the Class 5A South State playoffs. the Maroon Tide is unbeaten. -
Lady Hornets beat North Pike
Poplarville is moving on to the Class 4A South State finals.
The Lady Hornets swept the best-of-three semifinal series with North Pike, completing the affair with a 2-0 road win Monday night. - More Sports Headlines
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Season ends for Maroon Tide
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