Alabama football: Nussmeier interviews with Huskies | 3C
F R I D A Y , D E C E M B E R 6 , 2013
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SECTION C
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FOOTBALL
CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME | PICKENS COUNTY 38, MAPLESVILLE 18
TORNADO SEASON Pickens County ďŹ nishes 15-0, wins ďŹ rst state title THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston was not charged with sexual assault of a women who accused him of raping her almost a year ago. The Heisman Trophy frontrunner will play in Saturday’s ACC title game against Duke.
No charges against Winston State attorney says not enough evidence to convict FSU quarterback The Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, F L A . | Florida State quarterback and Heisman hopeful Jameis Winston will not face any charges in a sexual assault case, mostly because there were too many gaps in his accuser’s story, a prosecutor said Thursday. State Attorney Willie Meggs said the woman’s memory lapses about the events last December were problematic and there was not enough evidence to win a conviction. “It’s not inconsistencies, it’s lack of memory most of the time,â€? Meggs said. The woman told police she had been drinking at a bar with friends and went home with a man she didn’t know. She said she the alleged assault took place at an offca mpus apa r t ment , but she couldn’t remember where it was. A month later, she identiďŹ ed her alleged attacker as the quarterback. Winston’s attorney said the sex was consensual. The quarterback said in a statement he was relieved. “It’s been difďŹ cult to stay silent through this process, but I never lost faith in the truth and in who I am,â€? Winston said. The alleged assault happened long before Winston became a star on the national stage. Reports about an investigation didn’t surface in the public until last month, as the redshirt freshman was well into a remarkable season with Florida State. Winston, 19, has led the Seminoles to a No. 1 ranking and a shot at a national championship if they defeat Duke on Saturday in the ACC title game. As for the Heisman, many voters were waiting to see whether he would be charged before casting their ballot. The deadline is Monday and Winston is considered a leading contender for the trophy for the nation’s top player. It will be awarded Dec. 14. The accuser’s family has been sharply critical of the Tallahassee Police Department, accusing the agency of delaying the investigation and discouraging her from going forward with the case because of the public attention it would receive. “The victim has grave concerns that her experience, as it unfolded in the public eye and through social media, will discourage other SEE WINSTON | 3C
STAFF PHOTOS | MICHELLE LEPIANKA CARTER
Pickens County running back Jermarcus Brown (12) scores the Tornadoes’ first touchdown in Thursday’s AHSAA Class 1A championship game against Maplesville at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Brown had 354 all-purpose yards in a 38-18 Pickens County win.
Brown sets record with 329 rushing yards
Championship effort a pleasure to watch
By Andrew Carroll
hursday started as one of those days. Rapidly, it turned into one of those days. It started the night before when another round of vaguely sourced, breathless “Nick Saban to Texasâ€? rumors, as immune to extermination as Norway rats, popped up. They had no more substance than the ones from two weeks ago, or two weeks before that, and will continue until Texas ďŹ nally resolves its coaching situation — and, if Mack Brown survives, they will go on right through 2014. Then came the peculiar Florida State press conferences, odd not beCECIL cause of the outcome — Jameis WinHURT ston deserves the protection of the law, including presumption of innocence, as much as any other American citizen — but because of the  ippant, football-ďŹ rst attitude of the authorities. Maybe the same mood would prevail in the same situation in Tuscaloosa, but it would deserve criticism here, too, if it did. In neither of those situations did journalism enjoy a shining hour, even if it is just “football.â€? It was enough to make a reporter reective. So I would like to thank Jermarcus Brown. SEE HURT | 4C
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Sports Writer
Jermarcus Brown doesn’t know his ring size, but he intends to ďŹ nd out. Brown and the Pickens County Tornadoes earned championship rings Thursday as they defeated Maplesville 38-18 in the AHSAA Class 1A ďŹ nal. Brown, a senior tailback and defensive back, was named the most valuable player after scoring three touchdowns and setting a Super 6 Championships record for all classes with 329 yards on 26 carries. “It means a lot,â€? Brown said. “I knew when we came out for our ďŹ rst practice that we were going to come out and win a state championship. We just had to be mentally focused and physical and come out and practice hard, and I knew we were going to get it.â€? Pickens County set a school record for wins by going 15-0 and claimed its ďŹ rst playoff championship in football. The Tornadoes set the Class 1A championship record by rushing for 447 yards on 47 attempts. Senior quarterback Devonte’ Simon ran for 100 yards, scored one touchdown and threw a touchdown pass. Brown kicked two extra points, punted twice, blocked an extra-point kick and made six tackles. SEE R ECORD | 5C
“Each Sunday when we go in to watch ďŹ lms, as a coaching staff we always go, ‘Let’s go see what Brown did Friday night. He’s amazing.â€? Pickens County coach Patrick Plott, on senior Jermarcus Brown
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CLASS 3A FINAL:
3A, 5A NOTEBOOK:
CLASS 5A FINAL:
CLASS 1A NOTEBOOK:
Madison Academy wins second straight championship
Martin fills in at running back for Mustangs
Second-half surge leads Spanish Fort to championship
Pickens County’s Hill doesn’t plan on wearing new shirt
ONLINE For video highlights of each game, player and coaches interviews and photo galleries, go to www.tuscaloosanews.com