TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Cecil Hurt, a longtime sports columnist at The Tuscaloosa News, died Tuesday of complications from pneumonia. He was 62.
The newspaper said Hurt died at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. He had worked for The Tuscaloosa News since 1982, becoming the newspaper's sports editor and columnist seven years later.
"In pro football, teams put a 'franchise' tag on their most valuable players, and at The Tuscaloosa News, Cecil was the franchise," said Ken Roberts, the paper's city editor. "Our readers considered his column an essential part of being an Alabama football fan.
"I've attended Alabama football games for more than 30 years and many, many times I've overheard a fan in stands saying, 'I wonder what Cecil Hurt will say about this.