David Chandler, who gained picks panel fame as the "Bag Man," has returned to the panel -- bag and all.

Chandler, a diehard Alabama fan, resigned from the panel two years ago because of the increased stress of maintaining his anonymity. At that time, he asked picks panel administrator John Adams if he could take off the bag, use his name and remain on the panel.

"If a two-headed man lost one of his heads, would he still have a job with the circus?" Adams said. "The bag makes you special."

Picks panel beat writer John Adams asked Adams why he decided to put the "anonymous Alabama fan" back on the panel.

"For one thing, I always liked the bag look," Adams told Adams. "It was different, and as you know from covering the beat, diversity is a big deal to me. We had the only bag man in the country when David was on the panel."

Adams said he has stayed in touch with Chandler since he quit the panel. He said they first talked about Chandler's return last spring.

"David went through some tough times," Adams told Adams in the exclusive interview, which is available in its entirety on pickspanelxtra.com (now offering a discount subscription rate of $875 a month). "But he persevered and -- with the help of picks panel psychiatrist Dr. Julius Quackenstein -- has recovered from bagaphobia (the irrational fear that once you place a bag over your head, you can never take it off).

Adams told Adams he wasn't concerned that Chandler has lost his anonymity.

"Anonymity is no longer the issue," Adams told Adams. "We've got the same prop, but a different theme.

"The bag is now a symbol for Alabama football. With all the losing, cheating, coaching fiascos and immoral activities, every Alabama fan should wear a bag over his head."

Chandler is not condemned to "bagdom" for eternity, Adams said.

"He can take off the bag when Alabama beats Tennessee in football," Adams said with a smile. "If he lives that long."

Alternate Pickers: This year's picks panel has been expanded to include alternate pickers, picks panel administrator John Adams said in a statement that was first released on pickspanelxtra.com.

"In the past, you were either on the panel or off the panel," Adams said. "Now, you've got something in between.

"The alternate pickers will pick games every week, just like the 'real pickers.' If alternates are doing well at mid-season, they could replace regulars on the panel.

Adams also said that new members will first serve as alternate pickers. Then, if they pick well enough, they will be added to the 24-picker panel.

"This was Dr. Quackenstein's idea," Adams told Adams. "He counseled a number of pickers who struggled emotionally after being kicked off the panel. One week, they were a celebrity; the next week, a nobody.

"Now they've got something to cushion the fall. First, the picture goes. Then, the name."

Records Of Alternates: B.J. Wright 26-4 (29 points), Brandy Fore 23-7 (23 points), Zack Theekat 22-8 (22 points), Tim Harmon 19-11 (22 points), Chuck Williams 17-13 (20 points), Kathy Best 17-13 (17 points), John Pennington 15-15 (15 points).