ESPN to Televise Alabama's Spring A-Day Game: Will You Be There?
MountainFramer
Question: When is a practice game important enough to televise?
>
> Answer: When a college team is able draw a "standing room only" crowd of
> 92,000 fans.
>
> Keep in mind that these are 100 percent Alabama fans, not visitors to fill
> empty seats.
>
> In the last two years, Alabama has drawn over 170,000 fans to its annual
> A-Day Spring game. Last year the weather was 'iffy,' so some fans stayed
> home and watched it on television. The year Nick Saban arrived, officials
> actually had to turn people away at the gate for safety concerns.
>
> ESPN announced it would be televising Alabama's spring practice game on
> Saturday, April 18, and who can blame them: The A-Day game has become an
> event within itself.
>
> "College football fans follow the sport year 'round, and as proven in the
> past, Alabama has some of the most loyal and passionate followers in the
> country," said Dave Brown, vice president of ESPN programming and
> acquisitions. "We look forward to capturing the exciting atmosphere at
> Bryant-Denny Stadium and to provide a preview of the 2009 Crimson Tide. We
> thank Alabama for their cooperation in making this work."
>
> Coach Saban's message to the Alabama family was this: "I encourage all of
> our Crimson Tide fans to fill Bryant-Denny Stadium on April 18 and show
> everyone why we have the best fans in the land," Saban said. "There's
> nothing better than coming out of the tunnel to a full stadium, whether
> that
> is A-Day, or at our home games in the fall."
>
> Alabama fans treat the game as though it was Opening day, with all the
> fanfare of a home game. Fans arrive early in the week with their
> motorhomes
> to enjoy cookouts, partying with friends and family.
>
> There are many other activities to enjoy that include other on-campus
> sports
> and events. There is even the rumor of a special guest doing a special
> concert.
>
> On game day, the Quad will be alive with tailgating fans, concession
> booths,
> and the annual tradition of honoring last years team captains by
> immortalizing their hands and feet in concrete at Denny Chimes' Walk Of
> Fame. This usually takes place around noon.
>
> Fans may want to arrive early for the 2 p.m. game as the seats are first
> come-first serve, and a sellout is likely if it is a pretty day in
> Tuscaloosa.
>
> Many of the new names will have their chance to show the overflow crowd
> why
> Coach Saban brought them to the Capstone to play football for the Tide.
> Along with the new faces, the returning stars will be competing for
> starting
> positions on the 2009 team.
>
> Names like Star Jackson and Greg McElroy will join returning stars like
> Julio Jones,Terrence Cody, and Rolando McClain to make up this year's
> Crimson Tide.
>
> There's likely to be some surprise names as well, as there are every year
> after spring practice.
>
> If you love Alabama football, there is only one place to be on Saturday,
> April 18 at 2 p.m.
>
> It is always a lot of fun, and it is always free.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Now what network is covering the barner's spring thing?
>
> Or the vols?
>
> Oh thats right, umm nobody.
>
> Damn , it's hard to be humble sometimes.
>
>
>
>
>
> MountainFramer
>
> Roll Tide.
>
>
> --
> "And believe me, to have been in the city of Tuscaloosa in October when
> you
> were young and full of Early Times and had a shining Alabama girl by your
> side--to have had all that and then to have seen those red shirts pour
> onto
> the field, and, then, coming behind them, with that inexorable big cat
> walk
> of his, the man himself, The Bear--that was very good indeed." Howell
> Raines, a Washington correspondent for the New York Times