Tide-Seminoles Official For 2017 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
The deal is signed, sealed, and delivered.
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida State Seminoles are scheduled for the 2017 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Two of college football's most prestigious programs will open the 2017 season in the Atlanta Falcon's new state-of-the-art home, New Atlanta Stadium. This will be the tenth contest in the nation's longest-running kickoff game. Though no kickoff time has been announced, the game will be played Saturday, September 2, 2017.
The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is a bowl-style, neutral-site game created in 2008 by Peach Bowl, Inc. It features two of the nation's elite football programs, and has been televised by ESPN/ABC on the first Saturday of the college football season since its inception. The first match-up in 2008 pitted number 8 Clemson against the number 24 Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide handily won that contest by a score of 34-10. In fact, Alabama has won all four times its played in the bowl. The other three were fifth-rankd Alabama over number seven Virginia Tech 34-24 in 2009, number one Alabama over Virginia Tech 35-10 in 2013, and number two Alabama over West Virginia 33-23 in 2014.
This will be the first time Florida State has opened their season in Atlanta.
The 2017 meeting between the Tide and Seminoles will be the fifth meeting all-time between the two. Alabama holds a 2-1-1 advantage in the series, but Florida State won the last meeting. The first game between the two was played back in 1965.
Percy Vaughn, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl chairman said, "With two teams of this caliber, it is really going to be a bowl-game type atmosphere and an epic celebration of college football.
Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. president and CEO stated, "These teams represent the best in our sport. The best players, the best coaches, the best fans. It's going to be a memorable start to the season and there is no better place to host this than in Atlanta, the capital of college football."
The team payout averages $4.3 million dollars, which is higher than 21 of last season's bowl games, and averages more than 66,000 fans in the stands for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Television viewership has traditionally been strong, with more than 40 million viewers since the inception of the game.
Bill Battle, director of athletics at the University of Alabama said, "This game with Florida State fits our scheduling philosophy of playing outstanding opponents in great venues in games that create great exposure for our program. Of course, it also continues our tremendous relationship with the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games which goes back to the 2008 season opener. This game with the Seminoles will be an excellent start to the 2017 season and we're thrilled to be a part of it."
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban said, "This is a great opportunity to open the 2017 season against an outstanding Florida State program. Jimbo has done an excellent job there and this will provide a great challenge for our team. Having this game first on the schedule will give our players plenty to look forward to and prepare for in the off-season.
"It's really an honor and a privilege to be a part of this first-ever class event hosted by the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which has really grown into one of the great traditions in college football. The last four times we've participated in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, it has been a big bowl game atmosphere and I know that will again be the case with these two programs, " Saban concluded.
The majority of the tickets will be divided between the two teams, just as an end-of-season bowl and all neutral-site games. The tickets will be sold through the university ticket offices.
Besides the over $4 million payout, the teams battle for The Old Leather Helmet Trophy, with the winners traditionally rotating wearing the helmet to celebrate the win. The first to don the helmet is the head coach of the winning team, then passed through the ranks to every player.
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No Bama Transfer For Braxton Miller
All one had to do was check registration records at the University of Alabama to know he was coming. Braxton Miller told The Columbus Dispatch this week that he won't be going to the University of Alabama or anywhere else this coming season because he will return to Ohio State.
Miller will be a fifth-year senior.
Finally the rumors can be put to rest. It came straight from the horse's mouth.
Miller is a two-time Big Ten MVP, having won the the honor in 2012 and 2013. He will compete for the starting quarterback job with sophomore J.T. Barrett and fourth-year junior Cardale Jones.
Miller did say to writers Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz that he is "the best athlete in college football." Now all he has to do is win the starting QB position and get on the field to prove it.
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Celebrating The Life Of Kenny "The Snake" Stabler
He was a Christmas baby, born December 25, 1945. He passed away July 8, 2015 at the age of 69.
He is Kenneth Michael Stabler, known to family, friends, and fans as Ken or Snake. The legend died of complications from colon cancer.
Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban said in a statement:
"I think anyone who had the chance to get to know Kenny would appreciate the great person he was and the pride he had for the University of Alabama. I have had the chance to be around some of the best to ever play college and pro football, and Kenny may have been one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game.
I was lucky enough to work with him on our radio broadcast my first year in Tuscaloosa and also have some special memories with him at a couple of our golf events. He was not only an outstanding football player, he was an all-around great guy and someone I really enjoyed spending time with. We lost a legend today and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Stabler played his high school ball at Foley High School, leading them to a 29-1 record during his high school career. The lone loss came at the hands of Vigor High School. Not only did Snake excel at football, but also showcased outstanding talent at two other sports. He averaged 29 points a game in basketball, and excelled as a left-handed pitcher in baseball, even receiving minor-league contract offers from the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. It was in high school where he earned his nick-name as "the Snake." He coach bestowed the name on him following a long, winding touchdown run. And it stuck.
Snake was recruited by legendary college football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, and joined the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1964. It was in his junior year that he got his chance to shine, having sat out that first year and watching Joe Namath shine for the Tide. He served as backup for Steve Sloan in 1965.
He made the most of his opportunity in 1966, leading the Crimson Tide to an undefeated 11-0 season, which ended in a 34-7 rout of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Sugar Bowl. Bama finished third in the polls that year, behind Notre Dame and Michigan State.
Snake found himself in the Bear's doghouse during his senior season, being kicked off the team for awhile for cutting class and partying. The team finished the season at 8-2-1, but that year's Iron Bowl provided Stabler with one of his more memorable career moments. Bama trailed the Tigers 3-0 in a rain-deluged game, but then came the "Run in the Mud" as it came to be known. Stabler scampered 53 yards for the game winning touchdown, giving the Tide a 7-3 victory over their in-state rivals. Stabler finished his college career with a 28-3-2 record as a starter.
Stabler completed 180 passes on 303 attempts racking up 2,196 yards for a 59.4% average. He had 18 passing touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He posted 838 rushing yards on 265 attempts, averaging 3.2 yards and scored nine touchdowns.
In the NFL Stabler competed in 184 games, completing 2,270 passes on 3,793 attempts, for 27,938 yards, averaging 151.8 yards per game. He had 194 career passing touchdowns.
In announcing the passing of Kenny Stabler, his family issued this statement:
We announce with great sadness that our father, Ken Stabler, passed away Wednesday, July 8 as a result of complications associated with colon cancer.
He passed peacefully surrounded by the people he loved most, including his three daughters and longtime partner, as some of his favorite songs played in the background, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Van Morrison's "Leaves Falling Down."
He quietly battled Stage 4 colon cancer since being diagnosed in February 2015.
He wanted to make a difference in the lives of others in both life and death. At his request, his brain and spinal cord were donated to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center to support research for degenerative brain disease in athletes.
He was a kind, generous and unselfish man, never turning down an autograph request or an opportunity to help someone in need. A great quarterback, he was an even greater father to his three girls and grandfather to his two "grand snakes."
We are grateful for the tremendous love and support from friends and fans. We ask that you please respect our privacy during this difficult time as we grieve this heartbreaking loss.
Funeral Arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the XOXO Stabler Foundation to support research of colon cancer and sports-‐related head trauma. More Information will be available on Ken Stabler's Facebook Fan page and the XOXO Stabler Foundation.
He is survived by his three daughters Kendra Stabler Moyes (husband, Scott), Alexa (fiancé, Hunter Adams) and Marissa; His grandsons Jack And Justin Moyes; Sister Carolyn Bishop; Nephew Scott Bishop; and great nephew and niece Tayler and Payton Bishop. He is preceded in death by his father, Leroy Stabler, and mother, Sally Stabler.
