Football Practice Begins For The Crimson Tide
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| Saban at Bama's first fall practice Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - It's what the die-hard, hard-core, crimson-bleedin', Roll Tide yellin', missin' my football fans have been waiting for. The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team has signaled the opening of the 2017 college football season by virtue of its first day of training camp on Thursday afternoon. The Bama boys worked out for two-hours in helmets and shorts on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields under sunny skies and hot temperatures.
Thursday began a series of 25 official practices for the Tide prior to the opening centest with No. 3 Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The matchup between the Tide and Seminoles is slated for 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
UA is returning 13 starters to this year's team that looks to make another run for National Championship No. 17. The Crimson Tide has put together at least 10 wins in nine consecutive seasons with four national championships (2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015) as well as five Southeastern Conference titles (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016).
Defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand was indeed practicing yesterday. He was with the first group.
Some of those who ended the 2016 season with injuries were also working yesterday. Shaun Dion Hamilton was in a full-contact crimson jersey working with the first team middle linebackers. He was injured in the SEC Championship game, a tear in his ACL. He was limited in the spring, and is looking to strut his stuff for the coaches over the coming days.
Bo Scarbrough was working with the rest of the team, wearing the white jersey for running backs. He, too, is looking to show improvement after a slow spring due to a broken leg received in the national title game with Clemson.
The second practice is slated for this afternoon.
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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Nick Saban Press Conference
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| Click HERE to view interview via Tide TV |
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Alabama Crimson Tide No. 1
In Preseason Amway Coaches Poll
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team is pretty much spot on where you figured it would be to start the 2017 college football season. Yep, No. 1. Besides the Tide, five other schools from the Southeastern Conference made the preseason Top 25, though Bama is the only school from the SEC in the Top 10.
Here's a look at how the SEC fared in the preseason poll:
1. Alabama
12. LSU
13. Auburn
15. Georgia
16. Florida
24. Tennessee
Here is the Top 25:
Coaches poll
1. *Alabama (49) 1,603
2. Ohio State (5) 1,512
3. Florida State (4) 1,434
4. USC 1,415
5. Clemson (7) 1,367
6. Penn State 1,257
7. Washington 1,245
8. Oklahoma 1,237
9. Michigan 959
10. Wisconsin 936
11. Oklahoma State 912
12. *LSU 834
13. *Auburn 819
14. Stanford 732
15. *Georgia 701
16. *Florida 681
17. Louisville 676
18. Miami 472
19. Kansas State 339
20. West Virginia 319
21. South Florida 247
22. Virginia Tech 235
23. Texas 193
24. *Tennessee 155
25. Utah 109
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College GameDay To Open In Atlanta
With Alabama-Florida State Contest
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| Photo Credit: ESPN |
BRISTOL, CONN. - It's not like Lee Corso hadn't already spilled the beans, but it's now official: College GameDay will kickoff the 2017 college football season in Atlanta, Georgia at the contest between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida State Seminoles.
In an appearance on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM in Mobile, Alabama, Corso commented, "We're going to Alabama-Florida State. It's going to the at one because it is two excellent football teams. We're going to the starting the season going to a tremendous football game."
However, at least from the first preseason college football poll, it won't be No. 1 versus No. 2 as was previously being hyped and hoped. Instead it will be the No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide pitted against the No. 3-ranked Florida State Seminoles. (See related article to view the Top 25.) In the 67-year history of the AP Poll, however, the top two teams have never fought it out in the opening game of the season. We're still awaiting that poll.
The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium between the Tide and Seminoles is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. CT on September 2nd and will be nationally televised by the ABC Television Network.
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Another 2018 Crimson Tide Football Commit
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| Slade Bolden Photo Credit: 247Sports |
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football program announces its eighth commitment for the class of 2018. He is West Monroe, Louisiana three-star athlete Slade Bolden. Bolden picked the Tide over several schools, most recently over the second-place TCU Horned Frogs.
It has been said that Bolden was impressive when he camped this summer, and the coaching staff is looking at him as an athlete or perhaps slot receiver.
During his commitment ceremony, Bolden said, "Both schools made it really hard for me. I love TCU, but I love Alabama. Every trip I made
to Bama was great. Both coaching staffs treated me very well and I'm
thankful for both schools. It took a long time of prayer and talking
with my family. I just felt like Alabama was the place for me."
Bolden was used in multiple positions at West Monroe High school, such as quarterback, running back, receiver and defensive back
for West Monroe High School.
Bolden is graduating high school in December and plans to enroll at The Capstone early.
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2018 University Of Alabama Football Commits
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team currently has 8 student-athletes who have committed to furthering their football careers at the Capstone. As new commits and signees are announced the list will be updated and released.
Here is the complete list of 2018 commitments and signees to UA as of 08/03/17:
- Jordan Davis, DE (6-6, 240), Memphis, Tennessee
- Xavier Williams, WR/ATH (6-1, 185), Hollywood, Florida
- Quay Walker, OLF ( 6-4, 220), Cordele, Georgia
- Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB (6-0, 160), Mobile, ALABAMA*
- Skyler DeLong, P (6-4, 180), Ft. Mill, South Carolina
- Stephon Wynn, Jr., DE (6-4, 285), Anderson, South Carolina
- Tommy Brown, OT (6-5, 313), Santa Ana ,California
- Slade Bolden ATH (5-11, 192), West Monroe, Louisiana
