Alabama Softball Releases 2005 Schedule
10/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The University of Alabama softball team has officially released its schedule for the 2005 season and once again the Tide will be backing down from nobody with head coach Patrick Murphy putting together one of the toughest schedules in the country.
The prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic is back on the Alabama schedule after a year's hiatus. The Classic features 15 teams that finished the 2004 season in the Top 25 or receiving votes.
"We love (the Leadoff Classic), we've always played well there," said Murphy. "It's a good tournament, we love it and it's close. The last couple years the SEC has kind of dominated the tournament. The winner of the tournament usually goes on to have a really good season. It's just a great atmosphere to be in."
Alabama will also make an appearance in the Houston Tournament where the field proves to be a big test. Oklahoma, a 2004 World Series participant and host school Houston, who reached the 2004 NCAA Tournament, will highlight the field.
Highlighting the Tide's home non-conference schedule is the return of the Crimson Classic, which also took a break for a year. This season Alabama will host the Maryland Terrapins, Missouri Tigers and Penn State Nittany Lions.
"I think the Crimson Classic will benefit everybody in the tournament because of the RPI," said Murphy. "You've got the SEC, the ACC, the Big 10 and the Big 12 all represented and in the long run I think it will be really good for all of us."
The Crimson Tide's home conference schedule will feature in-state rival Auburn and SEC West rivals Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Arkansas. The Kentucky Wildcats will be the lone SEC East school to visit the UA Softball Complex.
The Tide will open the 2005 schedule on February 4 when the team hosts the 2005 Bama Bash! Participating will be UAB, Evansville and Georgia Southern.
Fans can get their first official look at the 2005 Crimson on Saturday as the team will be signing autographs on the quad prior to kickoff of the Alabama-Southern Miss football game. The autograph session is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. and will continue on through 1:30 p.m.
Fans can get a more in depth look at the Tide on October 30, when the team hosts the Fall Brawl! at the UA Softball Complex beginning with a 12:00 game against Central Alabama followed by a 2:00 tilt against Wallace-Dothan and a 4:00 finale against Shelton State.
