Alabama Softball Releases 2008 Schedule
10/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The University of Alabama softball team, coming off its third 50-win season in the last four years in 2007, has released its 2008 schedule. As is customary, the Tide faces another competitive schedule, with eight opponents who finished the season in the top 25 in either of the two national softball polls a year ago.
"Our 2008 home SEC schedule will be one of the best we have had,” said head coach Patrick Murphy. “Tennessee, LSU, Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky all play in Tuscaloosa this spring. We also have Georgia Tech, New Mexico and Purdue in for non-conference tournaments.”
In addition to several key home Southeastern Conference series, the Tide’s schedule features four regular-season tournaments. Included on the list are UA’s own home tournaments, the first of which is the Hampton Inn Bama Bash, with teams from Purdue, Jacksonville State and South Alabama scheduled to appear from Feb. 8-10 in Tuscaloosa.
The second home tournament, the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic, is on Feb. 15-17. Alabama welcomes Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee and New Mexico for that event.
The Tide travels to Miami the following weekend to compete in the Florida International Fun in the Sun tournament alongside Florida International, Connecticut and Illinois. From Feb. 29-March 1, Alabama goes to Seattle to appear in the Washington Husky Classic. Washington eliminated the Tide in the NCAA Super Regional a season ago and finished the season ranked in the top five. Portland State, Idaho State and Nevada will also compete in the event.
The first home game following the Bama Bash is set for Feb. 13 when UA plays host to McNeese State. Tennessee, one of the top teams in the nation the past few years, will be the Tide’s SEC opener at home on March 8 and 9. Alabama’s road opener in league play will be against Mississippi State in Starkville on March 15.
In addition to the series with the Lady Vols, the Tide has home dates with Florida, Ole Miss, LSU and South Carolina in SEC action and will go on the road to face league opponents Mississippi State, Kentucky, Auburn, Arkansas and Georgia.
One of the highlights of the schedule is the exhibition game with the U.S. Olympic team on April 15 at Birmingham’s Liberty Park. The Olympic team will appear in the 2008 games in China and might be the last team to do so, as softball has been removed from the Olympic slate beginning in 2012.
“One of the biggest dates on the season is the game with the Olympic team, which only a few teams from around the nation have the opportunity to play,” Murphy said. “It will be even more special this time around, because this may be the last go-around for softball in the Olympics. It could be an historic event."
Alabama will also travel to Chattanooga to play in a round robin and will make a trip to Chicago to play highly-ranked teams from Northwestern and DePaul as a part of its non-conference slate of games.
The 2008 SEC Tournament will be hosted by LSU in Baton Rouge beginning on May 8. Regional NCAA play begins on May 16, with the Super Regionals scheduled to open on May 23. The College World Series begins on May 29 in Oklahoma City.
Season tickets are on sale in the UA ticket office. Seats are $35 apiece for bleacher-backs and $60 per person for chair-back seating. Fans can log on to RollTide.com or call the ticket office at (205) 348-BAMA or toll free at 877-TIDETIX to purchase season tickets.
