Tide Players Looking Forward to NFL Experience
9/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ?? There isn’t one college football player who does not dream of some day playing in the National Football League.
Members of the University of Alabama football team will share that NFL experience Saturday when the Crimson Tide meets the Florida State Seminoles at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, the home of the NFLs Jacksonville Jaguars.
The trip to Jacksonville is Alabama’s first since closing the Gator Bowl with a 24-10 win over North Carolina on Dec. 31, 1993. The FSU game will also mark Alabama’s first in an NFL stadium since a 20-16 loss to Minnesota in the Dec. 31, 2004 Music City Bowl, played at Adelphia Coliseum, the home of the Tennessee Titans.
UA senior defensive back Simeon Castille, who has a father (Jeremiah) and brother (Tim) with NFL experience, says the thought of playing in an NFL stadium is both exciting and opportunistic.
“I haven’t thought about it, but now that I think about it does excite me,” Castille said. “The last time we played in an NFL stadium was the Music City Bowl in Nashville. I am just excited about this game overall. It’s going to be fun, I think with two top college programs getting together. We are representing the SEC. I can’t wait.
“I definitely want to play in the NFL after I leave Alabama. I guess I can try to get a little used to these types of stadiums this weekend. Hopefully, I will be playing in a few of them in the years to come.”
Alabama senior wide receiver DJ Hall, who is rated No. 25 on NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper’s “Big Board” agrees with Castille and is looking forward to playing at the home of the Jaguars on Saturday.
“It’s very exciting,” Hall said. “It gives me a look toward the future and what to expect. There will be a lot more fans there than a normal NFL game. It gives you a lot to look forward to.”
Hall also said that playing a team of Florida State’s caliber and playing in an NFL stadium on national television could help both the Crimson Tide and his professional career.
“This is the perfect game for that,” Hall added. “There is no holding back. If you want to shine, this is the perfect game to do it.”
Alabama junior quarterback John Parker Wilson is one of those players who have dreamed of playing in the NFL. On Saturday, he will get that NFL stadium experience in Jacksonville.
“It’s pretty exciting to go and get a chance to play in an NFL stadium,” Wilson said. “When I was young I dreamed of playing in the NFL and now I will have the opportunity to play in an NFL stadium this weekend. This is a great opportunity for the team.”
While the list of Crimson Tide players who have seen an NFL game in person is short, the number of NFL stadiums in which the Crimson Tide has played over the years is quite impressive.
Alabama has played at least one game in 24 NFL stadiums, making its NFL stadium debut on Nov. 4, 1922 with a 9-7 win over Penn at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. The win took on even greater importance for Southern football when the Crimson Tide pulled off the upset win over on of college football’s dominant teams. In all, Alabama has played in an NFL stadium in 14 different states, plus the District of Columbia.
| Stadium | City | Team | Last Alabama Game |
| Aloho Stadium | Honolulu, Hawaii | NFL Pro Bowl | Lost to Hawaii, 37-29 (2003) |
| Astrodome | Houston, Texas | Houston Oilers Houston Astros (MLB) |
Tied Oklahoma, 24-24 (1970 Bluebonnet Bowl) |
| Braves Field | Boston, Mass. | Boston Redskins (1932) Boston Red Sox (MLB) World Series |
Lost to Boston College, 13-7 (1946) |
| The Coliseum | Nashville, Tenn. | Tennessee Titans | Lost to Minnesota, 20-16 (2004 Music City Bowl) |
| Cotton Bowl | Dallas, Texas | Dallas Cowboys | Beat Texas Tech, 13-10 (2006) |
| Foxboro Stadium | Foxboro, Mass. | New England Patriots | Lost to Boston College, 20-13 (1983) |
| Franklin Field | Philadelphia, Penn. | Philadelphia Eagles | Beat Penn, 7-6 (1922) |
| Georgia Dome | Atlanta, Ga. | Atlanta Falcons Super Bowl |
Beat Florida, 34-7 (1999 SEC Championship Game) |
| Griffith Stadium | Washington, D.C. | Washington Redskins Wasington Senators (MLB MLB World Series |
Beat George Washington, 19-0 (1937) |
| Jacksonville Municipal Stadium | Jacksonville, Fla. | Jacksonville Jaguars Super Bowl |
vs. Florida State (2007) |
| Joe Robbie Stadium | Miami, Fla. | Miami Dolphins Florida Marlins (MLB) Super Bowl MLB World Series |
Lost to Michigan, 35-34 (OT) (2000 Orange Bowl) |
| Kezar Stadium | San Francisco, Calif. | San Francisco 49ers | Beat St. Mary's, 6-0 (1932) |
| LA Coliseum | Los Angeles, Calif. | Los Angeles Raiders Los Angeles Rams Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) Super Bowl and World Series |
Beat USC, 21-20 (1977) |
| Orange Bowl | Miami, Fla. | Miami Dolphins Super Bowl |
Lost to Notre Dame, 13-11 (1975 Orange Bowl) |
| Polo Grounds | New York, N.Y. | New York Giants MLB World Series |
Beat Fordam, 7-6 (1939) |
| Stadium City | Houston, Texas | Super Bowl | Lost to Rice, 20-13 (1956) |
| Riverfront Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Reds (MLB) MLB World Series |
Beat Cincinnati, 29-7 (1984) |
| Rose Bowl | Los Angeles, Calif. | Super Bowl | Lost to UCLA, 35-24 (2,000) |
| Sun Devil Stadium | Tempe, Ariz. | Phoenix Cardinals Super Bowl |
Lost to Louisville, 34-7 (1991 Fiesta Bowl) |
| Superdome | New Orleans, La. | New Orleans Saints Super Bowl |
Beat Miami, 34-13 (1993 Sugar Bowl) |
| Tampa Stadium | Tampa, Fla. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl |
Beat Michigan, 17-14 (1997 Outback Bowl) |
| Tulane Stadium | New Orleans, La. | New Orleans Saints | Lost to Notre Dame, 24-23 (1973) |
| The Meadowlands | East Rutherford, N.J. | New York Giants New York Jets |
Beat Ohio State, 16-10 (1998 Kickoff Classic) |
| Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, Penn. | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Phillies (MLB) MLB World Series |
Beat Temple, 37-0 (1988) |
*Alabama has also played at Husky Stadium (Seattle, Wash.), Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tenn.), Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, La.) and Vanderbilt Stadium (Nashville, Tenn.) which have all served as temporary homes to NFL teams.
