Alabama Makes Final Preparations for Saturday Scrimmage
8/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 20, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama football team held their final practice before Saturday's scrimmage on Friday afternoon inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.
The Crimson Tide practiced for two hours in shells (shorts, shoulder pads and helmets) as the coaching staff continues to evaluate and teach on both sides of the ball while the players adjust to the start of classes this week.
"I think sometimes players have to understand that coaching is teaching, and we're teaching them, we're not criticizing them," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. "Some of the younger guys have to learn how to sort of manage that. I think every player on the team has to have maturity in terms of how they manage their lifestyle - doing the right things, getting the right kind of rest. Going to college is sort of like a three-ring circus: You have college, you have football - if you're an athlete - and then you've got a social life. It's hard to have all those things going full speed during football season.
"Guys have to be able to manage, make good choices and decisions about what they do and what they don't do, so they can improve, get better, pay attention and be focused for meetings, walk-throughs and doing it on the field. We've been pretty fortunate the last few years to have a lot of guys show maturity and do that. It's an ongoing process that we have to continue with the guys we have."
The Tide will hold their final scrimmage of fall camp Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The scrimmage, as all practices, is closed to the public.
Alabama will take Sunday and Monday off before returning to the practice field on Tuesday to continue its preparation for their season opener against San Jose State on Sept. 4 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on a pay-per-view basis by the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
