Crimson Column presented by Mercedes-Benz
4/13/2017 5:22:00 PM | General
Another Chance to Separate Alabama from the Rest of the Pack
As I mentioned in the first Crimson Column, Coach Saban and I were talking about what an enormous impact that a large crowd at past Golden Flake A-Day Spring Football Games has had on the success of the program. From his first A-Day in 2007, Alabama has led the nation in spring game attendance with a total of 809,744 fans over the last decade. That has been a positive influence in the incredible success, and it will be again. The 2017 football season has already begun and the first major event that you can make your mark with is A-Day on Saturday, April 22, at 2 p.m.
Over the last few years, other schools have stepped up to our challenge. Now is our chance to remind people of the passion and strength of our fan base, and to send the message that Alabama remains the gold standard of college football. I look forward to seeing you on April 22! Roll Tide!
Getting Ready for A-Day 2017
Gates will open for the Golden Flake A-Day Game at 11 a.m. CT and admission is free. We have a wide range of activities and fan experience opportunities planned.
For the first time, we are going to make all of our trophies from the "Decade of Dominance" available to fans (no cost) beginning Saturday at 8 a.m. in the Mercedes-Benz Fan Fest area near the Walk of Champions. We'll have on display the four AFCA Coaches' National Championship Trophies, the 2015 CFP Trophy, the five SEC Championship Trophies, along with all the individual award winners of the last decade including both Heisman Trophies. The Coca-Cola Kids Zone will be open and there will also be musical entertainment, food vendors and autograph opportunities.
We'll continue the lettermen flag football game inside Bryant-Denny again this year at 11:30 a.m., the Walk of Fame Ceremony with Coach Saban and the captains at Denny Chimes at 12:15 p.m., the Walk of Champions with the team arrival at 12:50 p.m., and a dodgeball game with some of our former players at halftime. You can once again have access to the field once the game wraps up and the awards ceremony concludes. Don't forget we've got softball against Washington at 6 p.m. Friday and 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
In addition, there are several other give-away items available at the Mercedes-Benz Fan Fest as well at the gates upon entry thanks to some of our sponsors. We'll have 15,000 posters and 2,500 koozies to hand out all themed around our last 10 years of success.
We're once again offering a variety of experience upgrades including premium seating areas and VIP access to the field and special events. If you would like to upgrade your experience, you can view and purchase all of the experiences at rolltide.com/experience on mobile. Inventory is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
University Boulevard Improvements Ongoing
Please be aware of some construction that could affect your mobility as you enter campus on the A-Day Weekend. As many of you know, especially if you live in Tuscaloosa, two lanes of University Boulevard are currently closed through August 4 along approximately one-half mile from the University Boulevard and Bryant Drive intersection west to the area near the University Boulevard and Second Avenue intersection. While the road is not closed as two lanes remain open, traffic flow is impacted. Currently, the westbound lanes are closed for construction, but traffic flows both directions using the eastbound lanes. This will be in effect through May 27.
Once the westbound construction is complete, two-way traffic will move to the westbound lanes, and eastbound lanes will be closed for construction through the rest of the project which is expected to conclude August 4. The purpose of the project is to replace the road's concrete slabs with asphalt and to add medians, landscaping, a transit lane and a bike lane, as well as to make lighting improvements. This project is the second phase of a broader initiative to re-pave University Boulevard from McFarland Blvd. to downtown Tuscaloosa. We appreciate your patience, we want to encourage you to arrive early, and hope you will figure this into your plans for the weekend.
We also have the USA Triathlon Nationals taking place on A-Day Saturday which will close Jack Warner Parkway from Crescent Ridge Road to the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Please use Campus Drive as an alternative route.
To help with some of the traffic issues, we added a bus route from University Mall (like we have for home games in the fall) that will be free of charge and begin at 11 a.m. You'll also find free parking downtown at the Intermodal Facility with Tuscaloosa Transit service also starting at 11 a.m. Check uagameday.com for maps and more parking and traffic information.
#RollTideFriday
We were blown away by the response to #RollTideFriday! As you recall, we challenged you to play a role in making us stand out from the competition. I wasn't surprised that so many of you answered the call and will continue to do so. What's the essence behind this effort? As I said in my last blog, your pride has a tangible effect on our competitive success. The impact of seeing our fans wearing Alabama clothing, particularly with the script A, can help us in ways beyond the obvious, and that's something that can be evident everywhere. You make the difference.
We're off to an outstanding start! Let's keep it going. Show us your spirit by sending us your photos wearing your Crimson Tide apparel to ad@ia.ua.edu. In every blog, we select at least two photos to feature, and we are working on a page on rolltide.com chronicling many of the photos we receive. Share your photos on social media fro-m wherever you are on Fridays with the #RollTideFriday. I even had a number of people tweet me their pictures @Greg_Byrne and shared a few of those.
Brittney Barefield
Lashay Scott
3 Standout Student-Athletes Recognized by the SEC
Last week, the Southeastern Conference office announced that swimmer Anton McKee and volleyball player Krystal Rivers as our nominees for H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarships, awarded annually to the male and female SEC Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Anton and Krystal are both All-Americans and Academic All-Americans who have represented the Crimson Tide extremely well during their respective careers, both athletically and academically. We also learned that Anton's teammate, Connor Oslin, was named the SEC Swimming and Diving Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second season in a row. Connor is also a multiple time All-American and Academic All-American who ranks as one of the five fastest 100 backstrokers in swimming history. A well-deserved congratulations to Anton, Krystal and Connor!
Setting the Pace with espnW Campus Conversations Event
Last week, Alabama became the first SEC school to host an espnW Campus Conversations. More than 200 Crimson Tide female student-athletes gathered in Coleman Coliseum last week for a series of conversations focusing on the "great pivot" and other topics that impact the growth, empowerment and maturation of female athletes. Programs of this type pivotal in our efforts to empower our student-athletes to take pride in themselves, to take control of their individual futures, and to see their future potential. We hosted ESPN reporter Holly Rowe and several former Tide student-athletes as panelists. Congratulations and thanks to our staff and our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for their work in putting this together.
Upcoming Schedule of Events
View the list of upcoming events, broadcast information, start times and stat links, click here. (Note: All times are listed as Central Standard Time, i.e. Tuscaloosa time.)
Access live stats from your desktop or mobile device, click here.
