The Crimson Column presented by Mercedes-Benz
1/4/2018 7:59:00 PM | General
Allstate Sugar Bowl Champions
What an amazing game to open the New Year with. Our student-athletes and coaches were obviously prepared with a great game plan and executed it brilliantly against a very, very good Clemson team in New Orleans. There were so many great moments during the game, but I don't think there is a fan out there who didn't jump out of their seat when Da'Ron Payne caught his first collegiate touchdown. With that victory, the Tide has earned its third consecutive berth in the College Football Playoff Championship Game where we will take on the Georgia Bulldogs this Monday in Atlanta. This marks the second time in the past seven years that the national championship contest will be an all-Southeastern Conference affair, and Alabama has been a part of both after taking on LSU for the 2011 BCS Championship.
Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame
Another special moment for Alabama fans came before the game when Coach Gene Stallings was honored as part of the inaugural Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame class 25 years after leading the Tide to the 1992 national championship. Also among the first class were Coach Paul Bryant and Major Ogilvie.
Leading the Way in Graduates
As we head into the College Football Playoff National Championship Game vying for our 17th football title, we already lead the nation in an important category. Our Sugar Bowl and National Championship Game rosters include 25 student-athletes who have already earned their degrees. And as we play in Monday's all-Southeastern Conference national title game, our total of student-athletes wearing the SEC Graduate patch on their uniform is nine better than the second-closest SEC squad and more than twice the average of the SEC's other eight bowl teams this season. This is not a new phenomenon. Over the past 10 seasons (2008-17), Alabama has had more than 200 degrees earned (graduate and undergraduate) by student-athletes who were still suiting up for the Crimson Tide after having graduated.
Gymnastics Set to Get Underway
As our football team is set to close its season on Monday, our gymnastics squad (@BamaGymnastics), ranked fourth in the preseason, opens up its 2018 season this Friday, January 5 at No. 7 Michigan. The meet gets underway at 4:30 p.m. CT and will air live on ESPNU. We hope you'll tune in, or follow along online, and cheer our ladies on. We also hope you'll join us a week from Friday on January 12 as we open our home season with none other than the Georgia Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. CT. Let's fill Coleman Coliseum and help the Tide get off to a strong start.
College Football Playoff Participants Giving Challenge
The four-day College Football Playoff Participants Giving Challenge ended on December 31 with a WIN for Alabama Athletics. Between December 28-31, Alabama Athletics processed 2,361 contributions, which exceeded the participation of the other universities competing in the CFP. Thank you to each Alabama fan, supporter, coach and staff member who made a gift during the Giving Challenge this year. While winning the competition is exciting, the true success of this endeavor is in the impact these gifts will have on our student-athletes through our ability to provide scholarship support from the Crimson Tide Scholarship Fund. Thank you for Investing In Champions.
Basketball on the Road this Week before returning home
Our men's and women's basketball teams are on the road this weekend, with the women playing tonight (January 4) at Florida and Sunday, January 7 at Arkansas, while the men are at Georgia on Saturday, January 6. Both teams return home next week, with the men taking on South Carolina on Tuesday, January 9 at 6 p.m. CT and the women against LSU on Thursday, January 11 at 7 p.m. CT. All five games are big for us as we climb deeper into conference play, and we hope you'll help us pack Coleman Coliseum and cheer the Tide on.
University Spotlight
The University of Alabama's Stran-Hardin Arena will have its grand opening on Saturday, January 20, and will feature games with the current men's and women's wheelchair basketball teams against alumni teams at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT. In addition to the on-court action, there will be several special presentations, poster giveaways and concessions.
#RollTideFriday
This week's #RollTideFriday photos come to us from 1st Lieutenants Kyle Dubois and Matt Campbell in their F-15E Strike Eagle, and the Taylor family all decked out in Alabama gear at Disney World.
1st Lieutenants Kyle Dubois and Matt Campbell in their F-15E Strike Eagle
Taylor family all decked out in Alabama gear at Disney World
Remember to use the hashtag #RollTideFriday in your social posts and tweet your photos to me at @Greg_Byrne. We will select two photos to feature in each blog and add even more to our #RollTideFriday Fan Hub.
Upcoming Schedule of Events
View the list of upcoming events, broadcast information, start times and stat links on our composite calendar. (Note: All times are listed in Central Time.)
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