ESPN To Televise Tide’s Spring Game

How tough a ticket will the A-Day Game be with ESPN showing up to televise it nationally again this year? It’s hard to say it’s a tough ticket, since there are no tickets. Best guess is that no one will be deterred from attending because it’s available on television.

The Alabama spring football game will be televised live on national television on Saturday, April 17, from Bryant-Denny Stadium. It will be the second consecutive year for the Crimson-White intrasquad game to be televised by ESPN. This year Alabama is practicing as the favorite to repeat as national champion.

Announcers have not yet been announced. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. CDT. There is no admission charge.

A-Day is the 15th and final practice of the spring. The sessions begin on Friday, March 12. Spring break at The University begins the next day, meaning the second practice will not be until March 22.

Over the last three years, Alabama has totaled 254,388 fans at A-Day. UA set a college football record in the spring of 2007 as a capacity crowd of 92,138 watched head Coach Nick Saban’s first A-Day at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Last year’s attendance of 84,050 again led the SEC and an average of 84,796 have been on hand for the last three A-Day scrimmages at Alabama.

Alabama has many top players to replace from the team that went 14-0 last year, including a BCS Championship Game victory over Texas to win the Crimson Tide’s 13th national championship.

On offense, Bama must find a left guard to replace All-America Mike Johnson, a right tackle to replace Drew Davis, and a tight end to replace Colin Peek.

Bama’s offense does have some effective players returning, however, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram at tailback, Southeastern Conference Championship Game MVP quarterback Greg McElroy, and wide receiver Julio Jones.

Defensive losses include almost everyone, including Butkus Award winner and All-America middle linebacker Rolando McClain, All-America nose tackle Terrence Cody, and All-America cornerback/kick returner Javier Arenas.

Alabama kicking specialists, Leigh Tiffin (All-America placekicker) and P.J. Fitzgerald (punter) were also seniors.

Alabama has made 10 national television appearances in each of the last two seasons, which does not include these last two A-Day appearances on ESPN. Only Notre Dame (also with 10 the last two years) has had as many nationally televised games.