Alabama's A-Day expected to be another spring spectacle

Alabama running back Kenyan Drake (17) works through drills under the watchful eye of Alabama running backs coach Burton Burns during Alabama's spring football practice on April 16, 2015, at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/AL.com via AP)
Alabama running back Kenyan Drake (17) works through drills under the watchful eye of Alabama running backs coach Burton Burns during Alabama's spring football practice on April 16, 2015, at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/AL.com via AP)

SPRING FEVER

The top-10 spring game crowds in SEC football history: Alabama (2011) 92,310 Alabama (2007) 92,138 Alabama (2010) 91,312 Alabama (2009) 84,050 Auburn (2013) 83,401 Alabama (2012) 78,526 Alabama (2013) 78,315 Alabama (2008) 78,200 Tennessee (1986) 73,801 Alabama (2014) 73,506

The University of Alabama has long been synonymous with autumn football.

Since Nick Saban's arrival as coach in 2007, the Crimson Tide have produced some spring extravaganzas, too. Filling Bryant-Denny Stadium for April's A-Day contest has become an annual ritual, and Saban is hoping for more support this afternoon as the reigning Southeastern Conference champions hold their 15th and final allotted practice.

"A-Day is a tremendous tradition here and a fantastic day for our fans and our players," Saban said Thursday night in a news conference. "There is a tradition that goes on around here, whether it's the captains ceremony at Denny Chimes or the game itself. We have lots of recruits here, and to have a great response that we've had with a great crowd has been something that our players really, really appreciate.

"If you have the opportunity, come and support our players, because these guys work hard year-round to have a team and a program that a lot of people can be proud of."

Alabama has the four largest spring-game crowds in SEC history and set an NCAA record in Saban's first year, when a then-capacity audience of 92,138 watched a team that eventually wound up 7-6 after downing Colorado in the Independence Bowl. The attendance record lasted just two years, however, as Ohio State drew 95,722 fans for its 2009 spring game.

The Crimson Tide set a new school standard in 2011, when 92,310 attended A-Day. That Alabama team went on to win Saban's second of three national championships in Tuscaloosa.

"This is an opportunity for a lot of fans to come and see our team, but it's also an opportunity to support our team," he said. "This has been a tremendous asset for our program with the way A-Day has turned out for us in the past, and I know it impresses a lot of people when we have that kind of support and response."

While all five quarterbacks are scheduled to be on display, today's A-Day encounter is not expected to reveal much detail into what Lane Kiffin has been doing in his second season as offensive coordinator. Several players have said this spring that the no-huddle offense used last season is even quicker now.

"The goal is to have a game where players know what they're doing and can execute," Saban said. "We certainly don't want to show what we're doing in the A-Day game, which is on TV and everybody gets a copy of, to help our opponents. The defense is very simple in the game, and the offense is fairly simple so that players can get back to blocking and tackling and executing the plays."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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