The Alabama Golden Flake A-Day Game, scheduled for a 2 p.m. (CT) kick on April 22 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, will include a full day of activities and experiences including the opportunity for fans to take the field at the conclusion of the game. The A-Day game is the 15th and final practice of the spring. Gates open at 11 a.m. and admission will once again be free to the public.
It will be the program's 11th A-Day Game under the direction of five-time national championship coach Nick Saban. A myriad of activities punctuate the 2017 Golden Flake A-Day Game that will be televised on ESPN by Kirk Herbstreit, Joe Tessitore, Joey Galloway and Laura Rutledge calling the game from field level.
Game day will get started with the Mercedes-Benz Fan Fest, which will open at 8 a.m. adjacent to Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Fan Fest will feature free giveaways, musical entertainment, sampling events, the Coca-Cola Kids Zone, live radio remotes, vehicle displays, the annual UA athletic apparel/game program sale and other fun fan activities open to the general public. Numerous food vendors will be open on the Walk of Champions Plaza starting at 10 a.m.
As a special tribute to Coach Saban's first 10 seasons at Alabama, national championship trophies, SEC championship trophies, Heisman trophies, and all other individual national award trophies will be on display for photos under a number of sponsor tents. Former Alabama football players will also be in attendance signing free autographs in the Fan Fest. Check rolltide.com and UA Athletic Facebook pages for updated appearance confirmations and times.
Winn-Dixie rewards card holders can also pickup reserved tickets in the special Winn-Dixie Family Section by signing up or showing their new Plenti rewards card at the Winn-Dixie display in the Fan Fest. The Winn-Dixie Family Section features seatbacks in the west stands in the shade. Approximately 1,000 Family Section tickets will be available prior to the game while supplies last.
A-Day posters featuring head coach Nick Saban and over 40 Crimson Tide greats during the last 10 seasons, along with the 2017 schedule will be given away at the gates to the first 15,000 fans. A-Day programs highlighting the past 10 seasons of dominance will be available at a cost of $5. For University of Alabama students, Parker 301 will be giving away 2,500 commemorative "Decade of Dominance" koozies at the stadium student entrance gates prior to the game. Koozies available while supplies last.
The Alumni Flag Football Game begins at 11:30 a.m. inside Bryant-Denny Stadium and will feature former Alabama standouts. The game is slated for two 20-minutes halves and should wrap up around 12:15 p.m.
One of the great traditions at the University of Alabama, which is always open to the public, is the annual Walk of Fame Ceremony at Denny Chimes. At approximately 12:15 p.m. on A-Day, head coach Nick Saban and 2016 captains Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson and Cam Robinson will address the crowd. The captains will then leave prints of their hands and cleats in the concrete as they join a long list of Crimson Tide greats at Denny Chimes.
The Crimson Tide will hold its Walk of Champions scheduled for 12:50 p.m. when the team arrives at Bryant-Denny Stadium. This year's halftime entertainment will feature the Alabama Dodgeball Challenge with former Crimson Tide players squaring off in an entertaining competition.
Throughout the 2017 A-Day Game former Crimson Tide greats, including national award winners, captains and former SEC and national championship game MVPs from the Saban era will be recognized as we celebrate Saban's decade of dominance in Tuscaloosa. Some of the Alabama's best players over the last 10 years are also expected back for the A-Day game including, Derrick Henry, C.J. Mosley, Jonathan Allen, Amari Cooper, Rolando McClain, Andre Smith, Cam Robinson, Reuben Foster, Courtney Upshaw and many others.
Coach Saban will present the spring awards to the team at midfield at the conclusion of the game. Once the team has cleared the field, for the fourth straight year at A-Day, all fans will have postgame field access. Fans may enter through any of the four corner gates.
Alabama leads the nation in spring game attendance over the last 10 years with a total of 809,744 fans for an average of 80,974 fans per game during that period. The largest A-Day crowd in school history came in 2011 (92,310). In head coach Nick Saban's first year of 2007, the stadium was at full capacity prior to expansion (92,138).
The Crimson Tide softball team hosts Washington on April 21-22, with the series getting underway Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a 4:30 p.m. first pitch from Rhoades Stadium Saturday.
Public parking for A-Day is free and first-come/first-serve with Crimson Ride shuttles running from the east side of campus to the Quad beginning at 11 a.m. There will also be buses running from the University Mall, beginning three hours prior to the game (11 a.m.). For more parking, traffic and A-Day information go to UAGameday.com.
The USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championship are taking place on Friday and Saturday, and will cause Jack Warner Parkway to be closed from Crescent Ridge Road to the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Campus Drive is available as an alternate route.
Two lanes of University Boulevard are also closed for approximately one-half mile from the University Boulevard and Bryant Drive intersection west to the area near the University Boulevard and Second Avenue intersection, which will impact traffic flow Saturday.
With a large number of fans expected for Saturday's festivities, those attending should be aware of some road closures that could affect your mobility as you enter campus over the A-Day Weekend.
Just like last season, I-20/59 will have ongoing construction. In those areas, you will see reduced speeds as well as a potential for lane shifts. Fans are encouraged to use alternative routes to I-20/59 when possible.
For more parking, traffic and A-Day information go to UAGameday.com.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
Once again, Alabama's clear bag policy will be in affect during the 2017 season beginning with the A-Day Game. The clear bag policy is in the best interest of public safety and significantly expedites entry into Bryant-Denny Stadium. The policy limits the size and types of bags that may be brought into the stadium by fans.