Alabama was just a few minutes away from a second straight national championship victory in January, but it just wasn’t meant to be. But the Crimson Tide are hungry to work their way back to the mountaintop behind Nick Saban and Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young, and fans can catch a glimpse at their progress during Saturday’s A-Day game in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Check out the following information to help you plan your day around the Crimson Tide’s annual spring game accordingly. And hey, it’s free again!
Have fun, be safe, and Roll Tide!
RELATED: Our favorite Alabama football fan photos 2021
BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM GATES OPEN: Noon
WALK OF FAME CEREMONY: Noon (at Denny Chimes)
WALK OF CHAMPIONS: 12:50 p.m.
KICKOFF: 2 p.m.
TICKETS: Free!
TV: ESPN+
JOHN MITCHELL & WILBUR JACKSON TRIBUTE
UA scheduled several events for The Integration of Alabama Football: A Celebration of John Mitchell and Wilbur Jackson for A-Day. Jackson became the Tide’s first Black scholarship football player in 1970, and Mitchell, in 1971, became the first Black player to appear in a game for the school.
Mitchell and Jackson will be recognized at Saturday’s Tide Pride luncheon before making their way to Bryant-Denny Stadium for a plaque unveiling ceremony at 12:30 p.m. The duo will also be honored on the field at halftime of the football game.
Commemorative posters featuring Mitchell and Jackson will be available throughout the perimeter of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Learn more about Mitchell and Jackson.
WALK OF FAME CEREMONY
The annual Walk of Fame Ceremony at Denny Chimes will take place at noon on A-Day, with Nick Saban. The 2021 captains include quarterback Bryce Young, outside linebacker Will Anderson, defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis and offensive tackle Evan Neal. The captains will then leave prints of their hands and cleats in the concrete as they join a long list of Crimson Tide greats.
The team will hold its traditional Walk of Champions, scheduled for 12:50 p.m., when it arrives at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Buses pull up at the Walk of Champions plaza where Nick Saban leads the team through the doors of the stadium, as adoring fans flank and cheer them as AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” blasts through the loudspeakers.
STADIUM INFORMATION
UA will have walk-through metal detectors at all gates of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama will also continue to enforce its clear bag policy in the interest of public safety and to significantly expedite entry into Bryant-Denny Stadium. The only non-clear plastic bag fans can bring into Bryant-Denny is a small clutch purse no larger than 4 1/2 inches-by-6 1/2 inches. If any larger, the bags must be clear and plastic. Fans can also bring in one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags, similar to Ziploc bags you buy at the grocery store. Learn more about the clear bag policy.
TICKETS
While Alabama charged $5 for admission for the 2021 A-Day, the annual spring game is once again free for fans. Roll Tide on that.
WEATHER
Friday: Sunny skies with a high near 82, followed by late rain and an overnight low around 63.
Saturday: Showers and a possible thunderstorm and a high near 73, followed by mostly cloudy skies with an overnight low around 57 and a 30 percent chance of rain.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy skies with a high near 73 and a chance of showers after 1 p.m., followed by more rain and a possible thunderstorm with an overnight low around 58.
-- The National Weather Service
PARKING / TRAFFIC
Public parking is available for free on the east side of campus. Parking lots open at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
Disability parking is located at the Campus Drive Disability Deck.
Free shuttle service from public parking is provided to and from the Quad. Shuttle service begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Shuttle service is not available from the Capstone Deck.
Pregame traffic: Construction on Interstate 20/59 is complete. There are now three lanes through exit 73, McFarland Blvd. Fans are encouraged to use the McFarland Boulevard route to campus.
Postgame traffic: Fans parked on the east side of campus are encouraged to use the McFarland Boulevard route. Fans parked on the west side of campus should utilize the Downtown/I-359 route.
A-Day RV parking is available in the Northeast RV Lot for $100. Entry time is 6 p.m. on Friday.
TAILGATING
Free tailgating is located on the west side of the Quad. Open tailgate spaces on the Quad may be claimed beginning Friday morning. Quad drop-off times: Saturday from 7-10 a.m.
Quad tailgate supply drop-off is located on Colonial Drive.
BRYANT MUSEUM HOURS
The Paul W. Bryant Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Members and children under age 5 are admitted free. Adults: $5; Children (K-12): $3; Free admission to University of Alabama faculty, staff and students. Learn more.
TUSKA PLAZA
Fans enjoyed their first season with Tuska in 2021, the new addition to the gameday experience that is a selfie-must. The University of Alabama recently relocated of a seven-ton, 19-foot elephant statue named Tuska to the corner of University Boulevard and Wallace Wade Avenue, where the Strip meets campus -- not far from near Bryant-Denny Stadium. The statue depicts the elephant looking skyward with his two front feet slightly off the ground and trunk fully extended.
TIDE SOFTBALL GAMES
The Alabama softball team will host Mississippi State at Rhoads Stadium this weekend. They play Friday at 6 p.m. and then Saturday at 4 p.m. Learn more.
Stay up to date before, during and after the game by following AL.com’s Michael Casagrande, Mike Rodak, aldotcomTide or aldotcomSports on Twitter.
You can also follow UAGameday on Twitter for constant updates about this weekend’s festivities.
LINKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
What to watch in Alabama’s A-Day spring game
Nick Saban previews Alabama’s A-Day game, asks for big crowd to send message
Nick Saban lauds courage of Wilbur Jackson and John Mitchell, to be honored at A-Day
Nick Saban proposes equal pay to Alabama players to avoid ‘caste system’
How Bryce Young views young Alabama WRs, dropped passes
What Nick Saban sees from backup Alabama QBs Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson
A few of the speedy options Alabama has returning kicks
Bryce Young: Transfer addition ‘really big’ for shorthanded Alabama offensive line
BAMMERS PODCAST
“Bammers,” the podcast from AL.com that takes you inside the minds of Alabama football fans, is now available to download on all platforms.
The show focuses on fans’ obsession with the Crimson Tide and the lengths at which they’ll go with their fandom. Guests include like Paul Finebaum, Tim Brando, Laura Rutledge, Marcus Spears, Cecil Hurt, Warren St. John, Conrad Thompson, John Parker Wilson and Alabama football fans across the world.
Episodes cover Sidewalk Alumni, The Shula Years, RV Culture, Women who Love Alabama Football, How Alabama Fans Cope with Losing, Obsessive Alabama Basketball Fans and much more.
Subscribe on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Sticher, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Listen to every episode!
MORE ALABAMA FAN PHOTOS!
Look back at our favorite pregame photos from the 2021 season.
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