The days leading up to the start of what was supposed to be Alabamas first spring practice in March now appear charming.
Before the walls of the COVID-19 pandemic completely surrounded college sports, the most significant concerns surrounding the Tides 2020 season were more of the nitty-gritty, football range.
Spring practices, and the spring game, were canceled. Non-conference video games were scrapped and the start of a 10-game, conference-only season was pushed back to Sept. 26. Fall camp was postponed from its normal early August start until Monday.
As the thudding of pads soon resumes on the practice fields behind the Mal Moore athletic complex in Tuscaloosa, larger concerns eclipse the normal talking points leading up to the opening video game of the season.
Conversations with good friends, household and next-door neighbors that when began with, “Hey, how does Alabama look this year?” now are started by, “Hey, are we going to have football this year?”
With that in mind, here is a take a look at some of the macro-level questions facing Alabama football entering camp:
1) Well, will there be football this season? That is the SECs strategy, and it was difficult to miss how Tide athletics director Greg Byrne phrased it as a “goal” when speaking with reporters last week. “We have tried to continue to be versatile, be adjustable as things progress,” he said. “I believe were gon na continue to use that, require that, moving forward. I think right now we have a goal of September 26. Its been an extremely well thought-out strategy and well continue to relocate that instructions until were told that we cant.” Byrne, like SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, is bewaring to not over-promise and under-deliver. The cancellation of the Big Ten and Pac-12 fall seasons has actually already pushed the staying 3 Power 5 conferences to the verge. Not just could external elements with other conferences force the SEC to reassess its position, but the conference itself has actually put in location public-health conditions that would cancel games this season.
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2) When will the SEC release its schedule? That will come Monday. The conference will reveal its Week 1 challengers at 2 p.m. CT and after that put out the full schedule at 6 p.m. CT. Due to the fact that schedules in college football are typically figured out years beforehand, it is an uncommon opportunity for the league to use its tv network for an NFL-style schedule expose unique. Alabamas 10 challengers are currently set; they will play each SEC West school and cross-division rival Tennessee as usual. In addition, they will face previously-scheduled SEC East opponent Georgia (home) and 2 additional East schools, Missouri (road) and Kentucky (home). What is left to be identified are dates of those video games; there is no assurance the initial dates of games will stay the very same, consisting of for the Iron Bowl.
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3) Will fans be allowed Bryant-Denny Stadium? Once the SEC launches its schedule, Byrne stated last week the school will reveal its ticketing prepare for the 2020 season, which will consist of just 5 home games versus Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Auburn, Kentucky and Georgia. Byrne restated last week that capability will be “substantially lowered” in Bryant-Denny Stadium, which has actually gone through an offseason remodelling and must be finished in time for the postponed start.
4) Will every Alabama player participate this season? The school is establishing guidelines for how it will treat players who pick to opt out of the season. There is no due date for when players should decide to opt-out, so minds might in theory alter in between now and the start of the season.
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As far as surveys, the preseason coaches poll, which had Alabama ranked No. 3, was released prior to the Big Ten and Pac-12 cancellations.
Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat press reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.
Alabamas 10 opponents are currently set; they will play each SEC West school and cross-division competing Tennessee as typical. Once the SEC launches its schedule, Byrne said last week the school will expose its ticketing plans for the 2020 season, which will consist of only five house games versus Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Auburn, Kentucky and Georgia. 4) Will every Alabama player participate this season? There is no due date for when players should choose to opt-out, so minds could in theory alter between now and the start of the season.
As far as polls, the preseason coaches poll, which had Alabama ranked No. 3, was launched prior to the Big Ten and Pac-12 cancellations. The Associated Press preseason poll will be released next week and will have all teams thought about regardless of whether they are playing this fall. Then, subsequent polls will only think about groups playing this fall, with a separate poll accompanying any spring season. The very same logic will use to the APs All-America teams.
After fulfilling essentially last week in the wake of the Big Ten and Pac-12 cancellations, the committee released a declaration stating it was prepared to move forward this season. I believe theres been some very early conversations,” Byrne said last week. … I believe thats something where the conference and the cfp commissioners will have something to discuss in the coming weeks and months.”
