TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama football team practiced as a complete unit for the first time for two hours in shorts and helmets Saturday afternoon at the Drew-Thomas Practice Facility after a split session Friday to open camp.
Alabama enters the season ranked second in the USA Today Preseason Coaches’ Poll after capturing the program’s 14th National Championship — the second in the last three years — in 2011. However, the 2012 team is a new unit who is determined to establish an identity.
“The first practice as a complete team is an exciting day,” Alabama senior linebacker Nico Johnson said. “We get to establish our identity again, and that is something that is very import to us. This is a different team than last year, so we have to get out on the practice field and figure out who this team is.”
On Friday, Alabama kicked off the preseason with a split practice at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields.
“It was great to get started today,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “I was really pleased with the team chemistry and attitude of this group of players that we have. We had very good summer offseason work. We’re going to have a lot of young players and a lot of opportunities for those players to play and have a role on the team. How well they learn and mature as players is going to be the key to how quickly this team develops.”
The first of 28 practice sessions before the season opener Sept. 1 began at 9:30 a.m. Friday with a two-hour workout that included mostly veterans in shorts and helmets. The remaining members of the team met for a two-hour practice in the evening.
“I felt like overall it was a good practice,” quarterback AJ McCarron said. “Everybody practiced hard, and we didn’t have a lot of subs so a lot of guys got a lot of reps. We kept the energy up on offense, which is going to be key for us this year. This was a good first day.”
The offense enters the 2012 season with six returning starters, including McCarron, who was named Offensive MVP of the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game. In addition, the Crimson Tide boasts a veteran line up front with Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones, Chance Warmack, D.J. Fluker, and Anthony Steen.
Alabama’s annual Fan Day will take place from 2:30-4:30 p.m. today at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Fan Day will start with an open practice. Following practice, student-athletes and coaches will be available on the field for a 45-minute autograph session. Fans cab enter the stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m. at gates 11 and 17.
Alabama will open the season Sept. 1 against the University of Michigan at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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