13 Facts You Need to Know About A-Day

13 Facts You Need to Know About A-Day

April 21, 2017 Written by Cresandra Smothers 2 min read
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  1. A-Day grew out of UA’s field day activities in the 1930s. Originally, the day was set aside as a break from classes, when students participated in sporting competitions, like boxing, track and field events, baseball and even football.
  2. In the 1940s, field day evolved into A-Day in conjunction with Alumni Weekend, when UA graduates would return to campus for class reunions and an annual alumni dinner. One of the day’s events would be a spring training football game.
  3. The Walk of Fame began in 1948 when the first Crimson Tide football captains put their handprints in the cement around Denny Chimes on UA’s famous Quad.
  4. Since 1948, 180 permanent football team captains have participated in the handprint ceremony, which is one of UA’s richest traditions.
  5. At A-Day 2017 on Saturday, April 22, Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson and Cam Robinson will add their handprints to the Walk of Fame.
  6. Ken Stabler (1967) is the only Tide player to have his nickname on his slab in the Walk of Fame. His reads “KEN SNAKE STABLER.”
  7. A-Day is the end of the spring practice and is typically the 15th practice and the final practice game allowed by the NCAA for the season.
  8. The highest attendance of an A-Day game came in 2007, the first of the Nick Saban era, when 92,310 fans filled Bryant-Denny stadium.
  9. The 2016 A-Day game drew a crowd of 76,212.
  10. Since 2009, the A-Day game has been televised, either on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, CSS or SEC Network. In 2016, the game on ESPN earned higher ratings than six NHL playoff games televised by the network on the same weekend.
  11. While the A-Day game was once for UA alums, now all Tide fans enjoy the day. It is always free and offers a chance for everyone to see the Tide coaches and players take the field in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
  12. A-Day is a big recruiting day for Alabama Crimson Tide football. This weekend, many of the Tide’s top prospects will visit campus and get a small taste of the gameday atmosphere in Tuscaloosa.
  13. In 1985, UA players lined up against UA administrators and former players (including Ken Stabler and Ozzie Newsome) in an A-Day scrimmage game. Then UA president Joab Thomas ran the first play in the game, but was tackled by future pro linebacker Cornelius Bennett.

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