Alabama Football: Spring practice workouts began Friday

It is confusing but Alabama football spring practice began on July 24.

Alabama football went back to a real practice on July 24. The last time the team and coaching staff had worked together was Dec. 31, leading up to the Capital One Bowl.

In this case ‘real practice’ does not mean hitting. It does mean players and coaches together on the field with allowed use of footballs. There are several restrictions in the NCAA allowed period of July 24 – Aug 6. Players are not allowed to practice more than 20 hours a week. Walk-throughs with footballs are limited to six hours per week, as are team meetings. Additional conditioning and weight training cannot exceed eight hours a week. At least two off-days must be included in the time frame referenced above.

What may seem to some as small steps can lead to more assurance about starting the season. In a normal summer, fall camp would begin on Aug. 7. That start date is tied to an opening game in week one. Officially, the Crimson Tide does not have a week one game. One may be added or the season may start later.

A later start would require adjustment in fall camp restrictions. The norm is a maximum of 25 fall camp practices and scrimmages. A later start might mean more fall camp sessions. Assuming fall camp immediately follows the current practice regimen, the normally mandated five days of acclimatization appear unnecessary. What began on Friday is what the Crimson Tide would have begun last spring.

Alabama football fans anxiously await player news whenever practices occur. Most sessions allow for a brief media-viewing period. A media viewing period is not yet being provided. All of us will have to rely on whatever Nick Saban decides to share with the public.

The SEC is still evaluating what the regular-season will become. Before the end of July, Commissioner Greg Sankey is expected to provide substantive information. The most recent development among the Power Fives is the Pac 12 deciding to play a 10-game, conference-only schedule.

Reported by the Mercury News, the Pac 12 will schedule 10 games in a 14-week window, with opening games on Sept. 19. The revised schedule is expected to be released within a few days. The Pac 12 decision is similar to the one-plus model discussed for the SEC. The difference being Pac 12 teams already play a nine-game conference schedule.

The SEC is fighting hard for a nearly normal regular season. Plugging in extra open weeks when games could be re-scheduled (as the Pac 12 is doing) makes sense.

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