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From Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game release
ATLANTA — For the first time in 28 years, Alabama and Miami will face off on the gridiron in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. An exact date, kick time and television network will be finalized at a later date.
The 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will mark the 18th time the Crimson Tide and the Hurricanes have faced each other, but the first meeting since 1993. Alabama holds a 14-3 advantage over Miami all-time. The two teams last met in the 1993 Sugar Bowl to conclude the 1992 season when (2) Alabama handed (1) Miami a 34-13 defeat to win the national championship. That game ended a 29-game Miami winning streak and gave the Crimson Tide its first national championship since 1979.
“It’s truly special when you can create a dream matchup like this featuring two of the biggest brands in college football,” said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. “The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game has been fortunate enough to attract some of college football’s most decorated programs. This matchup will certainly continue that tradition.”
“With two teams of this caliber playing for the first time in nearly three decades, it really is going to be an electric atmosphere and an epic celebration of college football here in Atlanta,” said Percy Vaughn, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl chairman.
Alabama will be making its record-seventh appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game. The Crimson Tide hold a 5-0 record in the event after a 24-7 victory against Florida State in this year’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and are set to open the 2019 season in Atlanta against Duke. The Crimson Tide’s 2021 appearance will continue the streak of SEC teams appearing in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game every year since its inaugural season in 2008.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to open another season in Atlanta for the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Our team and our fans have always enjoyed playing in Atlanta and Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a fantastic competitive environment,” said Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. “This event always has the feel of a bowl game and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl staff has made it a first-class event. We have a lot of respect for Coach Richt and the Miami program, and we look forward to a great game in 2021.”
“We look forward to returning to Atlanta for what will be Alabama’s seventh appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game,” said Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne. “As we experienced last weekend, the city of Atlanta coupled with the atmosphere of Mercedes-Benz Stadium makes for an incredible bowl-like event for both teams and fans, and we are honored to be a part of it.”
Miami will be making its debut in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and will be the ninth ACC team to make such an appearance. The Hurricanes return to Atlanta for the first time on a neutral field since their clash with LSU in the 2005 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
“The University of Miami has a proud football tradition and a history of matching up against the very best,” said Miami Director of Athletics Blake James. “We welcome the opportunity and the challenge in facing Alabama in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, and I know that it will be an amazing college football experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
“We are excited to kick off the 2021 season against Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Both teams have great tradition. We are looking forward to the battle,” said Miami Head Coach Mark Richt.
The 2021 matchup will mark the 13th ACC vs. SEC meeting in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game since 2008, with the SEC currently holding a 9-1 advantage over the ACC in those games.
The game averages 68,887 – higher than the attendance of 38 bowl games last year – and has an average total team payout of $5.18 million which is higher than 27 bowl games last year. Television viewership is also traditionally strong with more than 60 million viewers tuning in to the series since its inaugural series in 2008.
The teams will battle for The Old Leather Helmet Trophy, one of college football’s newest rivalry-style icons. Traditionally, winners of The Old Leather Helmet don the helmet on the field after the game, starting with the head coach and then rotating from player to player as the team celebrates its victory.
Past and Future Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game match-ups include:
Year:Match-Up:Winner:2008(9) Clemson vs. (24) AlabamaAlabama 34-102009(5) Alabama vs. (7) Virginia TechAlabama 34-242010(16) LSU vs. (18) North CarolinaLSU 30-242011(5) Boise State vs. (19) GeorgiaBoise State 35-212012(25) NC State vs. TennesseeTennessee 35-212012(14) Clemson vs. (24) AuburnClemson 26-192013(1) Alabama vs. Virginia TechAlabama 35-102014(18) Ole Miss vs. Boise StateOle Miss 35-132014(2) Alabama vs. West VirginiaAlabama 33-232015(25) Louisville vs. (6) AuburnAuburn 31-242016(18) Georgia vs. (22) North CarolinaGeorgia 33-242017Alabama vs. Florida State Alabama 24-72017Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee Tennessee 42-412018Washington vs. Auburn2019Alabama vs. Duke2020West Virginia vs. Florida State2021Alabama vs. Miami
2017-18 Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Schedule
From Alabama Athletics
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Alabama Announces 2017-18 Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Schedule
Tide opens SEC play with home game against Texas A&M on Dec. 30
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama will open the conference portion of its schedule in Coleman Coliseum against Texas A&M on Saturday, Dec. 30, as the Southeastern Conference unveiled the 2017-18 men's basketball composite league schedule on Thursday. Tip times along with TV selections will be released at a later date.
The Crimson Tide has 18 games on its league slate in addition to its 13-game non-conference schedule, which was announced in mid-July. Alabama’s conference slate will have mirror starts and finish with the Tide playing three of its first and last five games on the road. However, Alabama will have a stretch in the middle of league play where it will play five home games in a seven-game stretch.
The Tide’s home-and-home opponents for the upcoming season include Texas A&M (Dec. 30 in Tuscaloosa and March 3 in College Station, Texas), LSU (Jan. 13 in Baton Rouge, La., and Feb. 13 in Tuscaloosa), Auburn (Jan. 17 in Tuscaloosa and Feb. 21 in Auburn, Ala.), Mississippi State (Jan. 20 in Tuscaloosa and Feb. 6 in Starkville, Miss.) and Florida (Feb. 3 in Gainesville, Fla., and Feb. 27 in Tuscaloosa).
Along with its home-and-home contests, the Tide will have a home schedule which includes South Carolina (Jan. 9), Missouri (Jan. 31), Tennessee (Feb. 10) and Arkansas (Feb. 24).
Additional road games will consist of Vanderbilt (Jan. 2), Georgia (Jan. 6), Ole Miss (Jan. 23) and Kentucky (Feb. 17).
The SEC Tournament will be played west of the Mississippi River for the first time when the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., hosts the event from March 7‐11, 2018.
July 21 — Tide places four on Walter Camp Award watch list
Alabama led all schools with four players selected to the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Trophy it was announced Friday. The Walter Camp Trophy is given to the nations most outstanding college football player.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, running back Bo Scarbrough and defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick were four of the 40 players selected. In all, 30 schools and 10 conferences are represented on the list. Ohio State finished in second behind Alabama with three players selected.
The watchlist will be narrowed down to 10 semi-finalists in November with the winner to be announced on Dec. 7. Derrick Henry is the only Alabama player to earn the Walter Camp Trophy, earning the award in 2015.
July 20 — Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough on Doak Walker Award watch list
Alabama running backs Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough were two of the 61 running backs named to the Doak Walker Award’s watch list Thursday. The Doak Walker Award is given to the nation’s top running back.
Harris led Alabama in rushing last season with 1,037 yards on 146 carries, an average of 7.10 yards per carry. Scarbrough finished third on the team in rushing with 812 yards on 125 carries (6.5 ypc). Scarbrough also led all Alabama running backs with 11 touchdowns.
Derrick Henry was the last Alabama running back to win the Doak Walker Award, earning the honor in 2015. Trent Richardson also won the award in 2011.
July 19 — Jalen Hurts on Davey O'Brien Award watch list
Alabama sophomore Jalen Hurts was one of 30 quarterbacks placed on the preseason watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award presented to the nation’s top collegiate quarterback.
Last season, Hurts became the first true freshman quarterback to start at Alabama since 1984. He broke Alabama’s single-season touchdown record with a combined 36. Hurts earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors, passing for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He also rushed for 954 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns.
The 6-foot-2, 218-pound quarterback was named to the Maxwell Award watch list earlier this offseason.
July 19 — Nick Saban on Dodd Trophy watch list
Alabama head coach Nick Saban joined 18 other college football coaches on the preseason watch list for the Dodd Trophy. The award is presented to “the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s philosophy.”
Last season Saban led Alabama to a 14-1 record while helping coach the Tide to its third straight SEC title. Alabama nearly earned its second straight national title, falling to Clemson in the final seconds of the national championship game.
Saban won the Dodd Trophy in 2014 joining Bill Curry (1989) as the only Crimson Tide head coach to earn the honor.
July 17 — Shaun Dion Hamilton, Rashaan Evans named to Butkus Award watch list
Senior linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton and Rashaan Evans were two of the 51 linebackers named to the Butkus Award preseason watch list announced Monday morning. The two will look to follow in the footsteps of former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster who won the Butkus Award given to the nation’s top linebacker last season.
Hamilton finished fifth on the team last season despite missing the Crimson Tide’s final two games after tearing his ACL in the SEC Championship Game. The Montgomery, Ala., native finished the year with 64 tackles, nine for a loss, and led all Alabama linebackers with two interceptions.
Evans started in place of Hamilton while he was injured. The former five-star recruit finished played in 14 of Alabama’s 15 games last year, tallying 53 tackle, 4.5 for a loss, with four sacks. He was also named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
July 17 — Minkah Fitzpatrick named to Paul Hornung Award watch list
From Alabama Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama junior defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick has been named to the 2017 Paul Hornung Award Watch List announced today by the Louisville Sports Commission.
Fitzpatrick is among 46 players from around the country named to the preseason list. The watch list is the sixth for Fitzpatrick this preseason. He has also been named to lists for the Maxwell, Bednarik and Thorpe awards and the Lott IMPACT and Nagurski trophies. In addition to the watch list honors, Fitzpatrick is also a nominee for the American Football Coaches Association’s Good Works Team.
The leader of the Crimson Tide secondary, Fitzpatrick made the move to safety midway through the season in 2016 and will once again direct the Tide secondary in 2017. He has returned four interceptions for touchdowns during his career to set the Alabama all-time mark for pick-sixes. The Old Bridge, N.J., native was a first team All-American by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Pro Football Focus in 2016 and earned second-team honors from Walter Camp and The Sporting News. He led the team in interceptions (6) and interception return yards (186) as a sophomore and his 186 return yards ranked near the top nationally while his six picks tied for seventh in the FBS.
The Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville (Ky.) Sports Commission, and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award Banquet in Louisville on March 8, 2018.
July 15 - Freshman WR Jerry Jeudy shows off workout routine
Freshman wide receiver Jerry Jeudy took to social media on Saturday to show off his work ethic and workout routine. Jeudy was named the MVP of the A-Day game last April.
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