A-Day is an annual college football exhibition game set at the conclusion of spring practice by the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Played on-campus at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the game features teams composed of offensive starters against defensive starters of the Crimson Tide. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules allow for member schools to conduct a series of fifteen practice sessions during the spring months. [1] As part of these practices the NCAA allows three 11-on-11 scrimmages, one of which may be conducted as a spring game. [1]
Prior to the game, the captains from the previous seasons' team are honored at the annual "Walk of Fame" ceremony at the base of Denny Chimes. [2] In addition to this ceremony, several other memorable events have occurred as part of the annual A-Day festivities. The 1967 edition of the game saw Dock Rone and Andrew Pernell participate and become the first African American players to play at Denny Stadium as members of the Crimson Tide football team. [3] At halftime of the 1976 game, Denny Stadium was officially rededicated as Bryant–Denny Stadium in honor of then head coach Bear Bryant. [2] The 1985 edition of the A-Day game featured a White team of current, varsity starters against a Crimson team of former Alabama players such as Ken Stabler and Ozzie Newsome. [4]
Since the arrival of head coach Nick Saban in 2007, A-Day has become a major event. The 2007 game saw an overflow crowd of 92,138 in attendance and served as the catalyst for other programs to make their spring game a larger event. [5] [6] The growth of A-Day has resulted in its being televised nationally by ESPN first in 2009 and again in subsequent years in addition to being utilized to enhance recruiting. [6] [7]
Originally, the A-Day game was called the Spring Training Football Game and was played on Alumni Day. Alumni Day was a day devoted to alumni and typically consisted of coffees, luncheons, tours, the football game, and an alumni dinner. Recently, there has been an alumni flag football game inside the Bryant-Denny Stadium preceding the A-Day game.
W | White team win |
C | Crimson team win |
T | Tie |
Season [A 1] | Score [A 2] | Date | MVP [A 3] | Attendance [8] | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1946 | W 18–6 | March 30, 1946 | — | 24,000 [A 4] | [10] |
1947 | C 13–7 | March 15, 1947 | — | 12,000 | [13] |
1948 | W 20–7 | March 13, 1948 | — | 12,000 | [14] |
1949 | C 14–0 | March 12, 1949 | — | 10,000 | [15] |
1950 | W 12–0 | March 11, 1950 | — | 10,000 | [16] |
1951 | W 22–7 | March 9, 1951 | — | 15,000 | [17] |
1952 | C 41–26 | March 8, 1952 | — | — | [18] |
1953 | W 13–6 | March 14, 1953 | — | 7,500 | [19] |
1954 | W 20–13 | March 20, 1954 [A 5] | — | 4,000 | [21] |
1955 | C 12–7 | March 12, 1955 | — | — | [22] |
1956 | W 26–0 | March 10, 1956 | — | — | [23] |
1957 | C 21–0 | March 9, 1957 | — | — | [24] |
1958 | W 13–0 | April 26, 1958 | — | — | [25] |
1959 | C 14–3 | April 11, 1959 | — | 15,000 | [26] |
1960 | C 38–0 | April 30, 1960 | — | — | [27] |
1961 | C 17–7 | April 22, 1961 | — | — | [28] |
1962 | W 15–14 | May 19, 1962 | — | — | [29] |
1963 | W 17–6 | May 11, 1963 | — | 14,000 | [30] |
1964 | C 17–6 | May 8, 1964 | — | 14,500 | [31] |
1965 | C 67–36 | May 8, 1965 | — | 13,000 | [32] |
1966 | C 17–15 | April 23, 1966 | — | 15,000 | [33] |
1967 | C 13–3 | May 5, 1967 | — | 15,000 | [34] |
1968 | W 17–7 | May 4, 1968 | — | 12,000 | [35] |
1969 | W 27–25 | May 10, 1969 | — | 17,000 | [36] |
1970 | W 40–39 | April 18, 1970 | — | 17,000 | [37] |
1971 | W 21–15 | May 1, 1971 | Steve Dean | 15,000 | [38] |
1972 | W 24–7 | April 22, 1972 | Wayne Wheeler | 20,000 | [39] |
1973 | W 21–16 | April 21, 1973 | Mike Washington | 5,000 | [40] |
1974 | C 17–14 | April 20, 1974 | Conley Duncan | 15,000 | [41] |
1975 | C 21–13 | April 12, 1975 | Johnny Davis | 15,000 | [42] |
1976 | C 14–11 | April 10, 1976 | Ozzie Newsome | 10,000 | [43] |
1977 | W 27–23 | April 16, 1977 | Tony Nathan | 10,000 | [44] |
1978 | T 7–7 | April 22, 1978 | Keith Pugh | 7,000 | [45] |
1979 | W 21–0 | April 14, 1979 | Alan Gray | 7,500 | [46] |
1980 | W 16–14 | April 12, 1980 | Johnny Brooker | 8,000 | [47] |
1981 | C 31–13 | April 11, 1981 | Ken Simon | 8,500 | [48] |
1982 | W 17–0 | April 17, 1982 | Walter Lewis | 11,500 | [49] |
1983 | W 14–11 | April 16, 1983 | Jon Hand | 16,000 | [50] |
1984 | W 7–3 | April 14, 1984 | Brent Sowell | 16,000 | [51] |
1985 | W 20–7 | April 20, 1985 | Don McClain | 28,000 | [4] |
1986 | W 20–0 | April 19, 1986 | Angelo Stafford | 20,435 | [52] |
1987 | W 20–10 | April 25, 1987 | Kerry Goode | 32,000 [A 4] | [11] |
1988 | W 28–16 | April 9, 1988 | Vince Sutton | 51,117 [A 4] | [12] |
1989 | C 28–14 | April 8, 1989 | Jeff Dunn | 16,500 | [53] |
1990 | W 42–12 | April 21, 1990 | Danny Woodson | 12,500 | [54] |
1992 | C 13–7 | April 11, 1992 | Jeremy Nunley | 35,016 | [55] |
1993 | C 27–19 | April 17, 1993 | Brian Burgdorf | 30,000 | [56] |
1994 | C 17–6 | April 16, 1994 | Brian Steger | 46,700 | [57] |
1995 | W 16–10 | April 15, 1995 | Toderick Malone | 37,323 | [58] |
1997 | W 9–5 | April 19, 1997 | Michael Vaughn | 30,212 | [59] |
1998 | W 65–24 | April 18, 1998 | Montoya Madden | 8,968 | [60] |
1999 | W 23–10 | April 17, 1999 | Jason McAddley | 32,500 | [61] |
2000 | C 17–12 | April 15, 2000 | Ahmaad Galloway | 25,355 | [62] |
2001 | C 10–7 | April 14, 2001 | Jonathan Richey | 35,000 | [63] |
2002 | C 20–6 | April 13, 2002 | Ahmaad Galloway | 37,000 | [64] |
2003 | C 47–0 | March 29, 2003 | Brodie Croyle | 34,000 | [65] |
2004 | W 21–0 | March 19, 2004 | Tim Castille | 35,000 | [66] |
2005 | W 20–18 | March 19, 2005 | John Parker Wilson | 25,000 | [67] |
2006 | W 17–3 | April 1, 2006 | D. J. Hall | 40,000 | [68] |
2007 | W 20–13 | April 21, 2007 | D. J. Hall | 92,138 | [5] |
2008 | C 24–14 | April 12, 2008 | Terry Grant | 78,200 | [69] |
2009 | C 14–7 | April 18, 2009 |
Marquis Maze Greg McElroy |
84,050 | [70] |
2010 | W 23–17 | April 17, 2010 | Mark Ingram, Jr. | 91,312 | [71] |
2011 | C 14–10 | April 16, 2011 | Trent Richardson | 92,310 | [72] |
2012 | W 24–15 | April 14, 2012 | T. J. Yeldon | 78,526 | [73] |
2013 | W 17–14 | April 20, 2013 | T. J. Yeldon | 78,315 | [74] |
2014 | W 17–13 | April 19, 2014 | T. J. Yeldon | 73,506 | [75] |
2015 | W 27–14 | April 18, 2015 |
Robert Foster ArDarius Stewart |
65,175 | [76] |
2016 | W 7–3 | April 16, 2016 | Damien Harris | 76,212 | [77] |
2017 | C 27–24 | April 22, 2017 | Jerry Jeudy | 74,326 | [78] |
2018 | C 24–12 | April 21, 2018 |
Mac Jones Joseph Bulovas |
74,732 | [79] |
2019 | W 31–17 | April 13, 2019 | John Metchie III | 62,219 | [80] |
2021 | W 13–10 | April 17, 2021 | Bryce Young | 47,218 | [81] |
2022 | W 25–7 | April 16, 2022 | Jahmyr Gibbs | 31,077 | [82] |
2023 | C 30–21 | April 22, 2023 | Malachi Moore | 58,710 | [83] |
2024 | April 13, 2024 |
A-Day is an annual college football exhibition game set at the conclusion of spring practice by the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Played on-campus at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the game features teams composed of offensive starters against defensive starters of the Crimson Tide. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules allow for member schools to conduct a series of fifteen practice sessions during the spring months. [1] As part of these practices the NCAA allows three 11-on-11 scrimmages, one of which may be conducted as a spring game. [1]
Prior to the game, the captains from the previous seasons' team are honored at the annual "Walk of Fame" ceremony at the base of Denny Chimes. [2] In addition to this ceremony, several other memorable events have occurred as part of the annual A-Day festivities. The 1967 edition of the game saw Dock Rone and Andrew Pernell participate and become the first African American players to play at Denny Stadium as members of the Crimson Tide football team. [3] At halftime of the 1976 game, Denny Stadium was officially rededicated as Bryant–Denny Stadium in honor of then head coach Bear Bryant. [2] The 1985 edition of the A-Day game featured a White team of current, varsity starters against a Crimson team of former Alabama players such as Ken Stabler and Ozzie Newsome. [4]
Since the arrival of head coach Nick Saban in 2007, A-Day has become a major event. The 2007 game saw an overflow crowd of 92,138 in attendance and served as the catalyst for other programs to make their spring game a larger event. [5] [6] The growth of A-Day has resulted in its being televised nationally by ESPN first in 2009 and again in subsequent years in addition to being utilized to enhance recruiting. [6] [7]
Originally, the A-Day game was called the Spring Training Football Game and was played on Alumni Day. Alumni Day was a day devoted to alumni and typically consisted of coffees, luncheons, tours, the football game, and an alumni dinner. Recently, there has been an alumni flag football game inside the Bryant-Denny Stadium preceding the A-Day game.
W | White team win |
C | Crimson team win |
T | Tie |
Season [A 1] | Score [A 2] | Date | MVP [A 3] | Attendance [8] | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1946 | W 18–6 | March 30, 1946 | — | 24,000 [A 4] | [10] |
1947 | C 13–7 | March 15, 1947 | — | 12,000 | [13] |
1948 | W 20–7 | March 13, 1948 | — | 12,000 | [14] |
1949 | C 14–0 | March 12, 1949 | — | 10,000 | [15] |
1950 | W 12–0 | March 11, 1950 | — | 10,000 | [16] |
1951 | W 22–7 | March 9, 1951 | — | 15,000 | [17] |
1952 | C 41–26 | March 8, 1952 | — | — | [18] |
1953 | W 13–6 | March 14, 1953 | — | 7,500 | [19] |
1954 | W 20–13 | March 20, 1954 [A 5] | — | 4,000 | [21] |
1955 | C 12–7 | March 12, 1955 | — | — | [22] |
1956 | W 26–0 | March 10, 1956 | — | — | [23] |
1957 | C 21–0 | March 9, 1957 | — | — | [24] |
1958 | W 13–0 | April 26, 1958 | — | — | [25] |
1959 | C 14–3 | April 11, 1959 | — | 15,000 | [26] |
1960 | C 38–0 | April 30, 1960 | — | — | [27] |
1961 | C 17–7 | April 22, 1961 | — | — | [28] |
1962 | W 15–14 | May 19, 1962 | — | — | [29] |
1963 | W 17–6 | May 11, 1963 | — | 14,000 | [30] |
1964 | C 17–6 | May 8, 1964 | — | 14,500 | [31] |
1965 | C 67–36 | May 8, 1965 | — | 13,000 | [32] |
1966 | C 17–15 | April 23, 1966 | — | 15,000 | [33] |
1967 | C 13–3 | May 5, 1967 | — | 15,000 | [34] |
1968 | W 17–7 | May 4, 1968 | — | 12,000 | [35] |
1969 | W 27–25 | May 10, 1969 | — | 17,000 | [36] |
1970 | W 40–39 | April 18, 1970 | — | 17,000 | [37] |
1971 | W 21–15 | May 1, 1971 | Steve Dean | 15,000 | [38] |
1972 | W 24–7 | April 22, 1972 | Wayne Wheeler | 20,000 | [39] |
1973 | W 21–16 | April 21, 1973 | Mike Washington | 5,000 | [40] |
1974 | C 17–14 | April 20, 1974 | Conley Duncan | 15,000 | [41] |
1975 | C 21–13 | April 12, 1975 | Johnny Davis | 15,000 | [42] |
1976 | C 14–11 | April 10, 1976 | Ozzie Newsome | 10,000 | [43] |
1977 | W 27–23 | April 16, 1977 | Tony Nathan | 10,000 | [44] |
1978 | T 7–7 | April 22, 1978 | Keith Pugh | 7,000 | [45] |
1979 | W 21–0 | April 14, 1979 | Alan Gray | 7,500 | [46] |
1980 | W 16–14 | April 12, 1980 | Johnny Brooker | 8,000 | [47] |
1981 | C 31–13 | April 11, 1981 | Ken Simon | 8,500 | [48] |
1982 | W 17–0 | April 17, 1982 | Walter Lewis | 11,500 | [49] |
1983 | W 14–11 | April 16, 1983 | Jon Hand | 16,000 | [50] |
1984 | W 7–3 | April 14, 1984 | Brent Sowell | 16,000 | [51] |
1985 | W 20–7 | April 20, 1985 | Don McClain | 28,000 | [4] |
1986 | W 20–0 | April 19, 1986 | Angelo Stafford | 20,435 | [52] |
1987 | W 20–10 | April 25, 1987 | Kerry Goode | 32,000 [A 4] | [11] |
1988 | W 28–16 | April 9, 1988 | Vince Sutton | 51,117 [A 4] | [12] |
1989 | C 28–14 | April 8, 1989 | Jeff Dunn | 16,500 | [53] |
1990 | W 42–12 | April 21, 1990 | Danny Woodson | 12,500 | [54] |
1992 | C 13–7 | April 11, 1992 | Jeremy Nunley | 35,016 | [55] |
1993 | C 27–19 | April 17, 1993 | Brian Burgdorf | 30,000 | [56] |
1994 | C 17–6 | April 16, 1994 | Brian Steger | 46,700 | [57] |
1995 | W 16–10 | April 15, 1995 | Toderick Malone | 37,323 | [58] |
1997 | W 9–5 | April 19, 1997 | Michael Vaughn | 30,212 | [59] |
1998 | W 65–24 | April 18, 1998 | Montoya Madden | 8,968 | [60] |
1999 | W 23–10 | April 17, 1999 | Jason McAddley | 32,500 | [61] |
2000 | C 17–12 | April 15, 2000 | Ahmaad Galloway | 25,355 | [62] |
2001 | C 10–7 | April 14, 2001 | Jonathan Richey | 35,000 | [63] |
2002 | C 20–6 | April 13, 2002 | Ahmaad Galloway | 37,000 | [64] |
2003 | C 47–0 | March 29, 2003 | Brodie Croyle | 34,000 | [65] |
2004 | W 21–0 | March 19, 2004 | Tim Castille | 35,000 | [66] |
2005 | W 20–18 | March 19, 2005 | John Parker Wilson | 25,000 | [67] |
2006 | W 17–3 | April 1, 2006 | D. J. Hall | 40,000 | [68] |
2007 | W 20–13 | April 21, 2007 | D. J. Hall | 92,138 | [5] |
2008 | C 24–14 | April 12, 2008 | Terry Grant | 78,200 | [69] |
2009 | C 14–7 | April 18, 2009 |
Marquis Maze Greg McElroy |
84,050 | [70] |
2010 | W 23–17 | April 17, 2010 | Mark Ingram, Jr. | 91,312 | [71] |
2011 | C 14–10 | April 16, 2011 | Trent Richardson | 92,310 | [72] |
2012 | W 24–15 | April 14, 2012 | T. J. Yeldon | 78,526 | [73] |
2013 | W 17–14 | April 20, 2013 | T. J. Yeldon | 78,315 | [74] |
2014 | W 17–13 | April 19, 2014 | T. J. Yeldon | 73,506 | [75] |
2015 | W 27–14 | April 18, 2015 |
Robert Foster ArDarius Stewart |
65,175 | [76] |
2016 | W 7–3 | April 16, 2016 | Damien Harris | 76,212 | [77] |
2017 | C 27–24 | April 22, 2017 | Jerry Jeudy | 74,326 | [78] |
2018 | C 24–12 | April 21, 2018 |
Mac Jones Joseph Bulovas |
74,732 | [79] |
2019 | W 31–17 | April 13, 2019 | John Metchie III | 62,219 | [80] |
2021 | W 13–10 | April 17, 2021 | Bryce Young | 47,218 | [81] |
2022 | W 25–7 | April 16, 2022 | Jahmyr Gibbs | 31,077 | [82] |
2023 | C 30–21 | April 22, 2023 | Malachi Moore | 58,710 | [83] |
2024 | April 13, 2024 |