Although the Crimson Tide was coming off a season with three losses, including one to in-state rival Auburn, this year’s A-Day game saw a record 92,310 fans filling Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. Last year’s attendance was only 91,312, despite the Tide’s championship-winning season.
“[Going to the spring game] is just one of those things you have to do being an Alabama fan,” Becky Mayfield of Russellville, Ala., said. “Everybody supports Alabama regardless of what they do. It goes like this: win, lose or tie you’re a ‘Bama fan ‘til the day you die.”
Kim Savage and her sister Theresa Steadman of Northport had different thoughts on attendance for this year’s spring game.
“It’s a nice day, and we haven’t had a football game in about four months,” Savage said. “Between this year and last, I would think last year there would be more and this year it would be kind of [iffy].”
Theresa Steadman said she believed there would be more fans out for this year’s game compared to last.
“Last year all of the positions were secured. You knew who the quarterback was; you knew who the number one receiver was,” she said. “Now you don’t know if Sims or McCarron is going to be the guy.”
Many of the fans walking around the Capstone’s campus Saturday, especially alumni and prospective students, traveled from places outside of Tuscaloosa.
Jason Krug participated in A-Day festivities with his son Kyle. Krug is a graduate of the University and currently resides in Atlanta.
“It’s a great family thing for us to do,” Krug said. “Alabama is family. This is a good time to come to campus. It’s a great thing for the spring. It’s something for everyone to come here to see things and see the campus and see how much it’s changed.”
Accompanied by about 14 family members was alumnae Joyce Thomas-Vinson of Opelika, Ala.
“I love coming back to campus,” Thomas-Vinson said. “It always feels like I’m coming home. It just gives an opportunity to bring my kids and show them around campus. Alabama fans are Alabama fans win, lose or draw. I think there will be probably just as many people here today as there were last year and maybe even more because I think some people will be intrigued by the unveiling of the statue. The practice games give you a chance to see some of the players, some of whom you won’t get to see anymore. It’s a good experience; we look forward to it every year.”
D’Erius Kite, a high school student from Louisville, Ky., said he was eager to partake in the A-Day festivities.
“I’m a big Alabama fan and I was looking forward to seeing the team,” he said. “I would’ve thought more people would’ve come last year after winning the championship.”
According to the Capstone Report, this is the third time in five seasons the Tide has drawn more than 91,000 fans for an A-Day game. The UA crowd is ranked third in the history of the Southeastern Conference. Ohio State set the national record in 2009 when the Buckeyes’ attracted nearly 96,000 fans for their spring practice game.
