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Football Kicks off Fall Camp with Split Practice
Crimson Tide holds first practice of the 2011
fall season on Friday
TUSCALOOSA,
Ala. - The Alabama football team began its 2011 fall training slate
with a split practice at the Drew-Thomas Practice Facility on Friday
morning.
"We are certainly excited about getting started and having our team
back here," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. "The outcome of this
season is going to be created by what our players do. What we do, not
what we can do, is what it is all going to come down to. Everyone will
benefit from the team's success, but every individual will be
responsible for what they are supposed to do. That will help develop
the team chemistry, the team attitude and the team success."
The first of 29 practice sessions before the season opener on September
3 opened at 9:30 a.m. Friday with a two-hour workout that included
mostly veterans in shorts and helmets. The remaining members of the
team will meet for a two-hour practice that is scheduled to begin at
7:30 p.m.
"I think today's practice went pretty good," senior nose guard Josh
Chapman said. "Guys came out hard for the first day, and I have seen a
lot of improvement on the line, now and throughout the summer. We try
to work hard and be the best defensive line we can be."
Chapman, a preseason first-team All-SEC selection, is one of 10
returning starters on the Alabama defense. Among those returnees
anchoring the Crimson Tide defense are All-American safeties Mark
Barron and Robert Lester along with preseason All-SEC linebackers
Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw.
Alabama will hold its first combined practice of 2011 on Saturday. The
veterans and newcomers are slated to work out together at 2:30 p.m. at
the Drew-Thomas Practice Facility.
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