Steak and beans dinner among Alabama traditions veteran players want to see continue
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the last 17 years, the winners of Alabama’s annual A-Day Game get to enjoy a steak dinner while their teammates on the losing end eat beans and weenies.
Tyler Booker is 1-1 in spring games during his career and is “trying to get that steak” when the Crimson Tide caps its 15-practice spring on Saturday, April 13 (3 p.m. CT on ESPN). That is a tradition Booker and Alabama’s leaders wanted to keep after the coaching change.
“Coach (Kalen) DeBoer alluded to it, so we’ll see,” said Booker after Tuesday’s 13 practice of the spring. “But that’s one of those traditions that we’ve gotta keep. So if he isn’t already thinking about it, I’ll make sure he’s thinking about it tonight.”
Since being hired at Alabama on Jan. 12, DeBoer has leaned on and listened to the input from Booker and some of the other Crimson Tide veteran players. The post-spring game meal is one of many traditions the program has that its returning players want to see continue.
Four days before the spring game, Booker detailed some of the leaders’ other requests.
“Fourth Quarter means the world to us. It’s a right of passage,” Booker said. “So Fourth Quarter, suits before the game, just little things like that. We were talking about how we go to the movies every Friday night whenever we have a late game. So little things like that, traditions that we wanna keep.”
Saturday will be the public’s first look at Alabama under DeBoer, and though the format of the scrimmage hasn’t been announced, Booker thinks the Tide’s approach will be the same.
“I’m expecting us to play Alabama football on Saturday,” Booker said. “We’ve got the same standard. Same script A in the middle of the field. Same script A is on our chest. We’re gonna play Alabama football. The head coach might look a little different and the play-callers might look a little different, but the same hard-nosed Alabama football will played.
“I’m very excited to see how many fans come out. I had pretty good attendance my past two A-Days, but I think this will be one of the biggest and I’m very excited to see all of the fans this weekend.”
Under Nick Saban, Bryant-Denny Stadium was typically packed on A-Day. Three times in his tenure more than 90,000 fans watched the Crimson Tide’s final practice of the spring.
With this being the first A-Day Game for DeBoer, Alabama’s players expect a big crowd.
“Flights are crazy right now,” Booker said. “I tried to get (my family) to get flights as early as possible. Just knowing that there’s going to be a lot of people here means a lot. Just having that support from the fans is what makes Alabama Alabama. We have one of the best fanbases in all of sports, worldwide. So I’m very excited to see everybody this weekend.”
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