Alabama football to host fan day in 2023 for first time in four years
After a three-season hiatus, Alabama football's annual fan day will return on August 5.
The 2023 version will have a twist: only fans who pay to subscribe the school's NIL entity launched earlier this year, Yea Alabama, will be allowed on the field to get autographs from players and coaches, including Nick Saban.
Alabama did not hold a fan day in 2020, 2021 or 2022 as COVID and the advent of NIL shook the norms of college football. The event, last held in 2019, featured what was known as the "running of the gumps," or fans running onto the field after practice to earn prime spots for autographs. That will now be a ticketed event following a free, two-hour open practice Bryant-Denny Stadium that will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT.
"Field access for the autograph session will be granted to Yea Alabama members by showing an official digital Yea Alabama autograph session ticket that will be emailed in advance of the event," the school said in a release Monday. "Yea Alabama members are permitted to bring one child ages 12-and-under as their guest to the autograph session. All adults attending the autograph session will be required to present their official digital autograph session ticket. In an effort to facilitate as many autographs in the time allotted, Yea Alabama members will be limited to one item per person for autographs, and no posed photographs will be permitted."
Yea Alabama was established in February as a school-affiliated NIL collective, replacing the third-party High Tide Traditions that was created a year earlier. Fans pay a monthly membership fee and receive "exclusive content and event invitations" in return for funding the entity that pays players.
After a three-season hiatus, Alabama football's annual fan day will return on August 5.
The 2023 version will have a twist: only fans who pay to subscribe the school's NIL entity launched earlier this year, Yea Alabama, will be allowed on the field to get autographs from players and coaches, including Nick Saban.
Alabama did not hold a fan day in 2020, 2021 or 2022 as COVID and the advent of NIL shook the norms of college football. The event, last held in 2019, featured what was known as the "running of the gumps," or fans running onto the field after practice to earn prime spots for autographs. That will now be a ticketed event following a free, two-hour open practice Bryant-Denny Stadium that will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT.
"Field access for the autograph session will be granted to Yea Alabama members by showing an official digital Yea Alabama autograph session ticket that will be emailed in advance of the event," the school said in a release Monday. "Yea Alabama members are permitted to bring one child ages 12-and-under as their guest to the autograph session. All adults attending the autograph session will be required to present their official digital autograph session ticket. In an effort to facilitate as many autographs in the time allotted, Yea Alabama members will be limited to one item per person for autographs, and no posed photographs will be permitted."
Yea Alabama was established in February as a school-affiliated NIL collective, replacing the third-party High Tide Traditions that was created a year earlier. Fans pay a monthly membership fee and receive "exclusive content and event invitations" in return for funding the entity that pays players.
