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AL.COM
03/02/2008 Competition highlights spring gameThe most impressive number associated with Alabama football since Nick Saban arrived 14 months ago is not one (signifying the national ranking of the Tide's most recent recruiting class) and it certainly isn't seven (the number of wins during the 2007 season).
The number that resonates nationally is 92,138. That's the number of fans who showed up at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Tide's first spring game under Saban.
Last year that turnout was worth a few mentions on SportsCenter and a lot of raised eyebrows from folks around the country who don't quite understand the passion for college football in this state. This year, it could mean $1 million for the program.
The University of Alabama is one of 18 schools signed on to participate in The Ultimate Fan Competition sponsored by Gridiron Bash. The idea is to parlay the excitement generated by college football into an elaborate pregame party that is both profitable for the organizers and beneficial for the schools.
The competition works like this: MSL Sports and Entertainment has set up concerts at colleges around the country (in Alabama's case the musical act will be country star Alan Jackson). The night before each team's spring game, the home team will host a pep rally/concert.
In Tuscaloosa, the event will take place Friday, April 11 and feature Saban, the introduction of the Tide players, the Alabama band and Jackson's performance at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Tickets go on sale Monday at www.gridrionbash.com and range in price from $39 to $56.
The competition part is based largely on the number of people who show up. Seventy percent of the competition will be determined by the Friday night attendance. The other 30 percent will be based on voting for which team has the best experience.
The school that receives the highest score will receive $1 million for its general scholarship fund. The school that finishes second will receive $500,000. Third place will earn $250,000.
While Alabama led the country in spring game attendance last year -- drawing the largest crowd in spring football history -- it wasn't by as large a margin as some might think. Ohio State had 75,000 after losing in the national championship game to Florida. Penn State had 71,000.
"We think we're going to be able to make this an event a lot like Midnight Madness is in basketball," said Shawn Garrity, president of MSL Sports and Entertainment. "This competition is about fans vs. fans. There's always an argument of who has the best fans. This will be the true argument. We hope to make this a college football tradition."
Other SEC teams participating include Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky and LSU. Others may still come on board, although Auburn will not be part of this year's competition, in part because of the Tigers' early spring game.
The results of the competition will be announced during a live broadcast on Fox Network.
"This is like tailgating but it's taking it to the next level," Garrity said. "Fans like to get involved with their teams and their schools. That's what this is all about."
Contact Sports Editor Randy Kennedy at:
rkennedy@press-register.com
251-219-5689.
His column appears on Sundays in the Press-Register.
