Even as Alabama football makes big changes to the format of what A-Day looks like in the stadium, at least one tradition remains. The 2024 Crimson Tide captains, Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker, Deontae Lawson and Malachi Moore spoke to fans beneath Denny Chimes on Saturday, before capturing their hand and cleat-prints in concrete, during UA’s Walk of Fame ceremony.
The 2024 season wasn’t Alabama’s best. Head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season in charge ended at 9-4, with a loss in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Despite that, the captains praised DeBoer’s leadership after he took over for Nick Saban.
“Want to say thank you to coach DeBoer for just coming in and having the pride and self-confidence to follow up the greatest of all time,” Booker said. “I’m very excited to see what you do with the team for the rest of these years.”
Booker and the other captains were all holdovers from the Saban era. DeBoer and athletics director Greg Byrne have publicly credited the group for keeping much of the team together following Saban’s retirement.
Lawson is the lone returning captain for the 2025 season. He also praised DeBoer on Saturday.
“Big shoutout to coach DeBoer man,” Lawson said. “When he came in, me and these guys, we took everything he said and tried to (impart) it to our teammates. And the year didn’t go how we expected, but so excited to come back for another year and can’t wait to see you all in Bryant-Denny next year.”
Moore reiterated that the 2024 season disappointed the team. However, he also spoke positively of DeBoer’s future prospects in Tuscaloosa.
“Shoutout to coach DeBoer, for just coming in, and like T-Book said, having the courage to come in behind coach Saban,” Moore said. “And now he’s leaving his legacy and the program is definitely going in the right direction.”
Alabama is not holding a traditional spring game for A-Day as it has in years past. Instead of a game or scrimmage, the Crimson Tide is having an open practice at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which will be followed by an autograph session for paid members of its NIL collective.
A-Day will not be televised this season. However, admission at the stadium will be free.
The open practice is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa. Stadium gates are scheduled to open at 11 a.m. CT.
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