(This story was edited to clarify some of the confusion over the ticket policy for this weekend.)
After coming out and suggesting those not interesting in staying for a full 60 minutes would be best suited to not come at all, it appears Alabama head coach Nick Saban‘s words have led to some changes starting this weekend for Alabama’s home game against Tennessee. Or it could just be coincidental timing.
“In some kind of way, everybody that chooses to go to the game should stay there and support the team for the game,” Saban said this week. “Maybe if you’re not interested in doing that, you should let someone else go who would really like to go because I have a lot of people who want to go.”
Message received, Saban. Alabama suspended the reserved block tickets for 20 student groups for this weekend’s game, according to a report by AL.com. Apparently it actually goes against the student seating handbook -- Yes, there is a student seating handbook for football attendance at Alabama -- to arrive excessively late or leave prematurely from football games. Saban took note of the lack of students in their seats during last weekend’s blowout win over Arkansas. To clarify, student tickets are not being taken away. Students will still have tickets, but seating will be on a free-for-all instead of reserved blocks for various student organizations.
Saban has a point. Alabama can make some premium bucks on those tickets from people who may be willing to stick around for more of a game, regardless of the score. Students have other activities going on to attend to on Saturday nights that often will be more enjoyable than a 52-point blowout in the fourth quarter. Saban knows that of course, but Saban needs to continue to sell his program to recruits. Perhaps Saban should realize that recruits will be more impressed by a 52-0 victory than what the students are doing.
