Nov. 18, 2008

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After a two-day layoff, the No. 1 ranked University of Alabama football team returned to the practice field Tuesday afternoon for its first of three bye-week practices at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility.

The Crimson Tide will enjoy its second open date of the 2008 season this weekend before closing out the regular season next weekend against arch-rival Auburn on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.  The game will be nationally televised by CBS Sports with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. (CST).

The Crimson Tide practiced for two hours in helmets, shoulder pads and sweats on Tuesday.

Senior center Antoine Caldwell and junior cornerback/kick returner Javier Arenas both said the Tide had a good work day Tuesday and that the focus was on fundamentals and improving as a team.

“Today was a real good day and up tempo,” Caldwell said. “This week is going to be about getting us better. Just like the last bye week, working on fundamentals and getting us better out there, and that’s what we did a lot today. We worked on pass protection things, getting the timing down with the receivers and better protection for J.P. (senior quarterback John Parker Wilson).

“Practice is going well,” Arenas said. “We are going back to the basics during the bye week and working on the basic fundamentals and trying to improve.”

The Crimson Tide will hold two more bye-week practices Wednesday and Thursday before taking the weekend off.