Nick Saban, Minkah Fitzpatrick discuss the gravity of Alabama’s Atlanta opener vs. FSU
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Just how big is Alabama’s season-opening game in Atlanta against Florida State? The Labor Day weekend event may very well be the most nationally anticipated season opener in the history of college football.
According to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, never in the 81-year history of the AP Poll have the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked preseason teams met in the season opener. While that scenario isn’t a guarantee to happen, as the 2017 edition of the poll has yet to be released, it appears to be very much in play leading up to the game.
While Alabama has made it an annual tradition to open the season against a quality opponent on a neutral field — USC, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Michigan all faced the Crimson Tide to start the last five seasons — none of the previous games have been against an opponent rated as high as the Seminoles project to land in the initial polls. Also factoring into the uniqueness of this game is the fact it will be college football’s first game in Atlanta’s new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Dodd recently traveled to Tuscaloosa to discuss Alabama’s showdown against Florida State and the gravity of the game has not been overlooked by the best coach in college football. Here’s Saban’s response when asked about his upcoming opponent.
“They have to be No. 1 in my opinion,” Nick Saban admitted. “The consequence of the game is you really find out where your team is. Even if you lose, I think it really helps your prepare for the difficult games you have in the conference down the road.”
Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, arguably Alabama’s best defender following the program’s annual defection of elite talent to the NFL, agrees with his coach. The junior went so far as to call the game the biggest regular season game of the upcoming season for the Crimson Tide.
“This is probably going to be — if not the biggest — one of the biggest games for us besides the playoffs and championships,” Fitzpatrick said.
The Tide are currently the betting favorite to win the game, as Alabama is listed as a 6.5-point favorite according to 5Dimes. The two teams face off Sept. 2, at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC. Leading up to the game, ESPN College GameDay will be on location in Atlanta for the massive season opener.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
