Tide gets physical in Tuesday practice

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WALA) - The Alabama football team practiced in full pads for two hours at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields on Tuesday as the Crimson Tide continued to prepare for its Southeastern Conference opener at Arkansas. The game is slated to air on CBS with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. CT.

“We know Arkansas is a great team,” said junior Nick Perry. “They have a great offense, and they are part of the SEC. We are taking this week day-by-day, practicing what we do. Most importantly for this game, we need to go out there and play our best. We are treating this like any other game.”

Alabama has posted a 54-21-3 (.712) on-the-field record in SEC openers dating back to the league’s inception in 1933. The Tide has won 20 straight conference openers, dating back to the 1992 season. The streak began with a 25-8 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 5, 1992. The 20-game winning streak includes 12 wins over Vanderbilt (1992-2001, 2006-07), five wins against Arkansas (2002, 2008-11) and one win against Kentucky (2003), Mississippi (2004) and South Carolina (2005). The 20-game winning streak in SEC openers is the longest streak in school history and the longest active streak in the SEC.

Alabama will have two additional practice sessions this week before traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday.

-- UA media services