Alabama’s pregame warmup produced the kind of clip that travels fast for all the wrong reasons.
Before No. 13 Alabama faced East Carolina, one staff member took a brutal shot during pad drills and got knocked backward onto his back.
The video shows an Alabama player driving forward to make contact, and the staffer getting blasted off his feet. The player quickly went over to check on him, and the man got right back up and continued with the drills.
It was the sort of moment that left fans split between laughing, roasting the setup, and pointing out that the staffer probably needed more protection. One user on X wrote, “At least give him a helmet.
Talk about CTE,” while another said, “Football guy, for the love of the game in the sec where it just means more,” A third added, “Difference between a D1 athlete and the average fit male,” and another wrote, “Needs cleats and a weighted vest. When I first got to the Eagles, Stoutland had myself and others holding bags like this and yelling “full metal jacket” when the OL was going too easy on us.”
One more post summed it up this way: “‘How did you get CTE, you didn’t play football?’ ‘I held the blocking pad at Bama’”
The clip also served as a reminder of just how much force college football players can generate, even in a practice setting.
On the field, Alabama looked every bit the part of the heavy favorite. The Crimson Tide led 38-7 at halftime, with touchdowns from EJ Crowell, Daniel Hill, Yhonzae Pierre and Keelon Russell.
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Alabama's Opener Exposed Two Concerns Fans Can't Ignore
Alabama opened the 2026 season with a win over East Carolina, giving Kalen DeBoer a clean start to his third year on the sideline, but the game still offered an early read on where this team stands. Sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell made his first career start and looked composed enough to settle things down, using his athleticism to help keep the offense moving, while Ryan Coleman-Williams provided a real vertical threat with more than 100 receiving yards.
Even so, the Tide left with a few reminders that September can be revealing in ways a final score does not fully show. The defense looked more ready for SEC-level football than the offense did, and the issues up front on the offensive line were hard to miss as Alabama tried to sort out protection and consistency. Coleman-Williams big day also came with some costly drops, leaving the passing game with both promise and proof that there is still cleanup work to do before the schedule stiffens. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's Young Offense Has One More Thing To Prove In Second Half
At halftime, Alabama has more than enough cushion against East Carolina, but the game has still offered a useful snapshot of where this young offense is growing and where it still needs work. The ground game has carried the day, the offensive line has given freshman quarterback Keelon Russell a clean pocket, and the defense has mostly done its job against the run while helping the Tide build a 38-7 lead.
The next step is a familiar one for Alabamas offense: making life easier on Russell by creating more separation on the outside and turning good protection into cleaner, quicker answers downfield. The defense has been sturdy in the trenches, but it has also shown a willingness to give up explosive plays when communication slips, which is the sort of detail that can matter more against better competition than it has in a lopsided first half here. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces A Familiar Worry With Its Most Explosive Receiver
The opening game of the season brought an old concern back into view for Alabama, as Ryan Coleman-Williams had another rough day at the catch point. The explosive receiver has been central to what the Crimson Tide want to do offensively, and his ability to turn chances into chunk plays remains a key part of Alabamas hopes heading into the rest of the year.
Coleman-Williams did spend the offseason trying to clean up the issue, making changes aimed at improving his hands and sharpening his reliability. Even so, the early signs were a reminder that Alabamas passing attack may have to keep living with a little volatility from one of its most dangerous weapons, which is not exactly the kind of tradeoff a contender wants to carry for long. [Read more 🡒]