SEC To Begin Practice August 17

Last week the SEC announced a 10 game, conference only schedule that is set to begin on September 26. Fall camp was originally supposed to open for the Crimson Tide on August 7. Today, according to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, the SEC announced the first official football practice will be delayed until August 17.

Universities will be allowed 11 hours per week of strength and conditioning, meetings and walk-throughs during August 7-16. Walk-throughs must be run without equipment including no footballs. Teams are also granted an additional three hours of time per week for non-football related activities.

Once practice begins on August 17, programs are allowed to hold 25 practices until the opening game. Teams will be limited to 20 hours per week of practice time and are required a five-day acclimatization period. Traditionally fall camp is a period where programs can spend unlimited hours on football.

Programs are required to give their athletes two off days at minimum until the first game of the season.

The schedule is not yet released but it is expected to be announced later this week. Alabama will be adding two schools from the SEC to its schedule to form its 10 game SEC East. The Crimson Tide is rumored to add Vanderbilt and Florida to its schedule this season.