Differences between travel practices in Alabama and Indiana

LOS ANGELES — Travel days are almost always stressful. The last few things to pack, the paranoia of whether or not things are in your suitcase and reaching the boarding gate can make the mind a bit complicated.

Alabama and Indiana each traveled about 2,000 miles from their respective campuses to Los Angeles for the Rose Bowl on Monday. Each team held one final practice that morning before their approximately five-hour flights.

That said, the stress of the travel day may have gotten to one of the teams in the days leading up to the flight, and it seemed to have an impact on their usual training schedule.

“Well, Monday was our travel day, which was practice on Wednesday,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said Wednesday. “So as soon as we found out who our opponent was, after Alabama and Oklahoma played, the next day was a Sunday. So in my mind, every day then was Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, in terms of our routine. So our travel day was really a Wednesday.

“Until that day, I really liked where we were. I didn’t think we had a good practice on travel day because, you know, we had to move everything up. And the players, on a travel day, they’re used to having a tour. And then we got here and – all bowls; I’m going to call it a bowl, since we changed locations very early – we never had a good practice on the first day there, ever. And this Wasn’t a horrible workout, but it didn’t meet the standard.

Alabama held its first practice in Los Angeles on Tuesday, hours after Rose Bowl Media Day. So what did Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer think of his team’s practice at El Camino College after the day’s travel.

“I thought it was good energy, that’s what I’m really looking for,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said Wednesday. “There was stress in communication and all that. I thought they came with the right intention. That doesn’t mean it was perfectly clear. That’s why you train and always try to improve.

“So we’re continuing to refine the game plan and pay attention to details. I’ve had guys this morning asking me about some things already. They’re just trying to make sure they’re completely on the same page with what we’re trying to do. So I appreciate our players and their intentions.

“So we have to take the next step today. You know, we’re talking about the hours leading up to kickoff, and yesterday it would have been about 48 hours. And we knew how important those 48 hours are, whether it’s preparation on the football field or nutrition and sleep and all that. So all these guys are doing their best to make sure we’re ready to go tomorrow.”

The Crimson Tide, after winning last Friday at Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff, secured a spot in Pasadena against No. 1 Indiana in the national quarterfinals. The two schools have never faced each other on the field before.

The game, as is tradition, will be held on New Year’s Day. The winner will travel to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, just a stone’s throw from the national title game. Alabama lost the 2024 Rose Bowl in overtime to Michigan in Nick Saban’s final game as head coach.

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