Nick Saban shares message ahead of Alabama spring football game

Nick Saban knows what makes the annual Alabama spring football game a success, and one major reason is direct participation from fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"For us to have a great crowd on Saturday, regardless of what the weather is, I think sends a huge message," Saban said.

Saban said he believes the first thing that helped Alabama turn back into a national contender under his watch was when the A-Day game attracted more than 90,000 fans. The coach said that commitment sent a message to all of college football that Alabama was once again a force to be reckoned with.

Since then, the Crimson Tide has won six national championships, including three College Football Playoff events during Saban's tenure.

On the field, Saban expects to see the same dedication from his players that he sees from fans. A spring game should be an exhibition of the same fundamentals that his team has been working on all through the spring offseason preparation.

But, as Saban warned, he also doesn't want to open Alabama's playbook too much, to give future opponents a line on what the team is working on behind the scenes.

"To be able to see the experience and growth of the players who are involved in the spring game and to find out how many guys on our team can play winning football," Saban said of the purpose of spring games.

(h/t 247Sports)

More from College Football HQ

Alabama football schedule for 2022 season

2022 SEC football preseason power rankings

Ranking each SEC schedule from easiest to hardest

Alabama football schedule: Ranking the Crimson Tide's 2022 opponents

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Facebook | Twitter | Flipboard | Newsbreak