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Earlier today I posted a few notes from Virginia Tech. This afternoon a few notes from the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. These notes come from UA’s Media Relations:

PRESEASON RANKINGS: Alabama is ranked in the Associated Press preseason poll for the 42nd time in school history with its No. 5 ranking this season. The Crimson Tide is ranked in the AP preseason poll for the second time since 2001. From 1961-84, Alabama was ranked in 24 consecutive preseason polls. Overall, the Tide is 30-10-1 in season openers when ranked in the preseason top 25.

RANKINGS: Alabama opens the 2009 season ranked fifth in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ preseason polls. It is highest preseason ranking for the Tide since the 2000 season when they opened at No. 3, and just the third time UA has been ranked in the preseason poll since the 2000 season. Virginia Tech is ranked seventh in both the preseason AP Top 25 and the coaches’ poll.

ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY: For the second straight year, ESPN’s College GameDay will be in attendance for the University of Alabama football team’s season opener in Atlanta. No. 5 Alabama will meet preseason No. 7 Virginia Tech in the second annual Chick-fil-a College Kickoff. The show was also in attendance last year for Alabama’s 34-10 win over Clemson in the inaugural game. Alabama will be making its 15th all-time appearance on ESPN College GameDay and its sixth appearance under head coach Nick Saban. The six appearances in the Saban era tie Oklahoma for the most GameDay appearances since the 2007 season. The Crimson Tide was on four times last season against Clemson, Georgia, LSU and Florida. The Tide also appeared on national television 10 times last season, including five games on CBS, three games on ESPN and one game on ABC and FOX.

Alabama’s All-Time College GameDay Appearances
Nov. 19, 1994 #6 Auburn at #4 Alabama (Birmingham)
Oct. 14, 1995 #6 Tennessee at #12 Alabama (Birmingham)
Nov. 9, 1996 #10 Alabama at #11 LSU
Nov. 23, 1996 Auburn at #15 Alabama (Birmingham)
Sept. 1, 2001 #17 UCLA at #25 Alabama
Oct. 5, 2002 #6 Georgia at Alabama
Sept. 6, 2003 #1 Oklahoma at Alabama
Nov. 12, 2005 #5 LSU at #3 Alabama
Sept. 22, 2007 #22 Georgia at #16 Alabama
Aug. 30, 2008 #24 Alabama vs. #9 Clemson (Atlanta, Ga.)
Sept. 27, 2008 #8 Alabama at #3 Georgia
Nov. 8, 2008 #1 Alabama at #16 LSU
Dec. 6, 2008 #1 Alabama vs. #4 Florida (Atlanta, Ga.)
Sept. 5, 2009 #5 Alabama vs. #7 Virginia Tech (Atlanta, Ga.)

SABAN AMONG THE BEST: Head coach Nick Saban’s arrival in Tuscaloosa has seen his Crimson Tide vault up the national rankings. His success in such a short period of time has quickly impacted the Tide’s record book. Saban produced the largest win increase from year one to year two in school history as Alabama went from seven wins in 2007 to 12 wins in 2008. He is the only coach in Bowl Championship Subdivision football to have coached 10 years and never suffered through a losing season. He also ranks fourth in winning percentage (68.6 percent) among active coaches who have coached at least 10 years of Division I-A football