Alabama Football Focuses on Hydration As Heat Index Remains High

The Crimson Tide football program utilizes technology from the sports science department to ensure the players are prepared to play on Saturday.

Joe Gaither | Aug 28, 2023

Alabama Football Focuses on Hydration As Heat Index Remains High /

In this story:

Alabama Crimson Tide

Fall camp concluded for the Alabama football program this past week and game week is officially upon us as the Crimson Tide is set to take on the MTSU Blue Raiders on Saturday.

The first game is luckily scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff, but that won't stop the Tuscaloosa temperatures from playing a factor in the football game. Saturday's temperatures call for a high of a cool 91 degrees, but factoring in the heat index could still see fans and players sweltering as the sun goes down.

Alabama, ever on the cutting edge of player performance, deploys the strength and conditioning staff with measurement devices to ensure its athletes are prepared for the brutal conditions.

"The hydration never really stops," said offensive lineman Tyler Booker on "The Next Round Live" on Monday. "We have these tools you'll put the little tab on your tongue and it'll tell you how hydrated you are. The strength coaches are roaming those around everyday so hydration for this Saturday really starts now. It all adds up leading up until Saturday."

Alabama center Seth McLaughlin was in front of the media on Monday and confirmed Booker's comments by boasting about his tongue.

“Tongue’s looking great. They have these little devices, walk around, stab it on your tongue, and it pops up a number to see if you been hydrating or not. Scale -- hydrated, not hydrated, mildly hydrated. Mine’s pretty good," said McLaughlin.

How much water does it take to hydrate an Alabama offensive lineman?

"For big guys like me, it's probably a gallon and a half," said Booker. "That's about 18 regular bottles of water. I try to knock out three a meal and then three in meetings too."

Slurping down a gallon and half of water per day is necessary when battling heat indexes over 100 degrees, but it comes with inconvenient side effects.

"We’re chugging water day-in and day-out. If you’re doing it right you’ve got to go to the restroom every 30 minutes," said McLaughlin. "So we’re sitting in an hour and a half meeting and Coach Saban put in a rule you couldn’t go to the restroom, otherwise the position coach is going to get into trouble. No one said that. Just assuming. It’s a different ball game running around coaching and playing.”

Frequent bathroom breaks are just a small price to pay for the Crimson Tide to have a leg up on its opponents game in and game out.

See Also: