NCAA Proposing Extended Fall Camp

According to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports, the NCAA football oversight committee is working on a recommendation that would propose a six-week preseason football camp this season. The details of the proposal will likely be ironed out next week. According to Thamel the football oversight committee is targeting a mid-June date to submit the proposal to the NCAA Division I Council.

Alabama football coach Nick Saban has previously been on record for a four-week preparation for fall camp and not an extended version of camp. Saban has cited fall camp as the primary point in the season for contact and spoken that extending that camp increases the injury risk for each player. He has consistently been a proponent for a normal fall camp but an offseason teaching program on the field to prepare the players but mitigate injuries.

The NCAA ruled that athletes would be allowed to return to campus on June 1 to begin voluntary offseason workouts. The SEC subsequently voted it would open up campuses on June 8. Players will be permitted to exercise and prepare for the upcoming season under the supervision of the strength and conditioning staff, but currently position coaches, coordinators and head coaches are not allowed to participate with the athletes.

Alabama typically begins its fall camp in the first week of August to prepare for a normal season. Should the NCAA approve an extended fall camp, Crimson Tide fans could see the team take the field for preseason camp in mid-July. Practice procedures are up to Saban, but should he practice what he's been preaching, it still may be the beginning of August before the Tide makes padded contact to prepare for the season opener.