New Seats are Good News for Alabama Students, Bama Hoops

Like most Alabama Basketball fans, it has been a lot of fun to hear all the buzz surrounding the Crimson Tide under Avery Johnson. As I approach my 14th season of handling the play-by-play duties for CTSN, I honestly can't remember this much chatter surrounding basketball - when things were going well for football.

While there is an clear understanding that building this the way everybody wants won't happen overnight, there is a strong belief that Avery will get it done - and that it will be a lot of fun in the process.

Part of making that fun, is creating an atmosphere at Coleman Coliseum that gets people involved. The UA Athletic Department took a major step in that direction this week with the announcement of a new seating configuration for students. It is something that Coach Battle was talking about before a change in head coaches was announced, but with Coach Johnson now in charge, the timing is perfect.

Bringing the students closer to the floor will give them greater incentive to show up. It also gives them an opportunity to make a bigger impact. And by flipping the camera wells to the opposite side from where they are now, will also make the students presence more visible.

My hope is that they will also flip the seating for the teams, as well, so that they will be as visible to the TV cameras as they have been in the past. I have no doubt that Avery will be extremely animated on the sidelines, and as the face of Alabama Basketball, it would be great to have him in full view of the television audience.

Regardless, the news is the next item in what has been a growing list of positive changes for Bama hoops fans.