TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama football team practiced for 90 minutes in shells (shorts, shoulder pads and helmets) Thursday afternoon at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility in final preparation for Saturday’s season opener against San Jose State.

“Hopefully our guys are preparing and doing the right things that they need to do to play their best football in this particular game,” head coach Nick Saban said. “I think the things that are important to that right now is mental practice, going over the things that you are going to do, because the physical practice is going to be limited.

“You can accomplish a significant amount if you do a good job of mental practice.”

The Crimson Tide’s physical practice ends Thursday, with only Friday’s afternoon walk-through left before the team’s season opener against the Spartans on Saturday.

Alabama will kick off its 116th season of college football on Saturday, Sept. 4 against the San Jose State. The game is scheduled for a 6:07 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on a pay-per-view basis by the Crimson Tide Sports Network. The game will also be simulcast on ESPN3.com.