Emotional Night at Bryant-Denny as Alabama Kicks Off Season and Netflix Premieres Powerful Crimson Tide Tribute Documentary

The hallowed grounds of Bryant-Denny Stadium are preparing for an emotional evening, unlike anything Alabama fans have witnessed before. The Alabama Crimson Tide, one of the most storied programs in college football, is set to open its 2025 season against the formidable Florida State Seminoles in what promises to be a primetime thriller. Yet, even before the first whistle echoes beneath the Tuscaloosa night sky, a different kind of energy will grip the Crimson Tide faithful and college football fans nationwide.

On the same evening as the season opener, Netflix will premiere its much-anticipated documentary titled “Built by Bama: Blood, Sweat, and the Script A”, a stirring exploration of Alabama football’s rich legacy, triumphs, personal sacrifices, and enduring spirit. Directed by Academy Award nominee Ava DuVernay and narrated by Tide legend Derrick Henry, the film dives deep into the program’s cultural significance, the personal stories of players past and present, and the weight of wearing the crimson and white.

The timing of the premiere isn’t coincidental—it’s symbolic. It’s emotional. As more than 100,000 fans pour into Bryant-Denny and millions tune in from home, the simultaneous release of the documentary serves as both a tribute and a reminder: Alabama football is not just about wins and titles. It’s about identity. It’s about family. It’s about legacy.

The documentary opens with hauntingly beautiful drone footage of a fog-covered Tuscaloosa dawn, the stadium bathed in golden light. Overlayed are the words of Bear Bryant, taken from a 1982 interview: “You never know what a Saturday in Alabama might mean to somebody.” What follows is a masterclass in storytelling—a two-hour cinematic journey from the Dust Bowl era beginnings to the Nick Saban dynasty, all the way through the 2023 transition into the Kalen DeBoer era.

But this isn’t just a highlight reel of championships or Heisman speeches. Built by Bama is deeply personal. It profiles players like Terrion Arnold and Bryce Young, who reflect on the expectations that came with their roles as leaders, the mental battles they fought silently, and the community that helped them persevere. It highlights unsung heroes like athletic trainer Jeff Allen and longtime staffer Cedric Burns, each of whom has shaped the program from behind the curtain.

One of the most moving segments features a sit-down with the family of late Tide star Altee Tenpenny. His tragic passing in 2015 still echoes through the locker room, and his mother’s interview—filled with tears, laughter, and pride—stands as one of the most talked-about early reactions among critics who previewed the documentary.

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit called the film “one of the most gut-wrenching and soul-lifting pieces I’ve seen about college football.” Paul Finebaum was equally glowing, stating, “It reminds you that Alabama’s success isn’t just about five stars and trophies. It’s about heart. It’s about people.”

Back in Tuscaloosa, the university has embraced the documentary in full. As part of the evening’s festivities, a special montage from the film will be shown on the Bryant-Denny Stadium jumbotron moments before kickoff. There will also be an honorary coin toss featuring former players spotlighted in the documentary, including All-American linebacker Rolando McClain, who has turned his life around since stepping away from the game.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer, entering his second season at the helm, called the moment “humbling and powerful.”

“To see this program honored with such depth and authenticity—right before we step onto the field—it’s a reminder of why we do this,” DeBoer said at Thursday’s press conference. “This team carries the weight of history, but also the inspiration of it.”

Senior quarterback Jalen Milroe, one of the leaders featured in the documentary’s final chapter, admitted he cried when watching the early screening. “It’s bigger than just putting on a jersey. It’s about the responsibility we inherit—every player, every coach, every trainer. We’re part of something sacred.”

Netflix’s rollout of the documentary includes a social media campaign titled #BuiltByBama, featuring testimonials from alumni, former walk-ons, and even rival coaches who speak on the impact of the Alabama program. Within hours of the first trailers, the hashtag had already gone viral.

In Atlanta, former Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa praised the documentary as “something every athlete—especially those coming up through tough circumstances—needs to see. It shows the cost, and it shows the reward.”

Back in Tuscaloosa, ticket holders arriving early were handed commemorative posters with the documentary’s key art: a silhouette of a lone Crimson Tide player walking out of the tunnel, with Bryant-Denny’s lights glowing behind him. Beneath the image, the quote reads simply, “Earn every step.”

Despite all the emotion surrounding the documentary, there’s still a football game to be played. Florida State comes into Tuscaloosa ranked No. 5 in the nation, and with a vengeance after being left out of the College Football Playoff last year. Their offense, led by dual-threat QB Kamron Davis, will test Alabama’s retooled defense, now under the guidance of new coordinator Charles Kelly.

But even amid the pre-game analysis, the sense of something more significant lingers. Tonight isn’t just about football—it’s about history, humanity, and healing. Alabama has always been a program under the national microscope, often scrutinized, often glorified. But tonight, through the lens of Built by Bama, viewers see the cracks, the sacrifice, the sacrifice required to stay on top—and the community that carries the weight together.

As the sun sets and the opening strains of the Alabama fight song echo through the stadium, fans will rise not just for another season opener—but in collective tribute. Young fans in crimson T-shirts, older alumni in vintage Bear Bryant houndstooth caps, and teary-eyed family members of past players will all share a moment of unity.

And somewhere on millions of screens, Netflix viewers will witness it too—the legacy, the burden, the brotherhood, the dream. An emotional evening in Tuscaloosa, where past and present collide under the stadium lights, and where every snap that follows carries more than just consequence on the scoreboard.

It carries a story that’s still being written.

By night’s end, one team will walk away victorious in the season opener. But through the stories told, the voices heard, and the souls remembered, Alabama has already won the hearts of those watching—on and off the field.