Alabama football players Qua Russaw and Zabien Brown picked up another sport over the summer.
A select group of Crimson Tide defenders have spent the last few months slinging bowling balls, and Russaw told the Tuscaloosa News at media day that Brown is the "best bowler" on the team by far.
Brown confirmed that report during team press conferences on Wednesday.
"Before camp started like that, we was probably going every day," Brown said.
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The guys even bought their own balls.
"Just a level of bonding that was real fun," Brown continued. "Those games, they get up there, though. 180, 200s. They get serious."
Brown believes his best score so far is a 194 and he hopes to splash 200 sooner than later, but acknowledged that football is the main focus right now.
"When we get back to it...I'm probably a little rusty right now," Brown said.
Russaw would tell you that Brown was being humble about his skill, though.
"We just came to the bowling alley and he's just curving it, spinning it," Russaw explained to the Tuscaloosa News.
Russaw learned how to curve the ball ahead of media day, but he noted Brown wasn't giving away any of his own tricks of the trade. In fact, Russaw and defensive lineman James Smith spent extra time at the bowling alley to "improve their game." Even without Brown in attendance.
There's no official Alabama football bowling championship set at present. While the season is weeks away, it isn't out of the question.
According to Brown, there's still time to catch the guys at the alley. Although the Crimson Tide kicks off the 2025 season at Florida State on Aug. 30, their bowling passes don't run out until September.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football found a new hobby over the summer, and a champ in Zabien Brown
