Above: Alabama is a good bet to celebrate like this again next year.
Who’s No. 1?
It’s the same question that’s been asked at the conclusion of the
college football season since the Associated Press began appointing a
mythical national champion in 1936.
The answer is obvious today. While there are those who are clamoring
for a Division I playoff, as they do every year, no one can dispute
Alabama being the best team in the country.
Continue reading “Alabama good bet to repeat” »
Defense wins championships, and Alabama used its to win its 13th national title with Thursday’s 37-21 victory over Texas in the BCS title game at the Rose Bowl.
Texas, despite losing star Colt McCoy on the Longhorns’ fifth play, rallied behind Garrett Gilbert, who threw to second-half TD passes to Jordan Shipley, before a key forced fumble by the Crimson Tide’s Eryk Anders led to a clinching 1-yard TD run by Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.
Here’s my game story on Alabama’s big win
After 32 days, gameday has finally arrived and it looks like it’s going to be a perfect day in Pasadena.
Here’s my game story for today’s game:
By Steve Ramirez
It’s a matchup made in heaven.
Two storied programs at college football’s most-famous venue.
Alabama vs. Texas at the Rose Bowl.
It just doesn’t get any better, and that’s not lost on the participlants, including Texas coach Mack Brown, who grew up a Crimson Tide fan and who is now carrying on the traditition at Texas
that was started nearly 50 years ago by legendary coach Darrell Royal.
Continue reading “Gameday: Alabama vs. Texas” »
Above: Texas coach Mack Brown is hoping for some deja vu on Thursday. (Associated Press photo)
Texas coach Mack Brown has been here before.
He has coached the Longhorns in the Rose Bowl, in the BCS title game and against an undefeated opponent which wears a shade of red and was the overwhelming favorite.
He recalled some of that Wednesday.
“We sat here in (2006), and (USC) was an unbelievable team, and I can remember (everyone) saying that Texas was soft,” said Brown, whose Longhorns shocked the college football world with a 41-38 victory over the Trojans in the 2006 Rose Bowl to win the national championship. “I can remember them saying our NFL guys are soft. I can remember them saying we don’t have a chance, and our guys played great that night. I also remember standing out on the field before the game and looking down at SC and seeing the horse and the band and all the good stuff about SC that all of us grew up with.
“I was standing there, and Greg Davis, our offensive coordinator, came up, and I (said), ‘My gosh, (USC’s) got a great-looking football team. Look at those guys.’ He just patted me on the shoulder, and said, ‘Well, turn around. Yours look pretty good, too.’ I thought that was pretty good. I’m not sure that we ever give ourselves enough credit. We’ve got a good team, too.”
Above: Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain is improving after catching a stomach virus on Tuesday. (Associated Press photo)
Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain, who woke up Tuesday with a stomach virus, has improved, but Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban was not definitive in whether the two-time All-American and Lambert and Butkus winner would play in today’s Bowl Championship Series title game at the Rose Bowl.
“There were some concerns yesterday because I had a couple of players who were sick,” said Saban, referring to McClain and reserve defensive back Rod Woodson, who also had a stomach virus. “Those players are better today. Everybody will go through the walk-through. If they continue to improve, they should be able to participate in the game.”
But Saban also said there is a possibility that McClain, who is also Alabama’s quarterback on defense, would be held out.
“We’re not going to let him (McClain) play unless the doctors say he can play,” said Saban, whose Tide is 13-0 and seeking the school’s 13th national title. “If he’s sick and he’s dehydrated, he’s not going to play in the game.
“I’m not going to put a player at risk regardless of what the circumstance relative to the game is. He did not do much in practice yesterday, and I think he’s better today. But I think he’s capable of recovering and being able to play in the game, if he’s medically cleared to play in the game.”
McClain leads the team with 101 tackles.
Defense will be the key for Alabama when it hosts Texas for the Bowl Champion Series title Thursday night at the Rose Bowl.
The Crimson appears to be in good hands with a unit that has All-Americans all over the field. But the difference maker is in the middle with linebacker Rolando McClain. Here’s my story on the Butkus and Lambert winner.
Today was the first press conference of championship week, and we heard from Alabama defense players and Texas offense players.
An interesting side note came from Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and what happens when he and head coach Nick Saban play golf.
Here’s my notebook for today.
And here’s a story on Greg McElroy and my arrival story.
And here’s a story from my colleague Fred J. Robledo on Texas receiver Jordan Shipley.
Above: Alabama coach Nick Saban talked to the media at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney on Saturday.
The first day in SoCal for Alabama and Texas, who will battle for the Bowl Championship Series title at the Rose Bowl on Thursday, was a little of practice in the Southland sunshine and a trip to the happiest place on earth – Disneyland
Texas coach Mack Brown: “This is such a wonderful opportunity for the Texas fans to be proud of their football program. We want our players to enjoy it. We got up early, had a very physical practice, and then came to Disneyland. We want them to enjoy Disneyland, which is one of the wonderful places in the world for entertainment. This is one of the rewards they get for winning and being in this game.
Alabama coach Nick Saban: “I don’t think they need to think about playing this game every minute of every day. I think there’s a balance in everyone’s life that they should have relative to other things that they do and being able to focus when the time is right for them to focus on meetings, practice, the game, what they need to do in the game, and bring it to sort of a crescendo when the game comes.”
Alabama tight end Colin Peek: “It was harder than normal today. The weather was gorgeous, you couldn’t expect anything better. I am from the Sunshine State but it was pretty sunny out here today. Everyone is focused and we are ready to get after it. There was a lot of intensity on the practice field today. Once we got here (Friday) everyone was ready to get back to work. We are all looking forward to the task at hand. Being here in California has really turned this process into a reality.”
While Ohio State was shutting down Oregon to win the 96th Rose Bowl Game on Friday, Alabama and Texas, who will meet Thursday to decide the Bowl Championship Series title at the Rose Bowl, slipped in during the day, and checked into their new locales in Orange County.
Here’s some comments from both camps, which will have the Longhorns practicing at UC Irvine and the Crimson Tide at Orange Coast College:
Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain: “It’s good to get out here to California and begin our final preparations for the game. It was a great flight out (Friday) but everyone on this team is focused on winning a football game. Tomorrow we will get back to the practice field and continue to work on what we came out here to do.”
Alabama offensive lineman Mike Johnson: “The flight out this morning was a little long but good. The Newport Beach area is nice and we have a pretty good setup at our practice facility. I’m excited to get back to work tomorrow and then go over to Disneyland. I’ve never been to Disneyland, and I’m looking forward to having a little fun. But this is a business trip and everything we do is pointed toward playing our best possible game against an outstanding Texas team on January 7 at the Rose Bowl.”
Texas quarterback Colt McCoy: “I’m really excited to be here. When I got on the plane this morning to come, a lot of my teammates were on the same flight and you could sense the excitement. Once we got here it just kind of settled in. We’ll have our team meeting later on, but everyone’s really focused and kind of in tune to what’s going on. It’s going to be a long week of preparation because we’re all excited and ready for the game, but it’s going to be fun.”
Texas defensive lineman Lamaar Houston: Everyone is just trying to get ready for practice, stay focused and get prepared for playing in this game. Get your Internet hooked up in your room so we can play a little wireless. That’s all we’ve been talking about. The closer we get, the more exciting it gets. The bowl games are starting to get knocked off one by one. The Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl were (Fridah) so the closer it gets, the more excited we get.”