Saban Keeps Tide Focused Through Wait

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Give Nick Saban credit. His message never wavers.

The Alabama head coach continues to talk at length about the need for his players to ignore the distractions surrounding them and concentrate on preparing for Texas. It was following the SEC championship when Saban challenged his team to manage its time and make good decisions over the next month.

All the steely-eyed Saban needed was a steady hand.

"I drew a line on the grease board all the way across the room -- the team meeting room -- and I said it is 32 days until we play the (BCS) game," said Saban, who has the opportunity to become the first head coach since 1936 in the AP poll era to win a national title at two different schools.

"Here's the SEC championship, here's the national championship. How you manage those 32 days is going to determine how you play in the game."

By all appearances the Crimson Tide have heeded Saban's advice, calling the journey west a business trip. They held their first Southern California workout Saturday, and not even an afternoon visit to Disneyland was enough to distract players.

The team also will participate in the oldest bowl tradition in America when players eat at Lawry's Restaurant Sunday following practice. It's part of the Beef Bowl, which the eatery has hosted for Rose Bowl participants for 54 years. Texas will dine on Monday.

"We just have to come out and continue to practice hard," cornerback Kareem Jackson said. "We have been practicing hard the last few weeks but we can all tell it's a reality now."

For Alabama, that reality is stopping Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.

McCoy, an All-American and two-time Heisman finalist, directs a spread attack that averages 432 yards per game (20th in the nation). McCoy gets rid of the ball fast and accurately (70 percent completion percentage).

The Longhorns may not show a lot of different looks, but they are effective in what they do.

Alabama, No. 2 in the country in total defense, hopes to counter McCoy with one of best group of linebackers and safeties in the country.

"What I've seen in previous games on television the offense goes through Colt McCoy," Crimson Tide All-America linebacker Rolando McCain said.

"So we just have to do a good job of affecting him and limiting his ability to run and trying to get some pressure on him to get the pocket to collapse some, so that he doesn't have as much time to throw the ball."

Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy spent time with McCoy last summer at the Manning Passing Academy. Both quarterbacks were raised in Texas.

"I've known Colt for a number of years, just meeting each other in camps and things," McElroy said. "I've followed his career and I've obviously followed his season this year. It has been a pleasure for me to watch him and his team and obviously it's going to be quite a joy to face him."

After pounding Florida in the SEC championship game in easily its finest performance of the season, Alabama faces the difficult task of repeating its effort against the Longhorns.

The Crimson Tide will play for their first national championship since 1992 after defeating then-No. 1 Florida 32-12 in the SEC title game.

Saban, of course, isn't one to miss an opportunity when it comes to motivating his team. This time he didn't need a grease pencil.

"I told our players a story the other day about the U.S. hockey team. Probably one of the greatest victories of the (last) century by any team was when they beat the Soviets in 1980 ... the Miracle on Ice," Saban said.

"Do you know what people don't remember? That didn't win the gold medal. They had to win the next game against Finland to win the gold medal."