Georgia State prepares for Goliath

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia State defensive coordinator John Thompson has his plan for Alabama ready.

"We're going to see if we can line up with 13 or 14, see if they'll let us do that," Thompson said.

Failing that, Thompson will fall back to 11 on 11 against the Crimson Tide and hope his rule-abiding game plan lasts the night in Tuscaloosa. Thompson and offensive cohort John Bond (not that John Bond) said preparing a first-year FCS (formerly Division I-AA) team to face the defending national champions in FBS (formerly Division I-A) compares with nothing in their careers.

Said Bond, "There's a lot of barriers that are getting ready to get broken on the 18th."

The game-plan process itself did not change from other games. Thompson and Bond first watched Alabama games straight through to get a feel for their opponent. They studied plays grouped by categories such as down and distance, formation and area of the field. They pored over reports generated by assistants that reveal tendencies.

Meeting with their respective staffs, Bond and Thompson have tried to determine how to attack weaknesses and exploit Georgia State's strengths. That's where the job becomes a bit tricky. Two weeks ago, Georgia State was dissecting Lamar, a first-year team ranked 204th out of 245 Division I teams in the Sagarin ratings. Sagarin ranks Alabama No. 5. (Georgia State is No. 188.)

"It's good we had a little more time because it's certainly a sobering experience to watch these guys fly around," Bond said.

Typically, more video review allows coaches to find holes to exploit.

Said Thompson, "You're not really seeing that with this team."

Thompson and Bond didn't shy from the truth with their players, but didn't believe they or their players were in awe of Alabama. It's an attitude that has come from the top.

"Since I was a little kid, and you can call it a blessing or a curse, but I always think my team's supposed to win," coach Bill Curry said.

Defensive end Kalan Jenkins said at first some teammates were putting the Crimson Tide on a pedestal. However, coaches have shown them mistakes made by Alabama players, even Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram.

"Coach Curry has been telling us all week they're human, too," Jenkins said.

Coaches have tried to approach the game as much as they would any other game, figuring too much diversion from the norm might unnerve players. They've steered clear of loading up the game plan with gimmicks.

"We're trying to develop a program here," Bond said. "We're not going to go in there and be silly."

The underlying message to players has been to embrace the challenge and have fun. It's not every football player who gets to take on the champs in front of 100,000 fans.

"You've got two choices," Thompson said. "You can have fun, or you can freak out."

As his players brace for the challenge of their lives, Thompson hopes they choose the former.