With the way Alabama is rolling along, the Crimson Tide has to nitpick to find weaknesses. Heading into this season, the two-time defending national champions are fixated on last year’s five-point loss to Texas A&M.
“We might have a grudge,” right guard Anthony Steen said at Thursday’s SEC Media Days.
It was the only blemish on an otherwise pristine season as the Crimson Tide went 13-1 and clobbered Notre Dame 42-14 to win the national title. It brings back seven starters on defense and six on offense for a chance to become the first program in the modern era to three-peat as consensus national champs.
Alabama is 61-7 in the past five seasons, including 35-5 in the SEC, but even with all that success, it is surrounded by threats, including multiple national contenders in its own conference.
The biggest obstacle in coach Nick Saban’s mind, though, is possible overconfidence. He pointed to it as the team’s downfall in 2010 — when it merely went 10-3 and played in the Capital One Bowl — and is relentlessly trying to keep it out of his locker room this year.
“When guys relax, that’s how we lose games, so when we get complacent, he gets on us,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “That helps us stay where we need to be. When he gets on you, he gets on you hard. We all get cussed out.”
There is a sense of urgency in Tuscaloosa this summer because the Crimson Tide opens with a neutral-site game against Virginia Tech and a visit to Texas A&M. The Aggies finished No. 5 in the Associated Press poll thanks in part to a 29-24 victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium that nearly knocked Alabama out of the national title hunt.
That game also gives the Crimson Tide another shot at Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, who has a growing quarterback rivalry with Alabama senior AJ McCarron. The players roomed together at the Manning Passing Academy last weekend, when Manziel had to leave early because he slept through meetings and a coaching session. A portion of McCarron’s time at SEC Media Days was occupied with questions regarding Manziel’s whereabouts and controversies.
McCarron’s life has been far less public, even while dating television personality Katherine Webb. When Manziel was in Los Angeles on Wednesday for the ESPY Awards, McCarron used Twitter to point out — without referencing him — that he had better things to do. He wrote that he did not need to go and was back at school working toward another championship.
“I don’t need the spotlight,” he said Thursday. “I’m comfortable in my own skin.”
Steen added, “(McCarron)doesn’t talk about what he does off the field. He’s all football.”
In the pre-season media poll, Manziel finished ahead of McCarron at their position, but the Crimson Tide was voted the favorite to win the conference. If those predictions come true, McCarron will be fine with it.
McCarron is one reason Alabama has such high expectations. He had the best quarterback rating in the SEC last season, threw for 2,933 yards and had 30 touchdown passes against just three interceptions.
“This year, our team probably has a little better skill players on offense,” Saban said. “And we have a very experienced quarterback who has done a wonderful job and has improved every year.”
There are holes to fill on both sides of the ball, but Alabama’s track record in recruiting and player development makes it seem likely the replacements will be ready. The Crimson Tide has had Rivals’ No. 1 signing class each of the past three years. The younger part of the roster is so impressive that veterans like McCarron believe the dynasty could last well beyond this season.
“Everyone goes through their era in college football,” he said. “Miami was good for years, then Florida State, then Nebraska. Everyone has their time and then it falls out after two or three years. Our thing is, why does it have to end?”
