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The Alabama football program isnāt just about competing and winning championships.
Itās about having the proper focus, concentration and respect for the opponent.
Itās about playing to the high level of those who came before you.
Itās about preparation, doing your job and executing the game plan.
Thatās what Nick Saban preaches and demands from his players. He challenges them, they buy in ā and then rarely lose.
Since 2008, Alabama has the nationās most victories with 138 to only 14 defeats.
So when Saban leads the top-seeded and defending national champion Crimson Tide (13-0) onto the field in Miami with their insane fans screaming and yelling before facing Oklahoma (12-1) in the College Football Playoff semifinals Saturday, everyone knows whatās expected and how they should perform.
Thatās the foundation for this decade of dominance highlighted by Saban winning five of his six national titles at Alabama.
Yes, he has four- and five-star players whoāve been making a yearly pilgrimage to Tuscaloosa looking to win big, graduate and wind up in the NFL ā and be able to take care of their families.
Yes, his program is very well-funded ā $62.5 million in expenses for the 2016-17 calendar year, but the program made $108 million. So thatās a lot of money, but money very well-spent.
All that talent and financial support would mean nada if Saban couldnāt get the job done, but he has in becoming the best college football coach ever.
Heās also the highest-paid, but still carries a chip on his shoulder ā and still wants to prove everybody wrong even though most people pick Alabama to win every Saturday.
Sabanās never satisfied. He believes in his principles and please donāt let him feel an opponent, or someone with a pen, pad, microphone or camera, even slightly slight him or his team.
He takes that as disrespect.
Saban will say all the right things before the game, but behind closed doors, heās telling his team they think this and that about you. The players embrace that us-against-the-world underdog mentality even though theyāve been college footballās top program for a decade.
Bet Kyler Murray beating out Tua Tagovailoa to win the Heisman Trophy has come up in conversation.
The offense wants to have a big day to show why Tagovailoa shouldāve won it.
The defense wants to make it a long day for the Oklahoma quarterback.
Thatāll be just icing on the motivational cake for a team thatās already better than everyone else.
Saban has said people in Alabama just ā(expletive) out playersā because they come in highly recruited and leave NFL-ready. He and his staff coach them up, strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran builds them up, but understand this.
Jerry Jeudy saw Calvin Ridley, who saw Amari Cooper, who saw Julio Jones.
Mack Wilson saw Reuben Foster, who saw Reggie Ragland, who saw C.J. Mosley.
Najee Harris saw Derrick Henry, who saw Trent Richardson, who saw Mark Ingram.
Every incoming recruit knows who came before them. The thought of even leaving without a ring can be nearly suffocating, but they know those guys are watching and expect them to keep the Tide rolling.
Then they look around and realize the guy behind them is just as good, if not better.
Thatās pressure too, but it keeps them razor-sharp because slip-ups can lead to a spot on the sidelines.
Enter Jalen Hurts.
He was 25-2 as a starter going into last seasonās national championship game, but the dual-threat quarterback had a subpar first half against Georgia.
Down 13-6 and believing Alabama needed a spark in the passing game, Saban turned to then-true freshman Tagovailoa.
You know what happened next.
Tagovailoa comes in, throws three touchdowns including the game-winner on the gameās final play in overtime to stun the Bulldogs and cap perhaps the best college football game of all time.
Tagovailoaās proven to be a better quarterback, something Hurts and Saban probably knew all along.
It got ugly on the outside with fans and social media, but what Saban does very well is keep his team inside the bunker and make sure everyone follows his lead. Even when Hurts did speak out at media day about no one asking him how he felt, he stayed at Alabama, stay engaged and didnāt cause any rifts.
So when Tagovailoa hurt his ankle in the SEC title game, Hurts went in and completed the comeback victory over Georgia with a touchdown pass and game-winning touchdown run with 64 seconds left.
Had there been any major issues, Hurts doesnāt pull that off and the team doesnāt rally around him.
See Saban in near tears praising Hurts after the game? He should have been emotional and thankful because anyone else in Hurtsā shoes wouldāve bounced, but Alabama football kept him around.
Itās a lifestyle that leads to on-field excellence, degrees and a chance to play on Sundays.
Itās being able to say they were part of the greatest college football program ever.
Itās being immortalized in a state that lives, dies and divorces over football.
Thatās why the Tide enter stadiums with confidence, swagger and believe theyāll win.
Theyāve put in the work, have great talent and coaching ā and maintained the highest level of excellence for a decade.
Thatās why theyāre so damn tough to beat.
Thatās why theyāre the envy of every other program.
Thatās Alabama football.
Expect Alabama to keep dynasty rolling in College Football Playoff because that's what's expected
Itās about having the proper focus, concentration and respect for the opponent.
Itās about playing to the high level of those who came before you.
Itās about preparation, doing your job and executing the game plan.
Thatās what Nick Saban preaches and demands from his players. He challenges them, they buy in ā and then rarely lose.
Since 2008, Alabama has the nationās most victories with 138 to only 14 defeats.
So when Saban leads the top-seeded and defending national champion Crimson Tide (13-0) onto the field in Miami with their insane fans screaming and yelling before facing Oklahoma (12-1) in the College Football Playoff semifinals Saturday, everyone knows whatās expected and how they should perform.
Thatās the foundation for this decade of dominance highlighted by Saban winning five of his six national titles at Alabama.
Yes, he has four- and five-star players whoāve been making a yearly pilgrimage to Tuscaloosa looking to win big, graduate and wind up in the NFL ā and be able to take care of their families.
Yes, his program is very well-funded ā $62.5 million in expenses for the 2016-17 calendar year, but the program made $108 million. So thatās a lot of money, but money very well-spent.
All that talent and financial support would mean nada if Saban couldnāt get the job done, but he has in becoming the best college football coach ever.
Heās also the highest-paid, but still carries a chip on his shoulder ā and still wants to prove everybody wrong even though most people pick Alabama to win every Saturday.
Sabanās never satisfied. He believes in his principles and please donāt let him feel an opponent, or someone with a pen, pad, microphone or camera, even slightly slight him or his team.
He takes that as disrespect.
Saban will say all the right things before the game, but behind closed doors, heās telling his team they think this and that about you. The players embrace that us-against-the-world underdog mentality even though theyāve been college footballās top program for a decade.
Bet Kyler Murray beating out Tua Tagovailoa to win the Heisman Trophy has come up in conversation.
The offense wants to have a big day to show why Tagovailoa shouldāve won it.
The defense wants to make it a long day for the Oklahoma quarterback.
Thatāll be just icing on the motivational cake for a team thatās already better than everyone else.
Saban has said people in Alabama just ā(expletive) out playersā because they come in highly recruited and leave NFL-ready. He and his staff coach them up, strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran builds them up, but understand this.
Jerry Jeudy saw Calvin Ridley, who saw Amari Cooper, who saw Julio Jones.
Mack Wilson saw Reuben Foster, who saw Reggie Ragland, who saw C.J. Mosley.
Najee Harris saw Derrick Henry, who saw Trent Richardson, who saw Mark Ingram.
Every incoming recruit knows who came before them. The thought of even leaving without a ring can be nearly suffocating, but they know those guys are watching and expect them to keep the Tide rolling.
Then they look around and realize the guy behind them is just as good, if not better.
Thatās pressure too, but it keeps them razor-sharp because slip-ups can lead to a spot on the sidelines.
Enter Jalen Hurts.
He was 25-2 as a starter going into last seasonās national championship game, but the dual-threat quarterback had a subpar first half against Georgia.
Down 13-6 and believing Alabama needed a spark in the passing game, Saban turned to then-true freshman Tagovailoa.
You know what happened next.
Tagovailoa comes in, throws three touchdowns including the game-winner on the gameās final play in overtime to stun the Bulldogs and cap perhaps the best college football game of all time.
Tagovailoaās proven to be a better quarterback, something Hurts and Saban probably knew all along.
It got ugly on the outside with fans and social media, but what Saban does very well is keep his team inside the bunker and make sure everyone follows his lead. Even when Hurts did speak out at media day about no one asking him how he felt, he stayed at Alabama, stay engaged and didnāt cause any rifts.
So when Tagovailoa hurt his ankle in the SEC title game, Hurts went in and completed the comeback victory over Georgia with a touchdown pass and game-winning touchdown run with 64 seconds left.
Had there been any major issues, Hurts doesnāt pull that off and the team doesnāt rally around him.
See Saban in near tears praising Hurts after the game? He should have been emotional and thankful because anyone else in Hurtsā shoes wouldāve bounced, but Alabama football kept him around.
Itās a lifestyle that leads to on-field excellence, degrees and a chance to play on Sundays.
Itās being able to say they were part of the greatest college football program ever.
Itās being immortalized in a state that lives, dies and divorces over football.
Thatās why the Tide enter stadiums with confidence, swagger and believe theyāll win.
Theyāve put in the work, have great talent and coaching ā and maintained the highest level of excellence for a decade.
Thatās why theyāre so damn tough to beat.
Thatās why theyāre the envy of every other program.
Thatās Alabama football.
Expect Alabama to keep dynasty rolling in College Football Playoff because that's what's expected
Hey, at the worst we'd be left with even more questions.
