THIBODAUX, LA. | Winning back-to-back national titles is nothing new in college football.
In fact, it has happened 11 times in The Associated Press' poll since its debuted during the 1936 season.
As for the Bowl Championship Series, it has only happened once since the poll debuted in 1998. That distinction goes to the Alabama Crimson Tide, who have won the past two BCS national titles.
After winning titles following the 2011 and 2012 seasons, the Crimson Tide have their sights on doing something no college football team has ever done - win three in a row.
Trying to lead the Crimson Tide to the three-peat is senior quarterback A.J. McCarron. He led Alabama to national titles in his sophomore and junior seasons.
Although accomplishing a three-peat would be a historic accomplishment, McCarron said the Crimson Tide are not trying to look too far ahead.
"I don't try to think about all of that," McCarron said at last weekend's Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. "It would be a blessing, and it would definitely add to the collection. We just want to go week in and week out and take things one game at a time. We don't want to try to talk about three-peating."
Alabama won the last two national titles with wins over LSU (21-0) in 2011 and Notre Dame (42-14) in 2012. The Crimson Tide went into each game as the second-ranked team.
McCarron said his life has not changed much since winning back-to-back national titles.
"I don't really do much," he said. "I don't really go out, and I am a homebody type of guy. I stay home with family and friends, watch TV and play Xbox. I really don't go out too much and stay with people I know."
Since taking over as the starting quarterback, McCarron has guided the Crimson Tide to 25-2 record and two national titles. He also has been nearly flawless on the field, passing for 5,567 yards and 46 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.
McCarron's success has not gone unnoticed by his peers in the SEC.
"I've got tons of respect for (McCarron) and what's he's done at Alabama," Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley said. "He is a great guy and a fierce competitor. I could go on and on.
"He has been doing some great things at Alabama, and hopefully, we can catch on to some of those things at Tennessee."
Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel said he is hoping that some of McCarron's success rubbed off on him during the Manning camp.
"I would love to emulate what A.J. has done at Alabama and win national championships," Driskel said. "That's been a dream of mine since signing with Florida."
McCarron said he attributes his success to following the coaching staff's advice and doing whatever it takes to help the team win, whether it's handing the ball off, managing the game and relying heavy on the passing attack.
That philosophy, however, is a contrast to what McCarron did as a high school quarterback at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile, Ala.
"When I came in, I was a gunslinger like (former Green Bay Packers quarterback) Brett Favre," he said. "That's how I played high school. I was not afraid to throw the ball in tight spaces. I had to scale things back for the good of the team. If you want to label me a game manager, that's fine. As long as we keep winning, you can call me whatever you want."
McCarron said he credits a lot of his success to the close bond he developed with Alabama coach Nick Saban.
"Coach Saban always has my back," McCarron said. "He was the only coach from Alabama that came down and recruited me. No other Alabama coach came."
McCarron said he enjoys coming back to Thibodaux for the Manning Passing Academy, as it has helped him become a better player on and off the field.
Thibodaux is not the only place in Louisiana that McCarron has fond memories of. He will always remember the two games he won in the Bayou State - wins over LSU in the 2012 BCS Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans and at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge during the 2013 regular season.
McCarron said if last season's come-from-behind 21-17 win over LSU is the last college football game he plays in Louisiana, it will be one that he will never forget.
"That was one of the best wins I've been a part of and one of the best team wins we've had," he said. "We had to fight back, and it was really a 60-minute game. It was an unbelievable win, especially with it being in Tiger Stadium. It was a special win to be part of."
http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1525140
In fact, it has happened 11 times in The Associated Press' poll since its debuted during the 1936 season.
As for the Bowl Championship Series, it has only happened once since the poll debuted in 1998. That distinction goes to the Alabama Crimson Tide, who have won the past two BCS national titles.
After winning titles following the 2011 and 2012 seasons, the Crimson Tide have their sights on doing something no college football team has ever done - win three in a row.
Trying to lead the Crimson Tide to the three-peat is senior quarterback A.J. McCarron. He led Alabama to national titles in his sophomore and junior seasons.
Although accomplishing a three-peat would be a historic accomplishment, McCarron said the Crimson Tide are not trying to look too far ahead.
"I don't try to think about all of that," McCarron said at last weekend's Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. "It would be a blessing, and it would definitely add to the collection. We just want to go week in and week out and take things one game at a time. We don't want to try to talk about three-peating."
Alabama won the last two national titles with wins over LSU (21-0) in 2011 and Notre Dame (42-14) in 2012. The Crimson Tide went into each game as the second-ranked team.
McCarron said his life has not changed much since winning back-to-back national titles.
"I don't really do much," he said. "I don't really go out, and I am a homebody type of guy. I stay home with family and friends, watch TV and play Xbox. I really don't go out too much and stay with people I know."
Since taking over as the starting quarterback, McCarron has guided the Crimson Tide to 25-2 record and two national titles. He also has been nearly flawless on the field, passing for 5,567 yards and 46 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.
McCarron's success has not gone unnoticed by his peers in the SEC.
"I've got tons of respect for (McCarron) and what's he's done at Alabama," Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley said. "He is a great guy and a fierce competitor. I could go on and on.
"He has been doing some great things at Alabama, and hopefully, we can catch on to some of those things at Tennessee."
Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel said he is hoping that some of McCarron's success rubbed off on him during the Manning camp.
"I would love to emulate what A.J. has done at Alabama and win national championships," Driskel said. "That's been a dream of mine since signing with Florida."
McCarron said he attributes his success to following the coaching staff's advice and doing whatever it takes to help the team win, whether it's handing the ball off, managing the game and relying heavy on the passing attack.
That philosophy, however, is a contrast to what McCarron did as a high school quarterback at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile, Ala.
"When I came in, I was a gunslinger like (former Green Bay Packers quarterback) Brett Favre," he said. "That's how I played high school. I was not afraid to throw the ball in tight spaces. I had to scale things back for the good of the team. If you want to label me a game manager, that's fine. As long as we keep winning, you can call me whatever you want."
McCarron said he credits a lot of his success to the close bond he developed with Alabama coach Nick Saban.
"Coach Saban always has my back," McCarron said. "He was the only coach from Alabama that came down and recruited me. No other Alabama coach came."
McCarron said he enjoys coming back to Thibodaux for the Manning Passing Academy, as it has helped him become a better player on and off the field.
Thibodaux is not the only place in Louisiana that McCarron has fond memories of. He will always remember the two games he won in the Bayou State - wins over LSU in the 2012 BCS Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans and at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge during the 2013 regular season.
McCarron said if last season's come-from-behind 21-17 win over LSU is the last college football game he plays in Louisiana, it will be one that he will never forget.
"That was one of the best wins I've been a part of and one of the best team wins we've had," he said. "We had to fight back, and it was really a 60-minute game. It was an unbelievable win, especially with it being in Tiger Stadium. It was a special win to be part of."
http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1525140
