The Tide had a great calendar year -- and not just on the football field. The only question is how long the streak will last
The SEC ran out of bowl eligible teams before filling this slot, so it sent its surrogate instead.
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron: 2012 Coastal Alabama Sportsman of the Year-al.comFor helping Alabama win one BCS national championship and earn the chance for another, AJ McCarron might have been the Press-Register's 2012 Coastal Alabama Sportsman of the Year. But the Mobilian is being awarded that honor today over 11 other finalists for what he did off the field, too.
Tide's defensive philosophy stays same against Irish-Dothan Eagle AlabamaAlabama defenders are creatures of habit. Their formula for beating Notre Dame on Jan. 7 is the one they took into the first 13 games of the season – take away the run and make the opponent pass.
The Alabama secondary entered the season with a chip on its shoulder. Dee Milliner quoted the prognosticators who said he and his fellow defensive backs would be the team's handicap, the reason the Crimson Tide might not make a return trip to the national championship. It's hard enough to repeat, let alone without three-quarters of a secondary that allowed the fewest passing yards and points in the country last year. With Dre Kirkpatrick, Mark Barron and DeQuan Menzie all gone to the NFL, Alabama surely would falter. "They say we're going to be the weak link," Milliner said after Alabama throttled Michigan 41-14 in the season-opener, sending a message to the country that it might not be 2010 or 2011, but the Crimson Tide defense would not fall off. It would not be the secondary that would let them down. "We always take it upon ourselves and compete and voice our opinion when we come on the field."
Five good minutes with AJ McCarron: The Alabama QB talks practice, Amari Cooper and more (video)-al.comMcCarron said he's watching more film than Alabama's coaches are able to consume, but he's wary of the dangers of over-preparation.
The announced crowds for the first 11 bowl games declined 7 percent from those same games last year and were down 10 percent from 2010.