Sugar Bowl Practice and Press Conference Thread

RTR91 said:

Alabama began practicing for Oklahoma today.

Practice report here.

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RTR91 said:

Saban's first presser for the bowl game is on the way.

Here's the live stream.

Here's a link to updates from al.com's writers.

Saban: It's really good to get back to work with our team.
Saban: "Good first practice for us."
Saban: "We have a great opportunity against a really good team to prove that we are a good football team."
Saban says the first few practices will be like camp, more for fundamentals.
Saban says Anthony Steen played the second half of the season with shoulder problems that got progressively worse.
Saban confirms G Anthony Steen had shoulder surgery. Injury got worse as season progressed. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (knee) back practicing.
Saban says Dalvin Tomlinson and Nick Perry are just out there to do football stuff and continue rehabbing. They won't play.
Saban: I'd like to congratulate the 17 guys we had graduate, that's the most we've ever had.
Saban notes 28 players will have degrees when they play in the Sugar Bowl.
Saban on Lane Kiffin being in town: "I can't believe that there's any reaction to it."
Nick Saban says he can’t believe there’s been any reaction to Lane Kiffin visiting Bama, citing how Oklahoma’s staff has been here before.
Saban on Kiffin: "Lane is a very good offensive coach and I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for him."
Saban lights up when asked about being a grandparent: "It's really wonderful. You really have to count your blessings." Big smile.
Saban on the Texas talk: I don’t have any more reactions to it. It’s over …. Can we look forward? I’m looking forward.
Nick Saban, again, reiterates that there were “no talks” between his representatives and Texas.
Saban mentions Alphonse Taylor, Kellen Williams, Grant Hill and "one of the centers" as players who could fill in for Anthony Steen at RG.
Saban on lessons learned from the loss: "Every guy has to change his habits and get back on track so we can do things."
Saban: bowl practice is an opportunity to "re-learn" fundamentals. Can't do that when everything is changing during the season
Saban says he takes a computer with him and watches film, recruits and Oklahoma during recruiting trips.


Thanks for posting the transcript of the presser. I despise trying to watch video to learn what CNS has to say. It's great to read about Bama ball again. Not looking forward to the off season.

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rgw said:

Interesting with Grant Hill. I thought he was going to start on the right side next season but with Shepard sliding into RG and Hill taking RT.


Of course, that is still probably on the table in 2014 but the idea now is to make it 1 new guy instead of effectively 2 new guys.

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Nolan said:

So you think it could be only for the bowl game?

Makes me wonder what our line might look like next year.

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Snuffy Smith said:

Probably depends on what CyKo does

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Nolan said:

Day by day we get the sour taste of the IB out of our mouths. Glad we are playing football again.

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rgw said:

I think Hill was an OG prospect but he was getting a lot of time at OT this Fall. Either way, he's going to be one of the best 5 next year.

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Nolan said:

Man I just don't see CyKo staying. He's a Top 10 pick.

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