Alabama Holds Spring Game, Prepares to defend National Title

It is only late April, but already the Crimson Tide fans are wondering how their team will be once fall arrives. Head Coach Nick Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide team just completed their annual spring practice in Tuscaloosa and Saban is not satisfied with the outcome.

The team held its spring game on Saturday and the nine turnovers could have added to Saban’s frustration, but it was the players’ attitudes that upset him more than, how the game played out. He criticized his players harshly for being too comfortable with their current circumstances.

Saban said after the game that he had spoken to a number of Alabama’s alumni groups and all of them wanted him to make comparisons with his national championship teams of before and the current squad. He said he was not pleased with any of his three national championship teams following spring practice just as he is not pleased with his current one.

Alabama has four months prior to their season opener at the Georgia Dome. In the spring game on Saturday, quarterback AJ McCarron threw one touchdown pass amongst his 19 completion in 30 attempts, but gave up two interceptions. The White team led by McCarron defeated the Red team led by the Crimson Tide’s starting defense, by the score of 17-14.

 However, the two offenses combined for three lost fumbles and six interceptions, which are mistakes Saban is not accustomed to for his spring games. Saban said he was most concerned with how would the team’s enthusiasm, energy and attention to detail be on the field. In general, their overall mental intensity, he said. He was not pleased, as he said not many players answered his concerns in a positive way.

Alabama is the reigning NCAA National Champion and Saban knows that means his players will have a huge bulls eye posted on their uniforms for every game they play. Opponents will look to play harder and better when they meet Alabama and it will make each game equally difficult.

With back to back national championships and three in his tenure with Alabama, Saban knows what his players need to do to win and as is usual with his spring practices, he was not pleased with the teams overall play or intensity.

The Crimson Tide has already been projected by many odds makers to reach the BCS title game and win yet another national title. Early odds have Alabama at 5/2 to repeat with Ohio State at 6/1 and Oregon at 7/1.

Saban is not concerned with the odds, he just wants his players to put last season’s national championship to the side and focus on winning yet another in the upcoming season. He might not be that confident at this point, but many others are.