Nick Saban has Alabama focused on Southern Mississippi, but the national audience is looking at next week.
After its close win over Florida, people are nervous about the Crimson Tide’s matchup against Ole Miss. They look at the masterful play-calling ability of Lane Kiffin and the offensive players for the Rebels. Mississippi’s defense has improved, and it brings more anticipation for this matchup. “Alabama is more vulnerable than ever.” National media has crafted the narrative as everyone wants to see who can knock out the Tide. ESPN’s Lee Corso made a bold statement on College GameDay about Alabama.
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“Alabama is beatable,” he said. “I’m sticking to that.”
A team can lose at any given moment.
Corso’s words hold weight as the Tide hasn’t won back-to-back national championships since the 2011 and 2012 seasons, but Coach Saban loves a challenge. His mindset is on the Tide being the hardest team to beat. He wants this group to play with a relentless passion.
In his early years at Alabama, people never considered Saban-coached teams as ‘beatable.’
The Tide was respected as a well-oiled machine by fans, media, and rival fans alike.
Alabama has a chance to play a complete game and get some confidence for next week.
The schedule will get harder after Mississippi, but Saban loves adversity. He is grooming a young team; nevertheless, it has the players to be successful.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
