History is a good teacher, but it can also be a place of inspiration.
When the clock hit triple zeros 13 years ago at the Rose Bowl, Nick Saban realized he had accomplished something for only the second time in his college football coaching career with a new program. He watched a team in bunt orange walk off the field in sadness as crimson and white confetti was all over Pasadena, Calif. Saban was doused with crimson Gatorade by his players as Alabama captured a BCS National Championship over Texas in the 2010 Rose Bowl Game to finish the 2009 football season.
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A memory that was over a decade ago has become the piece to help this Crimson Tide team prepare for Michigan.
Alabama faces the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day in one of two College Football Playoff semifinal matchups.
Three student-athletes for the Tide — Jalen Milroe, Malachi Moore, and Dallas Turner — spoke to reporters on Tuesday about how they remember the 2010 Rose Bowl and how its being used in preparation. Milroe, Moore, and Turner were all selected as permanent team captains by their peers for their leadership this season. Milroe, a native Texan, watched the 2010 BCS National Championship Game and said he saw the effort the Crimson Tide put in for four quarters to gain a victory over the Longhorns.
“We have Josh Chapman here, and he talks about that game all the time,” Milroe said. “I am familiar with the game, and I am familiar with how our Alabama team finished the game through four quarters. That spoke out to me.”
Chapman, a strength coach on Saban’s staff, was a defensive lineman at Alabama from 2007 to 2011. He was on three BCS National Championship teams, including Saban’s first national title with the program in 2009.
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Moore, a native of Trussville, Ala., spoke about Mark Ingram’s touchdown celebration after scoring in the 2010 Rose Bowl and how it inspired him in his football career. The senior defensive back is going after his second CFP National Championship.
“I do remember watching that game,” Moore said about his recollection of the 2010 Rose Bowl Game. “When Mark Ingram scored and put his gloves up, I went to practice the next day and every time I scored I did the same thing. I definitely remember that game, and it is going to be fun playing in that stadium.”
Turner, a South Florida native, remembers the Rose Bowl. He’s watched several of these matchups, but he’s excited to see how his teammates will handle being on the West Coast for a ball game.
“I know how iconic the Rose Bowl is,” Turner said.
“I grew up watching it. This is a very good opportunity for me and my teammates to go out to Los Angeles and have fun. A lot of people on our team have never been out west before so it’s going to be a good experience for everybody.”
Coach Saban’s message of his dominance to college football came in the Rose Bowl, and now he gets a chance to send a new message of him not being done ruling the sport at the Rose Bowl. It is going to be fun watching Alabama and Michigan.
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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.
