Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain is used to being interviewed. While there are others on the No. 2 Crimson Tide defense who may get more publicity — mammoth defensive lineman Terrence Cody among them — McClain clearly is the quarterback of this staunch unit.
As such, he has been in front of the microphone quite a few times himself over the last three months, and is well-schooled in what not to say.
So it should come as no surprise that he and the rest of the Crimson Tide said all the right things in preparation for Alabama’s showdown vs. No. 1 Florida (12-0) in the SEC title game Saturday in Atlanta.
“You can’t get caught up in the moment. You’ve just got to do your job,” he said. “We came here to play football. You come to Alabama for games like this. You have to seize the moment.”
Which, of course, is something they did not do last season. You remember the story. Same stadium, same opponent, same title on the line. Alabama, leading most of the game, collapsed and fell victim to another Tim Tebow Moment. Florida won, 31-20, and went on to win the national title. Alabama went to the Sugar Bowl instead, barely got off the bus, and lost to Utah, 31-17.
“Last year, we wanted to win the national championship. We got close and this game determined whether we won or lost,” McClain said. “That’s still in the back of our minds, and we’re just going to go out with a different mindset — play our style for 60 minutes. I think we’ll be all right.”
We do, too. And as politically correct as McClain and the Tide are playing it, we can’t help but detect a little cup of confidence brewing in Tuscaloosa. And it’s understandable. Alabama (12-0) may well have the better defense, and quarterback aside, may even have a comparable offense.
“It’s really a one-game season,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “We need heart, we need spirit, and we need commitment from everybody, trying to do their best job.”
To be honest, this game is really all that anyone has cared about in Tuscaloosa all season. Sure, the Tide were tested by Tennessee and Auburn. But, honestly, did anyone truly think they were going to lose those games? You think the players did?
This team has had this game circled for 12 months. It has done it due diligence — although it wasn’t pretty at times — to make sure it received a second chance. Now, it’s here.
We’re not saying the Gators aren’t a great team. They are. Loyal readers will tell you, in fact, that we pick against Florida about as often as the Nets win games.
But in SEC play, Tebow and the offense have been tested more than we thought imaginable. They went just 3-5 against the spread. Alabama, meanwhile, went 5-3.
Plus, Alabama’s close call at Auburn is evidenced in this line. And the suspension of Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap after a DUI arrest doesn’t help matters for the champs.
Look, you’re not going to get far going against Tebow consistently. We know that. But if you pick your spots, you may be able to cash. We think this is one of those spots. Alabama (+5 ½) is the pick.