Sports

Alabama already next year’s top team

PASADENA, Calif. — Nick Saban celebrated Thursday night. By yesterday morning Alabama’s national champion coach was reverting back to his same-old successful worrying self.

The Tide are the early pick as next season’s No.1 team and that’s enough to shift his emotional meter from the joy of beating Texas 37-21 in the BCS National Championship game to the concerns over expectations.

“I think that people who make those statements sort of just look at the periphery of, well, you have Julio Jones, you have Mark Ingram, you’ve got Trent Richardson, the quarterback is coming back, so therefore everything is going to turn up roses,” Saban said.

“And that’s not necessarily the case, because you’ve got to build a team,” he added. “And a team — you know, we play 50 or 60 guys through the course of the season, and like I always say, the bottom 40 guys on your roster usually determines how good that team really is. And I don’t want to criticize the media or anything, because God knows I get punished enough by you guys, but you guys will look at the top four or five guys on the team and make your determination.”

Saban has a point. The title game turned on plays by players that received almost no pregame hype. Marcell Dareus, a reserve defensive lineman, put the hit on Colt McCoy that knocked the Texas quarterback out of the game on the Longhorns’ fifth play.

He also intercepted McCoy’s backup, true freshman Garrett Gilbert and returned the pick 28 yards for a touchdown with three seconds left in the first half. And reserve linebacker Eryk Ayers made the late sack that forced a Gilbert fumble, ending Texas’ last gasp.

McCoy said after the game that trainers told him his “dead arm” should be fine. It was little consolation for the quarterback that won an NCAA record 45 games.

“I hope God gives me a chance on another championship stage again because I think I can lead a team to a championship,” McCoy said.

Texas will be Gilbert’s team next season, and the experienced he gained by playing on the biggest stage against an elite defense will serve him well next season. Texas (13-1), once again, should be the team to beat in the Big 12.

Alabama (14-0) and Florida (13-1) appeared poised to begin a 10-year war similar to the Woody Hayes-Bo Schembechler battles between Ohio State and Michigan. Florida loses quarterback Tim Tebow, defensive coordinator Charlie Strong (Louisville) and coach Urban Meyer will be taking a break to recover from stress-related symptoms.

The Big Ten will have two heavyweights in Ohio State and Iowa. Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor seemingly came of age in the Rose Bowl win over Oregon and Iowa’s defense stymied Georgia Tech’s vaunted option attack.

Oregon and USC seem to have separated from the rest of the Pac 10, though there could be a seismic shift. The Los Angeles times reported that the Seahawks have targeted Pete Carroll as their next head coach.

Boise State’s dominance over the WAC should continue next season with 21 starters from this year’s 14-0 team returning. The Broncos are 26-1 over the last two seasons (they lost 17-16 to TCU at last year’s Poinsettia Bowl), and have gone undefeated twice in the last four seasons.

The Big East, which anxiously awaits the Big Ten’s decision on expansion, remains a half-step behind the other BCS leagues. South Florida is looking for a new coach after firing Jim Leavitt over allegations he struck a player at halftime of a game.

Michigan offensive coordinator Calvin Magee, a former USF assistant coach is considered a candidate. Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio, Tampa Bucs Rich Bissacia and former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville could also be considered.

“If they make the right hire, they could dominate the Big East,” said a source familiar with the Bulls’ program. “With the talent in Florida, they can take the next step.”

Alabama already has. Saban said jokingly yesterday about his tendency to shake his leg during interviews. He also has been known to jiggle coins in his pocket. Saban said he always shakes his leg, which puts athletic director Mal Moore in a difficult position.

Moore told the Tuscaloosa News that he will recommend a statue of Saban be erected outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium in the ‘Walk of Champions.’

Perhaps Saban can find a way to build a statue with shaky legs. Certainly the rest of college football is weak-kneed over the prospects of an Alabama dynasty.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com