Wednesday, January 9, 2013 Serving the University of Alabama since 1894 Vol.

119, Issue 69
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I really hope that we all appreciate
what we accomplished and understand
what it took to accomplish it.
Coach Nick Saban

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Page 2 Wednesday,
January 9, 2013
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By Marquavius Burnett
Sports Editor
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla
When the dust settles and the
smoke clears from the six-
month barrage that is the col-
lege football season, only one
team can truly celebrate.
Monday night, that team
was once again the Alabama
Crimson Tide as the Tide
crushed Notre Dame, 42-14, to
win back-to-back BCS National
Championships, their third in
the last four years.
The Tide seemed to take the
fight out of the Irish early and
never let up.
The ending was fitting for
this particular Alabama team.
This bunch was chosen as
the second-best team in the
Southeastern Conferences
Western Division behind LSU
at the beginning of the season.
The loss of talent on the defen-
sive side of the ball and the
early departure of a Heisman
finalist running-back left major
holes and major questions.
Even head coach Nick Saban
admitted this was his least tal-
ented team of the Tides recent
national championship runs.
But once the lights were on,
it was clear the Tide was in a
class of its own.
We came with the mind-
set of trying to be legendary,
freshman receiver Amari
Cooper said.
Alabama is now in that rare
air of winning three national
championships in four years.
Not since Nebraskas run in
the 1990s has this been accom-
plished. Some teams struggle
to make the game, others win a
championship and regress, but
Alabama continues to churn
out championships turning
Tuscaloosa into Title Town.
For a program that has
been criticized for clinging too
tightly to the good old days, Im
sure those days were good, but
Alabama people should recog-
nize that these days for them
are better, ESPN studio host
and Alabama graduate Rece
Davis said.
Thats not a shot at the great
Paul Bear Bryant and his
legacy, its only the truth In
this day of college football,
Alabamas run is nothing short
of spectacular. 2009 and 2011
were expected, but this wasnt.
No one thought Alabama was
four touchdowns better than
Notre Dame.
Alabamas offense epito-
mized balance. The Tides
attack racked up 529 yards of
total offense, 265 rushing and
264 passing. Running backs
Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon
took turns battering what was
supposed to be a vaunted Notre
Dame front seven. Quarterback
AJ McCarron shredded the
Irish secondary for four touch-
downs. It could have been
six if not for a few missed
opportunities to Cooper.
Notre Dames defense forgot
the No. 1 fundamental of tackle
football: tackle. Heisman can-
didate Manti Teo whiffed on a
few attempts to bring down the
Tides dominant duo of backs.
With Teo struggling, the rest
of the Irish stood no chance.
Weve got to get physically
stronger, continue to close the
gap there and just overall you
need to see what it looks like,
said Notre Dame coach Brian
Kelly of the difference between
the Irish and the Tide.
The Irish got a look at it all
night. In a scene similar to
the SEC Championship Game,
Alabama lined up and ran right
at the Irish defense, welcoming
contact. Only this time, there
was no back and forth action
necessary.
Defensively, Alabama stifled
Notre Dame all game. The Irish
abandoned the running game
early, finishing with 32 yards
on 19 carries. Quarterback
Everett Golson never found his
rhythm throwing the ball and
was constantly under pressure.
Everywhere Golson turned
there was a Tide defender.
Linebackers and defensive line-
man made open field tackles
on Golson and the Irishs skill
players, showing the speed dif-
ference between the SEC and
the rest of college football.
But Notre Dame fans
shouldnt be discouraged. The
SEC does this to everyone. The
league beats up one another
each week, making one anoth-
er look vulnerable and expos-
ing weaknesses. Thats fools
gold.
Anyone who watches the
SEC knows there could be at
least one team in the title game
every year, even with the play-
off.
Alabama shows no signs of
slowing down and are, in fact,
getting stronger. With the
return of key veterans such as
AJ McCarron and C.J. Mosley,
Alabama will be in the mix at
the end of next season. The
return of such players only
gives Alabama time to look
ahead and recruit or nurture
the next crop of champions.
We have such a great cul-
ture here from top to bottom,
offensive coordinator Doug
Nussmeier said. Everybody
buys in from day one, and that
is why we are successful.
THIS IS OUR
TRADITION
CW | Austin Bigoney
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | Page 3
FOOTBALL
Alabama excels in National Championship rout
BY THE NUMBERS
80,120
|fans attended the National Championship Game, breaking the attendance record for any event in Sun Life
Stadium history.
108:07
|When Notre Dame scored a touchdown on quarterback Everett Golsons scramble in the third quarter, it marked
the first time Alabama had been scored on in a National Championship Game since the fourth quarter of the 2009
game against Texas - a shutout streak of 108 minutes and 7 seconds.
1
|Alabama rushed for 265 and passed for 264 a one-yard difference.
5
|Alabama put together five touchdown drives of 70 yards or more.
2
| Notre Dame had only allowed two rushing touchdowns during their entire regular season, a mark Alabama matched 4 seconds
into the second quarter.
POSITION GRADES
A
The Tide offense gained 529 yards of total offense, scored 42 points against Notre Dames defense and made it look
easy. The offensive line created gaping holes for Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon, while AJ McCarron threw four touch-
downs, two to Amari Cooper.
Offense
Notre Dame rarely had decent starting position, in large part due to touchbacks and well-placed punts.
Special Teams
A
Defense
Nick Saban and his staff proved again why they are the best in the country with time to prepare. No one saw this
beating coming, but Alabamas preparation and game plan took the fight away from Notre Dame early.
Coaching
A
A
The defense held the Irish in check, allowing only 31 rushing yards. The team contained Notre Dame quarterback
Everett Golson and made it difficult for him to find a rhythm.
CW | Austin Bigoney
Yeldon and McCarron during Mondays game.
Located on The Strip 205.752.2990
1218 University Blvd. locker-room.biz
Congratulations
Tide!
Congratulations
Tide!
By Zac Al-Khateeb
Staff Reporter
Alabama junior linebacker
C.J. Mosley stood front and
center on the podium. Battle-
worn and weary, C.J. didnt
even look excited as he hoisted
the crystal trophy above his
head, celebrating Alabamas
15th national title.
After all, the games defen-
sive Most Outstanding Player
recipient had just played lights-
out in one of the biggest games
of his life. The linebacker, hail-
ing from Theodore, Ala., had
made himself known to the
world on a national stage for
his performance against Notre
Dame.
Mosley finished the game
leading the defense with eight
total tackles five solo and
tied for second with a tackle for
loss. Mosleys statistics in the
game certainly werent gaudy,
but he was constantly involved
in the Alabama defensive
success all night and all year.
C.J. played consistently well
for us all year long, Alabama
head coach Nick Saban said. I
dont really feel like he ever had
a bad game. I think he loves to
play. Hes a very active player.
Hes very athletic, very instinc-
tive, always seems to make a lot
[of] plays.
And make plays Mosley did.
In one play for the Tide,
Mosley stuffed Fighting Irish
running back Theo Riddick
in the running lane before
slamming him to the ground
in a tackle that could be felt
in the stands. On another, he
contained scrambler Everett
Golson en route to forcing him
to throw out of bounds. And on
another, he laterally pursued
Riddick once again, knock-
ing aside a would-be stiff arm
before using perfect tackling
technique to bring him down.
Thats what has made Mosley
so successful at Alabama, not
only in the championship game
but the entire season. His com-
bination of speed, power, con-
trol and cover skills makes him
Alabamas most valuable line-
backer, if not its most versatile.
But even more impressive
than Mosleys versatility this
season has been his consis-
tency. In fact, the impressive
game Mosley put together
against Notre Dame wasnt
even Mosleys most impressive
performance on the year. It was
simply the latest in a string of
incredible games for him this
season.
When you look at the pro-
duction, which we have a
production chart on defense,
hes pretty consistently the guy
thats getting the most points
game-in and game-out, Saban
said. So I think his consis-
tency and performance is what
makes him a special player,
and it really doesnt matter
who were playing against. He
always seems to make a lot of
plays. He had a great game last
night.
Saban wasnt the only one
impressed with the perfor-
mance Mosley put on in the
championship game either.
Senior linebacker Nico Johnson
also said he was impressed
with his fellow linebackers
level of play.
C.J. has played great all
year long, Johnson said. And
I just try to keep him motivated
to understand that hes always
got room for improvement, no
matter how good things are or
how bad things are. And thats
what happened.
Im just thankful he was a
part of the team this year.
Of course, Mosley didnt
achieve all his success in the
game and the season without
a little help. Senior defensive
lineman Jesse Williams, whos
devoured more than his fair
share of double teams to open
lanes up for Mosley, has played
a huge role in Mosleys success.
Still, Williams said he was
happy knowing he had a guy
like Mosley behind him to fin-
ish up the work he started in
the trenches.
Ive been grateful to be able
to take double teams so that he
can be able to make plays the
past couple of years, Williams
said. But hes a great guy and
deserves everything he got.
Of course, Williams wont
be around for Mosleys senior
season at Alabama, a sea-
son in which he could prove
himself to be one of the best
linebackers in the nation.
Both Williams and Johnson
expressed how important hell
be to Alabamas success next
season, as well.
Hes going to be a real head-
ache, Johnson said. Because
next year, hes going to play
more faster. Hes going to get
bigger in the offseason. Hes
going to have fun more than he
ever had, and hes going to give
them problems.
Page 4 | Wednesday, January 9, 2013 NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
Lacy, Mosley named Most Outstanding Players
Lacy bounces back from injury to lead tide rushing attack Mosley leads Tide defense, will return for senior season
By Marc Torrence
Assistant Sports Editor
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - It
didnt take much searching
to find the matchup everyone
was talking about ahead of
Alabamas national champi-
onship game clash with Notre
Dame.
How would the Crimson
Tides offensive line fare
against the vaunted front
seven of the Fighting Irish?
From the opening kickoff,
where Notre Dame deferred
to Alabamas offense, this was
answered emphatically.
The Crimson Tide ran the
ball almost at will in Mondays
42-14 victory as Alabamas ter-
rifying offensive line took one
last curtain call before some of
them head for the NFL, paving
the way for 265 rushing yards.
140 of those yards came from
running back Eddie Lacy, the
games offensive MVP.
We knew we had to be
physical up front, and we did,
guard Chance Warmack said.
It paid off tonight.
Lacy, a junior, is expected to
declare for the NFL draft as
well.
What may be the last two
games of his college career
were most certainly his best.
After playing in the shadows
of Heisman trophy winner
Mark Ingram and Heisman
finalist Trent Richardson,
Lacy stepped into the spot-
light and proved he deserved
to be mentioned in the con-
versation of great Alabama
running backs.
Having that type of con-
fidence, right tackle D.J.
Fluker said, hell probably go
down as one of the greatest
running backs in history.
Lacys road to Monday night
was not the most ideal for a
running back, however.
He spent much of the offsea-
son nursing a turf toe injury
that kept him out for spring
practice and parts of fall camp.
Lacy opened the season still
hobbled by the setback, not
ever appearing 100 percent.
Alabama leaned heavily on
freshman T.J. Yeldon after fur-
ther attrition struck the run-
ning back position with inju-
ries to Dee Hart and Jalston
Fowler.
Yeldon was more than reli-
able, picking up where Lacy
left off, but there was still a
feeling that Lacy hadnt fully
taken over like he knew he
could.
Enter Monday night.
Fluker challenged Lacy
before the game on the team
bus as the Crimson Tide rode
to Sun Life Stadium.
I said, If you can get two or
three touchdowns, well win
the game, Fluker recalled.
He said, All right. As long
as you give me good blocking,
were going to get it.
And get it they did.
His first score came on the
first drive of the game. Lacy
took a hand-off from quarter-
back AJ McCarron, gashing
through the gaping hole his
line had made for him, cut-
ting around an Irish defender
and sprinting 20 yards for the
games first touchdown.
It makes you look a whole
lot better than what you
really are, tight end Michael
William said about blocking
for Lacy.
His second score may have
been the most spectacular of
his Crimson Tide career.
This time, Lacy took a screen
pass from McCarron, cut up
field and executed a spectacu-
lar spin, his signature move, to
make two Irish defenders miss
and walk into the end zone.
Thats why hes called
circle button, guard Chance
Warmack said. Because
he makes those spin moves
at crucial times.
Once Lacy hit the circle but-
ton, Notre Dame got up and
turned off the Playstation.
I think the thing that prob-
ably I appreciate most about
Eddie is Eddie has probably
had to overcome a lot more
adversity, have a lot more
resiliency, be a little more
patient, head coach Nick
Saban said. You know, hes
had to overcome, battle a lot of
injuries. But hes never, ever
lost sight of the focus, the goal
of what he wanted to accom-
plish and what he wanted to
do continue to improve and
get better.
SEASON STATS
204 carries
1322 yards
17 touchdowns
6.5 yards per carry
SEASON STATS
107 tackles
4 sacks
8 tackles for loss
2 interceptions
1 touchdown
CW | Austin Bigoney
Top: Junior running back Eddie Lacy is expected to declare for the
2013 NFL Draft, but nished the 2012 season with two touchdowns
in the BCS National Championship Game.
Bottom: Alabamas offensive line paved the way for Lacys success.
CW | Austin Bigoney
Junior linebacker C.J. Mosley played a critical role in containing Irish
quarterback Everett Golson. Even after winning two national champi-
onships at Alabama, Mosley said he will return for his senior season.
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | Page 5
By Marc Torrence
Assistant Sports Editor
Nick Saban stood on the
podium at midfield of Sun
Life Stadium after winning
his fourth BCS National
Championship game, his
third as coach of the Alabama
Crimson Tide.
ESPNs John Saunders had
finished the trophy presenta-
tion, and the crowd roared
around them. Saban paused for
a brief moment and stared at
the crystal football that lay in
his hands before raising it tri-
umphantly above his head yet
again.
Maybe he finally considered,
for just an instant, the magni-
tude of what he and his team
had just accomplished. Maybe
he had remembered something
important for later as he did
after the SEC Championship
game when he wrote Team
Dinner on a piece of paper
during the celebration.
Or maybe he saw a spot
or blemish on the gleaming
crystal trophy. Its perhaps
the most realistic possibility,
as Saban has made his living
on his ability to find the little
imperfections, even in seem-
ingly perfect situations.
Saban, 61, unquestionably
entered the pantheon of all-
time great college head coach-
es Monday night. No one has
ever been able to accomplish
what he has in the BCS era,
where winning a championship
is harder than ever: four titles
at two different schools and
now two back-to-back.
Urban Meyer came the clos-
est, winning in 2006 and 2008
with Florida. But Sabans run
stands alone in the modern era.
When we hired coach
Saban, athletic director Mal
Moore said after the game,
Hed won a national cham-
pionship [at LSU in 2003], and
I wanted to him to have the
opportunity to do it again at
Alabama, and has he ever per-
formed.
Much is made about Sabans
relentless pursuit of perfection,
never letting even the most
minute detail go unaddressed.
He praised senior center
Barrett Jones and junior quar-
terback AJ McCarron when
the pair got in a scuffle about a
protection call that forced them
to burn a timeout with five
minutes remaining in the blow-
out victory .
Their reaction to each other
was an indication that theyre
still out there competing and
playing like youd like for them
to, Saban said Tuesday.
He was also asked Tuesday
what he does with his champi-
onship rings. Certainly wear-
ing four rings would become a
burden after some time.
I just put them on the cof-
fee table for the recruits to look
at, he said.
Thats Saban in a nut-
shell. Always thinking about
the next game, the next
challenge, the next recruit. He
sees his championship rings
as only a way to woo the next
hotshot high school prospect
to his university so he can
win another.
Be the best you can be, he
always says. You can almost
hear his father drilling that
into Nick as he worked at a ser-
vice station in West Virginia.
If youre going to be a
street sweeper, be the best
street sweeper you can be,
he said. Sweep the streets
like Michelangelo paint-
ed the Sistine Chapel, like
Shakespeare wrote literature.
Let them put a sign up right
here that says, The best street
sweeper in the world lives right
here.
And if you can do that, you
do the best there is in life,
knowing you did your best to be
the best you could be, no matter
what you choose to do.
You could put a sign in his
yard that reads, The best col-
lege football coach in the world
lives here, and you wouldnt
be wrong. Like the Sistine
Chapel or Shakespeares writ-
ing, Saban has left a distinct
mark on his profession and will
be remembered as an all-time
great.
He doesnt like to pause
and think much about it, but
Monday he did. Whether he
did for a second on that stage,
for two hours like he told Tom
Rinaldi he would before the
game or for 24 hours like he
told the media, Saban undoubt-
edly enjoyed number four.
Whether I look it or not,
a weary Saban said after the
game. Im happy as hell.
And then the moment
passed, and it was back to work
on number five.
Saban wins 4th trophy on national stage

Hed won a national championship [at LSU in 2003], and I wanted to

him to have the opportunity to do it again at Alabama, and has he ever
performed.
Mal Moore
CW | Austin Bigoney
Coach Nick Saban speaks at a press conference following a win against Notre Dame that earned the Tide several top awards on Tuesday, Jan. 8th at the Harbor Beach Marriott, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
WELCOME BACK!
By Marc Torrence
Assistant Sports Editor
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - It
didnt exactly look bright for
Alabamas offense after the
2011 season.
The Crimson Tide lost run-
ning back and Heisman trophy
finalist Trent Richardson after
last seasons national cham-
pionship victory. It lost its
top three wide receivers and
H-back. Its offensive coordina-
tor Jim McElwain left to take a
head coaching job at Colorado
State.
Naturally, Alabama respond-
ed with one of the most prolific
offensive seasons in Crimson
Tide history.
Despite losing starters at
nearly every skill position,
Alabama set single-season
records for points scored (542)
and offensive touchdowns
(68) in 2012. Quarterback AJ
McCarron set the program
record for touchdown passes in
a season and broke the career
record Monday.
Alabama saw its first pair
of 1,000-yard rushers and the
offense set a record for most
total yards in a season.
At the center of the Tides
offensive explosion is the most-
ly anonymous offensive coordi-
nator Doug Nussmeier, hired
in January to run head coach
Nick Sabans offense. Because
of Sabans strict media policy
freshmen and assistant coach-
es do not speak publicly during
the season Nussmeier usu-
ally stays behind the scenes.
But Thursday before
the game, Nussmeier held
court with reporters in Ft.
Lauderdale and discussed his
whirlwind first season calling
the shots for the Tides attack.
Pleasant surprises, he said
of the season. Working with
the group of coaches we have
on offense has been an out-
standing experience great,
great coaches, a lot of expe-
rience. Working with Coach
Saban, the way he structures
everything, the attention
to detail, you just cant say
enough about it. Everything is
process-oriented.
Nussmeiers offense, while
prolific, has had its share of ups
and downs. It is built around an
efficient quarterback, a pair of
stud freshmen and an offensive
line with a terrifying combina-
tion of size, speed and smarts.
But scheme-wise, it isnt
much different from the same
formula that has worked for
Saban since his arrival in
Tuscaloosa a steady diet of a
physical running game, mixed
in with short throws and deep
patterns usually set up by the
play-action.
As far as the hand print that
I personally put on the offense,
when I got here at the end of
last year and Coach hired me,
it was very important for me
to really dive into the offense
that was here, Nussmeier
said. And look at the things
that our players had done and
done well, and then find things
that maybe I had done in the
past that I could bring to help
fit into this system, so to say.
The biggest change
Nussmeier has brought is a
faster tempo to Alabamas
attack at times. In its last two
games Auburn in the season
finale and Georgia in the SEC
Championship Game the
Crimson Tide opened with a
no-huddle look, featuring a
three-wide receiver set. It also
likes to sprinkle in the hurry-
up style when the offense hits
a lull.
Its a literal change of
pace from the grind-it-out,
wear-you-down offense of
Alabamas past.
I think if you look at col-
lege football in general, thats
a growing trend no-huddle
offense, speed, hurry-up,
Nussmeier said. As any game
you play, the ability to change
the tempo of the game offen-
sively or defensively can cre-
ate a competi-
tive advantage
for you if its
useful in the
game youre
playing.
The prob-
lem facing
Nu s s m e i e r
when he
installed his
system cer-
tainly wasnt talent. But most
of that talent didnt have
experience playing week in,
week out. Ultimately, it was
two freshmen who stepped up
and gave Nussmeier the speed
and skill he needed to run
his offense.
Eddie Lacy was entrenched
as the No. 1 starter at running
back, but the field behind him
was wide open. A series of inju-
ries opened up an opportunity
for T.J. Yeldon, who enrolled in
January 2012. Yeldon took full
advantage, going more than
100 yards in the season-open-
er the first time an Alabama
freshman had done so.
Yeldon finished with 11
touchdowns and exactly 1,000
yards rushing.
He grew old early,
Nussmeier said of Yeldon.
His presence beside Lacy
lets Nussmeier swap the two
out interchangeably without
losing a step. When one gets
tired the other comes in as a
fresh spell, while the defense
toils away, trying to stop
the pounding.
The second freshman is wide
receiver Amari Cooper, who
gives Nussmeier a dynamic
wideout that can burn a defen-
sive back down the field on a
fly route, make a spectacular
leaping catch over an unsus-
pecting defender or a catch
over the middle, holding on
while being hit.
Cooper led
Alabama in
receiving by
more than 500
yards, and
his 11 touch-
downs were by
far the most
on the team.
And on the
biggest stage
in Mondays
national championship game,
Cooper hauled in more than
100 yards receiving, two touch-
downs and was a centimeter
away from adding a third.
You know, when you get a
wide receiver of his caliber,
and to have the big play capa-
bility he has, obviously the
big challenge early on is not
to give him too much to where
hes playing slow, Nussmeier
said. So we really started
with a small package for Coop,
and its kind of evolved as its
gone, and now he has the abil-
ity to do a lot of different things
for us.
And thats just any young
player getting into a system,
learning, but obviously his
ability to create big plays in
the passing game for us this
season, its been a huge part of
our success.
Running the ball has been
and continues to be Alabamas
bread and butter, but the pass-
ing game has seen the most
strides under Nussmeier.
McCarron showed flashes of
brilliance in the 2011 National
Championship Game and
Nussmeier has played off of
that success and sustained it
into 2012.
Through the first 13 games,
he threw for almost the same
number of yards as he did in his
13 games last year, but his pass-
er rating went up by almost 30
points. He didnt throw his first
interception until the Texas
A&M game in week 10, ending
a school record streak of 289
passes without an interception.
And, like Cooper, he shined
brightest on the biggest stage,
tossing four touchdowns and
no interceptions Monday.
Hes brought a bunch of
different plays, also a differ-
ent type of mindset to this
offense than we had last year,
McCarron said of Nussmeier.
But I know personally hes
helped me tremendously. I was
actually talking to my dad the
other day, and it was kind of
crazy. I have less pass attempts
than what I did last year but
better numbers all the way
around, and I think that shows
a big part of his coaching abil-
ity and the way hes helped me
grow, not only as a leader but
as a quarterback this year.
It was Texas A&M that
provided Nussmeier with a
glimpse of what can happen if
he becomes too reliant on the
pass. With the ball six yards
away from the end zone, and
needing a touchdown to take
a late lead, three of Alabamas
four plays were called passes,
the third of which was inter-
cepted, sealing the Crimson
Tides fate.
Three weeks later, fac-
ing an 11-point deficit in the
SEC Championship Game,
Nussmeier all but abandoned
the pass, going almost exclu-
sively to the run. Twelve offen-
sive plays later 11 of which
were runs Alabama had a
four-point lead.
And when the Crimson
Tide needed one more score,
Nussmeier cooked up a for-
mula that looked all too famil-
iar for Sabans teams. With the
Georgia defense almost com-
pletely selling out to stop the
run, McCarron faked the hand
off instead and hit Cooper over
the top for the game-winning
score.
The running game wore
down the Bulldog front, and
with one-on-one coverage,
Nussmeier trusted his play-
maker to create a play.
We were able to create big,
explosive plays in the running
game, and there was really not
a need to do anything else at
that point in time, Nussmeier
said. So were going to have
a balanced game plan. Were
going to go into every game
with the ability not only to run
it but to throw it, have play-
actions that come off our runs,
all those type of things.
His last challenge of the 2012
season came Monday in the
BCS National Championship
Game against Notre Dame,
where his powerful offense
pushed around the Notre
Dame front seven that came in
with so much hype.
Nussmeier was hired to
add an extra dimension to the
Crimson Tide offense. Hes
done just that, while learning
to stick with the game plan
that has brought Alabama so
much success in the past.
Its been an outstanding
experience, he said. You can
anticipate what its going to be
like, but I dont think you ever
really know until youre there.
This place is really special, and
I just feel very fortunate that
weve been able to be a part
of this.
Historic year erases doubts about offense

Were going to have a balanced

game plan. Were going to go
into every game with the ability
not only to run it but to throw it
Doug Nussmeier
Doug Nussmeier orchestrated record-setting season in rst year as Tides offensive coordinator
Page 6 | Wednesday, January 9, 2013 NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
By Marc Torrence
Assistant Sports Editor
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.
There may not be a hotter
head coaching candidate than
Alabama defensive coordina-
tor Kirby Smart. He has led
one of the top defenses in col-
lege football while working for
a head coach who is consid-
ered the best in the sport.
So why hasnt Smart left
Alabama for an opportunity at
the helm of a program?
He said hes waiting for the
perfect opportunity.
I have the best non-head-
coaching job in the country,
period, Smart said in a rare
interview appearance Friday
before the championship
game. Ive got a great admin-
istration; weve got a great
facility. I want to be where I
can win, and I know you can
win at Alabama. I think thats
so important.
But that doesnt mean he
isnt looking around. Smarts
name is always floated around
when an FBS job becomes
available. He interviewed at in-
state rival Auburn University
after Gene Chizik was let go as
head coach.
Smart didnt get a job offer
the Tigers opted for former
offensive coordinator Gus
Malzahn but said the experi-
ence was priceless.
I think the interview pro-
cess is beneficial for you
because you find out a lot more
about the people youre talking
to, and you also find out a lot
more about yourself and you
get better experience doing
that, Smart said. I certainly
think its a benefit. And Coach
Saban has been extremely sup-
portive of me in that process
and has told me on a number
of occasions that he knows that
Im going to have opportuni-
ties, and hes happy for me for
those opportunities.
While its unknown
exactly why Auburn passed on
Smart for Malzahn Ill just
leave that to us and them,
Smart said the job is a good
example of one Smart is wait-
ing for: a major program with
a lot of resources that can
win right away.
Chris Low, who covers the
SEC for ESPN.com, sees two
schools that fit him perfectly.
Alabama, if Saban leaves
or retires, or the Georgia
job, Low said. Hes sort of
just waiting to see what hap-
pens. Hes not going to go
somewhere where he doesnt
think he can win a cham-
pionship in the first couple
years. And I dont blame him;
I wouldnt either.
Smart played defensive back
for the Bulldogs from 1995-1998,
and it is widely believed that
he would jump at the oppor-
tunity to lead his alma mater.
Current Georgia coach Mark
Richt had 8- and 9-win seasons
in 2009 and 2010, turning up the
temperature of his seat in the
ever-competitive SEC.
But Richt responded with
two straight SEC Eastern
Division titles and came within
four points of Alabama of play-
ing in a national champion-
ship this season. For now, it
appears that Richt is safe and
sound in Athens.
As for Alabama, Saban, 61,
has shown no sign of letting up.
He signed a contract extension
in the spring that will have him
in Tuscaloosa until 2019.
Smart dismissed any notion
of having his eye on the
Alabama job and waiting for it
to open up.
Well, Im like Coach Saban,
I dont get into hypotheticals,
Smart said. Thats completely
a hypothetical. I think Alabama
is a special, special place, and
its obviously a great place to
coach. But as far as anything
outside of that, Im just worried
about this game and being suc-
cessful at Alabama.
Smart said he had one thing
on his mind during his inter-
view session Friday beat-
ing Notre Dame. His defense
held the Fighting Irish offense
to 302 yards, most of which
came when the game was far
out of hand.
The job search can wait for
another day.
Smarts ultimate goal is
a head coaching job why
wouldnt a coach of his caliber
strive for the top of his pro-
fession? But hes in no hurry
to leave Alabama, where he
can continue to win at a high
level, while learning from
one of the best.
I think I just turned 37. I am
so worried about Notre Dame,
I dont know my age, Smart
said. I dont worry about
where Im going to be in three
years or ten years. I think if you
win, that takes care of itself,
and Im not in such a hurry to
run off and do anything that I
dont have a pressing issue. If
I was 47, I might feel different-
ly. But most important thing
to me right now is winning
championships and developing
young men into better players
and better people.
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | Page 7
Kirby Smart waiting on perfect opportunity
Alabama defensive coordinator looking for right job, wants to lead program with which he can win
CW | Austin Bigoney
Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart celebrates with his son following the National Championship game
win.

Thats completely a hypothetical. I think Alabama is a special, special

place, and its obviously a great place to coach. But as far as anything
outside of that, Im just worried about this game and being successful at
Alabama.
Kirby Smart
Page 8 | Tuesday, January 9, 2013 NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
Despite being in the minority, cheers from Alabama fans were the only ones heard in Miami
CW | Austin Bigoney
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NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | Page 9
Fighting Irish fans outnumber those in crimson in Sun Life Stadium, dont nd much to cheer about
CW | Austin Bigoney
CW | Austin Bigoney CW | Shannon Auvil CW | Shannon Auvil
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Get On Board Day!
Page 10 | Wednesday, January 9, 2013 NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
By Zac Al-Khateeb
Staff Reporter
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.
Forty-nine wins in four years.
Sixty-one wins in five. A 4-1
record against Auburn. Two
Southeastern Conference
Championships. Three BCS
National Championships.
That is the rsum boasted
by the 2012 senior class of
the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Its not just impressive, its
historic. This years senior
class headlined by center
Barrett Jones, linebacker Nico
Johnson, offensive lineman
Chance Warmack and safety
Robert Lester has cement-
ed itself as the winningest
program in school history.
Of course, the success of
this senior class isnt limited
to just their sheer of number
victories: Theyve also joined
the ranks of the 1997 Nebraska
Cornhuskers and the 1949
Notre Dame Fighting Irish as
the only teams to win three
national titles in four years.
The 2012 senior class has
seen more than their fair
share of success on the field,
but their achievements tran-
scend merely winning football
games and championships.
This class was present for the
resurgence of Alabama as it
skyrocketed back to the pin-
nacle of college football and
built a modern-day dynasty
nearly from the ground up.
When reflecting on the
accomplishments his class
has achieved, Jones said he
never thought the success he
and his fellow seniors have
experienced would be as vast
as it is.
Who could have known
that we would have so many
opportunities to accomplish
such great things? Jones
said. That being said, we
dont really worry about lega-
cy and dynasties and that sort
of thing.
Alabama head coach Nick
Saban said the most impres-
sive thing about the 2012
senior class was how theyve
been able to mature over the
years. Players like Warmack
and Lester, who have been at
Alabama their entire careers,
were forced to wait and learn
behind some of the best play-
ers at their respective posi-
tions. Other players who came
to Alabama from the junior
college ranks had the added
difficulty of being a heavy con-
tributor earlier in their career
for the Tide.
But the one thing all these
players had in common was
their ability to step up and lead
when their senior year came.
Saban said he challenged the
senior class to become more
than just role models on and
off the field, but active lead-
ers in helping the underclass-
men, so that Alabama can con-
tinue its unbelievable string
of success.
Theyve certainly been
an instrumental part of the
success that weve had, and
I think the thing that people
need to understand is their
roles have constantly changed
as theyve grown up in the
program, Saban said. They
started out being young play-
ers who needed to mature
And now their role has com-
pletely changed to where
theyre the leaders that set
the examples and embrace the
challenges.
And of course, the final chal-
lenge for this senior class was
to guide their team to a level
of success no other Alabama
team had before: winning the
third championship in four
years, thereby earning it
not only the title of the best
team in Alabama history, but
also recognition as one of
the greatest senior classes
in college football.
Of course, Alabama faced
more challenges than the
Fighting Irish on their way to
sealing itself with that moni-
ker they also had to compete
with their own successes.
Coming into the season,
I told Coach Smart that in
the linebacker meeting, its
hard for me to go out and
play the right way, Johnson
said. Because Ive played for
two national championships
and one SEC Championship
already. And to have another
to fight for a third one, at the
time, was very difficult.
The seniors and their team-
mates rose to the occasion,
though, beating Notre Dame
to win their third champion-
ship and immortalize their
names in the lore of college
football. But, in true fashion
for a Saban-coached team,
the seniors reveled not in
the accomplishments they
attained at Alabama. Rather,
they reveled in what earned
them that success: playing to
a standard of excellence.
That 08 class, they bought
into it, Johnson said. They
set a standard for everybody.
Graduating class best in Alabama history
Seniors will graduate with their degrees, resumes that boast 49 wins and 3 national championships
CW | Austin Bigoney
Safety Robert Lester (left), defensive tackle Jesse Williams (top)
and offensive lineman Chance Warmack (right) helped the Crim-
son Tide to three national championships in four years. The 2012
senior class ends this season as the winningest class in school
history.
ASK YOUR
ACCOUNT
EXECUTIVE
ABOUT
SOCIAL MEDIA
MANAGEMENT
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | Page 11
Observer: Notre Dame will be back for more
By Allan Joseph
Editor-in-chief for The Observer,
Notre Dames student newspaper
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.
It wasnt pretty, and it was a
deeply unsatisfying end to a
storybook 2012 season. But
once you step back from the
chaos and the heartbreak,
some bright spots emerge
not just in the big picture of
the 2012 campaign but in the
42-14 loss. There arent many
to highlight, but those that are
suggest the Irish will be back
for more next fall.
By far the best thing about
Notre Dames title game per-
formance was the play of soph-
omore quarterback Everett
Golson. His stat line wasnt
phenomenal (21-of-36 for 270
yards, one touchdown and
one frankly unlucky intercep-
tion), but the young quarter-
back played one of the best
games of his career. After
more than 40 days of prepara-
tion, Golson had more control
of his pre-snap reads, better
footwork and better timing
with his receivers than at any
point this season, save per-
haps the second half of the
Oklahoma contest.
He missed a few long
throws, but he was accurate
when finding T.J. Jones and
DaVaris Daniels on curl and
out routes. He saw Alabamas
safeties playing in the middle
of the field to take away Tyler
Eiferts seam routes and knew
that meant he had one-on-one
coverage outside so he took
advantage, earning the major-
ity of his yards outside the
hash marks.
Golson didnt rush the ball
very much, but he did repeat-
edly extend plays with his
scrambling ability, all the
while keeping his eyes down-
field. Perhaps the best part of it
all, though is Golson got truly
invaluable experience against a
fantastic Crimson Tide defense
and played well. Barring any
major upheaval, he should be
able to go into spring practice
focusing on improving his spe-
cific weaknesses, not on com-
peting for the starting job.
His motivation in the off-
season is going to be to get
back to this game, Irish coach
Brian Kelly said. And the
experience that he is able to
take from this game, you cant
duplicate it if youre sitting
[at] home or playing in a bowl
game. When youre playing for
a national championship, that
stuff doesnt leave you.
Daniels and Jones were
also bright spots for the Notre
Dame offense. Both showed
their ability to do more than
run their routes and to impro-
vise with Golson to find a way
to get open downfield. They
will become true weapons
next fall.
Not enough can be said
about junior nose guard Louis
Nix and the effort he put forth.
Despite being somewhat wind-
ed and somewhat injured, Nix
went up against All-American
center Barrett Jones admira-
bly all night long and proved
equal to the future first-round-
er. Given Nixs incredible moti-
vation (dropping 50 pounds,
as hes done since he arrived
at Notre Dame, is no easy
task) to go from very good
to dominant, he will wreak
havoc in 2013.
One of the biggest reasons
the loss in the BCS National
Championship is still a bright
spot, however, is the entire
program, from Kelly down to
the walk-ons, saw exactly what
it takes to become a national
champion. It takes top-to-
bottom athleticism. It takes
the ability to peak at the right
time. It takes dominance at
every position. And while the
Irish arent there yet, theyre
on their way.
Our guys clearly know
what it looks like, Kelly said.
[The Crimson Tide] are back-
to-back national champs.
So thats what it looks like.
Measure yourself against that,
and I think it was pretty clear
across the board what we have
to do.
We all now know what we
have to do to move from where
we are, which is a 12-0 foot-
ball team, pretty darned good
football team, but not good
enough.
Kelly should know. When he
first took Grand Valley State to
a national championship game
in 2001, his Lakers lost. But in
2002, he took them back and
won the title before doing it
again in 2003.
The Irish were not close
to Alabama. But there was
more to be happy about than
first appeared. Its not just
that Notre Dame exceeded all
expectations for the 2012 sea-
son. Its that, if you look close-
ly, 2013 might be even better.
Irish student newspaper sees bright spots in loss

Our guys clearly know what it looks like, Kelly said. [The Crimson Tide]
are back-to-back national champs. So thats what it looks like. Measure
yourself against that, and I think it was pretty clear across the board what
we have to do.
Brian Kelly
CW | Austin Bigoney
Despite a championship game defeat, Notre Dame fans are optimistic about the future of the Fight Irish.
1131 Jackson Avenue
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
205-535-3087
Page 12 | Wednesday, January 9, 2013 NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
By Marquavius Burnett
Sports Editor
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.
It was the fourth quarter of a
game that was well in hand, but
the star quarterback and domi-
nant offensive lineman were
fighting on the field.
AJ McCarron, who left the
locker room with a boot on
his right foot, yelled at Barrett
Jones, who played with torn
ligaments in his left foot
and will need surgery. Jones
shoved McCarron. Nick Saban
screamed furiously on the side-
line at the entire situation.
So what happened?
It was an emotional game,
and we had a snap count differ-
ence. I was right, Jones said of
the situation. But we love each
other and gave each other a big
hug after the game.
Why they yelled at each
other or who was right isnt the
point. The point is Alabamas
football program, from top to
bottom, demands excellence.
It was on full display in the No.
2 Crimson Tide mauling of No.
1 Notre Dame 42-14 to win the
BCS National Championship
on Monday night. Notre Dame
didnt belong in the stadium
with Alabama, and it was evi-
dent from the opening kick.
Alabama took Notre Dame
to the woodshed. They were
like a parent telling a child to
pick his or her own switch for
a whipping.
The Tide pulled off a rare
feat of repetition, making three
national championships in four
years joining Nebraska of
the 1990s and Notre Dame of
the 1940s as the only teams to
win three national champion-
ships in four years during the
poll era.
But history and tradition
went out the window. It was
billed as a slugfest, but only
one team brought its right
hook to the fight. From the first
snap, Alabama lined up and
hit Notre Dame in the mouth,
and the Irish had no idea how
to respond.
Its a scary thought for the
rest of the college football
world that this was supposed to
be Alabamas rebuilding year,
especially on defense.
After losing all of the talent
from last years run, new faces
stepped in and stepped up to fill
what looked like gaping holes.
The fact that Notre Dame
was able to score was major
news, because it ended
Alabamas streak of 108 min-
utes and seven seconds of
scoreless time in championship
games. Alabama had scored 69
unanswered points dating back
to 2009.
It was so out of hand that
at one point Notre Dame line-
backer Danny Spond attempted
to tackle Eddie Lacy, and Lacy
literally threw him into the
ground. And that spin move
he pulled to shake two defend-
ers for the 11-yard score was
just nasty.
It was unfair from the start
and didnt get any better. When
Notre Dame loaded the box to
stop the run, McCarron found
tight end Michael Williams,
Amari Cooper and Lacy for
touchdowns through the air.
The Irishs front seven
seemed soft. Its secondary was
even worse than what most
expected. And Heisman candi-
date Manti Teo did nothing to
help his draft stock.
We came in with a great
game plan and executed
perfectly, said offensive
coordinator Doug Nussmeier.
That makes it seven
straight for the Southeastern
Conference.
SEC Commissioner Mike
Slive gushed over the accom-
plishment and the league hes
run for a decade.
I can tell you one thing, it
never gets old, Slive said. Its
an extraordinary achievement.
I know records are meant to be
broken, but I dont think this
one ever will.
No one knows what the future
holds for Alabama, but with the
returning talent and Saban at
the helm, three in a row doesnt
sound too far fetched.
Two days from now, we have
to get ready for next year,
Saban said.
Despite all the hype, Notre Dame didnt belong on the eld with Alabama
COLUMN
CW | Austin Bigoney
The Tide consistently dominated the eld in the BCS National Championship game.
By Chandler Wright
Assistant News Editor
Alabama students who didnt
get to go to the national champi-
onship game on Monday night
found many places around
Tuscaloosa to watch the game
and celebrate the win.
My favorite part of the expe-
rience was the sense of commu-
nity during and after the game.
There were around 10 people
I watched the game with, but
it felt like I knew everyone in
the crowd downtown and on
the Strip after, Jon Chappell,
a graduate student in business,
said. And winning wasnt so
bad either.
Chappell spent most of the
game at Moes Original Bar B
Que in downtown Tuscaloosa
and said it provided a great
environment to watch the
game surrounded by fellow stu-
dents and fans.
It was an awesome environ-
ment, Chappell said. They
have a lot of TVs that were all
showing the game. The whole
restaurant would cheer at the
same time after we scored.
Everyone was in a great mood.
Wilhagans Grill and Tap
Room was another popular
spot for students to watch the
national championship game
on Monday night. Assistant
manager Johnny Cochran said
Wilhagans was a great stop for
sports enthusiasts who didnt
make it to Miami.
We have a lot to offer stu-
dents and other Alabama foot-
ball enthusiastsfrom our food
and drinks to our atmosphere.
We have one of the largest beer
selections in townespecially
craft beer and high gravity,
Cochran said. As far as atmo-
sphere, one can watch the game
on three big screens, as well as
21 other flat screens through-
out the restaurant and bar. We
also have four dartboards and
eight pool tables.
Cochran said in many cases
the restaurant starts filling
up two or three hours before
kickoff for all away games but
especially for big games like
the national championship on
Monday night.
You look out in the crowd,
and all you see is crimson.
During the game, we have
complete strangers high-fiving
each other and talking stats
and giving their own play-by-
play commentary, Cochran
said. By the end of the game,
the person sitting beside you
has become one of your good
buddies, and people are run-
ning around high-fiving and
hugging completely random
peopleIts pretty fun to expe-
rience.
According to Cochran,
Wilhagans also has some
gameday traditions of their
own.
Before and after the game,
we always play Sweet Home
Alabama, Rammer Jammer
and Yea Alabama over our
loud speakers, and after every
Bama score, well play Yea
Alabama The crowd loves it,
and they sing and cheer along,
Cochran said.
Although many students
watched the game at restau-
rants and bars throughout
Tuscaloosa, some students
chose to watch the game in a
different setting.
I watched the game at a
friends house, where we all
brought something to eat
and share with everyone,
Rachel Croon, a junior major-
ing in speech pathology, said.
The moment the game ended
though, we all ran to the Strip
to join in the celebration.
Croon said watching the
game in Tuscaloosa was an
exciting experience for her and
her friends, especially when
surrounded by fellow fans.
There is no comparing get-
ting to yell and cheer with
your fellow collegiate Bama
fans that you hadnt seen dur-
ing Christmas break, Croon
said. Its awesome knowing
that almost everyone in town
is watching the same game
and cheering for our school.
You cant say that for any other
town.
Despite the fact that he didnt
get to go to Miami to watch the
game, Chappell said he didnt
regret his decision and had a
lot of fun watching the game in
Tuscaloosa.
I didnt go to Miami because
I went to the BCS game last
year, and I dont feel like I
missed out, Chappel said.
After the game we went to the
Strip. The roads were blocked
off, and it was like a huge block
party.
Croon echoed this sentiment
and said she was glad she was
in Tuscaloosa to watch the big
game.
Im so glad I was in
Tuscaloosa, Croon said. The
moment the game ended,
everyone ran [to] the Strip
and continued to cheer in the
streets. Theres nothing like
celebrating a win with hun-
dreds of other people just as
excited as you are.
Tide fans nd ways to celebrate outside Miami
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | Page 13
Page 14 | Wednesday, January 9, 2013 NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
Cochran mentors, motivates Tide players
By Zackary Al-Khateeb
Staff Reporter
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.
Reporters were milling around
Sun Life Stadium, casually chat-
ting up Alabama players and
coaches during media days as
they prepared for the upcoming
national championship game.
The game was only two days
away, but most of the players
seemed less than enthused with
exploring the future site of the
championship game and more
content to avoid any interaction
with the media. Most players
were comfortable to sit in the
stands and make the reporters
come to them. When they were
interviewed, they answered the
questions quietly and quickly
sat back down when they were
done.
Opposite the players, howev-
er, came a loud yell, a fixture on
the sidelines of Bryant-Denny
Stadium: Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah!
Alabama strength and con-
ditioning coach Scott Cochran
had let everyone in the stadium
know where he was. But he
wasnt trying to fire up one of
his players, he wasnt getting
riled up with another of the
Alabama coaches. In fact, he
wasnt doing anything particu-
larly exciting at all.
He was simply talking to a
reporter about his responsibili-
ties as strength and condition-
ing coach. Cochran has made
a name for himself among the
Alabama fandom with such
fiery displays. Hes presented
himself as a molder of future
football stars and someone
whos likely to address a com-
plete stranger the same way he
would a player.
Freshman running back T.J.
Yeldon, a naturally quiet guy
who lets his play on the field do
the talking, said it was a bit of
a culture shock for him to see
Cochran for the first time.
He was like a loud guy, and
just kept screaming and stuff
when we first got there, when
we worked out, Yeldon said.
But after I got used to it, I
understood why. Just stay work-
ing on us, staying on us, getting
everybody focused.
Senior tight end Michael
Williams, whos gotten a lit-
tle more used to Cochrans
demeanor in the weight room,
said his attitude is something
younger players get used to as
the season progresses.
You have to get used to it,
Williams said. You have to
get adjusted to it, because you
walk in the first day, you hear
somebody hollering, you dont
know who it is. Then once you
get over, you realize thats just
Coach Cochran being Coach
Cochran.
Still, its not all fire all the
time for Cochran he has
another side to him when
addressing players that most
fans dont get to see. Despite
some initial intimidation for
the younger players, Cochran
connects with the entire foot-
ball team. He spends more time
with them than anyone else on
the Alabama coaching staff, and
makes himself someone to con-
fide in, a giver of advice and all-
around mentor.
Ive got 130 players,
Cochran said. A lot of them
are scared to come walk in that
door. But once they do, theyre
going to see a different guy
than the guy thats on the floor.
Theyre going to see the real,
authentic who I am, what Im
about.
And even though Cochrans
job is to prepare and maintain
players conditioning for foot-
ball a job hes had much suc-
cess doing he said his ulti-
mate purpose as a coach isnt to
simply beef up his players. His
real job is to prepare them for
a future outside of football, past
college.
Every chance I get, Im going
to bring my three kids around
them, Cochran said. I say,
this is what its like in the real
world. Because to me, college
is setting you up. Because if you
miss a class, were going to han-
dle that. If you miss work, you
lose your job.
Cochran said he stresses the
same qualities that Nick Saban
preaches: doing things the right
way, all the time. As much as
Cochran said he loves his job,
he doesnt count success by the
weight a players able to lift, or
how many of his former players
enter into the NFL, or even his
three championships his teams
have earned in his six years at
the position.
For Cochran, true success
comes when his former players
are able to become responsible,
successful men after college,
men with full-time jobs who pro-
vide for their families by using
the lessons he taught them.
Those are the things that
youre always coaching,
Cochran said. Those are the
little things that make them
become men youre fired up
about.
You can get as many rings
as you want, but when you see
a guy with that, you feel like
youve accomplished some-
thing.
Jones assesses big picture, reects on time here
By Zac Al-Khateeb
Staff Reporter
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. In
college football, many guide-
lines exist to determine the
success of an individual dur-
ing his tenure at school: how
well he played, what he meant
to his team, number of indi-
vidual awards, number of wins,
number of championships.
Some players achieve some
of these feats, while oth-
ers achieve more. Alabama
senior center Barrett Jones,
however, has attained every
one in spades. Since 2008, Jones
has become one of the most cel-
ebrated players in the game by
doing so.
Hes consistently been one
of Alabamas best linemen
on the team and on a team
such as Alabama, thats say-
ing something. Hes proved his
versatility and talent every
year, turning in playing time
at right guard, left tackle and
most recently at the center
position.
In terms of individual
awards, Jones has become
one of the most decorated
linemen in Alabama history.
In 2011, he won the Outland
Trophy, given to the nations
best interior lineman at left
tackle, widely regarded as the
hardest position on the line. In
2012, Jones has gone on to win
the Rimington, awarded to the
nations top center.
And for good measure, he
also won the academic equiva-
lent of the Heisman in the John
W. Campbell Award, just to
prove he has brain as well as
brawn.
In terms of wins and champi-
onships, only a select number
of players have come close to
the success Jones and his class
have seen at Alabama: 49 wins
in four seasons, 60 wins in five
seasons, and three champion-
ships in four seasons.
But, much like many greats to
have played the game, Joness
accomplishments havent come
without their doubts.
Theres a Sports Illustrated
hanging in my room, because
Im on it, from 2009, Jones said.
It says, Dynasty: Can anyone
stop Alabama? Ill never forget
looking at that thing and won-
dering if we really could be a
dynasty.
But rather than merely wit-
nessing the unbelievable string
of success Alabama has seen
over the last five years, Jones
has had a hand in creating it.
In all three of Alabamas cham-
pionships over the last four
seasons, Jones started. He was
instrumental to the success
of the offensive line in each
of those years and is largely
responsible for the success of
the offense and the team.
And now Jones has finished
off his college career as the
key component to one of the
best offensive lines in college
football history with a win
over Notre Dame, a feat only
one other Alabama team has
accomplished.
The gravity of the accom-
plishment didnt escape Jones,
who usually doesnt allow him-
self to look at his or his classs
accomplishments in terms of
the big picture.
Its just hard to believe that
Im actually a part of some-
thing like this, Jones said.
Something like three out
of four. Its just a significant
accomplishment in college
football history. I think pretty
much teams will pretty much
always remember what this
team accomplished over the
past four years, and its pretty
special to be a part of it.
Jones added to his legacy
over the last two games of the
season by helping to lead his
team over the No. 1 and No.
3 teams in Notre Dame and
Georgia respectively, all with
torn ligaments in his foot. Even
after it was revealed Joness
injury is the kind that typically
ends football seasons, he con-
tinued to play it off.
Just kind of an annoying
injury, where the ligaments in
the middle of your foot tear,
Jones said. There was no way I
was missing this game. I wasnt
going to miss it for anything.
Youd have to pull me off that
field. I loved the way I finished
it, and it was fun.
Such acts of toughness from
Jones have earned him the
devotion of the Alabama fan-
dom, as well as the respect
for his teammates, especially
his fellow linemen. Of course,
Joness toughness isnt whats
made him a household name
in Alabama. That would be his
natural talent and versatility to
play any position on the line.
Senior guard Chance
Warmack, likely to be the first
offensive lineman in the 2013
NFL Draft, couldnt say enough
about Joness importance to
the team.
Hes very smart and very
talented, Warmack said. He
knows the offense and defense
very well, and he can adjust at
any position, so he brings ver-
satility to the offense.
Joness talent and
versatility will not be the most
lasting legacy he leaves at
Alabama, however. That will
be how he handled himself as a
leader, not just for the offensive
line but also for the entire team.
Jones, whod already seen
incredible success at Alabama,
could have easily checked out
for his senior year, unmotivat-
ed to continue the kind of suc-
cess hed already seen so much
of. But this year, as a senior,
he was tasked with becoming
more of a leader for his team
all the seniors were and
has come through with flying
colors.
Case in point: The Thursday
before the game, Jones and the
rest of the seniors called a play-
ers-only meeting to discuss the
lack of explosiveness in team
practices thus far. Rather than
let the problem continue, Jones
and the rest of the senior class
addressed the problem. Four
days later, that meeting culmi-
nated in a 42-14 beat-down over
the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
And now Jones has cement-
ed himself as one of the all-time
greatest players in Alabama
football history. No single team,
player or group of player has
seen the type of success that
Jones has during his time at
the Capstone. Whether its in
terms of wins, championships
or any intangible factor, none
come close to what Jones has
accomplished.
Strength and Conditioning Coach Scott Cochran teaches life lessons as well as weight training
Senior offensive lineman played the last two games of the season with torn ligaments in his foot
CW | Austin Bigoney
Players, coaches and fans always talk about Cochrans intenese demeanor either at practice, during
games or in promotion videos. But the rambunctious coach also has a soft side.
CW | Austin Bigoney
Senior offensive lineman Barrett Jones started in all three of Ala-
bamas championship wins under Head Coach Nick Saban.
HERE. THERE.
EVERYWHERE.
Take your
NEWS
with you.
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | Page 15
CW | Austin Bigoney
Coaches and players celebrate
with their families on the eld.
2012 Crimson Tide football season ends in victory celebration at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami
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when focus shifs toward relationships
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To get the advantage, check the days
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Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today
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authority ... shif to plan B and del-
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supports the game.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is
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ies over the next month. Its easier
to travel, too. Speak out for whats
important. You have the energy and
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Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today
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month, which is useful with unex-
pected expenses. Get an elders advice,
as others inspire action. Find a great
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Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today
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set new goals, rely on each other for
support and to advance. Compromise
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immediately, and acknowledge ac-
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Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 9
-- Invest in your own business. Teres
more work this coming month, and
its fun. Friends help you advance.
Prioritize spending, and study with a
passion. Keep digging.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a
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Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9
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Get into home improvements and
feather your nest. Continue to gather
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Provide motivation. Youre sharp, and
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Put your passions into your studies.
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