Saban eager to hit recruiting trail

Dawn did break after Auburn defeated Alabama for the sixth consecutive time Saturday night. So what’s next for Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide?

“We’re going recruiting,” Saban said minutes after the game ended.

There was nothing for Saban to criticize as far as effort and focus. Tide players desperately wanted to snap Auburn’s streak. But every team brings that focus and energy against its chief rival.

The challenge for Alabama players is to take the same level of mental preparation and intensity into the next game that they brought against Auburn.

That game may or may not come this season. Alabama’s 6-6 record is a drawback for many bowls, especially since the SEC has so many bowl-eligible teams with seven victories. Its four-game losing streak doesn’t help, either.

But Saban said he thought going to a bowl game was good for “program development.” He added that it was a reward for the players’ hard work — and also an additional opportunity to practice.

Players were hopeful of a bowl trip, but acknowledged it was out of their hands.

“I’d love to play one more game with these guys,” senior linebacker Darren Mustin said. “We’re one of those guys crossing our fingers.”
“I think we deserve to go to a bowl game, but that is not my decision,” senior receiver DJ Hall said. “We have worked hard all year and hopefully we will get the chance to play one more game.”

“Going to a bowl is an honor and a privilege and hopefully that is something we can take part in,” senior defensive end Wallace Gilberry said.

Gilberry played in his 48th consecutive game for Alabama Saturday night — and made his team-leading 36th consecutive start. But he leaves after an excellent senior season never having beaten Auburn.

“Besides losing my great-grandmother this year, this is the toughest thing I have had to deal with,” Gilberry said. “This was one of our goals as a senior class, to win this game. It is very tough on all of us.”

Gilberry did not say the team’s late-season demise came when players lost focus after losing to LSU earlier this month. But he did say it’s important for every player to be on board — or get off.

“We have to get 11 guys all going in the same direction,” Gilberry said. “I bought in from day one. I am not saying everybody did or everybody didn’t, but it is something we all need to work on and come together on as a team. Next year, I’ll bet my life that we do that.”

Saban, too, said that doing things right — on and off the field — will be demanded of every player.

“It’s important for us and the future of this program so that it doesn’t ever happen again to anyone,” the coach said. “We are going to get it right.
When you get it right and you have that kind of attitude, that’s when you have a chance to be successful and win. And that’s what we are here to try and do.”

Many of the players who will be responsible for doing that are already in the program. Alabama started five seniors on defense, plus two juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen. Those freshmen were middle linebacker Rolando McClain, who had 15 tackles and an interception against Auburn, and cornerback Kareem Jackson, who had four tackles and a pass breakup.

On offense, the outlook is even more positive. Alabama started two seniors Saturday night — receivers DJ Hall and Matt Caddell. Six juniors are expected to return, along with three sophomores on the offensive line.

But experience doesn’t guarantee results. And the competition isn’t exactly standing still, either. Auburn started just three seniors on offense — including quarterback Brandon Cox — and just three seniors on defense, two in the secondary.

Clearly, both teams will expect more to be on the line in next year’s Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa.

“This is a great rivalry, a great football game and I have never been involved in a football game with as much excitement and enthusiasm as this game,” Saban said. “It’s disappointing for our fans and the people that support our program that we were able to do a better job and come away with a win.

“But more than anything I am disappointed for our players. I think our players played their hearts out and really wanted to win this game. There are a lot of upset guys in there right now.”