Tide Tidbits - January 2, 2009

Alabama meets Utah at the Superdome
The teams have the best combined records of any bowl matchup, including next week’s national championship game between Florida and Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide has a chance to add to its Sugar Bowl legacy, which includes 12 previous trips and eight wins, most of any school in the country. Its last visit came in 1993, when it beat Miami to capture its 12th and most recent national championship. “It means a lot because this is one of the great bowl games of all time and it is just an honor to be able to play in it,” Alabama tight end Travis McCall said. “It is a part of Alabama’s history and it is always good to continue that.”

Unlikely stars fell on Alabama, Utah
The 75th Sugar Bowl is Exhibit A for those who'd argue the science of football recruiting remains inexact. Their case rests on the parallel story lines of Alabama safety Rashad Johnson and Utah linebacker Mike Wright. They were walk-ons when they joined their teams — no scholarships, just an opportunity to prove themselves on the practice field against all the prized recruits. They played too hard and learned too quickly to be ignored. Now they are leaders on their respective defenses.

Alabama coach Nick Saban not worried about possible staff changes
Barring a last-minute change of heart, Alabama defensive head coach Kevin Steele will be announced as the new defensive coordinator at Clemson as early as this weekend, multiple sources told the Press-Register. "Continuity is great," Saban said. "But also when you do have change, there are some tremendous benefits to that in terms of new experience, new ideas, new enthusiasm."

Heavily favored Tide stays on guard
Hardly anyone is buying the upset, be it odds-makers, media, the betting public or the majority of football fans swarming the Big Easy. By now they surely know about left offensive tackle Andre Smith. The player widely considered Alabama's best was sent home this week, and the suspension of the Outland Trophy winner dominated headlines and threatened to distract a team that has proved largely unflappable. Overall, that mess caused the betting line to move one single, solitary point.

Utah eager to test Tide in Sugar Bowl
Unwittingly, Nick Saban added some spice to the 75th Sugar Bowl. Saban's intention - after his club fell out of the national title chase with a loss to Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship game - was to remind his players of their exceptional 2008 campaign. He noted the Crimson Tide was the only team to have an undefeated regular season in a "real BCS conference." So not all 12-0s are created equal, right? Suffice it to say the Utes intend to prove that idea wrong, and while Utah coach Kyle Whittingham would rather not make a big deal out of it, he couldn't deny his players were aware of what Saban said.

Utah looks to make Sugar Bowl history vs. Tide
During its glory days of old, there was no place Alabama would rather end a season than in the Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide won its last national championship in the 1993 edition, its eighth victory in 12 previous appearances in New Orleans during the new year. The Bowl Championship Series era changed that. Alabama's berth in the Sugar Bowl this season was more akin to a relegation after a loss to Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game, which prevented the Tide (12-1) from playing for the BCS championship in Miami.

Roll Tide!