Tide relishes challenge of being the underdog against Florida

By Ken Rogers, Media General News Service


Published: December 2, 2008

TUSCALOOSA — Top-ranked Alabama remained unbeaten after a 36-point win over Auburn Saturday.

The Tide (12-0) sits atop the AP poll and the all-important BCS standings. In fact, Alabama is the only undefeated team remaining that could win the national title.

But to hear the experts explain it, teams like Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and Southern California are purebreds in the Westminster Dog Show. Alabama is the three-legged mutt.

Saturday’s SEC Championship Game against Florida is an opportunity to change some opinions nationally. But Alabama players say being 10-point underdogs to the Gators won’t affect anything they do this week.

Linebacker Cory Reamer said he’s not surprised that Florida is favored.

“They’ve been putting up 50 points, beating people by four touchdowns,” Reamer said. “Anybody who gets in their way, they’ve just been mowing over. That’s part of it.

“People have written us off as underdogs before and we’ve proven them wrong. It’s no different. We’re going to do what we do and go prepare like we’ve always prepared and stay on our game.”

Quarterback John Parker Wilson said players have heard the doubters all season.

“Either we’re an underdog or it’s, ‘y’all are No. 1 and think y’all are too good,’” Wilson said. “This team’s going to handle it good. We’re not worried about it at all.”

Of course, Wilson said he relished the chance to prove people wrong.

“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “Felt all season, even though we’re No. 1, people really didn’t respect us or think we should be there. It’s always somebody else. We get a chance to go out and prove that this week.”

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said facing Florida’s talent is a challenge for Alabama.

“This is certainly a great football team and we are looking forward to the opportunity that we have created for ourselves,” Saban said.

“From a competitive character standpoint, this is what you play for. This is what you do to have an opportunity like this. Certainly our team and our players are looking forward to it.”

The Gators are athletic, speedy and deep. They’re the cousin that wins every contest at family reunions. They’re faster. They answer Wilson with Heisman winner Tim Tebow. They answer Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain with Brandon Spikes.

“Coach Saban thinks I’m good and I think I’m doing a good job,” McClain said. “I’m just worried about leading my team, and trying to be the best I can be. I’m not going to compare myself to him. He is doing a great job, I wish him the best. But other than that, I don’t care.”

Wilson rolled his eyes when asked about Florida’s speed.

“They’re fast, but everybody’s fast in the SEC,” Wilson said. “The guys are fast we go against in practice.”

Does he get tired of hearing how fast Florida is?

“Yeah. I mean, everybody’s fast. It’s not that big a deal,” Wilson said. “It’s not like we’re playing, you know, something we’ve never seen before.”

A couple Alabama players said the style differences contribute to the “Florida speed vs. Alabama power” generalizations.

“They always say offense gets the glory. They’ve got a bunch of speed at every position,” Reamer said. “All of the offensive skill players can do something special. They’re going to come out firing all kinds of weapons and we have to be prepared for it.”

Senior center Antoine Caldwell there will be two fast teams on the field Saturday.

“Florida gets talked about a lot, which they should; they do have incredible speed on their team and they’re fast,” Caldwell said. “But we’re definitely confident in the speed that we’ve got on this football team and we’ve got players that can make plays just like Florida does.”

Senior defensive end Bobby Greenwood said there’s a way for Alabama to convert its critics.

“Just keep winning ballgames and sooner or later, it will come up,” Greenwood said. “That’s how I see it. If we come up No. 1 at the end, that’s all they’re going to have to talk about.”