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Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart gives his Alabama players a daily reminder.
The Crimson Tide has lots of interceptions and given up few points and yards, but they have come up with the ball just four times after knocking it loose from opposing ball carriers.
Only Utah State has recovered fewer fumbles (three) and six Football Bowl Subdivision players at least have matched Alabama's total.
Sure, it may be reach by Smart to find a statistic where the defense doesn't measure up.
But linebacker Courtney Upshaw doesn't expect even a temporary reprieve from Smart's reminder just because second-ranked Alabama recovered two fumbles in a win at Penn State last weekend.
''Before every practice when we're going over plays he's got this one clip that says `118 of 120,''' Upshaw said. ''He makes sure to show us that. He'll show us clips from the NFL or past teams that go out and strip the ball and force fumbles.
''It's a habit now.''
The Tide is hoping jarring the ball loose becomes more of a habit starting with Saturday night's game against North Texas (0-2). Alabama and Nebraska were tied for 118th with the four recoveries last season.
It's a relatively small issue for a defense known for interceptions and stinginess and ranking in the Top 5 nationally. Still, coach Nick Saban liked seeing the results when cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick used his helmet to twice knock the ball out against the Nittany Lions. All-America safety Mark Barron recovered one of them and had an interception, to earn Southeastern Conference defensive player of the week honors.
One of the defensive goals for each game is to force three turnovers, Upshaw said.
''I think that the three turnovers in the game were real key factors, no question about that,'' Saban said. ''And two fumble recoveries were great. Both were caused fumbles. We did a good job of getting to the ball. We've really emphasized trying to create fumbles and get turnovers. As long as we get turnovers, I don't really care how they come. Last year we got lots of interceptions and not very many fumbles. Hopefully we can do both this year.''
Kirkpatrick insists he was merely using his head - and paying attention to Saban, who is particularly hands-on with the secondary.
''I caused two fumbles, but that just comes from listening to coach, coach us up all week,'' he said. ''He stressed turnovers. I was just able to get my head in the right spot, got my head on the ball and it popped out.''
So he and Barron are the early leaders in a friendly battle among teammates to see who can get the ball back to the offense most frequently.
''We got a little bet going on about, who can get the most turnovers,'' Kirkpatrick said. ''That's just something that every great defense wants to do. We want to cause turnovers. We had a little stretch where we had almost four or five interceptions in a row. It's just something that we stress. ''
The Tide has excelled at swiping passes under Saban, who frequently works with the secondary. Barron picked off seven passes two years ago and fellow safety Robert Lester was tied for second nationally with eight picks in 2010.
Lester also had a couple of near-interceptions against Penn State.
''I had to cool him down because I told him it's not all about interceptions,'' Kirkpatrick said. ''It's about being in the right spot, right time making that play.''
And maybe not giving Smart something else to harp on.
