Alabama won the BCS title game just two years ago, but coach Nick Saban says it's natural for the team to have some anxiety before Monday night's championship against No. 1 LSU.
The second-ranked Crimson Tide beat Texas at the Rose Bowl in 2010, and -- speaking at BCS media day -- Saban said some of the older players on his team have helped the underclassmen deal with any butterflies they may have. Saban said football is an emotional game but emotion can't sustain you for 60 minutes and players have to focus to win.
Friday's media day was held on the floor of the Superdome, where the title game will be played. It marks the first time under the BCS format that two teams from the same conference have played for the championship.
LSU beat Alabama 9-6 in overtime on Nov. 5 and some have wondered whether a team from outside the Southeastern Conference -- particularly once-beaten Oklahoma State, which defeated Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl -- should have gotten a shot at the title.
But the Crimson Tide's star tailback, Trent Richardson, was emphatic.
"The best teams are playing," he said. "The voters chose right. If you want a ball game that's 45-13, put somebody else in the game."
LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo said, "I don't think anything can compare to this go-around. It's the national championship. It's for all the marbles."
Alabama (11-1) went first at the media sessions, followed by LSU (13-0). There was a smattering of light-hearted questions -- such as what's the most embarrassing song on your iPod? -- but the atmosphere was decidedly lower key than the circus-like feeling at similar sessions before the Super Bowl.
