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"It was about 2 o’clock in the morning after the game," recalled Saban, who was in Memphis on Thursday night speaking to Alabama fans and alums during ’Bama’s Crimson Caravan stop at the downtown Marriott. "I looked at one of my friends and said, ’You know, I’m really concerned about some of the issues we have on next year’s team. I’m just hoping they haven’t started as they speak, that somebody is doing something they shouldn’t be doing.’ Fortunately, that wasn’t the case."

Through crimson-colored glasses, though eight Alabama players were selected in the recent NFL draft, including four in the first round, there’s the expectation that Alabama will be in contention to win its third national in the last four years.

"That target is always on our back," Saban said. "So two days after (winning the BCS title), I called next year’s team together and said, ’You guys are not the national champions. You need to make a commitment to what this team needs to do. A lot of you participated last year and did a great job, but that’s over. We need to look forward and not look in the rear-view mirror at what we did, but what we need to be doing for next year’s team.’"

Saban, the only coach in college football history to win national championships at two different FBS schools (Alabama last year and 2009 and LSU in 2003), knows it’s tough to repeat as national champion.

He couldn’t do it at LSU when his 2004 team went 9-3, and his 2010 Tide squad was 10-3.

"It’s human nature that when you have success, you sometimes get that feeling of entitlement," Saban said. "In competitive sports, you’re only as good as your next play, your next game. You don’t win games and championships by accident. You have to be committed to executing at a high level all the time."

There’s no doubt Saban will lean on senior offensive lineman Barrett Jones, a former Evangelical Christian School star who was last year’s Outland Trophy winner as the most outstanding interior lineman in college football.

Jones has played every position on the line, starting his first two years at right guard before being moved to left tackle last season. This spring, the brainy and athletically gifted Jones was moved to center to replace graduated William Vlachos, who signed with the Tennessee Titans [team stats] as a free agent.

"At first, Barrett was a little uncomfortable with it (switching to center), but he made progress in the spring," Saban said. "He’s intelligent and has great leadership skills. I think center is the best place in the line to project both those things in making line calls.

"Barrett takes any challenge. He always looks at it as what’s best for the team. The more different things he can do, he’s creating value for his (pro) future."

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I’m just hoping they haven’t started as they speak, that somebody is doing something they shouldn’t be doing.’ Fortunately, that wasn’t the case."

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Can someone dumb this down for me?

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Can someone dumb this down for me?

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’You guys are not the national champions.

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yup

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yup

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"That target is always on our back," Saban said. "So two days after (winning the BCS title), I called next year’s team together and said, ’You guys are not the national champions. You need to make a commitment to what this team needs to do. A lot of you participated last year and did a great job, but that’s over. We need to look forward and not look in the rear-view mirror at what we did, but what we need to be doing for next year’s team.’"

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rschin2

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When did student athletes only become athletes? I am not bashing Coach Saban or the university, but somewhere along the way, I think we have lost our way.

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yup

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’You guys are not the national champions. You need to make a commitment to what this team needs to do. A lot of you participated last year and did a great job, but that’s over. We need to look forward and not look in the rear-view mirror at what we did, but what we need to be doing for next year’s team.’"

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Ole Miss: 54

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Alabama: 69

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Vanderbilt: 86
LSU: 77
Florida: 76
Alabama: 69
Georgia: 65
Auburn: 63
Mississippi State: 62
Kentucky: 61
Tennessee: 61
Arkansas: 56
Ole Miss: 54
South Carolina: 39

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