re: Bama's replaying the '08 Blackout game in their weight room

The '08 team was chock full of DGDs, but there were more folks looking out for their own individual interests to be a cohesive unit. Stafford, Moreno, Justin Houston, others. DGDs in their own rights on the field, but they were treading water until they could declare for the draft. That mindset spread to some of the younger guys right behind them, and that's when the lack of discipline really started tailspinning in the offseason.

Yes, we've got guys who will leave early for the draft, and more power to them. The distinction this time is that when they leave early this time, they'll do so having contributed to something bigger this season. The ones that could have gone back in the spring stuck around to make sure the team is in exactly the place they are today. There's a unity among this team- a player ownership- that wasn't there 4 years ago.