re: Any Word on Bowl Prep, Practice Schedule??

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It was this time last year that Alabama resorted to using some made up or exaggerated quotes as an additional means to motivating its players.

There were four signs hanging on a wallinside a Crimson Tide meeting room, including one that was attributed to the "national media" that read, "Washington will BEAT ALABAMA because ALABAMA is overconfident."

No need for any made up or exaggerated quotes this year, though.

Alabama players are well aware of how close they came to not getting an opportunity to play in this year's College Football Playoff. And they know there are many in the college football world that believe this to be a flawed and vulnerable team because of those performances against Auburn and Mississippi State.

It's created somewhat of an underdog mentality that you wouldn't typically expect Alabama players to have, a feeling that they have a lot to prove to go along with a desire to show that this team is much better than it played versus Auburn and Mississippi State.

"I think for sure because people were counting us out that didn't want us in (the playoffs)," Tide star defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick said. "Some people just don't like us. It's true. But I think it definitely helped as motivation and fuel, especially if we do what we're supposed to do and get to where we want to be. I think it will help us a lot."

People inside the Alabama building will tell you that this team is even more focused and motivated than normal.

And leaders like Fitzpatrick have been determined to keep teammates locked in and to help the Tide avoid issues that the team feels proved costly during last year's playoff run.

"As soon as we found out (about getting into the playoffs), everybody was excited and we all talked to each other, said we have to get right, get everybody's minds right," Fitzpatrick said. "... So we just had to make sure everybody was doing the right things and that nobody was (deviating). That was really it. The leadership talked to one another and told each other to make sure everybody was doing what they were supposed to be doing."

Alabama returned to practice Friday. Monday afternoon's session is the final of three camp-like practices focused on fundamentals and getting players back into football shape.

On Tuesday, the No. 4 Tide will begin preparing for this playoff semifinal matchup with No. 1 Clemson. This chance for Alabama to prove that it's better and less flawed than what the Joey Galloways of the world seem to believe.

"We're thankful for the opportunity, and we're glad we got put in this position to play for another national championship," running back Damien Harris said. "We know we're going to face a great opponent, a team that's been playing really well this year. They're the No. 1 team in the country right now. We know we have a big task at hand, but we're just preparing the best way we can. We know that if we play our best football, we're a tough team to beat, so that's what we're looking to do."

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