re: ESPNU BCS Countdown "We've learned that Bama is number 1, and number 2 isn't

I probably have an unpopular opinion on this type of deal. I think articles like this are fine as long as the team keeps doing the things that it takes to have articles like this written about them. That is difficult, as Saban has pointed out countless times, but it is not impossible.

Our opponents know about us. They know our MO. They know we're tough, disciplined monsters ready to rip into anything in our way. Articles like this only feed into that belief. Our opponents walk into our games with these thoughts in the back of their minds and when things start going badly for them, they give up quicker and it starts snowballing. They make more mistakes, we capitalize, then they make more and the belief that we are unbeatable starts to become a reality for them and they quit. Blow out commences.

The only team this really doesn't work that well against is LSU. They don't make many mistakes when they play us.

The question then becomes are the players going to keep doing what it takes both physically and mentally to keep improving as the season goes on in spite of all these premature accolades? If, so, there is nothing to worry about. They'll play good football and they should win games. If they lose, it won't be about an article. It will be about their lack of preparation, effort, mental toughness or not doing their job.