“Our team has a fantastic chance with this. They improved so much during the season that they almost made that happen for themselves.”
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama: In order to be ready for the SEC Championship game, Alabama has already turned the page one day after another incredible Iron Bowl.
The coaches teleconference for this year’s league title match between No. 8 Alabama (11-1, 8-0) and No. 1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0) kicked its coverage on Sunday. The match will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, December 2, at 3 p.m. CT (CBS).
During the coaches teleconference on Sunday, Nick Saban, the coach of Alabama, stated the following:
Our team has a fantastic chance with this. They have improved so much this season that they have almost manufactured that for themselves. I’m really happy of our team’s turnaround from the start to the finish, as well as the dedication and preparation of our players throughout the whole season.
I really believe that Georgia is the finest team in the nation. has a strong attacking squad. They move the ball. Excellent passing technique. The quarterback is excellent. Their running backs are excellent. Their defense is among the finest in the nation and is most likely the best in the SEC. Playing for a top football team comes with a lot of obstacles.
One of the most competitive settings I’ve ever experienced is the SEC Championship game. Our squad is thrilled to get the chance to face one of the top teams in the nation—a chance they put themselves in.
SABAN: He has been dealing with a minor foot issue all year. In the game, he adjusted it. This week, he’ll be day-to-day. I’m not sure how far ahead he’ll get. We’ll likely find out in the next 48 hours whether he makes the type of development required to be able to train and participate in the game.
Q. Since you last faced this Georgia squad two years ago, how have you seen them develop and change?
SABAN: To be honest, I haven’t got much time to see them from both sides of the ball. Over the course of the year, I have seen them. To my mind, their defense is essentially the same as it has always been. They have some excellent players. They have an excellent system in place. Their execution is excellent. They have good secondary players and good tackling. They are running the ball pretty well offensively. Many forms of squeezing. To complement the rushing game, have an excellent play-action throwing game. They obviously have a great passing game as well with their quarterback and receivers. Although I don’t notice a big change, they do a fantastic job at using the
Q. Jalen Milroe’s improvement has been discussed extensively. Had he chosen to play against Florida instead of Texas, perhaps the outcome would have been different for him. How did he respond to it, and how important was it for him to impress his colleagues and the coaching staff?SABAN: I believe that our entire offensive team has changed as a result of his development at the quarterback position. The trust our players have in him, and the confidence he plays with. I believe we’ve done a decent job of attempting to make use of his skill set. He now understands that passing the ball is crucial for his position. He’s performed really well.
Q. From the time LSU defeated Tennessee in 2001, you have undoubtedly been connected to this match. Has there been a change in this game? Do you believe that once it enters a 12-team Playoff, it will have the same significance the next year? Will the SEC title mean as much come next year as it does this one?
SABAN: Well, I think it’s always a great deal to win the SEC. Being able to win the SEC was something remarkable, even if it wasn’t as important of a result in the Playoffs when you played in this game, because I’ve been in this league. This league is amazing, really. There are several strong teams. For your squad to be in a position to play a top club in this league against another… The majority of the games we have played have featured excellent teams. It has great meaning for me. It must mean a great deal to our guys. In my opinion, it will also signify a great deal later on. I’m not sure if there are four teams in
