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08/31/2010 -
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -Nick Saban didn't so much as raise his voice. The trademark scowl never made even a cameo appearance.
Sure seems as if No. 1 Alabama's top ranking and elephant-sized expectations are becoming the status quo around here, judging by Monday's rather tame first game-week news conference.
The players dismissed the defending national champions' top preseason billing going into Saturday night's opener against San Jose State.
Saban didn't rail against the dangers of complacency. Instead, he praised the ``great camps'' of stars such as receiver Julio Jones, left tackle James Carpenter and running backs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. And the ``very good'' ones of linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Mark Barron.
``A lot of the players that have been there show no signs of not paying attention to detail, not working to improve,'' Saban said. ``I think the bigger concern is the maturity of the guys who haven't had the responsibility to this point, how they're going to respond to it. I'm sure that there will be a maturing process that goes with their first game. How much they learn and grow from it is probably going to determine how quickly we can improve.''
Well, sure. But how about all the pressure, the hype, that comes with being No. 1 - even if it is only August?
``We don't pay attention to that,'' said Ingram, the Heisman Trophy winner. ``No. 1 doesn't mean anything, because everybody's 0-0. If you win games, you're going to be successful. You know? No. 1 really doesn't mean anything around here. We just focus on every single week, preparing the right way, getting our gameplan together.''
Sounds kind of humdrum.
Even though Alabama enters a season atop the rankings for the first time since the Bear Bryant era in 1978, most of the current players have been here before. They spent all last season in the top five, and went 14-0.
They spent more than a month ranked No. 1 in 2008 before stumbling in the SEC championship game.
The Tide's record in those two seasons: 26-2.
``Our expectations for our own team are so high now,'' quarterback Greg McElroy said. ``Obviously we just demand a lot of ourselves. We demand a lot in our preparation and we expect a lot from this team. I think for us to expect anything less than great things from this team obviously would be unimpressive. We're really looking forward to the opportunity to go out there and compete again. I think this team has made the improvements necessary to really be a complete football team and be able to dominate Saturdays like we know how to.''
All that might also have something to do with opening against a San Jose State team coming off a 2-10 season. The Tide started the past two years against Clemson and Virginia Tech in nationally televised, much hyped games.
The big-game trappings will come in Game 2 this time, when Alabama hosts No. 19 Penn State.
``We play Penn State as the heavyweight, it just happens to fall on a day a week later in the season,'' Saban said. ``I've always said in the past that when you open with a team that the players have a tremendous amount of respect for because of their national reputation, you get a little better attention to detail in the entire offseason, in spring practice and in fall camp because they are geared up for that game.
``I think in this case our players definitely respect the team that we're playing, they're showing good due-diligence in their preparation for the game.''
The presumably easier opener will give a young defense some much-needed seasoning.
The Tide has nine new defensive starters, including three sophomores. The depth chart released Monday also has junior college transfer DeQuan Menzie at right cornerback some five months after he tore his Achilles' tendon.
Starting linebacker Chavis Williams is a senior but has played almost exclusively on special teams his first three seasons. The defense could be even more youthful if end Marcell Dareus isn't cleared to play by the NCAA.
Dareus is listed as a first teamer but is under scrutiny for a trip to Miami. Saban said he had nothing new to report on Dareus. Sophomore Undra Billingsley is his backup.
The coach said a game's the best way to test young players, not preseason practices.
``That's ultimately what you have to learn about them: How are they going to compete on game day?'' he said. ``Some guys play better when the game comes and some guys who practice very well don't complete nearly as well when the game comes. I don't think you can figure that out until the game comes.
``If hot peppers give you a bellyache, you can't figure it out until you eat hot peppers.''
Finally, a spicy comment from Saban.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Nine carries in preseason plenty for Jackson
ST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson says nine carries in the preseason is enough to get ready for the season.The Pro Bowler said he didn't want to play Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Then came the long, rumbling
<< Foster emerges as top back for Texans
HOUSTON (AP) - Houston running back Arian Foster wants to get one of his offensive linemen into the Pro Bowl. He certainly wouldn't turn down an invitation for himself.Foster has emerged as Houston's top running back at training camp. That's a hopef
<< Seattle still searching for running game solution
RENTON, Wash. (AP) - One week left in the preseason and Pete Carroll still doesn't have an answer for Seattle's stumbling run game.Carroll doesn't need one back to emerge from his group of three competing for playing time. He just wants to see somet
<< Cardinals activate P Motte
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals activated reliever
Jason Motte from the 15-day disabled list Monday.
He had been on the list since August 4 due to an AC sprain of his right
shoulder.
Motte has excelled
Surging Rockies try to take down Giants once again >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies are up to their old tricks again.
Known for late-season surges, the Rockies appear to be headed in that
direction and will try to stay hot Tuesday in the second installment of a
three-game series again
Carpenter hopes to pitch slumping Cards past Astros >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Even with stud right-hander Chris Carpenter on the mound
tonight, the St. Louis Cardinals will not be guaranteed a win over the Houston
Astros in the second portion of a three-game series between NL Central
inhabitants at Min
Chiefs release Long >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Chiefs have released wide
receiver Lance Long.
Long appeared in seven games, starting one, for the Chiefs last season. He
caught 20 passes for 178 yards.
Steelers waive Frazier, release four others >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Steelers have waived
linebacker Andre Frazier, who was part of the club's past two Super Bowl
teams.
Frazier re-signed with Pittsburgh in March, but reported to camp with a knee
injury. He wa
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.
Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.
The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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