Sugar Bowl

COACH SABAN:  First of all, our team is  we’re really proud of our team for the opportunity that they created for themselves to be here, to play against a very good Ohio State team who should be congratulated on their accomplishments for what they were able to do in their Big Ten and winning the championship and we’re certainly pleased and proud of the progress our team worked to make this entire season so they created a great opportunity for themselves to be a part of the first sort of college football playoff.
    You know, it’s always, if you’re an SEC person, it’s always a special treat to be able to be a part of the Sugar Bowl.  The University of Alabama and the Sugar Bowl have a great tradition in history of this is our 14th appearance here and a lot of great tradition in all that for a lot of years.
    And the city of New Orleans and the people of the Sugar Bowl, we really appreciate their efforts and hospitality and how they treated us and it’s been a good week for us.

    Q.  What can you take from your previous matchups with Urban if anything?
    COACH SABAN:  Well, I think that obviously they have a very good team, very good players.  They’re very well coached, which is nothing different from any other team that we’ve faced that Urban has coached, because he does a fantastic job with his players and coaches to put an outstanding product on the field.
    There are some similarities with what they do, especially offensively in terms of what they did when they were at the University of Florida, what he did.
    But they have different players.  They do a great job of utilizing the talent and the players that they have.  So on special teams and offense, there are some similarities.  Probably not as much on defense.  But we’re playing against this team now.  So we’ve tried to prepare based on what we need to do to play well against the players that they have and the system that they use right now, which is very effective and they’ve been very productive offensively, play very good defense, and I think very explosive and make a lot of plays on special teams, which is very typical of Urban Meyercoached teams.

    Q.  We talked to Lane Kiffin yesterday and he gave you some credit for really wanting to bring a more uptempo, fastpaced type of offense to your team.  Can you kind of just talk about that?
    COACH SABAN:  Well, I think that we try to do the same thing with our team and our players, relative to what we feel would be the most effective thing for them to do so that we can be productive.
    And I think that, systematically, for myself or for Lane, neither one of us had really ever been sort of an uptempo team.  But being a defensive guy and knowing the issues and problems that this has created for what we have to face when we play uptempo teams, for the last season and this season, I’ve been wanting to move in that direction.
    And to Lane’s credit, he was very open to trying to implement something that would be effective for our players and certainly did a really, really good job of implementing a system, and some of it was a little bit through trial and error for all of us that helped our players be productive and effective this season.
    And I think it worked out very well for the players that we have.

    Q.  How do you  when you reflect on your playing career and college playing career how do you describe yourself as a player and what do you think from that experience informed the way you coach?
    COACH SABAN:  It’s been a long time since I was a player.  I think that a lot of things that we do in our program is to try to help our players not only be good football players but sort of help them develop the kind of thoughts, habits, priorities, character, making good choices and decisions about what they do, that it’s going to help them be a better person in life.
    And Don James was my college coach, and that philosophy carries over from when I was a player for him and his staff.  And that’s something that we’ve always tried to do in our program, emphasizing education and the value of education and learning how to be the best you can be at whatever you choose to do.
    And how to work with other people, togetherness, how to be positive, how to be responsible for your own selfdetermination in terms of the choices and decisions that you make, and establishing the kind of work ethic that will help you be the best that you can be, well, these are all things that I learned when I was a player.  And certainly things that we’ve tried to implement in our program through the years and hopefully we’ve helped some of our players not only be successful on the field but have a better opportunity to be more successful in life because of some of the principles and values they learn while they’re in our program.
    I certainly think it was a benefit to me in terms of my college experience with the coaches and the philosophy that they have and I think it’s something that’s been helpful to us trying to establish a program that has value for players.

    Q.  How do you feel like you’ve evolved, if that’s the right word, as a head coach over the years, what are the important qualities you need in working with the staff, and in terms of just dealing with the university and the athletic department in general?
    COACH SABAN:  I’ve been very fortunate, wherever I’ve been, that we’ve always had a great administration, whether it’s great presidents, very good athletic directors, people who were really trying to serve and help us set the table for what we needed to do to be successful.
    And we have a great team in Alabama, but I felt the same way when I was at LSU, Michigan State or wherever we’ve had opportunities in the past.  And so that part of it really has not been difficult, because of the quality of people that we’ve been fortunate to work with.
    I think as a head coach, probably the greatest thing that, or the biggest thing that you change or I’ve changed in is, just an overall understanding of human behavior and how people react the best.  And it’s not always being overly intense or trying to intimidate people into doing better or it’s more about helping them sort of have a vision for what they want to accomplish and sell them on the process of what they need to do to accomplish it and sort of having the discipline on a daytoday basis to try to carry it out, which is more the approach that we use with players and coaches and people that we have to work with.
    And I think if everybody has a similar vision for what they want to accomplish, it’s certainly easier to get everybody to buy into the process of things that they need to do to do it and their dedication and determination to stick with that on a daytoday basis, which is really about discipline to execute.

    Q.  Between yourself and Coach Meyer the two have won six national titles over your career, how would you describe the relationship the two of you have built over the years?
    COACH SABAN:  I didn’t really know Urban all that well when he was at Florida.  Mostly because I’m sure you’ve heard this story before, but when I was coaching at the Houston Oilers in ’88, ’89, whenever that was, and took the head coaching job at the University of Toledo, after the ’89 season, my wife, Terry, who has always been very involved in what we do, and I was finishing the season with the Oilers, I wasn’t paying a whole bunch of attention of what I was going to do when I was going to Toledo, trying to do a good job for the players we had.  We had a playoff team.  And Urban called.
    He was a graduate assistant somewhere.  And Terry talked to him, and I came home one night after preparation for one of our games at the Oilers, and she said, You know, I talked to a really interesting guy today, Urban Meyer, and I really do think you should talk to him when you hire your staff at Toledo.
    And I was so kind of caught up and busy in what I was doing I never really followed up on that.  And obviously that was a huge mistake on my part, because he’s a fantastic coach and he’s done a really, really good job.  But we did have the opportunity to work one of the national championship games, I think it was the Auburn/Oregon game when Cam Newton was playing at Auburn, I guess that was 2010.
    So we spent three or four days together and really got to know him and his wife and really saw what a really good person he is and he’s got a lot of really good qualities in terms of being a successful person at what he does and developed a tremendous amount of respect for him not just as a coach but as the kind of person that he is and a great work ethic that he has and how well organized he is in terms of his program.
    So it was no surprise to me that he got back into coaching a very good situation at Ohio State that has a great tradition and that it would not take him long to establish one of the top programs in the country, which he’s certainly been able to do in a short period of time.

    Q.  What’s your reaction to Jim Harbaugh being hired at Michigan?  We’re getting a lot of questions, at least we are emailwise, how much is a college football coach really worth having a salary maybe up to $8 million a year, we’ll see what happens, what’s your reaction to that and explain 
    COACH SABAN:  First of all, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Harbaugh family.  I knew his dad when he was a secondary coach at Michigan and I was a secondary coach and we used to spend time together.
    So to see both of the Harbaughs do really, really well as NFL coaches in Baltimore and San Francisco, tremendous amount of respect for the entire family, and Tom Crean, who is the head basketball coach in Indiana, is married to another Harbaugh coach, which I’m sure she does a good job of supporting him just like my wife does me.
    And they were at Michigan State when we were there.  He was an assistant for Tom Izzo, and we we’re really good friends.  So I’ve had a good relationship with the entire Harbaugh family for probably 30 years.  So I’m happy and excited that someone of Jim Harbaugh’s character and quality is going to come back and be a part of college football.
    And I’m sure he’ll do a fantastic job at the University of Michigan, which has great tradition.  And I know he’ll do a really good job there.  From the college football coach standpoint and the financial question that you asked me, the only thing that I can say to that is, what kind of value do you create for the university?  If you create value for the university and you look at it from that standpoint, then I think that there’s a relative amount that someone’s worth based on that.
    And I don’t really spend a lot of time trying to figure that out.  So I really can’t tell you exactly what that is or what it should be.  But I think administrators probably have a better feel for that and have to make a determination as to what someone’s worth relative to the value they create for their institution.

    Q.  As you dug into Ohio State intensively and watched them on film, what, if anything, did you see or learn about them that you didn’t notice on the surface?
    COACH SABAN:  Well, we had not seen them all year long.  And I think when you sort of play in these intersectional games where you’re not sort of either watching them play or seeing the opponents that they play against throughout the season, when you start to look at someone, you really don’t have sort of a perception of what you refer to as on the surface.
    And so you really start from scratch in terms of what they’re tendencies are in terms of how they play offense, defense, special teams or whatever, and try to build a plan of what you think would be most effective and how you can get your players to adapt to what you do to sort of be most effective against that.
    So we see that they have very good players, very good skill guys on offense.  Their offensive line have great balance, make a lot of big plays.  They’ve been through a lot of adversity at the quarterback position but have overcome it very nicely in terms of every player they play at that position, because they’ve adapted to what he can do, has been very effective for them.
    Up front on defense, they’re very physical and what makes defensive players good is they’re hard to block.  And they certainly have some guys up front that are hard to block and they played very well and have been difficult to score against.  Create a lot of negative plays for people, and it’s going to be very challenging for us up front with our offensive line to do a good job of executing against what they do.
    And they’ve always been a very good special teams, they’ve got good specialists, as well as they do a great job of coaching their teams, and they’ve created advantages for themselves on teams.
    So all around, this is a very, very good football team who played extremely well at the end of the season.

    Q.  As you’ve seen your defense grow this year, how have you seen Reggie Ragland specifically evolve as a defensive player just in this season alone?
    COACH SABAN:  Reggie has done, I think, an outstanding job for us all year long.  He started the season as a guy who we knew had a lot of ability, a lot of talent and really hadn’t played that much.
    So we knew there was a tremendous amount of upside there, and as he gained more knowledge and experience and confidence as a player that he would be more and more productive, which certainly is the way the season transpired for him.  Early on, you know, had some difficulties in terms of understanding exactly what the expectation was for him and his position, but sort of somewhere around the fourth or fifth game of the season you could see him develop more confidence in what that expectation was, and with that he started to make a lot of plays.  And he’s been one of our best playmakers on defense and been one of our most productive players and has become a really, really good player for us down the stretch.

An Interview With: BLAKE SIMS
    

    Q.    How are you embracing this moment and this week and really this is your opportunity to shine here for Alabama?
    BLAKE SIMS:  It’s a great feeling for me and my teammates and get an opportunity to play here at the Sugar Bowl again.  This is a great time.  This is a great stadium to play in.
    And there’s some people out there, New Orleans Saints fans, to be able to be where they’re playing and they play great games at.

    Q.  How about your progression as a quarterback and Lane Kiffin giving you freedom from the line of scrimmage.  How much freedom do you have to make changes at the line of scrimmage and audible?
    BLAKE SIMS:  I have some freedom.  It’s that everybody’s really got good communication and talking to each other so we can be successful in the game.

    Q.  And when did that start for you?  How much is your development from where you started in the fall to where you are now, where have you seen the most growth you think in your game?
    BLAKE SIMS:  I would say the Florida game, that’s when I started getting comfortable.  I think everybody on the team started trusting each other and we became one.  And the Arkansas game, the Ole Miss game, we started coming closer and closer together.

    Q.  Give me your impressions of Urban Meyer before this game, before you guys started studying him and how did it change after you guys looked at film and saw Ohio State?
    BLAKE SIMS:  All I knew of Urban Meyer is what he has done at Florida, he’s a great coach there.  He won a lot of national championships.  You have to respect him as a coach.
    He came to Ohio State, turned the program around.  And I know that he’s going to prepare for us very well and get his team ready.

    Q.  You guys have been down in New Orleans for a couple of days how have you been able to avoid the distractions and things going around, you have a lot of fans, obviously it’s New Orleans, there’s a lot going on.  How are you able to keep that in check?
    BLAKE SIMS:  It’s really  we told our players to  we said we’ve grown, we’ve grown, realize this is a business trip.  We didn’t come here to have fun, the only time we have fun is if we win.  For us to win we have to take one day at a time, prepare the right way and listen to what Coach Saban tell us because he’s going to lead us the right way.

    Q.  What time are you guys checking in for the night?
    BLAKE SIMS:  11 o’clock.

    Q.  I wanted to ask you if you can describe your relationship with Lane Kiffin and how he brought you along and how it evolved in to you becoming a starting quarterback?
    BLAKE SIMS:  He’s a great guy.  I’m glad that Coach Saban chose him to be offensive coordinator and that we have a great relationship.  He has no problem letting me know what I’m doing wrong.  He has no problem jumping on me.  I like that as a coach because it makes me a better quarterback and better leader for my team.

    Q.  How has he most affected your development on the field?  What areas has he shaped you, do you think?
    BLAKE SIMS:  My body language, mindset, awareness.  And the game management.

    Q.  In the game, if you make a mistake, let’s say, what has he said to you that kind of helps you maybe clear your mind, get back on track as you move forward?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Series, the next series, the next play, don’t worry about what happened.  Stay calm.

    Q.  How would you describe your confidence level when they brought in Coker last year, and the fact that you really hadn’t moved around?
    BLAKE SIMS:  I didn’t think too highly, and I didn’t get too down.  I just brought Jacob in with open arms.  If he was a quarterback, I had nothing but confidence in Jacob that he was going to lead the right way and he was going to be a great leader for our team because this is my last year, and I want to leave with another championship.

    Q.  And the fact that you waited so long for this opportunity, how difficult was that to be behind AJ McCarron all that time?
    BLAKE SIMS:  It wasn’t difficult, because I knew when I had my opportunity, if I was doing it, starting quarterback, next year I would be in the right hands.  A.J. taught me the right way.  Taught me a lot of things and he showed a lot why he was successful.

    Q.  Can you talk about your journey?  You’ve been  I don’t know if you know this, probably don’t read all the clippings on yourself, but when people talk about quarterbacks doing it the right way and somebody being the team player and being willing to do whatever is asked of them, you’ve been multiple positions on the team.  You’ve fought, you’ve clawed.  You’ve hung in there.  And people talk about that in a huge way.  Could you talk about your journey that’s led up to where you are today?  Have you wrapped your head around that yet?
    BLAKE SIMS:  I haven’t wrapped it around it yet.  But I’m just trying to take one day at a time.  After my sophomore year I put a lot in God’s hands guys, and I just really do what he told me to do and I see about me doing that as a blessing many, many times, the LSU game, as many times as people said how did you do that, God helped me.

    Q.  Are there guys on the team, younger guys, that have come up to you that said because some of these guys come in, it’s Alabama, they come in, five stars, they’re really good athletes, do you know if that attitude has trickled down to some of your teammates that I’ll do whatever is asked of me, doesn’t matter, you just said it about Jacob Coker, doesn’t matter who the quarterback is, I’ll do whatever is asked of me what’s best for the team?
    BLAKE SIMS:  I have guys come in ask me how I do it, what made me stay.  I told them that you gotta have a positive mindset.  You gotta be patient.  And never took a day off and when you get your opportunity make sure you take full advantage of it.

    Q.  You met a young lady named Corbin White a couple of weeks ago and wore her bracelet.  And I know that she’s in the fight of her life with pediatric cancer.  What did that mean to you and your thoughts on Corbin, as she goes through that fight?
    BLAKE SIMS:  When you go through things like that, you’ve got two decisions, to give up or fight.  And she’s going to fight as hard as she did and it’s hard for me to see how hard she’s fighting, I have no reason to complain to the life I’m living or if I’m tired.  She’s like a motivation to me.  And when she asked me to wear her bracelet I have no problem wearing it because she doesn’t know that when I’m tired in the game or when I want to stop or don’t want to get up in the morning I look at her bracelet and it motivates me to get up.

    Q.  When you talk about McCarron being a good mentor, how did that relationship involve  what did you get from him, how closely did he work with you?
    BLAKE SIMS:  It was in meetings, if I saw something, I saw like a coverage I really couldn’t recognize, asking him what would you do right here?  He said you can look at the safety and you realize the coverage is right here.  He taught me when I watched film, instead of watching the film, try to put the plays that you’ll have in the game plan, put it to that defense and it can help you out.  And it was true.

    Q.  Now when you look at the Ohio State defensive line, obviously those two guys could be a big impact in the game.  How much of your game plan is going to be built around neutralizing them and the pass rush?
    BLAKE SIMS:  They’re a great team.  They play with a lot of passion.  And they want to win games.  They play together.  Very fundamental, sound.  And they do what their coach tells them to do.

    Q.  Do they remind you of any team you’ve played against?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Their defensive line reminds me of Missouri.  They’ve got great defensive linemen that they’re good at all spots.  And I think that that was a good team to compare them to.

    Q.  When you talk about it’s Alabama versus Ohio State but bigger picture SECBig Ten, do you guys talk about that as players, kind of playing for the SEC, getting a chance to show how good the SEC is?
    BLAKE SIMS:  No, we don’t look at it like that.  We look at the opportunity that we’re one game from our journey and do you want to do the right things through the week that leads up to the game to reach our dream or do you not want to do the right things.  It’s another team that’s coming and trying to beat us and we gotta do what we have to do.

    Q.  If you could, go back and give us the relationship that you and Lane Kiffin have going back to when you recruited out of Gainesville, Georgia, doesn’t go back to just these last nine months it goes back to when you were coming out of high school?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Yes, it does.  I was recruited in high school.  He came to my house.  We had a great time.  Sat in my living room for 10, 11 hours and he convinced me.  I knew he was a great coach.  He liked to win and I like to be around coaches that likes to win.
    And that’s why I came to Alabama.  Because Coach Saban was a guy that likes to win.  And for him to bring Coach Kiffin back and for me to spend my last year with Coach Kiffin, I knew that the offense would be good.

    Q.  Were you close to decommitment from Alabama to go to Tennessee if Lane had stayed at Tennessee, would you maybe have gone there?
    BLAKE SIMS:  I really don’t even know.  I think him leaving it made my decision a lot easier.  But I needed more time to realize.

    Q.  A lot of people have talked about how early in the season you stayed steady and continued to work hard even though you weren’t named a starter.  You weathered all the noise on the outside to continue to do what you had to do.  What impact did being a father and having to deal with a young child and all the responsibilities of that, does that have any impact on just how you were able to come to work and focus and be more mature?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Being a father, it does impact me to my drive, because my biggest fear is to tell my little girl no, that I can’t  if she asks me to buy something for her I can’t do it.  And for me to be able to do that, I have to be successful and do the little things that’s right.  And that’s one thing that she has helped me done.

    Q.  Nick and Lane have talked all week about how you stuck it out for five years.  It’s really good to see a guy in the first year like that.  The other side, Ohio State you’ve got Braxton Miller who is going to get his fifth year back next year.  He’s got two other guys, one guy could have been the best player in the country this year, the other guy now playing quarterback, what would you do if you were him, you were in that situation you could leave and go play wherever you wanted?
    BLAKE SIMS:  I don’t know.  It’s very hard for me to make that decision.  I’m not in his shoes right now.  But the decision that he make, I know would be the best for him.  I know he’ll certainly talk to his parents about it.

    Q.  If you’re a player it’s hard to leave behind what you built even if the future doesn’t turn out like you want do you ever think like that?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Yeah, because you don’t want to leave your teammates.  You care about your school but you worry about the future.  You want to look ahead.
    Sometimes it’s bad to live in the past because you reminisce and it might hold you from what you’re trying to do.

    Q.  Will your daughter be here at this game?
    BLAKE SIMS:  She will.

    Q.  Does she have a sense of what’s going on in terms of the magnitude of it or are you just still kind of just dad?
    BLAKE SIMS:  At the football game, she knows that like if we won or we lost, just about the emotions that’s going around in the house.  She still has fun.  She still puts a pretty smile on.  And she asks me if I’m okay, if I got any injuries and stuff like that.  When I tell her no, she just goes on and she plays with my little sisters and stuff.

    Q.  As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Yes.

    Q.  Could you describe your relationship with Amari Cooper and how he helped you develop as a starter?
    BLAKE SIMS:  He’s like a little brother to me.  There was times during the spring and through the summer that we watched film and he is just helping me, like letting me know what coverages look like and just letting me know what he would do if he did this.  He helped me learn the concepts and the offense.

    Q.  When you say little brother, what do you mean by that?  What type of relationship?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Little brother just like I’m here for him, if you ever need any advice.  Like when he came in, like, we started the process of being good friends, you know what I’m saying.  And I care about him a lot.  Outside of football, we need anything, I know we’re there for each other.

    Q.  What’s it like just throwing it up to him, to make a play in a tight situation?
    BLAKE SIMS:  It’s great.  Great to have him there.  And you have got good communication, somebody you don’t have to  certain teams pick up on signals.  We don’t have to do any signals.  We know what we’re going to do at a certain time.  Coach Kiffin does a great job placing us, helping us do that in practice, and I think that we know what makes Amari Cooper so great you’ve got two other guys on the field, Christion Jones and DeAndrew White that are very explosive.
    Missouri had focused on Coop in the game and DeAndrew White and Christion Jones had a great game.

    Q.  What do you mean you guys do that you improvise in practice, what did you mean by that?
    BLAKE SIMS:  We might have a certain play called and I’ll look at him and he might nod his head or shake his head or something like that and we just know what that means.

    Q.  What grade is your daughter in now?  How old is she?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Five years old.

    Q.  Kindergarten?
    BLAKE SIMS:  Kindergarten.

    Q.  Has she taken you to like school yet for like showoff day or a project at school or anything?
    BLAKE SIMS:  No, I haven’t had the opportunity to go to her school.  But after my last game I’m looking forward to doing that.

    Q.  When you look across at the other team, how difficult  you can imagine what it’s like to be a backup quarterback obviously.  How difficult is the situation that Cardale Jones is in now, having to just step in with the one Wisconsin game and step into a stage like this?
    BLAKE SIMS:  I have nothing but confidence.  I mean, I’m glad like I have nothing but respect for him.  And that’s very big for him to he’d always step up and do that for his team.  That shows a lot of his character.  There’s not a lot of quarterbacks that will get up and just do that for their team and perform the way they did.  I think at the Wisconsin game he earned a lot of respect from a lot of people.

An Interview With:   TREY DEPRIEST

    Q.    Can you talk to me a little bit about growing up in Ohio and what that fan base is like compared to the fan base in Tuscaloosa?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  It’s similar, Ohio State they’ve got some diehard fans too, regardless of the situation, whether it’s up or down just like the fans in Tuscaloosa.  They do a good job regardless of like I said regardless of the situation with us.
    If we’re down, they’re still going to scream for us, this and that, basically.

    Q.  Tell me about your trip to the hospital yesterday.  How did that touch you?  What did you learn from that experience?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  It was a real humbling experience.  I’ve never really been to a children’s hospital like that.  They usually send a leadership group of the seniors.  And this is my first time ever being on it.
    So I mean just a humbling experience.  And just seeing those kids sick, kind of  I mean, made me thankful for my son and that he’s healthy.  Like I said, it’s a really humbling experience.

    Q.  Put the game in perspective, what you guys plan?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Yes, that I’m blessed to go out and showcase the talents God gave me.

    Q.  Were you recruited by Ohio State?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Yeah, I was.

    Q.  This game feel  aside from being a playoff game, does it feel any different in the leadup, because you know a lot of guys on the team or a couple of guys?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I really don’t.

    Q.  You’re good friends with Braxton, right?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  That’s one of my best friends.  But I don’t know a lot of them to be honest with you.  I know like four or five of them but that’s about it.

    Q.  Did you and Braxton play together kids football.  He talked about some teams he was on where he was a kid they have to keep proving that you guys were two or three  he was two or three years older than you are?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Yeah, (indiscernible) we played pee wee football but he went to a different high school than I did.

    Q.  Was he a quarterback?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  He was a quarterback.  I was running back.  I played defensive end in pee wee and I moved to linebacker in middle school.

    Q.  Have you stayed in touch with him since (indiscernible)?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Yeah, we talk all the time.  He does his rehab down there in Birmingham so I try to shoot up there every once in a while and talk to him.

    Q.  This is your first instance to play at a collegiate level.  You didn’t know this was going to happen but talk about the chances possibly being able to play with him in college.
    TREY DEPRIEST:  It’s been a fun experience.  Sort of a meetagain type experience.  And I figured it was going to happen.  Honestly, they’ve been having some good years and we’ve been having some success, too.  So I figured it would eventually happen.  For him not to be playing in this one was kind of  I mean, it’s for real.  But it is what it is.

    Q.  What have people back home been saying to you?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  My people or just people period?

    Q.  Both.
    TREY DEPRIEST:  My people, they’re excited for me.  I mean they’re wishing me luck and all that, and I mean other people they’ve got different opinions about it.  I ain’t going to go there.  But it is what it is, too.

    Q.  What were the circumstances, remind me at Ohio State, were they in the final 2, 3, how did that work for you?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Yeah, that was in the final 2, it was between them and Bama.

    Q.  And what was the deciding factor for you?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  My comfort level.  I just felt more comfortable with Alabama.  And that’s the choice I went with.

    Q.  Was Coach Fickell there or had Urban come in?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  It was Coach Tressel was still there but Fickell recruited me.

    Q.  Did you develop a relationship with Coach Fickell?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Not really, no.

    Q.  Having had conversations with Braxton since he’s been hurt, what sense do you get that he feels like he’s sort of left out of this, when he was the guy for that team and then injury thwarted it?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I don’t think he feels left out.  You can’t necessarily feel left out off being injured.  That’s the game of football.  Everybody got that  everybody takes that chance every day.  So I don’t think he feels left out.  I mean, I just think he  I don’t even know how to put it.  I guess he would just feel 

    Q.  Disappointed?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  To a certain extent, yeah.  Of course.  Of course he wanted to play in the game, that he can’t.  But he couldn’t do nothing about it.  It’s not like he went out and got hurt on purpose.
    Like I said, it comes with the game.

    Q.  How tough is that guy?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Very.  Very.

    Q.  What do you expect from him when he gets back on the field?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  The same thing.  The same thing he did when he was on the field.  Big Ten player of the year two times in a row.  I don’t expect nothing less.

    Q.  This is going to sound like a fundamental question, but why is Alabama better than Ohio State?  Why can you win this game?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I ain’t going there.  I ain’t going there.

    Q.  When you were in high school, how did you view Ohio State?  So many kids in Ohio want to go there.  What kind of prompted you maybe to look elsewhere?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Just because that’s not the only school in the nation.  I mean, other schools have stuff to offer, too.  So I didn’t go in recruiting narrow minded.  I just broadened my horizons looked elsewhere.

    Q.  When you grew up were you a fan of a certain school, maybe Ohio State?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I was a Michigan fan.

    Q.  You don’t want to talk about how  you are going to admit you were a Michigan fan?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I don’t go to Ohio State, why wouldn’t I?

    Q.  This is going to be your junior year and every game now possibly could be your last game.  I know you haven’t made the decision yet?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I’m a senior.  This is my last year.

    Q.  Possibility being your last game, talk about that, especially a big game like this.
    TREY DEPRIEST:  It’s just crazy.  I mean, I still remember my whole time my freshman year.  Like you said this possibly is my last game.  It’s mindblowing for real.  But I mean I enjoyed my time at Alabama and if it is my  if it so happens to be my last game, then so be it.
    I enjoy  like I said I enjoyed my time, loved it.  Never regretted my decision.

    Q.  A lot of players don’t have the ability to say three national championships in their college career you guys can do that taking care of business first, this weekend first?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Yeah, like you said I don’t think no class could say that.  If we have accomplished that that adds to my experience.

    Q.  Did you ever want to play them, did you think maybe hey down the road we will?  What does this matchup mean to you, I guess?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I mean, to me it’s just another game.  It didn’t matter who got in that fourth slot.  We was going to have to prepare for them just the same way.  But I mean I figured we was going to play like I said earlier, they’ve been having successful years just as well as we have and eventually it was bound to happen.  And especially since they put this playoff deal in play and it’s bound to happen.

    Q.  Any message to folks back in Ohio?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  No, I ain’t got none.

    Q.  Do you have fans back home, Alabama rooting system?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  My support system, it’s great.

    Q.  You have basically one tape to look at the quarterback for Ohio State.  How many games would you watch a typical quarterback getting prepared for a game?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Typically probably his best five, five or six.  With this being his  that was being his only game but you still have a lot to go off because he had a lot of success for that game.  For him to show up like he did, what is it 59something and on that type of stage, him being thrown into the fire like that, I mean, he handled himself great.  That’s a great tape to watch.

    Q.  Do you throw anything extra in to try to he hasn’t seen a lot from you either, you guys throw anything new at him?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I’m going to let Coach Smart handle that, whatever he wants to call, I’m going to get the message relayed to everybody else and go run it.

    Q.  How many Ohio questions, Braxton questions have you got today?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  There’s been a lot.

    Q.  More than the last three years put together?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Oh, yeah, definitely.

    Q.  You’re from Ohio?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Yeah.

    Q.  How did you get out of Ohio and get down to Alabama?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I mean, that’s just the decision I made to do.  I felt more comfortable down here at Alabama than I did up there at Ohio State.  I had a better relationship with some of these coaches down here.
    The guy who recruited me, he’s actually gone now, but I still keep in contact with him.  And I had a chance to develop a relationship with some other coaches.

    Q.  You’ve been in the system for four years.  You’ve contributed since day one.  You actually left high school a semester early.  Two in a row with Alabama.  What would you say is the biggest thing you’ve seen during your career here the defensive player here for Alabama?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  My biggest thing you said as a defensive player?

    Q.  In your development.
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I mean, just the way that I’m able to handle the defense, get it called, get the message relayed from Coach Smart to the whole defense and get everybody lined up and everybody on the same page.  That’s a good thing.

    Q.  The last season in this game, in the Sugar Bowl, Oklahoma was able to spread the field, give you guys issues, do you see anything that Ohio State does offensively that could probably do the same thing to you guys this season?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  They’ve got a lot of stuff offensively that can pose a problem for any defense.  They do a lot of stuff.  Shift motion a lot.  Guys on the perimeter that can create mismatches as far as 

    Q.  Let’s talk for a moment.  You’ve got a chance to look at the performance of the new quarterback for Ohio State.  And you were talking about the amount of respect that you’ve garnered or gathered after watching his performance.  Tell me a little bit more about that?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I mean, like I said, just the way he handled himself on the stage like that, Big Ten championship.  His first start.  I mean, if you go out there put up that type of numbers, that’s impressive for anybody to do that.
    I mean, I know people probably didn’t even expect all that.  But like I said the way he went out there handled himself is really impressive.

    Q.  When you take a look at what offensively they do, what has been the point of emphasis in terms of your preparation?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Just looking at the final formation.  They do a lot of shifting in motion and trying to get guys on mismatches.  So really just looking at the final formation and being able to dial down on what they do out of that sort of formation and that’s pretty much it.

    Q.  Hadn’t thought about it until I got here and you were referring to it to one of the media members that preceded me.  There’s some unfinished business in this Superdome for this team from one year ago against a team called Oklahoma?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Definitely we didn’t finish that game like we wanted to at all, especially from a defensive standpoint.  I don’t think we gave up that many points in a long time, that many yards.  Last year we couldn’t get it clicking with each other.
    So we finally got another chance to come out here and that feels great.  And hopefully it don’t go like that again.

    Q.  Let me ask you, inside the locker room, all season long, do you feel pretty comfortable in sharing with me what you think the true personality of this Crimson Tide team is?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  I mean, the personality  we’ve got an awesome chemistry between all the players, offense and defense.  It’s not a split type of deal.
    When my side of the ball ain’t doing well, Blake or somebody going to come over and highlight us and when their side of the ball ain’t doing well I’m going to go there say something to them, me, J. Reed, guys like that.  Just the amount of chemistry we’ve got.  It’s awesome.
    I really think that’s what put us in this position we’re in now.

    Q.  What’s the main message that Coach Smart has been disseminating to all you defensive players?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  A sense of urgency.  Get lined up.  Get the call fast.  Like I said, be able to dial down on the last formation.

    Q.  You’ve only got a few more maybe 10, 20 minutes of being subjected to all of this.  How uncomfortable is it to be in this environment?  It’s like being on parade a little bit when you’re sitting behind the table.
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Yeah, sometimes it can get uncomfortable especially with some of the questions you get.  It’s just some of them 

    Q.  What’s the weirdest questions you’ve been asked?
    TREY DEPRIEST:  The most uncomfortable question is somebody just asked me, he said why is Alabama better than Ohio State.  I mean, it was his words.  They’re in this position for a reason, too.  So we both gotta go out and play our best ball.  And I really just didn’t feel comfortable answering that question.

    Q.  And I think it goes to something that I think is kind of great about this particular matchup.  There is a mutual respect between these two teams.
    TREY DEPRIEST:  Definitely.  Mutual respect between the two coaches that we have.  I mean Coach Urban he’s had a lot of success and Coach Saban, he’s had a lot of success.
    And they both coached in the SEC against each other.  So it will be a good matchup.

An Interview With: AMARI COOPER
    
    Q.    Coming in, what kind of tape have you seen?
    AMARI COOPER:  Yeah, the information that I’ve gathered about their cornerbacks.  They’re both really fast.  12 is extremely fast.  Probably like a legit 4.3 guy.  They never let the receivers they play against get too much separation from them.  So they’re both really solid corners.

    Q.  What’s impressed with the way he’s playing this year (indiscernible)?
    AMARI COOPER:  He’s shown me a lot.  He’s shown me that if you don’t quit you’ll be blessed.  He’s always believing in himself.  It’s been a long, long journey for him.  All his hard work has finally  I won’t say it’s all paid off, but it’s paying off.  He’s a true inspiration to really anybody and he’s a really confident player.  I’ve seen him grow.
    I’ve seen him lead the team, step up in crucial situations and it’s all been for the good of the team.

    Q.  How has all of this attention you’ve been getting, Heisman, everything throughout the year, how have you been able to stay grounded throughout this process, and how have you been able to stay focused on winning the national championship?
    AMARI COOPER:  Nothing’s really changed with my work ethic, with my studying, watching film and things like that.  The only thing that’s changed is I’ve been a little busier, especially with the Heisman thing, going to Orlando.  But that’s really about it.

    Q.  Does this media day thing get old for you?  You come back down, all the media is shining a spotlight on you, what’s different about this year now?  I know last year it was the Sugar Bowl and this year a Sugar Bowl with another element to it, the national championship semifinal?
    AMARI COOPER:  It’s a lot of media that goes on before the game.  I’m not sure if all of it is really necessary.  I don’t know.  I’m just a player who likes to play.  I’m so accustomed to coming from Little League and high school and no media at all, just playing the game.  So that’s what I’m really used to.
    But this feeling, it doesn’t feel too much different right now than last year, because last year we had the same agenda and that was to come in and win.  So I don’t feel too much of a difference even though we’re playing for a national championship, if we win this game.

    Q.  What’s the most creative thing Nick has taught you?  Something creative (indiscernible)?  What’s the most creative thing you’ve learned from him?
    AMARI COOPER:  I’ve learned many things from him.  He has a lot of parables he likes to tell.  He once told the team something about this, I don’t know, a rock hitter or something like that, I don’t know what the guy was hitting a rock for.  But he said the guy hit the rock 100 times and the rock didn’t do anything.  The 101st time he hit it and the rock split.  He used that to try to give an example to the team that even though you may be working hard or might not be seeing the results so quick, we have to keep working hard because at the end of the day all the results will come from your hard work and that’s kind of the example he gave to us to tell us that.

    Q.  Obviously both teams have seen a lot of tape on each other.  They know what you guys do best.  You know what they do best.  Is there a new wrinkle, maybe, that Coach Saban is possibly thinking about throwing in there that may be different from what you guys have done all year?
    AMARI COOPER:  There’s a few new things we want to do on offense because of what we’ve seen on tape from their defense.  That’s why you watch film, to go in and try to do new things to exploit the weakness in their defense.
    But I think both teams have strengths and weaknesses and that’s why you play the game.

    Q.  In all the tape that you guys have seen, is there anything that stands out as far as Ohio State’s defense is concerned, maybe not the defensive line or D backs but overall what your guy’s feeling is on the team?
    AMARI COOPER:  Overall we feel they’re a really sound defense.  We feel like the players on their defense are really confident in their scheme.  We feel like they’re comfortable in that scheme.  They don’t really change around their defense at all.
    They do the same things, because that’s what they’re comfortable doing.  And they’re really  what word can I use?   they’re just used to running that defense and they do it really well.

    Q.  The Heisman Trophy finalist in the room and yet you’ve managed to clear out the media in front of you.  What has today been like?
    AMARI COOPER:  I don’t know.  I just kind of got here.  I’m just chilling.

    Q.  Chilling is, I would say, among your favorite activities in that you’re not a guy that’s going out and especially not when it’s a work trip like this one.  What has the New Orleans experience been like, have you had a chance to do anything beyond watching film?
    AMARI COOPER:  We’ve been practicing, watching film, but I’ve managed to get to the mall, buy a few clothes, couple shoes.

    Q.  Get to the mall, buy a few clothes, watch some film.  So the next 48 hours, what’s that process look like?
    AMARI COOPER:  We’re going to kind of cut it down as far as practice let our bodies rest up before the game and basically just get ready to go.

    Q.  (Indiscernible)?
    AMARI COOPER:  I had confidence in him before our first game.  I saw what he was doing in the spring and I was really hopeful that it would carry over to the game.
    When we got in the first game, the first game just kind of felt like it kind of felt like an extension of practice.  It didn’t really feel like it was a lot bigger than practice.  So when we realized that, we were like, okay, he can do this, it’s not going to be that hard for him.

    Q.  (Question about development and focusing on details)?
    AMARI COOPER:  I’ve had receiver coaches.  But I would say my route running and my instinctive ability to try to manipulate the DBs and read his body language it just came from me playing the position for so long.  I’ve never played another position except for one year I played quarterback.
    But it’s a lot of backyard football that went into my, that goes into my route running and my ability to make sharp cuts and things like that.  So, yeah, that’s what I would attribute it to.

    Q.  (Question off microphone)?
    AMARI COOPER:  That’s easy.  He’s an inspiration to me.  He’s a great Christian.  And aside from football, he’s a great person.  I get a chance to talk to him.  Every time you learn something from him.  He’s a really hard worker.  Every time we run 110s and things like that in the offseason, and he works really hard in the weight room.  He’s just a great person.  I learned a lot from him.

    Q.  How does that affect your perspective, the high profile player he is, how does that affect your motivation?
    AMARI COOPER:  Like I said, he’s really an inspirational person.  Makes me want to better myself as a person.  Every time I see him running those 110s really hard I’m like I can’t let him beat me.  So it’s just things like that.

    Q.  How do you feel physically coming into this game?  I know you were banged up before the end of the season?
    AMARI COOPER:  Yeah, I feel good.  Every player is banged up and some way or form, we all have nicks and bruises but that’s part of the game and you have to play through it.

    Q.  (Indiscernible)?
    AMARI COOPER:  I think their secondaries are pretty fast, the corners are pretty fast.  And their safeties are really good tacklers, their safeties are 2 and 3 on the team in tackles.  So, they’re really solid defensive backs.

An Interview With:  JALSTON FOWLER
    
    Q.    In those moments where the game is in the balance, are you nervous, like what are you thinking when you are watching them?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Most of the time I’m nervous I’ll be like, what’s going on, I can’t take this, man, it’s a heart attack, get your heart attack up there.

    Q.  What was the swing of emotions from T.J. fumbling you guys coming down and tying it knocking the guy out on the kick return?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It was amazing.  One moment, the moment, oh, man, we got a bet they drove it down on the field kick the field goal, I was just happy and I started yelling, This is why you come to Bama.  Ain’t no room go out there or not, on the kickoff, it’s pretty exciting.  I think the momentum shift right there.

    Q.  What was the Auburn game like?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  That was fun.  I was up for that game.  The only thing we kept saying the whole week is we owe these guys.

    Q.  Was that kind of the mindset, how much did that 2013 game play into the 2014 game?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Played a big part in it because we wanted  I won’t say it was in, but that’s what we got to the point where we’re saying the speech we do every week before practice, every week before the game, this is the reckoning that we all started.

    Q.  Going back to when you first started out can you imagine all the things that happened in your life, master’s degree, playing for championships?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  No.  I was just in for the football.  And I’m happy I did come here and get my degree.

    Q.  What’s the biggest change for you personally during that time?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Just different attitude from going from being a young man to an adult.

    Q.  How did that work for you?  Who was instrumental in that for you?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Coach Stevenson, Kerry Stevenson played a big part in it, my granddad, my brothers, my mom.  She played a very big role.

    Q.  Does your son want to play football?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I don’t know right now.  He likes to throw the football around and likes to shoot basketballs.  He might be a sports man in the making.

    Q.  What’s your concentration in getting your degree in?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Sports management.

    Q.  You have designs to play in pro football?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yes, sir.

    Q.  I know you’re from Mobile how much does it mean to play in the Superdome?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It’s big for me.  I was waiting for them to give me the invite.  I was going to accept it anyway.  Just going to feel good to play in front of the home crowd.  Everybody excited about it, talk about it at home.

    Q.  It’s early in the process where do you fit in the NFL not many teams use a true fullback anymore.
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I feel I fit in pretty well.  Couple teams, Giants.  They love big backs, Pittsburgh loves big backs.  San Diego love big backs like to use the fullback in different ways.
    I even considered Tom Brady, because he’s a guy, the Patriots, they like to use guys in different spots, get as many mismatches as they can.

    Q.  Is there a guy that’s playing that you model after?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Marshawn.  If I had a chance it would be Marshawn Lynch.

    Q.  What is it about his style?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Just took his name, beast mode.  I like the way he run.  He goes at you.

    Q.  Are you a fifth year senior?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yes, sir.

    Q.  Is it kind of unusual nowadays to get fifth year guy you probably don’t see a whole lot of guys around you who were there when you got here.  How many are there?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It’s not too many.  Most, some of them went in the first round, guys that came out with me.

    Q.  A lot of guys at a program like Alabama get to leave early go to the NFL and get drafted high.  What’s the satisfaction for you in sticking around for five years and maintaining the level of success?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Getting two degrees and getting to graduate, let my mom see me graduate from college.  That’s the biggest thing that came out of it for me.

    Q.  You have two degrees?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yes.

    Q.  What are they in?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  One in human environment, the other is sports management.

    Q.  When did you finish those off?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I finished in I think like 2012 season right there in August.  And I finished this year in December.  This month, earlier this month.

    Q.  And footballwise, being able to see the program, maintain its level of success and keep it going, how satisfying is that?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Very satisfying, because you know Coach Saban will go out there and get the best and you’ve been alumni, you want to see your team win no matter what.

    Q.  Are you seeing younger guys come in more and more ready to play right away?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Some.  I mean, it depends on what kind of coach they had in high school.  But most of them, most would be ready but some you have to groom.

    Q.  Is it pretty remarkable that y’all have been able to stay at the very top from an extended period of time with so many guys leaving early?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  You bring in another guy.  I mean, we always have the top recruits we want to come, it’s not hard to stay on top with all those guys who want to come play with Coach Saban.

    Q.  (Indiscernible) Ohio State, if you stay in the game, say in the fourth period, it’s got to be a pretty good look for you guys.  You know where they are.  When you leave the game all of a sudden they’re bringing different packages and stuff like that.  You should get a lot of snaps in this game?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I don’t know.  I’m just going to leave it up to the coaching staff but I hope I do.

    Q.  How many snaps do you average per game now?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I don’t know.  But I know the running back coach told me I played 600some plays this year out of like a thousand, I think, a thousand or something.

    Q.  They got a little SEC defensive line.  They’ve got some big guys like you guys have.  But when they  I guess the question is that when they go, when you leave the field, they go into this 353 they go 3 and they start moving Bosa around all over the place so it makes it a little tougher to find him, I think, when they go into that second and third down.  Have you seen that on the film?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yeah, I’ve seen it.  They like to move these guys around a lot.  I mean, they like to stand them up, give them different looks.  It’s crazy how they work their defense around that guy.
    But you gotta always know where he’s at because he’s one of the main priorities, one of the top guys on the defensive line.

    Q.  You’ve got to find him, too, because you’re the guy that’s got to chip him or hit him.  If you go out, you’ve got to take him on.
    JALSTON FOWLER:  There’s a couple plays I have to take him on.  I look forward to it because I like contact.

    Q.  Are you still about 245?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  No.

    Q.  You don’t look it.  What are you?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I’m about 260, 255.

    Q.  Tell me a little bit about your visit to the hospital yesterday, what did you learn from that and did it change you in any way?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It changed me a lot because I have a son, and just to see kids like that, I just don’t like it.  But just to put a smile on their face by giving them an autographed football, that makes me feel like the best man in the world.

    Q.  Is there a story that sticks out from your visit that you’ll remember for the rest of your life, whether it’s one child that you met or anything like that?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It’s not one thing, it’s just seeing those kids like that and just putting a smile on their face just makes the biggest difference in my life, and probably in their life.
    But we had one little guy who was so energized he was happy to see us it made my heart melt and happy for him.

    Q.  You guys have an opportunity to go to the national title game but yesterday’s visit put all of this in perspective, in the proper perspective, was it sort of a reminder if you will that, yes, we want to win but this is not life?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yeah, it put it in that type of perspective because you see people when they grow up like little kids, some of them might not be there to play football ever.  But just by them seeing us it gives them hope all the time.
    So it helps you like think about like where you are in life and where you want to go in life.  So you just can’t believe all the stuff that’s going on in your life.  So it’s really big for us.  We put all of it in perspective because you get to play this game.

    Q.  Was that your first visit to Children’s Hospital?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  That was actually like my second or third visit.  I know we did, we went down to kids hospital in Miami, too.

    Q.  I know you have an awesome nickname.  Could you tell us about it and how you got it, what it is first and how you got it?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I don’t know where it comes from.  But I mean.

    Q.  First, what is the nickname?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  The name is Nudie but I like to say it’s Nudie Baby and everybody just laughs when I say that, every time we go somewhere.  The name comes from my dad when I was a baby.  He used to walk around and just say, This is my Nudie Baby.  This is my Nudie Baby, nobody can’t have him.  And it stuck with me.

    Q.  Your teammates call you that too?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Some call me new things, some call me Nudie.  Making up nicknames on this team.

    Q.  You always answer to it and stuff?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yes, ma’am.  I always answer to it.  We just have a lot of fun doing it.  Everybody, most of the guys on the team have nicknames.

    Q.  Who has the best one?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Me.  Nudie Baby.

    Q.  How did you end up telling them what your nickname was?  Isn’t this like a unique 
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I just came in to play, one day we were at practice and everybody called me Nudie.  And Coach Saban said Nudie and everybody said who is Nudie.  And they were like, Jalston, and it stuck with me.

    Q.  How did you end up telling Saban the story?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Everybody asked me where the name came from.  I just ended up telling everybody.

    Q.  Who besides you has the best nickname on the team?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  The Vogue Dog, Brian Vogler.

    Q.  If you could give a nickname to Coach Saban, what would you call him?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I don’t know.  Nicolas.  Nico, something like that.

    Q.  Got through talking with T.J. You’ve had a lot of fun in the backfield complementing each other’s style?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yes, sir, we have a lot of fun, and we talk to each other in the game and during the game we tell each other where we got ourselves, and it’s just a lot of fun being back there.

    Q.  I can remember your senior year at Vigor when you didn’t play and you were out there ripped and ready.  Did you ever have any idea that things would work out as good as they have worked out for you at bam ma?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I didn’t actually going in people doubted me.  I love the doubters because when you prove them wrong it is a compliment to you.

    Q.  We asked Jay Prosch out of Mobile make such a contribution as a blocking back, got his chances every now and then to run or catch a ball.  But the blocking is what it’s all about and moving the football, isn’t it?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I love blocking, I love opening up holes for those guys and giving them a lane to run in.  That’s pretty big in our offense, because sometimes hard to move the ball don’t have a guy who is willing to stick his neck in there.

    Q.  Last time Alabama played Ohio State was in the Citrus Bowl.  Sherman Williams, Blount High School, was the star of the game he was the MVP.  Talked to him a couple of weeks ago.  Your thoughts about Ohio State and that style of football that they play out there.
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Those guys are tough.  Built like SEC players.  They’ve got good guys up front and guys that will come down and hit you in the mouth in the secondary, the linebackers.  It’s going to be a pretty tough game.  Those guys look physical.

    Q.  Is the mindset any different for a playoff Sugar Bowl game or is this just a game like  you guys have played like four or five straight playoff games in essence, haven’t you?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  We approach it like any other game.  Going to practice.  Working hard.  Going into practice and trying to get everything together.

    Q.  And the game plan is set almost I’m sure that you guys coming out here and you’ll see a lot of Ohio State fans but you know bam ma fans are going to be here?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yes, sir.  The game plan already set and we know our fans are going to come check this thing out and come have a ball with us right here on the field, win, lose or draw.

    Q.  Your nickname is Nudie.  Give them the background story on where that came from?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  When I was a baby, and my dad used to carry me around all the time saying this is my Nudie Baby and the name just stuck with me ever since.

    Q.  I tell you what, Ohio State knows all about you, because you’re a real key figure in this Lane Kiffin offense.  How great has it been for him to utilize you as a fullback, an Hback, a tight end and even sometimes as a wide receiver?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It’s been great.  It gave me a chance to show my versatility.  And I’m so thankful for Coach Kiffin because if it weren’t for him I probably wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now.

    Q.  You’re a multipurpose running back.  You can carry the ball.  Catch it out of the backfield.  You’re a very good blocker.  I know when I talk to NFL people they absolutely love your future potential in the league because you’re going to save a roster spot because not only can you do those things but you can also play on special teams as well?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yes, sir.  I can do it all.  Just give me the chance.  I’ll go out there and prove what I can do.  I love running the ball.  I love catching the ball but most of the I love blocking for those guys in the backfield to open up lanes.
    I got NFL potential.  So I’m hoping that I can get in.

    Q.  When you see Ohio State on tape, what jumps off the video?  What impresses you the most about these Buckeyes?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Front four, those guys move well.  The guys up front, they’re very physical.  I mean, especially like defensive end, like defensive player of the year in Big Ten.  You gotta watch that guy.  He’s off the edge and linebackers, their technique is sound.  Gotta watch out for that.

    Q.  Very strong front seven, you talk about Joey Bosa, No. 97, 6’5?, 280 pounds coming off that edge.  He’s got J.J. wattlike efforts when he plays.  When you look at Ohio State and your game plan is set, what’s the strategy between now and Thursday night?  You guys just relax?  Are you going to a movie?  Is the game plan the same in terms of the offthefield meetings and those sorts of things?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It’s pretty much the same.  We probably go see a movie and we’re just going to relax.  We have practice today.  Everybody said we’re going to go play, that’s the only thing I’ve been hearing we’re just ready to play the game.

    Q.  If you could, just tell me about the experience New Orleans, what do you like about the city?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I like just walking down Bourbon, seeing all the people out there, having a lot of fun in the city.

    Q.  What’s it like to be a part of the Sugar Bowl, a game that dates back to 1935?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It’s a great experience.  I like being here.  I enjoy being around the surroundings.  They make you feel good.  They put you in a good spot, the hotel that you relax in and have fun in.

    Q.  We’re from the state of Ohio, so when you think of the state of Ohio, not the Buckeyes, but the state of Ohio, anything that comes to mind that you think about?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  LeBron James and Johnny Manziel.

    Q.  Someone was telling me that I think Amari’s role is obviously the one that changed the most with the new offensive coordinator, but he says you might be No. 2 on the list because of all the things they let you do?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  Yeah, I mean, you can line me up at fullback, running back, tight end, wide receiver, I have so many things I have to learn like on an offense because I do so much.

    Q.  Did you expect that you would ever do that many different things?  Alabama is not exactly the school that’s known for that kind of creativity in the past.
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I didn’t expect that.  But when they let me do it, I was already used to it, because I did the same thing, the same exact thing in high school coming out of high school.

    Q.  What does that require of you?  Gameweekwise, is there a bigger like wealth of knowledge that you have to 
    JALSTON FOWLER:  A whole bunch of knowledge I had to have.  You have to look over the playbook a lot because you gotta know what you’re doing at receiver, gotta know what you’re doing at H and at running back.  It’s just a lot for me.  But I appreciate it because it lets me show my verse title.

    Q.  You can’t be a dummy and do that?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  You can’t.

    Q.  How long did it take you to where you felt comfortable doing more than just one or two things?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  It felt very natural to me because like I said in high school I did the same exact thing.  So I was used to doing stuff like that.

    Q.  When did you start doing that kind of stuff, like pee wee ball?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  No, actually in pee wee ball I played defensive line and fullback.  So when I got up to college I played  I mean got up to high school, I played fullback, running back, wide receiver, backup quarterback.  Defensive end, linebacker, everything.

    Q.  Did you have one in your head that you figured that’s what you would wind up doing, in high school, I mean?
    JALSTON FOWLER:  I ended up playing fullback.  I did it all my life.

An Interview With: LANDON COLLINS

    Q.    Nick Perry, best (indiscernible) player on the team?
    LANDON COLLINS:  I doubt it.  We’ve got a couple of good players, Mike, Bradley Sylvie (indiscernible), Perry, you got T.J. Yeldon.  You’ve got a couple I can tell you that much right now, but that was a fun experience because the patient that we was visiting, he was kind of quiet.  He was nervous.  We just walked in the room.  He was looking at us crazy.  We started talking about the game, we saw him light up.
    Once Nick Perry hopped on the sticks with him, he was all excited.  They said it was like the first time we put a smile on his face all day.  So it was a great experience.

    Q.  I don’t know about you, but I’m old school.  I go with Nintendo.  What’s your old school console?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Nintendo 64.

    Q.  Best 64 game?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Blitz.  NFL Blitz.

    Q.  The Ohio State defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator and the players all said that the thing that stands out about your guys’ defense is how big those guys are up front.  For you guys, how does your defensive line kind of impact what you do as a defense?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Penetration.  Pushing the offensive line back, not allowing the quarterback to step into his throws and make him scramble and make him have bad reads.  And when you make him scramble to one side he can’t look to the other side and that’s a bad throw to get us off the field because you can get an interception.  So that’s the best thing they do.

    Q.  I know that you don’t have a lot of reference points from other college defensive lines but do they stand out these are particularly big dudes?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Always.  Always.  When I walk in, where I come from, I said (indiscernible) down to the line, get the call, I just look up at them and say thank you God.

    Q.  Unrelated note, I know you’ve probably gotten this question a lot this week, but what’s it been like scouting Ohio State, knowing, only having that one viewing of that quarterback?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Haven’t changed the offense we kind of thing of, and just going back to our homework and being able to read what their key concepts, what they like to do.  He’s a passing quarterback.  So we know that we are probably going to stick with more passing than runs from him.  So we’ll just sit back and see what happens and try to roll out the first couple of series, see what he does.

    Q.  Speaking of big guys, first saw him on film, is that one of the bigger quarterbacks you’ve seen?
    LANDON COLLINS:  (Indiscernible) I don’t know.  Not at all.

    Q.  How do you keep the NFL stuff separate from the mission.  You still got a mission to keep an eye, keep focused on?
    LANDON COLLINS:  You gotta know who you’re playing with, playing with these guys, these guys are my brothers.  I don’t want to be thinking about something that possibly in my future.  I want to give them my all and I want to leave  I want to have a chance to leave I want to leave with these rings before anything.

    Q.  As it’s gone, though, from September to October to November, we get closer and closer, does it get harder and harder to keep that other part away?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Not at all, because I mean like what my coach said we (indiscernible) cut a note and I have my voice not nothing to add to the season and not worry about it because I want to play.  I want to play with my brothers as long as I can.

    Q.  How difficult do you guys make it on the quarterbacks to read defenses?  Like if you were a quarterback, presnap read, how difficult is it to read your guys’ defense in the presnap?
    LANDON COLLINS:  That would be a question to ask Blake because we play against it all the time.  It would be one of the hardest because we sometimes just sit there and we sit there and then I know me and Nick, we try to mess with the quarterback by, we look at the quarterback and just sit there and just stare at him the whole time while he’s looking at us to see if we’re going to move or anything like that.
    But by the time he thinks it’s going to be something, we totally change the whole front.

    Q.  Do you think that will be a key part of Thursday night’s game, especially with them having a relatively inexperienced quarterback in terms of just the confusion that you guys can create there?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Yes, always.  When you’re messing with a quarterback that just got in the game and playing a defense like ours, definitely it’s going to be competition between them.  Because we don’t know what we’re going to throw at them and what we’re coming with.

    Q.  You talked about the first couple of series just trying to feel out Cardale Jones, what are the keys, what are the things you look for early in a game to try to get an indication of what your strategy is going to be against him later on?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Just basically with the formations they like to be in, couple series, and then with the type of plays they run is going to be, is it more pass or more running at the time.
    And then from there on we go from the line of scrimmage to him, to see what’s going on.

    Q.  What about how he reacts or facial or body language, do you ever try to  are you able to see any of that?
    LANDON COLLINS:  We pick up on the body language.  We can’t see his face, most likely his body language and you see his body language, you can tell which plays are coming.

    Q.  With body language, do you get an indication of plays or is it also an indication of confidence?
    LANDON COLLINS:  I would say plays.  Everybody gain confidence sooner or later, you gain confidence different ways.  It could be an emotional play, could be a prior play.  So we definitely know just play off what he does.

    Q.  Spoke to your mom said she might be the most famous mom in college football.  She’s got a rank up there.  She said you’ve been overwhelmed.
    LANDON COLLINS:  Oh definitely, at home, a lot of people that asked me to come.

    Q.  Let’s talk for a moment about what you saw when you started to break down the way Ohio State plays offensively and what your big keys are going to be?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Basically with the offensive, we’ve got a new quarterback and basically we’re going to try to confuse him and do our best ability to do that and just break him down, break him down with what they like to do from the last game because it’s a different quarterback.  He’s a more passing type quarterback that we see.  And got a tremendous arm.  So once he try to get the ball out there, try to get it to receivers they’re going to try to do something spectacular.

    Q.  When you transition from the prep and grind from weektoweek and now you had the luxury of maybe spending 14 or 15 practices getting ready for this game, was there anything that stood out in your mind, was there an opportunity for you to do a little more in terms of preparation than you would if you were just getting ready for the next game?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Definitely.  I mean, workouts, work out even more for the game and you got more time to watch film and stuff like that.  So basically you have nothing but time to figure out what the offense like to do, formationwise, and when you get to the quarterback, with that much time, just give you the best ability to know what you like to do when the confidence gets built up.  And like to read what he reads.

    Q.  We talk all the time with coach, just finished up with us and he talks about the process.  Well, he can tell people like us that aren’t in it what the process is all about and I’m interested from Landon Collins’ perspective what does the process mean to you?
    LANDON COLLINS:  The process for Alabama?  I mean, perfection.  I mean, you just work your tail off and try to be the best player you can be.  That’s it.

    Q.  How hungry are you?
    LANDON COLLINS:  I’m starving.  Starving.

    Q.  I wasn’t talking about breakfast.  I was talking about wanting to get this victory.
    LANDON COLLINS:  Yeah, starving to get this victory, always.

    Q.  Seems to put a lot of value on the pinkie swear.  She brought it up about making you do it before you signed your papers and said I’ll probably make him do it again if he’s going to jump to the NFL because I want him to get a degree.  Has she brought that up to you?
    LANDON COLLINS:  She probably did.  I forgot if she did.  I don’t know.  I forgot about it right now.

    Q.  She seems to think that’s being the first person from the family to finish and all that kind of stuff.  That seems like it’s something that really matters to her.
    LANDON COLLINS:  Definitely, because the first person on her side of the family to get a degree and have the opportunity to come home with a degree.  So definitely it always matters to her.

    Q.  What’s your major?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Mass communication.

    Q.  What do you want to do beyond football?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Be a broadcaster on ESPN.

    Q.  That whole thing at the under armor game and all I’m sure you’ve been asked about it a million times.  What do you feel like her take on your career at Alabama is now, now that all  it might be behind you, might be the last time you play in New Orleans as a college player?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Between me and her, it’s a great experience.  But I told her at the end of the day I’m going to do what I said I was going to do and we always kept that promise.  Pinkie promise I will do what I need to do.  You don’t have to worry about me being on the sideline for three years, I’m going to be on the field doing my thing, and that’s what she said.  Pinkie promise that I’ll be all right with it.  Ever since then she’s been all right with it.
    (Indiscernible) playing and supporting me.

    Q.  She still seem convinced you and Gerald would play if you went to LSU?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Yes.

    Q.  Do you think that’s what would have happened?
    LANDON COLLINS:  If I went to LSU that’s Gerald would have come with me.

    Q.  She tells you if you came to Alabama you stay all four years?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Definitely.

    Q.  Have you made that public?
    LANDON COLLINS:  That’s between me and us.

    Q.  That would be a weird situation.  But I guess playing a second year with your brother would be pretty cool?
    LANDON COLLINS:  That would always be cool.  I miss my brother definitely.  Miss playing with him.  When we played together I knew the side he was on he was on the other side protecting.

    Q.  You come down here and play with him?
    LANDON COLLINS:  I don’t know.  Got a couple tweets from him, don’t come back to New Orleans.  That was all up to the Saints.

    Q.  Jerrod Bierbower, Dublin, Columbus, are you surprised that an Ohio guy would come down here to walk on?
    LANDON COLLINS:  I didn’t know he was from Ohio.  That’s surprising.  I think he just love the school and the atmosphere and wanted to win.  I tell you that much.  But Ohio State have a winning program, too, but I don’t know you just probably want to be with tradition.
    I have to ask him that myself why he did that, because I didn’t know he was from Ohio.  Definitely ask him that.

    Q.  What’s he mean to the team?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Means a lot.  His role is to  he plays scout team for our offense and to make the offense better.  And that’s his role.  He’s doing a fantastic job over there and he does an amazing job.  And he plays hard every down.  We call him a head hunter.  When he hits, he hits.  Definitely.  He can put his shoulder down.  And that’s what he does.  He’s done a fantastic job of what he do.

    Q.  What’s he like?
    LANDON COLLINS:  He’s a great guy.  Fun to be around.  He’s very talkative to me sometimes.  But just cool.  Cool the way he acts and laid back.  Great person to know.

    Q.  Obviously you haven’t pumped him about information from Ohio State, because you didn’t know he was from Ohio?
    LANDON COLLINS:  I’m going to get on him when I get over there.

    Q.  Got a lot of Louisiana guys on this team.  How much have you taken those guys under your wings?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Oh, I took all of them, you know.  Since me and Denzel got here.

    Q.  You all came in together?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Yeah.  We all came in together.  All the Louisiana guys, they put us on recruiting, and then when they come in and they declare and they want to come here and come in the school, definitely want to take them under our wing, because they like to be around somebody they know from the state and they got a great understanding from.
    That’s what we give them.  You ask all them guys over there, they listen to us before anybody, because we’re from the state and we understand more than like any other kind of player.

    Q.  What’s Cam been like?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Cam’s been a fantastic player.  We always talk trash, especially when I’m going to come out to the edge, and Denzel come out, and they talk trash and stuff like that, coming up on the defensive end.  Fantastic player.  Never knew Alabama will have a freshman lineman on the field, he does a fantastic job what he do.  And showing the world he can block anybody.

    Q.  You’ve only got one film to look at, the Ohio State quarterback, how many films do you typically look at on a quarterback, and is that any kind of advantage or disadvantage?  You’ve only got one?
    LANDON COLLINS:  We do the film.  I watch the film, his tendencies, what his motions is, and stuff like that.  It’s a disadvantage to only have one film.
    But we’ve got a lot of plays on him.  And that’s the best thing, because I mean we only had like 30 plays, you can’t really pick up stuff on, and the teams come out, they get a lot of reps and easy to get ready for oncoming games.  We picked up on a few things.  And they haven’t changed the offense, the way how we looked at it.

    Q.  Is it in the back of your mind, you’re able to rattle this guy a little because he’s not that experienced?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Yeah, we definitely feel we can rattle him.  Not going to be able to pick up on what our defense is doing at the time, so definitely able to rattle.

    Q.  The running back, Ezekiel Elliott, what do you see on tape about him?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Strong runner.  He runs behind his pads, definitely.  He reads his line, blockers are in front of him.  And he just follows them.

    Q.  The Louisiana/Alabama thing, what’s the most creative thing somebody said to you from Louisiana about all the mess, all the controversy and everything, anything creative make you laugh or has it been stuff you don’t want to 
    LANDON COLLINS:  It’s stuff basically I can’t say.  It’s too vulgar.  Other than that it’s been a lot of stuff that’s vulgar, always made me laugh.

    Q.  You just brush it off?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Just brush it off because it’s my opportunity.  It’s my life.  And now I got to get the experience, they are just mad that I didn’t go to their school or they’re not in my shoes.

    Q.  You’ve got as much familiarity with New Orleans as anybody on this team being from here.  How do you describe how the trip here is different than the one you all took a year ago?
    LANDON COLLINS:  It’s just more of a business type trip because we always been here and everybody, experiences you see already, has been on the team.
    All of us growing up and we have an opportunity to play for a ring.  And we’re trying to play for another game.  So it’s not like this is their last game.  It’s like a new season, got to play for this game and get ready for the next game.  That’s about it.

    Q.  What will the last 48 hours in the leadup to this game be like for you?  How do you keep yourself calm?  How do you gauge that level of anxiety?
    LANDON COLLINS:  Watching film, gaining my confidence, talking to my coaches, reading over the plays and the offensive scheme they run and doing homework what they like to do.  That’s how I build my confidence.  I got all that anxiety that I have in my system.

    Q.  Ohio State’s quarterback Cardale Jones in your sights, I’m sure.  How much film have you watched on a guy who really has only put a game and a half on tape?
    LANDON COLLINS:  A lot.  Going back to both of those games that he played in, a lot to pick up on what his tendencies are and what kind of game plan they have for him and stuff like that.  Just pick up on any kind of key concepts that, the way he like to read, where he throw the ball, where he’s going to be with it.  That kind of stuff.