Bama, Texas getting to know each other

Alabama and Texas haven’t played in football since the 1982 Cotton Bowl. But they’re learning about each other very quickly.

Texas assistants Major Applewhite, the running backs coach, and defensive coordinator and head-coach-in-waiting Will Muschamp are providing as much insight as possible into the Crimson Tide.

Mack Brown said he feels that both former Nick Saban assistants will be valuable resources leading into the national championship game.

“It helps in that we have a pretty good feel of at least their juniors and seniors,” Brown said. “Major was there as an offensive coordinator, and he knows those kids. He knows how they’ll think. He knows how they’ll practice.”

Brown said what he’s learned from his two assistants are how similar the programs are.

“Will and Major have said their bowl practices will be exactly like ours. There will not be any difference in the preparation for the two teams,” Brown said Monday.

The similarities are even more striking on defense.

“Will was kind of raised by Nick. He had five years under him as a defensive coordinator,” Brown said. “And it’s really funny when you start looking at the defenses, they’re exactly the same. The calls are the same. That’s the positive for us. The negative is that both staffs will be trying to outthink what the other one is going to do, because we know so much about each other.

“And you have to be careful not to outthink yourself and do what you do best. Nick’s done a tremendous job. He’s a great coach. We have tremendous respect. Great players, they coach them hard and coach them well."

Saban said Monday that familiarity may not be a big factor in this game.

“Who you are is more important than what you do,” Saban said. “Who we are as a football team is important. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of changes we can make. Are you going to trick yourself or trick them? I mean, we do what we do.”

Saban said Monday the focus will be on players playing their best football – not about what’s at stake on Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif.

“I’m not worried about winning the national championship. I don’t want our players to worry about it, either. And I would appreciate it if you didn’t ask them – although I know you will,” Saban said.

“Because what I want our players to focus on is playing their best football. Assume that they’re going to play the best football team that they’ve ever played and they’re going to be playing against the best player they’ve ever played against. And that’s what they should be working to do. … What you’re talking about is clutter and I’d rather them not be worried about that.”

Saban said both teams have overcome obstacles and earned an opportunity that many players never get.

“If you don’t have success in the next game it really doesn’t matter,” Saban said. “I can’t name anybody that’s played in this game in the last three years that didn’t have success. … I can tell you who did. You’ve created an opportunity for yourself. So your focus should be on what you need to do to take advantage of it.”

NOTE: Alabama practiced for two hours in full pads outside on Monday. The Crimson Tide works out again today and on Wednesday morning before breaking for Christmas. They will return to Tuscaloosa on Dec. 27.

Texas players worked most of last week. The Longhorns will break for Christmas after a practice this morning. They will return to Austin the night of Dec. 26.

Both coaches said they’ve had tough, physical practices the past few days to get players back into shape.