Bama notebook: Saban looks for first win at Auburn

By: Ken Rogers | Dothan Eagle
Published: November 24, 2009

TUSCALOOSA — Iron Bowl week officially kicked off Monday with Alabama intent on trying to change one odd statistic.

Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is 0-4 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He lost there 17-10 in 2007, his first year at Alabama. When he was head coach at LSU, Auburn won 34-17 in 2000, 32-7 in 2002 and 10-9 in 2004.

“What’s happened in the past really doesn’t matter,” Saban said. “It’s what happens this week and what this team does.

“You know, they’ve had some good teams and we had some good teams and we played some great games there. Hopefully our team will be ready to play a great game this year and I’m sure their’s will, as well.”

Quarterback Greg McElroy wasn’t aware of the stat, but said it doesn’t matter.

“The teams he’s had in the past don’t really matter when it comes to the Iron Bowl 2009,” McElroy said.

Javier Arenas said he had no doubt Saban isn’t thinking about the past this week.

“I think he’s about living in the moment and conquering what’s ahead, which is Jordan-Hare Stadium and playing Auburn,” Arenas said.

“He never treats the game as an individual task or personal. When we go against LSU, it’s nothing personal for him. It’s the team. It’s about us and dominating as a unit.”

Watch lists: Alabama sophomore running back Mark Ingram was named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and the Maxwell Trophy on Monday.
The Doak Walker goes to the nation’s top running back. The Maxwell Trophy goes to the best player in college football.

Ingram leads the SEC and is fifth in the nation with 127.2 yards per game. He has 1,399 yards on 205 carries for a 6.8-yard average per carry.
Ingram, Stanford’s Toby Gearhart and Clemson’s C.J. Spiller are the finalists for the Doak Walker Award.

He is joined by Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow as Maxwell Trophy finalists.

Crimson Tide kicker Leigh Tiffin was also named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the country’s best collegiate kicker.

Tiffin, UCLA’s Kai Forbath and Georgia’s Blair Walsh are the finalists.

Finally, Terrence Cody was named a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the best defensive college football player in the country.
Cody is also a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Award.

Cody anchors an Alabama defensive front that leads the SEC and ranks second nationally in rushing defense. The Crimson Tide has allowed only 2.4 yards per carry and 70.55 rushing yards per game this season.

The Crimson Tide defense leads the nation in total defense (225.18 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (82.5 rating) this season.