Nick Saban reminded members of the media what year it was for much of the time spent at Wednesday’s SEC Media Days. (Staff Photo)

Staff Report
(July 22, 2010)

HOOVER – Nick Saban spent most of Wednesday explaining how the calendar works at the Capstone.

“One thing I want to get established here is I want to make sure I’m in the right year,” he said. “I want to be in the moment here today. Is it 2010? Am I right about that?”

OK, so Saban is tired of hearing about last year. Such is a problem the other 120 or so teams in the NCAA BCS football division would love to have.

Indeed, Alabama will wear the moniker of defending national champion in 2010. Mark Ingram will be the third Heisman Trophy winner in as many years to play another season of college football – as a junior.

It might sound familiar but Saban has spent most of the new year explaining how this version of the Crimson Tide has nothing in common with the team that won the BCS national title back in January.

“This is a different team,” Saban explained to a mass of media which, when counted, will be a record turnout for SEC Media Days.

“Last year was a great part of the Alabama tradition, certainly an indelible part of Alabama football history. We had an outstanding team that really bought in and had great team chemistry.

“But last year is basically over. We’re not really defending a championship.”

Saban spent most of the afternoon reminding the media of the questions surrounding other “defending champions” such as the New York Yankees… is it going to be tough to repeat?

“All 25 guys said ‘yes, absolutely,’” Saban said. “But nobody could really answer the question why.”

Such is the problem the Tide will face, much like what Florida did last season. The Gators spent all of last year’s Media Days answering questions as to how they possibly go without winning another national title.

“Expectations are always high,” Ingram said, “but we know we have the same motivation this year. We had motivation to beat Florida after losing the last two games (in 2008).

“We believe we have the players, athletes , the mentality we need to give ourselves a chance to play for the national title and win it again. It’s a matter of everybody individually getting better, then us improving as a unit, gelling as a unit.”

The defense, which lost nine starters, was a point of reference for most questioning the chances of a repeat national title.

“The ones we have back are all good players,” Saban said. “A lot of players have bought into our system. They just don’t have the knowledge and experience, the game-time experience, we’d like them to have.”