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BCS Championship--dealing with the nerves

APR

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Notre square off for the BCS College Football Championship Monday night at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Both teams have stories programs, with Knute Rockne and Ara Parseghian for the Fighting Irish, and Alabama with Bear Bryant and Nick Saban. However, both Saban and Notre Dame’s current coach Brian Kelly, point out that it will be a group of college-aged young people who will put on the pads and play before an international spotlight. Alabama’s senior players spotlighted an apparent lack of intensity among the younger team members during the Tide’s “players’ only” meeting this week. Coach Saban says he’s happy how the team is practicing now. However, he adds that keeping these student athletes focused on each play takes some effort. “Believe me, being around young people,” says Saban. “That’s something, and it’s something big.” Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly would agree. His previous coaching experience include division II schools, which use a playoff system with a series of games to pick their national champion. In the BCS system, both teams had a long layoff before this one, highly publicized contest. “You’re a little more anxious, you want to see your game play again, it’s been such a long time,” says Kelly of the BCS style system. “It’s the anticipation of the game, because there’s a lead up to this one.” The anticipation will soon be over as both teams head out onto the field at Sun Life Stadium for the BCS Championship.

Pat Duggins is news director for Alabama Public Radio.
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