Alabama is ranked No. 1 in the AP Preseason Poll for the second consecutive year, a pick that is not surprising at all heading into the 2017 season.
This is the fourth time the Crimson Tide have started the season in the No. 1 spot since Nick Saban's arrival in 2007, and it’s another chance for his team to live up to that billing. Perhaps that's why Saban was in midseason form at a news conference on Aug. 16 with a teed-up rant when asked about Christian Miller.
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"You know guys make all these predictions about everything, about guys who are going to be great players, that have been here for two years, and who’s gonna win all the games and I don’t even know why we play," Saban said. "Why do we even play? Why do we even have practice? Why do we compete? Why do we coach guys?"
There's an easy answer for that. Despite four national championships in 10 seasons, Saban always finds a carrot. That's why it wasn't much of a surprise when he said at SEC Media Days that his team's mindset this season was "don't waste a failure." In 2016, the Crimson Tide were literally one drive away from becoming the first college football team to go 15-0 since 1899.
Alabama also can become the first preseason No. 1 team since USC in 2004 to win the national championship. That's why they play, practice and compete, and that's part of the reason Saban will have this team geared up for the greatest opener ever against Florida State at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Sept. 2.
The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 1 in 2010 with a loaded team that featured Greg McElroy, Heisman winner Mark Ingram, Future Doak Walker winner Trent Richardson, Julio Jones and more. Alabama lost three games.
"Don’t waste a failure."
The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 1 in 2013, and looking for a three-peat with AJ McCarron back at quarterback for his third season starting. They lost in back-to-back games to Auburn and Oklahoma to end the season.
"Don’t waste a failure."
The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 1 last season, and breezed to a third straight SEC championship with true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts and a defense that featured Bronko Nagurski Award winner Jonathan Allen and Butkus Award-winner Reuben Foster. It looked like Saban's finest creation yet — until Deshaun Watson ruined the coronation with two seconds left in the College Football Playoff championship g game.
"Don't waste a failure."
At this point, the teaching points write themselves. Saban can emphasize that No. 1 means nothing until Alabama holds up another national championship trophy. That would be five for Saban at Alabama, and his sixth overall. That would be the second in four years in the College Football Playoff era. And that would be the first preseason No. 1 to do it in over a decade. That's the standard.
That's why guys make those predictions. They want somebody to accomplish all that. Alabama has that chance now.
Why waste that opportunity?
