TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Despite an SEC West title, unbeaten regular season and first victory over Auburn in seven tries, Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain recalls the 2008 season in one word: "Disappointed."

"But this year will be different," McClain said.

After year one, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban hung up the final scores of losses to Mississippi State and Louisiana-Monroe all over the locker room.


Now when he should be hard up for reliable offseason motivation, Saban actually didn't have to look very far. For all the success of the previous season, Alabama still carries a two-game losing streak into the Sept. 5 opener against Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

Did you know?
Alabama's Javier Arenas led the nation in 2008 with 41 punt returns and 650 punt return yards. His punt return yardage was 140 yards more than the No. 2 returner, Brandon James of Florida. Arenas holds Alabama's records for punt-return yards in a game, season and career, and his six TD returns also are a school record. Alabama's 12-game run last season was spoiled by eventual national champ Florida in the SEC title game. Worse was an embarrassing Sugar Bowl no-show against Utah. Saban has made sure it hasn't been overlooked.
"Coach Saban is preaching to us, 'Finish, finish, finish,'" McClain said.

"When we're running our 110s, guys are screaming, 'See what happened at the end of the season?'" cornerback/return man Javier Arenas said.

"And we're motivated and run faster."

Crimson Tide players profess they still seek to prove a point in year three of Saban's tenure, though the second edition was certainly a leap back toward national prominence, with victories fueled by a team that was blessed with few injuries and experience in the right places.

Quarterback John Parker Wilson was solid and battle-tested enough to win the tough games. Left offensive tackle Andre Smith was voted the best lineman in the nation. Center Antoine Caldwell was an All-American. So was safety Rashad Johnson, who directed much of the defense. Tailback Glen Coffee stayed healthy and was a handful to deal with all season.

All those players are now gone, with Smith and Coffee leaving a year early and the others also trying their fortunes in the NFL.


(Press-Register/G.M. Andrews)
Alabama's Javier Arenas pulls away from Utah's Louie Sakoda as he returns a punt for a touchdown during the Sugar Bowl last season. Arenas ran back three punts for TDs in 2008.
"We had fantastic leadership last year. We had some guys that were as good a leader as you're ever going to find," Saban said.
"I don't think leadership just comes from seniors. You have players who are very good players that can be of any age that can affect other people. I think it's important that players don't think they have to be seniors to affect other people."

Defensively, Alabama should be just fine. It returns eight starters from a group that was second against the run and seventh nationally in scoring defense. Even without Johnson, the cupboard is stacked with the likes of Arenas, McClain, linebacker Dont'a Hightower and nose tackle Terrence Cody.

"We've got a lot of talented players back, and they can't become complacent," defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. "We've got to continue to work hard and those guys are doing a good job of teaching the younger guys."

Offensively, the line replaces three starters and is the biggest area of concern on the squad. Untested junior quarterback Greg McElroy steps in for Wilson, and there are proven veterans at running back.

But Alabama is now primarily banking on Saban's past two signing classes -- both of which were rated among the nation's elite -- to fill out the rest of the lineup. Can the youngsters mature in time to fulfill promise for another national title run?

Some already have. Tailback Mark Ingram and Hightower sprang from the gate toward starring roles last season.

THE SCHEDULE
Sept. 5: Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12: Fla. International, 6 p.m.
Sept. 19: North Texas, 11:20 a.m.
Sept. 26: Arkansas, TBA
Oct. 3: at Kentucky, TBA
Oct. 10: at Mississippi, TBA
Oct. 17: South Carolina, TBA
Oct. 24: Tennessee, TBA
Nov. 7: LSU, TBA
Nov. 14: at Mississippi St., TBA
Nov. 21: Chattanooga, TBA
Nov. 27: at Auburn, 1:30 p.m. But no one was near wide receiver Julio Jones, a former Foley standout who put himself among the country's best while secretly battling injuries all season.
"It would be nice to have a lot of young players who watch some of that and see that effort and that toughness," Saban said.

Now after three offseason surgeries, Jones said he's finally healthy. Alabama, in turn, is moving Jones around more and working on additional ways to supply him the football.

"It's coming real easy to me now," Jones said. "For me being here a year, I already knew half the positions. So I could learn more routes and different things at the other positions."

Alabama was ranked fifth in the season's first USA Today coaches poll. Virginia Tech, though, was seventh.

While the Hokies are a large hurdle in the season's opening game, Saban claims he wouldn't prefer it any other way.

"It'll be a challenging game for every facet of our team," Saban said. "I think it helps your offseason. The players are more intense about what they're doing because they know they're preparing for a huge challenge in the first game."