DeMarcco Hellams looking to finish this season strong in Sugar Bowl

The Sugar Bowl isn’t where Alabama wanted to end up this season, having had College Football Playoff hopes on its mind to start the year. At the same time, as defensive back DeMarcco Hellams explained, it’s important to finish the season strong.

The question came up while Demarcco Hellams was speaking to the media in New Orleans.

“The message that coach has for us has been just to be the same team that we finished the season as,” DeMarcco Hellams said.

“Finishing strong, playing for each other, not worrying about what game we’re playing in, not worrying about what team we’re playing, but just focusing on giving everything to the guys that we have in this locker room.”

DeMarcco Hellams also emphasized that the younger players on Alabama’s roster have come to the bowl game with a great mindset and are competing in practice like they’re the ones playing.

The Sugar Bowl will take place on December 31st at noon. There, Alabama will be playing against Big 12 Champion Kansas State.

Nick Saban on Alabama being ready for the Sugar Bowl

Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke extensively about the Crimson Tide needing to be ready for the Sugar Bowl.

“Well, I think that sometimes you have a feeling by how the players prepare, what their focus is in meetings, how in tune they are to sort of having the mental intensity and energy in practice, and how they prepare for the game. Because if they’re doing things the right way, that sort of shows you that they have the right mindset. So usually you have a pretty good feeling going into the game that you’re going to play well,” Nick Saban said.

“So sometimes you’re ready to play a game and you go out and execute very well. But you got to be able to recapture the momentum in the game when things don’t go well. You got to be able to overcome adversity. So even though you may practice and prepare and start out really well, you’ve got to be able to maintain that intensity and that momentum for 60 minutes in the game, regardless of what happens in the game.”