WATCH: Alabama releases hype video prior to SEC Championship Game
The SEC Championship Game on Saturday is one of the biggest in recent memory. Before Alabama faces Georgia in a showdown of behemoths, the Crimson Tide released a hype video that’ll get your blood flowing.
The video begins with former players, analysts and pundits alike picking against Alabama. Afterwards, business picks up — weaving through some of the best highlights of Crimson Tide teams in years past.
Of course, the video could only end one way — the highlight of Alabama’s walk-off touchdown over Georgia in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. While Georgia has come close, they still haven’t been able to defeat Nick Saban under Kirby Smart.
However, today is Georgia’s best shot yet. Nevertheless, Alabama will be on their A-game today. Even as an underdog, it’s tough to bet against the Crimson Tide.
Kirby Smart, Nick Saban address Alabama’s recent success over Georgia
Georgia’s Kirby Smart learned under Alabama’s Nick Saban for almost a decade. Now, Smart had led the revitalization of the Georgia football program since leaving Alabama, while Saban’s monster resume has kept growing.
While Smart’s Georgia squads have had tremendous chances, the Bulldogs haven’t defeated the Crimson Tide since 2007. As Smart readies for another shot at Saban on Saturday, the head coaches addressed Alabama’s recent success over Georgia.
“I don’t know what you mean confront. Do you talk about it? We talk about the opponent every week we play somebody, right? But we focus on ourselves,” Smart stated, when asked if he confronts his team with what happened in the past. “We focus on execution. We don’t focus on history. I think every team is independent of the previous. So I mean, it is what it is.
“Our guys got to go out and play well. What happened in those games will have no relevance to this game. I think anybody with good coaching sense would tell you that. They’re independent. Both teams are different in a lot of ways. The focus will be on what we can do, what we can control, how we play, and how we execute. I think that’s the most important thing.”
While Smart may not be focused on his past matchups with Saban, he’ll attempt to avoid the same fate. While it’s been by the slimmest of margins at times, Alabama has defeated Georgia each and every time since Smart’s arrival.
Saban: ‘I think that’s what’s happened in the past in games really doesn’t have a lot of impact on what happens in the future.’
Furthermore, Saban agrees with Smart — the past has no bearing on this weekend’s showdown.
“No. I think that’s what’s happened in the past in games really doesn’t have a lot of impact on what happens in the future,” stated Saban. “I think that you’ve got to line up and play well in this game. What happened last year doesn’t matter. What happened the year before that doesn’t matter.
“You’ve got to play well in this game. So that’s the challenge that we all have.”
Alabama and Georgia face off in one of the most anticipated games in recent memory. The SEC Championship will be on the line, and the game has huge implications for not just the College Football Playoff — but the future of college football.