The old Nick Saban 24-hour rule, under which Alabama football’s former coach implored players to forget about both wins and losses in 24 hours to turn their attention to the next opponent, never said anything about a 12-month rule. And 12 months after the 2023 Alabama team’s disaster-averting, 17-3 win at South Florida, there can be little doubt that the team’s returning veterans are looking to make a better showing this Saturday as they prepare to host the Bulls at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
It was the 2023 Alabama team’s worst performance of the season, one it surely had no problem forgetting in far fewer than 24 hours. An uninspired UA offense slogged its way to halftime tied 3-3, and needed a very late touchdown to put the contest out of reach. But as the Crimson Tide prepares to host the Bulls on Saturday to complete a two-year home-and-home contract, in a new season, under a new coach, and with a new offense, there’s still an old score to settle. That USF was ultimately on the wrong end of that score is of little consolation to Crimson Tide veterans who were embarrassed by the team’s most uninspired afternoon.
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None of this is lost on new coach Kalen DeBoer, even if he sees his first Alabama team as one that only needs to look forward.
“I didn’t experience that with them. So it’s not like I’m really (focusing) on that. Reminding them that it was a closer game, that falls in line with what one of our pieces of our program is − to respect all and fear none. So the respect factor was there last week, it’s going to be there again this week,” DeBoer said Monday. “I’m sure there are certain guys who went through that, (who) have a different type of determination on top of what we’re trying to do with…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-football-beat-usf-last-190424567.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2024-09-02 19:04:24
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