ip game Dec. 3 in Indianapolis.---More AP college football: www.collegefootb

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Nick Saban knows what he wants to say. For a week and a half, he has thought about this. And today, inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, he has a plan: Start out slow, pat everyone on the back like hes supposed to and then pivot. It wont be a smooth transition, but it will be one everyone remembers.Its January 16, 2010. Its below freezing. Theres a constant drizzle, but it doesnt dampen the spirit of the parade and the celebration that follows. Not after the near-two-decade national championship drought that came before, the void since Gene Stallings and Derrick Lassic dominated Miami in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. Some 38,000 people have shown up to revel in lucky No. 13, filling the half of the stadium in view of the podium. Its way more people than senior offensive lineman Mike Johnson and his teammates anticipated. A couple dozen fans gather behind the stage for a chance to listen, for a shot at winding up inside the wide-angle lens of history.Saban is flanked by trophies as he leans into the microphone at midfield. To his left: the SEC Championship, the Heisman, the Butkus. To his right: that old crystal football the BCS used to hand out. His team is behind him. Athletic director Mal Moore and chancellor Robert Witt are on stage, too. They listen intently to the man they spent so long chasing, believing he could resurrect Alabama. After Moore made his final pitch to lure Saban from Miami in 2006, Witt asked him how he felt about their chances. If I dont get Coach Saban on this plane, Moore told him, Im not coming back to Tuscaloosa, Im going to Cuba.Three years later, and here they were, Saban making it a point to thank both Moore and Witt as he addresses the crowd. Then comes the turn, the moment he was waiting for.But I want everyone here to know, Saban says, holding his hand out to stop the applause. For this, he needs their undivided attention. His voice grows louder.This is not the end. This is the beginning.Those two sentences, that sentiment, would come to mean many things to many people. For Witt, it brought a sigh of relief. For those players coming back next season, a loud wake-up call. For fans, it was everything.Sabans words that day didnt lead to a second national championship in 2011. Rather, it was a way of going beyond that, a way of reaching out for a third and fourth title to come. It was bold, no doubt. Confident. Focused. Determined. Looking back, it was the mission statement of his plan to build and sustain a dynasty at Alabama.* * *No one saw this day coming.Its August 26, 2016, and Saban is addressing reporters for the final time during fall camp. Up next: the season opener against USC -- the first step in Alabamas quest to repeat as national champions.Everything is familiar about this scene. Saban is part prickly, part charismatic. Asked whether the staff has discussed playing two quarterbacks, he says matter-of-factly, No, we havent had any discussion about that.A reporter has a follow-up, but wonders first whether Saban wants to finish his answer.Its a pretty simple question and pretty simple answer, Saban says before pausing a moment. Like Id tell you if we were going to.Cue the laughs. Cue a big grin across Sabans face.Its all so normal. But in the context of Saban circa January 2010, its anything but.Setting aside the notion that he seems happier than ever -- or happy at all -- the simple fact that Saban is still at Alabama, beginning his 10th season as the Tides head coach, is noteworthy.Witt was optimistic this day would come, of course, but in his heart of hearts he was never certain. Saban had never stayed anywhere more than five years prior to arriving in Tuscaloosa. Another college job could have pulled him away, maybe the challenge of another shot at the NFL.When Witt and then-athletic director Moore shook Sabans hand in the locker room after beating Texas for the title, they knew they had to stay on top of him. In what Witt described as a coordinated plan, the two communicated a message to Saban: Everything we said to you during the recruiting process regarding having the resources you need to be successful, youll have them.Sitting behind Saban in Bryant-Denny Stadium six years ago, Witt heard, This is not the end. This is the beginning, and his wheels started turning. He took a half-beat longer than the rest of the crowd to start clapping. But he thought he knew what Saban meant: What they said when they were recruiting me was the truth.Witt put it another way: I was focused on, Its the beginning, of what hes going to do -- at the University of Alabama.We werent sure which direction the program was going to go, said offensive lineman and team captain Mike Johnson. After Year 3 and winning a national championship, you wonder if something will come up and hell head out of town. I think when he said that, it calmed everybody down.Now they felt they had him. For life.To this day, Witt and Saban maintain a close working relationship. Witt has seen firsthand his growth -- the way he has tried to savor some of the victories, the way he has relished becoming a grandfather. Witt has even found ways to make Saban laugh. But that doesnt mean he has seen him slow down. That singular focus of his hasnt subsided.The easiest way for me to describe that dimension of Coach Saban is by example, Witt said. It was a day or two after signing day a few years back.As Witt and Moore were leaving the football facility they decided to stop by Sabans office to see how he was doing. Only he wasnt there.And Mal said, I know where he is, and we went down to a small office he uses for screening film online. He was looking at film of high school juniors. He was already thinking about the next signing day.Nicks entire professional life has been very intense working an extraordinary number of hours, Witt added. I dont see him being able to retire easily. Hes just too used to the intensity. So I think were going to be blessed with a few more years.* * *The coaches heard the payoff to Sabans speech first.It was the day after the national championship. They were all still in California at the team hotel making preparations to leave when a staff meeting was called.According to then-offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, thats when Saban said it: This is not the end.Time to start recruiting. Time to start building for 2010 and beyond.The understanding is that piece is done, and no one really cares what you did for me yesterday; What are you doing for me today? McElwain said. And yet that was the mentality of the whole organization. Not just the players. Im talking about anything that touches [Sabans] desk. And if you thought any other way, it was probably a good opportunity to leave.He knew there was success to come, and he was going to build it, said then-defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.Smart said repeating those remarks at the championship celebration was clearly by design.It worked on Greg McElroy. As a first-time starting quarterback, he had just won a national championship. He and his teammates were still, as he put it, coming down from the high that began in Pasadena, California. They werent ready to start thinking about a repeat as they took their seats inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Then Saban turned on a dime.He wanted to make sure, not only us as a team but also to the fan base, that look, this is not something that were going to settle for, this is not going to be a one-time thing, this is something that we anticipate doing every year, McElroy said.Hes always focused on whats next. People always mention the process. That is the process -- not looking back, looking forward and figuring out a way to overcome the obstacles that lie front of you.* * *O.J. Howard and Jonathan Allen were pups when Saban gave what has become Alabamas version of the Sermon on the Mount.Howard was all of 15 years old, a gangly tight end imagining what it would be like to make varsity in Prattville, Alabama. Allen was a wide receiver in Virginia still years away from the transformation that would make him a nearly 300-pound defensive end.Their memories of that time in early 2010 are hazy. But thanks to a video thats played before every Alabama home game, Sabans message has become a sort of callback for the seniors.This is not the end ...This is the beginning, Howard finished.Said Allen: When you truly believe in your process, when you truly believe in the work ethic and dedication of you, your staff and your family, then you can have the utmost confidence to repeat the success youve been having.Confidence is one thing. Cockiness is another, though.Alabama may have the best coach of his generation. It may be the most talented team top to bottom in the country. And playing in the SEC, it may have the clearest path back to the playoff. But that guarantees nothing. Their No. 1 ranking in both polls is as much a curse as it is a gift.What isnt certain now -- in fact, what can never be certain -- is how players will handle success. Will complacency creep in? Will they start worrying about themselves more than the team? It has happened before. Former linebacker Reggie Ragland said that in 2014 some of his teammates were more concerned with draft grades than the scoreboard. Its human nature; winning becomes less important the more you do it.Its why you cant look back. Its too dangerous.The day after beating Clemson to win the national championship earlier this year, Saban took a brief nap on the team plane as it headed back to Tuscaloosa. Then he opened a laptop to watch a replay of the game. He wasnt trying to relive the glory -- that brilliant onside kick, Derrick Henrys three rushing touchdowns, the confetti and the celebration that followed. Rather, he wanted to do some self-scouting, breaking down offense, defense and special teams. He wouldnt have time later, he explained. He had to be on the road recruiting within two days.Even now, as Alabama begins its quest for a fifth national championship under Saban, his words following that first title still ring true. He has tweaked the message of late -- So what? Whats next? is the new locker room manta -- but theres no mistaking the source material.The message that I was trying to send when I said that was, We didnt just come here to win one national championship and then thats the end of it. We want to continue to build on this standard and challenge everybody to have a consistency in performance over time to a standard that is something special, he said. So it wasnt the end. It was the beginning. That was the way we wanted it to be.Now the challenge is, can you continue that in the future? Were certainly going to try as we have for the last nine years. Cheap Air Max Shoes Online . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Cheap Nike Air Max Clearance . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. 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MADISON, Wis. -- A fourth-quarter flourish erased memories of a jittery first half for No. 5 Wisconsin against Minnesota.The latest installment of the most-played rivalry in major college football ended with a familiar scene: the Badgers triumphantly holding up Paul Bunyans Axe.Corey Clement ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns and a big-play defense pitched a second-half shutout in a 31-17 win over the Golden Gophers to keep the trophy for a 13th straight season.Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten, No. 6 CFP) turned in a stalwart defensive effort in the second half after getting outplayed early and falling behind by 10 points at halftime.In the fourth quarter we just kind of just locked in, cornerback Sojourn Shelton said after the ceremonial chopping down of the goal posts with the axe. You know what, no more. The rest speaks for itself.The comeback served as the exclamation point for an already big weekend. The Badgers wrapped up the Big Ten West and a trip to next weeks league title game after Nebraska lost to Iowa on Friday night.The Badgers will face Penn State in Indianapolis.Tomorrow well push the reset button and get ready to play Penn State, coach Paul Chryst said. This team has done a great job of playing in the moment.Mitch Leidner threw four interceptions in the second half for Minnesota (8-4, 5-4). The protection around him crumbled as the Badgers mixed up their defensive pressures.Im pretty (angry.) I dont know how else to describe it, Leidner said. He finished 9 of 26 for 158 yards with a touchdown.On offense, Wisconsins running game finally caught up in the fourth quarter.Jazz Peavy went 71 yards on a jet sweep down the right sideline to the Minnesota 11. Two plays later, Clement bowled into the end zone from 2 yards to give Wisconsin the lead for good, 24-17, with 6:42 left.Certainly the takeaways were huge, and the ability of our offense to finish in the second half, Chryst said.It was the 126th meeting in a series that dates to 1890.THE TAKEAWAYMinnesota: The rough fourth quarter overshadowed a terrific first half for Minnesota. Leidner threw off the Badgers active defense early with keepers around the edges, including his scoring run late in the first half. Leidner also had 46 yards rushing on 16 carries.But the interceptionns shifted momentum.ddddddddddddMost of the time he was trying to do too much, coach Tracy Claeys said about Leidners picks.A five-win season in the Big Ten, even with a softer schedule, is a confidence builder for the future. But the Gophers still cant catch up to their biggest measuring stick.Wisconsin: The Badgers had perhaps their worst first half of the season, with Minnesota following Wisconsins blueprint for success. The defense missed key tackles, and the running game couldnt get going. Left-handed starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook departed after taking a shot to his right shoulder following an incompletion near the sideline late in the second quarter. Hornibrook then fell to the turf, with the back of his helmet slamming hard into the ground.Chryst had no update on Hornibrook after the game. Backup quarterback Bart Houston played the entire second half and finished 9 of 14 for 123 yards.POLL IMPLICATIONSWith No. 3 Michigan losing in double overtime to No. 2 Ohio State, Wisconsin could move up a spot or two in the next poll.TURNING POINTShelton, a four-year starter playing in his last home game, had two interceptions. The senior had an entertaining 40-yard, across-the-field return to the Minnesota 19 after his first interception with about 13 minutes left.Shelton said he guessed that Minnesota would run a comeback route.I just took a risk and went for it, Shelton said.Clement scored his first touchdown of the game three plays later to tie it at 17.CATCHING ONFor Minnesota, Drew Wolitarsky had four catches for 76 yards, including a 35-yard reception after tipping the ball to himself and advancing to the Wisconsin 22 late it the second quarter. It set up Leidners 3-yard touchdown run with 53 seconds left for a 17-7 halftime lead.UP NEXT:Minnesota: Awaits its bowl destination. The Gophers will play in its fifth consecutive bowl game, tied for longest streak in program history.Wisconsin: Plays No. 7 Penn State in the Big Ten championship game Dec. 3 in Indianapolis.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '