Alabama dominates preseason team

HOOVER, Ala. — Alabama had a conference-high 12 players selected to the All-SEC preseason team Friday at the SEC Media Days, and that group includes defending Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.

Ingram, who rushed for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, was the leading vote getter with 165 of 177 first-place votes.

After blocking Florida quarterback Tim Tebow’s attempt to win consecutive Heisman Trophies last year, Ingram says winning another national title is his first priority.

“Of course, that would be great, but it’s not my main focus,” Ingram said of the Heisman. “My main focus right now is to better myself as a player each and every day, become the best player I can be for my football team, make the best out of what I can do, put myself in the best position where I can make a lot of plays so I can help our team win games. In that way, I’ll be successful to myself. Not just winning the Heisman Trophy will determine whether I’m successful or not.”

Florida had 10 players selected to the team and was picked to meet Alabama in the SEC championship game in December.

Georgia was picked to finish second in the East Division and had six players picked to either the first or second team.

Bulldogs junior receiver A.J. Green tallied the second most votes behind Ingram.

Alabama sophomore running back Trent Richardson joined Ingram on the first team, creating an all-Crimson Tide backfield.

“We compete every single day. He makes me better,” Ingram said. “I make him better. It’s just nothing but an advantage to our team just to have a 1-2 punch like that. Because when I’m in there, I’m fresh; he comes in, he’s fresh. We’re both making plays, both being explosive. It’s nothing but an advantage to our team. He pushes me, and I push him. We both get better by it. He’s great. He’s like a little brother to me.”

Third party in the fight?

While most have declared the SEC championship a two-team race, Les Miles said he expected his LSU Tigers to compete with Alabama and Florida for the crown.

Picked to finish fourth in the West, Miles said getting back to Atlanta for the conference championship game is the only goal he has set forth.

“I can tell you this: It will only be a championship season, and that’s the only point and direction of this program. That’s where we’re headed,” he said.

After winning the national title in 2007, Miles has seen Florida and Alabama play for the conference title, practically a semifinal for the national crown, the past two years.

This year he intends to get back in the fight.

“I don’t have anxiety about that,” he said of Alabama and Florida separating from the rest of the league. “My want is to prepare my team. I really feel like our view is how to make us best. I think if LSU does what they’re capable of doing, that closing gaps is really not what we’re after. We want to play well and play for a victory within each contest.

“I understand that there are very many talented teams in this league. I know we play them every week. But I can tell you that our view is what we can do and how we need to prepare. I think we got talented guys on my team. I’m going to spend my time instructing them and look forward to the opportunity to compete against the very best.”

Fixed expectations

Last season Houston Nutt strolled into the SEC Media Days with his Mississippi team gathering high expectations for the upcoming season.

The Rebels were ranked in the preseason top 10, and were supposed to challenge Alabama for the West title. Quarterback Jevan Snead was tabbed as a Heisman hopeful.

All seemed right for Nutt and Ole Miss.

After two easy wins, a trip to South Carolina brought the team back to reality. A 16-10 loss sent the season spiraling downwards, as the Rebels finished 9-4.

“What you really want to guard against is you want to embrace it, but at the same time, you got to be ready to help your team if the bubble pops,” Nutt said. “The bubble busted on us in South Carolina.”

A nine-win season isn’t too shabby, but after all the preseason hype and expectations, the four losses left the Ole Miss players feeling deflated.

“When that bubble popped, that’s where you better have some ‘Dr. Phil’ in you,” Nutt said. “You better be ready to go, to help your team, because expectations are so high. Fans have this vision that you’re going straight to Atlanta. You got to be ready to adjust. We all want to go there.

“Ole Miss, we’ve never had one team go to the Atlanta championship game. That’s where we want to go. That’s where we want to get to. One day we’re gonna be there. But it’s very, very difficult.”

Going from the top to the absolute bottom, Ole Miss was picked to finish last in the West.

For Nutt, looking up from the bottom of the list is a familiar place.

“Well, you know, again, been here 13 times. Most of the time I’ve been picked towards the bottom,” he said. “I don’t really worry about that. I never have. A lot of people say, ‘You coach better when you’re not under such high expectations.’

“I’ve always been under low expectations, so most of the time I don’t really worry about that. I tell our young men it doesn’t matter. All the polls and bowls, that’s decided on the field, so it doesn’t really matter. Doesn’t matter where you put us. I understand somebody told us (the media) picked us last. Thank you. That’s all right. It’s good. It really doesn’t matter.”