Alabama Football: What Are the Players Thinking and Saying About the Future?

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) Maybe because I've grown to the age of 53 and have a son of my own the same age as these players, but when I talked to them after the game and saw both the disappointment and frustration along with the utter and complete exhaustion, part of me just wanted to hug them and tell them we were still very proud of them.

When I interviewed William Vlachos, he was as dog tired as I've ever seen a player after a game. He sat through the interview and you could tell he was simply wiped out in body, but not in heart.

"We should have won." Vlachos said more than once.

But he didn't want to take anything away from LSU.

"They played their game, we played ours...They made the big plays when they had to, and we didn't."

Talk that coaches could take heat for the play calling was not even considered by the players who all to a man thought that the plays under the circumstances were the right ones.

As for the coaches and play calling letting down the team, the players themselves think talk like that is simply stupid.

"Coach Mac (Jim McElwain, offensive coordinator) called some great plays, but we just didn't execute as we should have." Vlachos said. "We just didn't get it done."

As far as playing them again, Vlachos said, "We're not necessarily thinking of playing them again... but we control what we do from here on out, and we certainly have the opportunity for a very special season. We just have to keep our foot on the pedal and get better and go from there."

Coutney Upshaw was more stoic. When asked about what this means for the future, he said, "We just have to put this behind us and go forward."

He was more concerned about getting better and getting ready for Mississippi State than dwelling on this game.

"What's done is done. We had our opportunities a bunch of times to win this game and didn't; now it's time to move on and get ourselves in position to make sure we don't miss opportunities like that again." he finished.

As far as a message to the fans, Upshaw said, "We took this loss tonight, but it's on to Mississippi State, and we'll be back."

And Nico Johnson's take on a rematch, "If it happens, it happens. The only thing we can control is what we do down the road."

Marquis Maze mirrored Nico, "It's never over; we've got four more games to go, and anything can happen."

As for the play calling, Maze repeated what every player had said, "The plays were there, but the execution just wasn't there."

As for the chance of a rematch, Maze said, "If we were to play them again, we wouldn't lose...I hope we get the chance."

One thing is for sure. As tough a loss as this was, this team may have lost a game, but they weren't beaten. They accepted the loss, but not with bowed heads.

They give LSU their due and each acknowledged that LSU made the plays when they had to, and they didn't.

But none of them, not one I interviewed, felt the best team won.

Call that cocky, even call it conceited, but I wouldn't.

I'd call it sure in themselves, sure in their teammates and sure in their coaches.

And if that re-match takes place this season with a championship on the line, I wouldn't want to be an LSU player because I believe they mean what they say, and I know they believe it.