Alabama Football: What Has Alabama Been Doing to Prepare for LSU Lately?

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) For Alabama Crimson Tide students, classes ended on December 9th and final exams went on from the 12th through the 16th, according to the university registrar. The team has had almost three weeks off from regular practice while they studied for finals and rested their bodies from the collisions of several months of playing and practice.

But if you think it's been all rest and relaxation, you'd be wrong.

The Tide's players have been under Scott Cochran's thumb: They have either been weightlifting or recovering in rehab. That has been the order of the day for the players.

But only after tests and before study periods for finals were these exercises done.

Saban has been off on his recruiting duties. He's visited a long line of recruits and contacted even more. Nick is both trying to get some players he wants as well as keep the ones committed happy.

There are some surprises that will happen in the recruiting front, but that's another article for another time.

With finals out of the way now, the team begins practice for just a few days before breaking again for Christmas holidays. Then it's practice in earnest in preparation for meeting LSU again—this time with a national championship on the line.

Players I've interviewed who went through similar preparations for the 2010 BCS National Championship Game all said that rest did them good. Having time to concentrate on finals was necessary, but getting back on the practice field was a welcomed delight.

With school work all behind them, it's good to have only LSU on their minds.

LSU's team has faced a similar schedule, and they too have started practice this week.

The BCS National Championship Game is set for January 9th, 2012 in New Orleans just three weeks from now.