HOOVER, Ala. -- As strange as it seems, Alabama players are readying for this season by drawing inspiration from one of the greatest teams in their hated rival's past.
They want to be like Auburn in 1993. Like that team, they too are facing a fall without possibility of a Southeastern Conference title or bowl game because of NCAA sanctions.
Yet their roster has enough talent that one-third of the voters at SEC Media Days picked the Crimson Tide to win the Western Division. Tide defensive tackle Jarret Johnson dreamed even further Wednesday, tossing out the notion of an undefeated season like Auburn's 11-0 run nearly a decade ago.
"We don't really want to focus totally on them," Johnson said. "But it's something we look at and say it is possible to do."
Already, Alabama's being dubbed the SEC's best non-bowl team since 1993.
"I really like the attitude and chemistry of our players right now," said second-year coach Dennis Franchione.
A tough 13-game schedule will test that. Aside from a Sept. 7 game at Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide must play pivotal SEC games -- Sept. 28 at Arkansas, Oct. 26 at Tennessee, Nov. 16 at LSU -- on the road. That has the potential of turning a successful season sub-par.
"I hate to say this, but we may have a better team, maybe not a better record," Franchione said.
Regardless, there will be a reward at the end. Alabama picked up a Nov. 30 road game at Hawaii last month to end its season.
"We're not going to treat it like a vacation, but at the same time, it's something that we'll be able to look back and remember," Johnson said. "We're going to stay there a couple of days after the game and that'll be our bowl game."
Franchione said the players voted on whether to add Hawaii to the schedule and the decision was "unanimous." Some players even privately thanked the coach afterward for providing an enjoyable finish to a season with an otherwise empty ending.
"They're excited about that game," Franchione said. "It's a great trip for them. We were fortunate that it worked out."
How much Tide players enjoy the rest of the season will largely depend on the offense's evolution.
"We're going to continue to run the ball because we've had great success doing it -- 'If it's not broke don't fix it,'" said fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler Watts. "But also we feel like we need to score more points, and the only way we're going to be able to do that is to put the ball in the air more."
For the first time in four years, there's no Watts-Andrew Zow controversy in Tuscaloosa. With Zow departed, Watts is the "bonified leader" of the offense, Franchione said. Still, redshirt freshman phenom Brodie Croyle, and to a lesser extent, Spencer Pennington, are poised to take over should Watts stumble.
Watts should be helped by a starting offensive line that returns intact and an abundance of depth at running back. In fact, there's such a load of talent in the backfield, Franchione and the staff created the "A-back" position to allow speedy Ray Hudson and shifty Shaud Williams to earn playing time alongside senior Ahmaad Galloway and junior Santonio Beard.
Galloway and Beard combined for more than 1,500 yards rushing last season.
"A great reason we've evolved into such a power team is because I'm surrounded by so many great running backs," Watts said. "That's really how we're going to move the ball down the field."
Alabama's defense was both dominant and fragile last season because of a strong contrast in the play of its defensive line and secondary. While the line established itself as arguably the league's best with Johnson and end Kindal Moorehead -- both two-time All-SEC selections -- and tackle Kenny King, the secondary allowed teams to swallow chunks of yards through the air. An embarrassing 528 passing yards surrendered to LSU's Rohan Davey was the low point.
"The secondary was an inexperienced group and we looked like it at times," Franchione said.
They should be better this fall. The only other potential question mark is at middle linebacker, where Saleem Rasheed's early departure for the NFL created a void likely to be filled by Freddie Roach. If not, junior college transfer Derrick Pope will get a look.
Provided the Tide makes the necessary improvements, it should make a mark in the SEC this fall despite sanctions, much like their in-state foe did nearly a decade ago.
"Year 2 is much more comfortable in so many ways from Year 1," Franchione said. "I feel like this is my team right now, and that's a nice feeling. The first year stuff is behind us. ... It sets the table to have a chance to improve."
