How Nick Saban Wants Alabama to Grow From Emotional Iron Bowl

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — One of the first things Nick Saban said after Alabama's comeback Iron Bowl victory was that the game needed to be a "reality check" for his team.

Yes, the Crimson Tide won the game, but it will need to play better with bigger challenges ahead, starting this Saturday.

That same idea was fresh on Saban's mind Monday as No. 8 Alabama (11-1, 8-0 SEC) prepares to face No. 1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) in the SEC championship game this weekend.

"One of the things we wanted to do in the game was channel our passions and energy into positive execution on the field," Saban said. "And I think when we did that, we played really, really well. But there were some times where we didn’t, and it was very costly in terms of some of the errors that we made, whether they were penalties or mistakes on defense or whatever it might be. So the reality check part comes from taking the good things and building on them and getting some of these other things corrected."

It was an in-state rivalry game, so emotions were flying high throughout against Auburn. Players were jawing back and forth, tackles and blocks were held for a little longer and shoves were exchanged after the whistles.

"This is what it's coming down to when coach always talks about playing with emotion without being emotional," Alabama senior defensive back Malachi Moore said. "In a tough rivalry game like that, high intensity game like that, you just have to make sure you can keep your composure because things can get a little heated out there at times and you just always have to put the team first and make sure that you're not hurt the team."

Alabama and Georgia don't play every year, even though it is becoming a more consistent rivalry, but there will be a lot more on the line this Saturday. Obviously, an SEC title, but also potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs are bringing a 29-game winning streak into the matchup with their last loss coming in this game against Alabama two years ago.

The two programs also consistently go against each other on the recruiting trail. Alabama has 10 scholarship players on the roster from the state of Georgia, plus two former Bulldogs in wide receiver Jermaine Burton and linebacker Trezmen Marshall. Saban doesn't want the emotions of the game to get in the way of what the Crimson Tide needs to do.

"For the most part, we've been doing a great job with that. But it kind of goes back to what I said earlier, and that's not just the quarterback, but when we've gotten a little emotional in the game and it led to penalties or poor choices and decisions in some cases, that's not really putting your passion into what you need to do on the field to execute," Saban said. "And I think sometimes when you get outcome oriented– which sometimes when you want to win a game really, really bad you get outcome oriented– that sort of leads to those kind of emotional surges that can create some issues as a competitor.”