[recreading]

Crimson Tide Works on Fundamentals (courtesy of UA)
The Alabama football team was back at work Sunday afternoon with a two-hour practice at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility, completing its second day of bowl practice for the upcoming BCS National Championship Game against Texas.

Alabama has spent the first two days of practice working on the fundamentals, a theme the Tide is expected to continue in its next three practices before the holiday break.

“It’s important that we get back to where we are physical and aggressive in what we’re doing and we play with the mental and physical toughness that we need to play that kind of trademarks out team, as well as the fact that we need to get back to excellent execution in terms of that we’re doing,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said after Saturday’s practice. “Those are the things we’re really concerned about trying to accomplish, especially reestablishing those things in these first five practices.”

Saban also said the Crimson Tide’s focus should be on its upcoming bowl game with No.2 Texas.

“Our focus right now is really on this game,” Saban added. “It’s kind of a one-game season. Our players need to focus on playing their best football. It’s not about what’s going on outside of here. That’s the way we need to practice. That’s what we need to do. That’s how we need to prepare. They can assume they are probably playing against the best player they have played against all year, and maybe the best team. Teams like this don’t get into the championship game if they don’t know how to win, if they don’t expect to win and don’t know how to do it.”

No. 1 Alabama (13-0, 8-0 SEC) and No. 2 Texas (13-0, 8-0 Big 12) will meet in the BCS National Championship Game on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The game will be nationally televised by ABC Sports.

Alabama will practice again on Monday and continue workouts through Wednesday, December 23, before a three-day break for the holidays. The team will return to Tuscaloosa on Sunday, December 27 and practice through December 31 before departing for the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 1, 2010.