Alabama Football: Coach Nick Saban talks Tennessee and ‘playing to a standard’

Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban was on the weekly SEC Teleconference to preview the traditional Third Saturday in October game against Tennessee. You can listen to the teleconference in the above player, and below you can read a few notes on what Saban said.

“This is obviously a very important game to the University of Alabama and our football program,” Alabama football coach Nick Saban said. “We certainly have a lot of respect for Tennessee and their team.”

Saban said the Volunteer staff does a “good job” with their players.

“We are certainly going to have to play our best football,” Saban said.

Saban said the team wants to be at its best for this important rivalry game.

Saban explains his philosophy of “playing to a standard” and avoiding letting “external factors” distract from this goal of being the best player.

Saban said the personnel change in the athletic department is not something he worries about because he trusts the Alabama administrators to handle their responsibilities.