Alabama Crimson Tide Defense Preparing For ‘Power Football’ From Notre Dame
By Josh Sanchez
Games are won and lost in the trenches. That is something football fans have heard day in and day out and it is a saying that has proved to have some truth. When the Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 7th in Miami for the BCS National Championship, the tough match ups in the trenches will prove to be a deciding factor in who takes home the trophy.
Alabama senior defensive end and co-captain Damion Square is preparing for a tough, physical battle from the Notre Dame offensive line.
“They’re a pretty good group. The center is a big, physical guy. All those guys have great size on them, great height. They protect the young guy back there pretty well. It’s definitely a game we’re going to have to strap it up and come to play. It’s power football,” said Square Those guys are coming at you and not trying to run around you. You have to bow your neck and get ready to go.”
This is the third national championship appearance of Square’s collegiate career, but he understands it will not be like the previous experiences.
“They’re all different,” Square said. “When you think about the bowl trips and the fun you have on the bowl trips, you try to imagine what you’re going to do this trip that will set it apart from others besides the game.
“But they’re all their own game. I’ve played in a few of them myself, but this one will be a different experience. Something will happen in the game or this bowl trip to make it more significant than the other ones or on another level.
We try to reach this point every year,. To work how we work, to get back to this point is exciting. It’s great. You always want to get paid what you work for. If you work like a champion you want to be in a championship game. I feel like we work like champions.”
Of course, while Square was discussing the upcoming game against Notre Dame, reporters couldn’t help but to ask him about the rumors of head coach Nick Saban bolting for the NFL.
“Wherever he goes, this is the effect he has on places,” Square said. “As long as he’s here, this program is going to be a significant program that can compete for a long time.
“Even if he isn’t, what he’s established here will go on for some time. We’re great players that are fortunate enough to get scholarships and come here and play in his system. We bought in and give credit to that guy to get 11 guys to buy into his system and play shutout football. We’re great players, and great players come to this university. And this university is great. But credit to Coach Saban and what he does here and the system he runs.”
Regardless of Saban’s future, he has built a heck of a football team thanks to players like Damion Square. When the Crimson Tide take on Notre Dame, they’ll be in for a physical contest that will put their dynasty to the test.