Before tonight’s big Alabama-LSU game, the following are the leadership quotes from earlier today on ESPN:

  • When asked how he kept his team so focused this year, Les Miles said, “I keep it simple.”
  • “He (Saban) deemphasize the foe and opponent and instead tries to stress the focus on his own program, his own players and their performance.” – Tom Rinaldi
  • “You’re dealing with 18-22 year old athletes and anything you can use to motivate – revenge, hatred, SEC, national championship but revenge is a great motivator.  It always has been.  It always will be.” – Urban Meyer
  • Every great corner wants to play physical.  They want to put their hands on the receiver.” – Meyer
  • “While it is a big game and we’re really excited about it, we know that’s not what we do around here is hype up big games and get all emotional about it.” – Alabama’s Barrett Jones
  • “To everybody else it’s like the Game of the Century but to us we got to play the game like a regular game.” – Trent Richardson
  • “Play well in this one and it makes all the rest more important.” – Miles
  • It’s much easier to attack than protect.  When you’re #2, you want what they got.” – Meyer
  • “It (losing a game like this) ruins your season.  For both of these teams, it’s national championship or bust.” – David Pollack
  • See a little, see a lot.  See a lot, see nothing.  That’s discipline and eye control in how you play football…When you see a lot you don’t see anything and something bad happens.” – Nick Saban
  • “We want to have a warrior mentality in how we got about this because it’s going to take a relentless attitude for 60 minutes to win a game like this.” – Saban
  • Focus on what you need to do as a football player…Focus on the little things.” – Saban
  • “Play to your strengths…In a game like this the days of handing off the ball are over.  You’ve got to step up and win the game.” – Meyer on LSU QB Jarrett Lee
  • He was ready and mature to handle this moment.” – Pollack on Lee
  • My fashion statement – consistency. I’ve started my career wearing a hat.  It’s always been white.  And to be honest, I want my team seeing the same guy on the sidelines year after year, game after game, being consistent is the key.” – Miles
  • One thing about Coach Saban and that staff is that they have held that staff together…That helps with in-game adjustments.” – Meyer
  • Everyone’s got a plan until they get hit.” – Mike Tyson
  • “You’re going to have to be a full grown man to get him on the ground.” – Saban on Richardson
  • The focus as a coach has to be on getting your team to play its best football regardless of the results. A coach has to get his team to be the best team they can be and have the most success that they can have. The challenge for me as the leader of this organization is to get this team to play at the highest possible level regardless of what the outcome is in any particular game. Then if we get to play in the (national championship) game, we get to play in the game” – Saban in an interview with Tony Barnhart.  To read the full interview, click here.
  • “Before a big game, forget the veterans.  They’ve been there.  I spend all my time with the rookies keeping them focused on the game and their assignments.” – Meyer

Well, it’s game time.  I’m going with a home field advantage for Alabama but it’s close.  Bama 21, LSU 16.  What’s your predication?

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