Alabama shuns talk about possible dynasty

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Barrett Jones was definitely not going there.

Alabama's All-America offensive lineman has spent five seasons with coach Nick Saban and he knows better than to talk about stuff such as legacies and the Crimson Tide's place in history.

"Do you know what would happen if Nick Saban watched this interview and heard me say the 'D' word?" Jones told a reporter who tried to lure him into the forbidden zone.

The D word would be dynasty, and it is definitely off-limits around Alabama. But make no mistake, if the Crimson Tide can beat No. 1 Notre Dame on Monday night, it will become the first team to win consecutive BCS championships and join a select list of college football programs with three national titles in four years.

In short, Alabama will lay claim to one of the great runs in history.

"I think what we're really focused on is what we have to do in this particular game," Saban said moments after Alabama arrived in South Florida.

Since the Associated Press started crowning a college football champion in 1936, a team has repeated as champion 10 times, including Bear Bryant's Alabama teams twice.

No team has won three straight titles in the poll era. The standard is three out of four, and only two teams have done that (Notre Dame in 1946, '47 and '49, and Nebraska in 1994, '95, '97).

Alabama has gone 48-5 since 2009, fueled largely by the recruiting class of 2008. That group already has produced eight NFL draft picks, including 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and star wide receiver Julio Jones.

Four members of that class are still with the Tide, all starters: Jones, the two-time All-American, safety Robert Lester, defensive end Damion Square and tight end Michael Williams. Linebacker Nico Johnson and guard Chance Warmack from the class of 2009 are the only other current players who have played for the two previous Alabama championship teams.

"I respect all the guys that came in in 2008," Lester said Friday. "(Alabama) just came off a … 7-6 season."

Notre Dame – At some point Monday, Notre Dame must stretch the field.

The Irish have a few candidates to do this. Tight end Tyler Eifert is the only one for whom the question, "Can Alabama stop him?" is answered, legitimately, with a shrug.

The Mackey Award winner makes an intriguing complication for a Crimson Tide defense that hasn't seen anything like him. They concede they have no reference points for a 6-foot-6, 251-pound, swift and gluey-handed weapon that lines up anywhere.

"A lot of challenges," Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. "That's what we're experiencing now because we haven't faced a tight end with this much talent. The guy is a special player. … He really forces you to play different defensively because he's so multiple."

NFL draft – LSU says safety Eric Reid, cornerback Tharold Simon, running back Spencer Ware and punter Brad Wing are entering the NFL draft.

• Tight end Jordan Reed, No. 4 Florida's leading receiver this season, declared for the draft. He joined safety Matt Elam and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd as Gators skipping their senior season.

• All-America linebacker Jarvis Jones informed Georgia he won't be returning for his senior season to make himself eligible for the draft.

Tulane – The school says it has received a national letter of intent from community college quarterback Nick Montana, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana. The younger Montana threw for 2,652 yards and 22 touchdowns this past season at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut.

Tulane says the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Montana, who has two years of eligibility remaining, is enrolling this spring, meaning he'll be able to participate in spring practice and compete for the starting job next fall.

Colorado – Bryan Stoltenberg, an All-America offensive lineman for the Buffaloes in the mid-1990s, has died. He was 40. Stoltenberg recently underwent several surgeries after being in a car accident last month, the school said on its website. He died at his home in Sugarland, Texas.

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