Matt Hayes

You better believe he can see it coming. There aren't too many ifs that have to happen before Alabama plays Florida in the SEC championship game — with a spot in the national title game on the line.

That doesn't mean Nick Saban, Alabama's controlling-the-message coach, has to talk about it. "You start getting ahead of yourself," Saban said, "and it's toxic."

This guy is so not ahead of himself, he doubles back to make sure of it. Last month, two hours before the Ole Miss game, Saban walked on the turf at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa like he always does.

He looked down, picked up some grass and threw it in the air — then stormed off the field. Minutes later, the lawn mowers were rolling out, cutting the field to the specific height he demanded earlier in the week.

Everyone and everything has a plan, a place and a purpose. When everyone follows through, the team is successful.

What's so wrong with that?

"He makes himself perfectly clear," said Alabama safety Rashad Johnson. "There has never been a time where I have walked away from him thinking, I wonder if this is what he meant. We don't look ahead because it's not who we are."

Meanwhile, the coach on the other end of that oh-so-tantalizing possibility had a sit-down with his team Sunday night. No less controlling, Florida coach Urban Meyer wasn't as limiting.

He and the Gators talked about the road ahead — the game with South Carolina on Saturday, and the two others — The Citadel and rival Florida State — looming before the sixth meeting between the Tide and Gators in the SEC championship game.

Meyer called it his state of the union address. And while Saban wouldn't mention the BCS if it were emblazoned on his forehead during a team meeting, Meyer openly spoke about the possibilities.

"We talked about the status of the BCS and put it to bed," Meyer said.

The status, in relation to the BCS standings, is this: If Oklahoma beats No. 2 Texas Tech next week, surging No. 4 Florida — which has been gaining on No. 3 Texas — could move into the No. 2 spot with victories over No. 25 South Carolina and No. 19 Florida State while Texas finishes with unranked Kansas (6-4) and Texas A&M (4-6).

Alabama merely needs to beat overmatched Mississippi State (3-6) and Auburn (5-5) to keep its No. 1 ranking. There is, however, one little problem with this scenario: The Tide has lost two in a row to Mississippi State and six straight to Auburn.

Maybe that toxic talk isn't so hyperbolic after all.

"Talking about that stuff doesn't do you any good," said Alabama center Antoine Caldwell. "Focus on today — that's it."

So help you Saban.

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