McCarron leads the way for Tide

NEW ORLEANS - There's a general thought that Alabama has protected first-year starting quarterback AJ McCarron this year -- not letting him throw as often or take risks -- and that may have been true earlier in the season.

But, at this point last season, then senior quarterback Greg McElroy had only thrown one more pass and three more touchdowns than McCarron has in 2011.

So, now that we're into a new year, make no mistake, McCarron's a seasoned veteran now.

It's almost hard to remember that just a few months ago, McCarron was still battling Phillip Simms for the starting job at Alabama. But in 12 games, McCarron has gone from rookie starter to team leader.

Monday, he'll try to lead the Tide to its second BCS National Championship in three years.

INVITATION ONLY

Alabama players were asked multiple times about whether they deserved to be playing in this game. Trent Richardson didn't guarantee victory, but confidentially said, "Monday night we're going to show them why we should have been in this ballgame."

MEDIA DAY

Friday in media day at the Superdome. Alabama players will be outnumbered by the hundreds of media members at 9 am. LSU follows at 10:30 am.

DEJA' VU FOR JONES

You'll have to excuse Alabama safety Phelon Jones if he feels like he's been in this position before. The McGill-Toolen grad was in the Dome in 2007 when LSU beat Ohio State for the BCS National Championship. He was a red-shirt freshman for the Tigers.

Jones transffered to Alabama after the 2008 season and has posted four tackles and an interception for the Tide in his final season.

MOBILE/PENSACOLA REPRESENTED

Alabama has 110 players listed on its roster. Seventeen are from the greater Mobile-Pensacola area. And perhaps even more impressive, 10 of those 17 either start or are significant contributers throughout the season.

PEP RALLY

Fans will start to invade the Big Easy on Friday. A Fanfest area is set up near Jackson Square and each school has a pep rally planned on Sunday off North Peters St. in the French Quarter. LSU's pep rally is at 2pm, Alabama's at 4 pm.

TRENT AND THE HONEY BADGER

Alabama running back Trent Richardson got to know LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu in New York at the Heisman Trophy ceremony last month and got a new perspective on the Honey Badger.

"He's a special guy," Richardson said. "When I was there I got to find out he was adopted. To come from a situation like that and people start to say you're not going to make it, you're not going to do this or that. He's a very eager guy and ready to go out there and play every play like it's his last."