Sep 15, 2012; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Barrett Jones (75) watches as his team warms up before the start of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 52-0. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-US PRESSWIRE
As a Memphis, Tenn., native, meeting the Ole Miss Rebels is always a special occurrence for center Barrett Jones.
This year, Jones is not only taking on the Rebels that are dear to so many of his friends in Memphis, but also the team of a man he knows well: Ole Miss head coach High Freeze.
“I actually played against him in the state championship game in my freshman year, then he recruited me to Ole Miss,” Jones said.
Before taking the Ole Miss head coaching vacancy, Freeze was mostly known for being Michael Oher’s high school head coach, the offensive lineman that was the subject of the The Blind Side.
Jones remembers his encounter with Oher well.
“We played Michael Oher,” he said. “He was a left tackle and I was a defensive end. it was an interesting experience, to say the least.
“He taught me lessons. I got killed.”
Another thing he learned from The Blind Side: do not believe everything you see in the movies. Jones’s recollection of Freeze is different from the way he was portrayed in the hit Sandra Bullock film.
Jones joked, “It’s historical fiction.”
Playing the waiting game
Alabama and Ole Miss will be the nightcap of college football action this weekend, set to kickoff in the 8:15 time slot on ESPN or ESPN2.
Playing that late is an adjustment the players will have to make in their gameday routines.
Or maybe not.
“Probably get about an hour and a half of extra sleep,” linebacker Nico Johnson said. “After that, just up and waiting for the game.
“It’s no different, just a lot of time to wait. I hate night games because we have to wait.”
Jones said most of the players will simply sit and watch television, trying to get as much rest as possible, and mostly trying to distract themselves from the long wait.
“I love playing night games but I hate sitting around waiting,” Jones said. “It’s the worst.”
Johnson added, “It’s worth it. We have a lot of intensity in night games. It’s fun.”
One thing that will not be done before the game: studying.
“Who studies on a Saturday?,” Jones joked. “I’m the biggest nerd on the team and I’ve never cracked a book on a Saturday.”
Disciplinarian getting disciplined
Since the game was well-in-hand, the players and media had some fun with the 15-yard penalty Nick Saban received near the end of the Florida Atlantic game.
For the players. it was just another day of playing for Saban.
“He’s been like that since I’ve been here,” Johnson said. “Coach always wants us to play every play like its our last. He’s going to coach to the last whistle and he wants us to play until the last whistle.”
Jones added, “That’s we love about him. It inspires us to play hard.”
Luckily for Coach Saban, he avoided punishment from his players for his mental lapse.
Johnson said he was going to say something to the coaches, but decided against it.
Jones was more direct.
“No,” Jones said while cracking a smile.