Success has rarely come easily for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season. From the FSU debacle to late-season offensive struggles, Alabama has had to battle its way to Atlanta. Alabama in Atlanta offers some special Crimson Tide history. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has been described as Bryant-Denny East because of Alabama's big, not always neutral-site wins.
Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard expressed confidence in an Alabama win this Saturday, "We're built for this. These are games that Alabama has been playing in for years now. Our goal is to win it and put another number on the SEC Championship wall. That's our main goal. We're not worried about any outside noise, no pressure. We've been working hard since January for this, not just this, but for what's to come after."
Bernard did not grow up with Alabama football history, but he knows it well. The Crimson Tide has played in 15 SEC Championship Games since they began in 1992. Alabama has won 11 of them. The Georgia Bulldogs have played in 12 SEC Championship Games, winning five of them. As every Alabama and Georgia fan knows, the Bulldogs are 0-4 against Alabama in SEC Championship Games.
Alabama Crimson Tide Team Leaders
Alabama football team leaders Ty Simpson and Deontae Lawson are focused on the current Georgia team rather than the history. Simpson recently said of Georgia, " They’ve got it rolling. We got to go in and understand that our mindset doesn’t need to change, that this is going to be a heavyweight fight. Last year, last time we played ‘em, none of that means anything, right? They’re going to have a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. We know what’s at stake."
Lawson was asked a question about bragging rights and said, "Man, that’s nothing that we can control. All we can control is going out there and emptying the tank and being detailed, just flying around the field. We’re not even worried about having bragging rights or anything. We just know this is another stepping stone on our way to get to where we want to go."
Much has been made about how much Georgia has improved offensively since Alabama broke its long home winning streak in September. The Crimson Tide has also improved, with Kane Wommack's defense now arguably better than Kirby Smart's defense. Some have suggested that Alabama will have a motivational advantage. Had the two teams not played a game this season, that might be true. But, it is difficult to believe that the Dawgs have shed their emotions from a home loss in Athens.