When the team arrived at Bryant-Denny Stadium in the three buses that bring them for this short trip, there seemed little excitement as they walked through thousands of fans on the parade down the Walk of Champions.

Most had their headphones on and did little interaction with the fans. It was almost as if they didn't want to be bothered by the fans.

There was little excitement seen in the first half of play. There were no high fives after a play, no excitement on the sidelines. They seemed like zombies going through the motions.

What happened at halftime is a matter still unclear, seeing as how Saban's version and the player's version differed so greatly.

Saban said it wasn't explosive in the locker room and that he simply explained how they they had 30 minutes to play a game and decide what they wanted and that everybody had to make a commitment to what you want and who they were, what kind of competitor they were and were they willing to do to get what they want.

But the players I interviewed saw it another way. Daruis Hanks said, Saban, "jumped our butts" and others painted a different view from Saban's.

Saban said that he saw Tennessee putting eight men on the line of scrimmage and overloading the box and the only way to break this game open was to pass the ball and he was pleased how A.J. McCarron responded to that challenge.

Indeed McCarron responded much in the same way McElroy did in his first year when Arkansas stacked the line and dared the rookie to prove he could beat them. McCarron did the same thing in the second half to Tennessee.

Saban was pleased with how his young quarterback responded.

As for the hype over the LSU game, Saban wanted the team to "Chill Out" and treat it like another game and just rest up and get healed and healthy again.

I guess my ranting over the kickoff coverage has made Saban's desk, because when I complimented him on better kick coverage and kickoffs and asked him how the kickoff coverage improved, I got one of those Saban moments.

He told me that they actually analyze things themselves and I'm not the only one that analyzes what they do. And I could tell he liked switching the tables and now grilling me. I actually got a smile out of him.

But he did explain that they did do much work on that this week and that it came down to staying in lanes and not being blocked out of them.

Nico Johnson is impressed with the quality of leadership on this team. (Photo by Larry Burton)

 Nico Johnson - Told me he really didn't know any player that just wasn't beat down or nicked up and that the team really needed a rest. 

Brad Smelley says A.J. McCarron is checking into great plays with regularity. (Larry Burton)

What he's doing with his days off - going home and getting a lot of rest.

That the offense coming and out in the second half playing so well picked up the defense and got them going too.

Kenny Bell - Said the TD catch was the biggest thrill of his life so far at Alabama.

Bell is going home and spend time with his kids and watch his nephews play their pee wee football games.

Courtney Upshaw stepped up with Marquis Maze at halftime to provide leadership. ( Larry Burton)

Player Interview Highlights -

Courtney Upshaw - said he and Marquis Maze spoke up at halftime and said the team needed to step up and play Alabama football after Saban spoke.

Said it was "intense" at half time, but it got them focused.

Barrett Jones - Said he just wants to ice down his body and rest.

He said he really loves playing left tackle. It's clear that he wants to stay there and that he's ready to fight to stay there. He teased me when I asked if he was ready to see a young gun take over so he could go back to guard and he said, "No, things are going pretty well right now aren't they?

Hanks was amused we thought he had magnets in his hands. (Photo by Larry Burton)

Darius Hanks - When asked if he had magnets in his hands, laughed and said no.

Laughed and said after the teasing McCarron got from not running in a touchdown in one game felt he had to tuck it and run in that touhdown run to save face this time.

He said "Coach jumped our butts" at halftime.

Hanks said that A.J. is making big strides every week and is becoming a real field general, just like McElroy was and went into several check off plays in the second half and never missed one.

When I asked him if this 2011 team was better or worse than the 2009 team, he said that this team has more and better leaders on it than that team. He said they could be better, but since they haven't finished the season, it's way too early to say they are.

For his time off, he's going to go home and just sleep, lots and lots of sleep.

Alfred McCullough - What was wrong with the team in the first half? He said they "Just didn't have any energy, intensity or focus."

He told me this was a special night for him and his first in the press room after a game.

Al is going to go home and spend time with family, eat home cooking and rest.

Video interviews with the players I interviewed may be seen here.