... Alabama coach Nick Saban, whose team beat LSU for the national title, was among the original finalists announced Dec. 14, but he was removed from contention because a scheduling conflict left him unable to attend....

1 SEC team that won all of its games played away from its home field during the 2011 season -- Alabama, which posted a 6-0 record away from Bryant-Denny Stadium.

1 Team in the nation that gave up fewer than 1,000 rushing yards in 2011. Alabama yielded 938 rushing yards this season to lead the nation in rushing defense for the third time. The Crimson Tide also led the nation in rushing defense in 1945 and 1992.

1 Team in the nation that gave up fewer than 4 yards per play in the 2011 season -- Alabama at 3.3 yards per play.....

It’s been a tough stretch for Bama fan Brian Downing:

First, there was the whole genitals thing, then video of the assault made it’s way around the entire globe.  There’s nothing like having your sexual assault caught on video.  Next, he became subject of a man hunt, but lucky him, his “second cousin” is Russell County Alabama sheriff Heath Taylor:

Although he’d heard about the video — which has created a firestorm on the Internet — for a couple days, Taylor said he watched it Thursday morning at the prompting of other people who suggested the University of Alabama fan was his relative. The man in the video indeed appeared to be Downing, he said....

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The last time Nick Saban attended a national championship celebration, he made what amounted to a bold declaration for a coach who loves processes as much as Little Debbie snacks.

"I want everyone here to know, this is not the end," Saban told Alabama fans on Jan. 16, 2010. "This is the beginning."

Well, it was gonna be a surprise.............

My family may have had cake.