Article By Larry Burton on 24th July, 2009
The first game can either sound a good or bad note for a team that can help carry it or curse it for the rest of the year.
Nick Saban is on record as saying he likes tough openers and last season's opener against what was was supposed to be the top ACC team and this year's repeat of that same scenario has Nick Saban's fingerprints all over it.
In fact, he wants more.
So why would Nick Saban want to risk an opening day disaster?
There are always the politically correct answers, like getting fan interest and exposure for the team, but this is Alabama. Nobody has to try very hard to get interest and exposure.
<...