Tide say ranking 'doesn't matter'

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Rank them first, second or 119th. The Alabama Crimson Tide football players apparently don't seem to care.

A day after The Associated Press bumped Alabama past Florida for the No. 1 spot in the weekly poll, coach Nick Saban and a few players expressed their general lack of interest in what that means.

"What's really changed?" Saban asked Monday. "Nothing's really changed for our guys. If anybody wants to ask any questions about where you rank or where the poll is, what matters? That doesn't matter. What's changed? What's changed from this Monday from the last one? Got another game. It's the most important one of the year.

Linebacker Rolando McClain said he didn't even know Alabama had taken the jump to No. 1 until a reporter asked about it Monday afternoon.

"I know it doesn't matter to me," McClain said.

Playing with the same No. 1 target as it did for several weeks last season, Saban said his team could deal with that in one of two ways.

"You either respond, sort of, with avoiding pain or you respond to try to gain pleasure," Saban said. "I am very hopeful that we can stay on the positive side of it and be positive about our approach and what we're trying to do and not get risk-aversive and playing to keep from being beat.

Arenas, Chapman back

The nagging injuries that kept Javier Arenas and Josh Chapman from playing Saturday against South Carolina didn't keep them from practicing Monday.

Arenas was working with the defensive backs during the media-viewing period of the workout, while Chapman drilled with the defensive linemen. The backup noseguard had the athletic tape and wrapping that protected his abdominal strain removed at the beginning of the practice.

For Arenas, returning from the rib injury that forced him out of the South Carolina game means dealing with pain but no real risk of worsening the damage.

"But managing the pain, it still hurts, it's still a problem," Saban said. "And the biggest problem is when he really tries to open up and go fast and all that."

Back spasms limited freshman cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick's time Saturday, but he also returned to practice Monday.

Having the depth to deal with having those defensive components miss such a big game and still keep 22nd-ranked South Carolina from scoring a touchdown is a luxury Lorenzo Washington said didn't always exist.

"In 2007 I broke my ribs in the Tennessee game," the senior defensive end said. "I played the whole second half of the season with broke ribs. There was nobody ... I didn't have a choice. There really wasn't an option."

McClain, Peek honored

McClain was named Monday the nationwide Lott Trophy player of the week for his seven-tackle performance against South Carolina, and Tide teammate Colin Peek was one of 22 players announced for the Mackey Award watch list for tight ends. Peek's 19 catches and 213 receiving yards are team highs.

Alabama will have $1,000 added to its general scholarship fund in recognition of McClain's honor.