By Michael Casagrande
sports@timesfreepress.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For weeks, coach Nick Saban has emphasized that Alabama's next football game will still be played on a field 100 yards long and 53 yards wide.
What he didn't mention was the seven- or eight-figure dollar totals that will come to the university for playing in the BCS national championship game Thursday night against Texas. Even for a school like Alabama that's used to the big-money aspect of major college football, the past month has been extra fruitful.
No. 1-ranked Alabama doesn't pocket all $17 million of the payout to BCS title-game participants. Because of the Southeastern Conference's revenue-sharing program, Alabama will keep $1.8 million after expenses, with the rest going to the other member schools.
Other revenue streams, however, will stay in Tuscaloosa.
All of the new merchandise was available for the holiday season, and there will be more advertising time for sale with extra radio broadcasts planned.
Athletic director Mal Moore didn't know specific dollar figures but has seen the work that's gone into the planning. The past month, he said, was a nonstop ride.
"There's a lot involved," he said with a laugh. "The logistics of it, all that. Of course, we want to make it as pleasant for the players to get out there to the practice areas and everything that we possibly can to give them the best opportunity to win it."
And should the Crimson Tide win that 14th straight game in the Rose Bowl, the financial impact will only multiply.
Sporting goods store are already advertising the sale of championship T-shirts, some even printing on site so sales can begin immediately following the final gun.
For Moore, a part of seven Alabama national championship seasons as a coach and player, this year's build-up is much different even from the 1992 Sugar Bowl.
"The stakes are higher -- much, much higher -- of course," he said. "The excitement level of it and the thrill of the opportunity to play in a game like this, it's just very exciting and something I think everyone takes genuine pride in."
The momentum really picked up after the Dec. 5 victory over Florida in the SEC championship game.
Merchandise sales on the athletic department Web site, rolltide.com, broke records for seven consecutive days, said Jim Carabin, general manager of Crimson Tide Sports Marketing. Soon after the game, the school released a commemorative magazine that's sold 40,000 copies.
There will be a special radio show involving Saban and the Crimson Tide Radio Network personalities on Tuesday, bringing in extra ad money with a few new sponsors jumping on board.
Carabin didn't want to give out any specific revenue numbers yet.
"But it's been substantial," he said.
Of course, it could just be the beginning. Like the rest of the Alabama faithful, Carabin is "crossing my fingers" in hoping for an Alabama victory.
Expect many more shirts, hats, books, DVDs and anything else crimson and marketable should Alabama return with the crystal BCS championship trophy.