Vanderbilt defensive lineman Nifae Lealao provided Alabama some motivation for last week's 59-0 Crimson Tide cakewalk in Nashville when he exclaimed, "Alabama, you're next," after the Commodores toppled Kansas State on Sept. 16.
This week, it's Nick Saban providing whatever ammunition he can as the No. 1 Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) prepare to host Ole Miss (2-1, 0-0) Saturday night.
"I think the ultimate disrespect sometimes is when somebody quietly thinks they've got your number," Saban said Wednesday evening in a news conference, "and I think our players need to understand that. We've got to prepare for a totally different type of game than we played a week ago."
The Rebels upset Alabama during the 2014 and 2015 seasons and took a 24-3 lead in the second quarter of last year's game in Oxford. There would be no three-peat, however, as Alabama used a 45-6 run to take control at 48-30 before holding on for a 48-43 triumph.
A year ago, Ole Miss was coming off a Sugar Bowl season and was ranked No. 19 when Alabama came to town, but the Rebels wound up losing five of their last seven games to wind up 5-7. Hugh Freeze guided the Rebels to the back-to-back victories over the Tide, but an ongoing NCAA investigation and phone records detailing personal calls to escort services resulted in his dismissal this past July.
Matt Luke was named interim coach, and he laughed Wednesday afternoon when asked if any of his players planned to verbally challenge the Tide.
"No," he said. "I think our guys have a great amount of respect for Alabama, what they have been able to do and their consistency. I also think they are excited for the challenge and just having the opportunity to go compete on that stage and kind of lay it on the line and see what happens."
Bo Wallace quarterbacked Ole Miss to the win over Alabama in 2014, and it was Chad Kelly who guided the 2015 victory and gave the Tide fits last September. This time around, it's sophomore Shea Patterson, who leads the league in passing and passing efficiency.
In three games, Patterson has completed 86 of 122 passes (70.5 percent) for 1,281 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
"He's got great arm talent, and he's very instinctive," Saban said. "He's a very good athlete, so he can scramble and extend plays. When he extends plays, it's a Johnny Manziel type of game.
"They have a pretty high play count, so we're going to have to keep the ball some."
Capital pipeline
Alabama's capital city of Montgomery has produced its share of Crimson Tide contributors this season, most notably linebackers Shaun Dion Hamilton and Mack Wilson, freshman receiver Henry Ruggs III and graduate transfer kicker Andy Pappanastos.
"We would love to have as many guys from Alabama on our team as we possibly can, and all four of those guys have made a significant contribution," Saban said. "I don't know that it's unusual, because we've had lots of good Alabama players from various cities - Mobile, Birmingham, up north. It means a lot more to those guys sometimes, because they may have grown up with a special passion for Alabama football.
"Having those kind of guys on your team is a real positive."
Tide tidbits
Redshirt junior outside linebacker Jamey Mosley has missed some practices this week due to an illness. ... Freshman linebacker Dylan Moses has worn No. 7 and No. 8 since arriving in Tuscaloosa and was spotted Wednesday wearing No. 18. ... Saban said sophomore Trevon Diggs has been more consistent than Ruggs at fielding punts, especially when the Tide face rugby-style kickers.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.