Alabama Football

• COLLEGE BEAT
Alabama head defensive coach Kevin Steele spent Monday in Clemson, touring the facilities, meeting with players and having discussions with Tigers new coach Dabo Swinney.

• Smith's lawyer: No contact with an agent
TUSCALOOSA - University of Alabama All-American Andre Smith did not have contact with a sports agent and has been honest and cooperative with school officials about the subject, Smith's lawyer said Sunday.

• Andre Smith announces plans to enter the NFL Draft
TUSCALOOSA - Alabama left tackle Andre Smith announced his intention to declare for the NFL Draft late Saturday night.

• Alabama has few but important holes to fill in 2009
NEW ORLEANS - The results of the Allstate Sugar Bowl were not even 10 minutes old when Alabama coach Nick Saban turned his attention to 2009.

• 2-Minute Drill
WHY UTAH WON:

• Alabama Notebook:
Pre-game comments motivate Utes:

• BY THE NUMBERS
1 Undefeated team in Division I-A this season - Utah. The Utes are perfect for the second time in five years.:

• Grading the Tide
Smith's suspension and Mike Johnson injury resulted in eight sacks and just 31 yards rushing

• Sacks of Sugar
NEW ORLEANS - Alabama rode a turnaround season behind its physical offensive line. The same unit turned into the offense's downfall Friday night at the Sugar Bowl with the Crimson Tide missing two starting linemen most of the game.

• Stabler uncertain about radio future
NEW ORLEANS - Ken Stabler said Friday he is uncertain whether he wants to return as color analyst on the Crimson Tide Radio Network after taking the season off as a result of his drunken driving arrest last June.

• Sugar Bowl: By the numbers

• Smith's suspension means Alabama needs total focus for Sugar Bowl
NEW ORLEANS - Alabama has been preparing for this all season.

• Kevin Scarbinsky: Getting in the last word
Wilson makes closing statement in stellar senior season

• This game will determine...
if Alabama can put aside distractions caused by Andre Smith's suspension

• Utes searching for respect
NEW ORLEANS - One undefeated team remains in Division I-A college football. And it's not "the only team that plays in a real BCS conference that went 12-0," as Alabama coach Nick Saban said of his team last month.

• Saban: Andre Smith's situation is not an NCAA matter
NEW ORLEANS - Alabama coach Nick Saban said Wednesday the suspension of left tackle Andre Smith for the Allstate Sugar Bowl is not an NCAA matter, only a violation of university rules.

• Saban: Not an NCAA matter
NEW ORLEANS - Alabama coach Nick Saban said Wednesday the suspension of left tackle Andre Smith for the Allstate Sugar Bowl is not an NCAA matter, only a violation of university rules.