'This is where Alabama belongs'

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"It feels like it's supposed to be," sophomore linebacker Dont'a Hightower said. "Alabama is supposed to be one of the powerhouses. It's Alabama's time now. Florida had their time. It's our time now. We're recruiting great recruits and great players. I think it's about time."

Hightower, who started 12 games as a true freshman last season, is a perfect example of the caliber of player Saban is regularly bringing into the program now, creating the kind of competition on the practice field all coaches crave.

"Every last one of the players on this team -- from the kicker, to the second-team quarterback, to the third-team outside linebacker -- thinks he should be playing and is going to do whatever he has to do to get on the field," Hightower said. "We're all hungry. We all want the same thing, and we're willing to pay the price to get it."

Junior quarterback Greg McElroy says the talent level has increased every year under Saban.

This current freshman class was ranked No. 2 nationally by Scouts Inc., while the one two years ago, including the likes of Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Marcell Dareus and Hightower, was ranked No. 3 nationally.

"They're bringing in better players every year," McElroy said. "The depth is building, and Coach Saban is instilling that mindset earlier now. That's the key. It doesn't matter how good you are. Everybody can be replaced. You're not going to come in here and play unless you buy into the system.

"That helps the freshmen coming in, knowing they're going to have to work hard to get a spot, and it also helps the older guys. They know they have a great player coming in behind them and have to work even harder because there's no such thing as holding onto a position around here just because you've been here longer."

McElroy takes pride in being a part of this transformation. Having grown up around the sport with his father, Greg, who is the senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Dallas Cowboys, the younger McElroy knows what Alabama football means to the people of this state.

And with the exception of last season, he also knows how hard much of this decade has been for even the most loyal Alabama supporter. Six times since 2000, the Crimson Tide have finished with five or more losses in a season.

"This is where Alabama belongs. Alabama belongs among the top programs in the country," McElroy said. "That's what our fans deserve, and that's what we deserve as players. We've worked extremely hard, and we really see the improvement."

Now comes the next step and maybe the toughest step.

"It's special knowing that we turned the program around last year," McElroy said. "But it really means nothing unless we continue that success this year and for years to come."

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