Tide, Saban ready to get rolling

The Nick Saban Welcome Parade ends today in Tuscaloosa, Ala., when the much-heralded new Alabama coach makes his debut against Western Carolina. No one is happier to actually play a game than Saban.

"We certainly appreciate the passion and the spirit that we've been welcomed here with," Saban said. "But at the same time, our focus has always been on trying to make our team better. The focus should be on the University of Alabama. ... the players and all the people that make it what it is. I'm glad the focus is on the season and the opening game."

Sign Me Up: During preseason practice, Arkansas running back Felix Jones took some direct snaps in the Razorbacks' re-named "Wildhog" offense that made fellow Hogs' running back Darren McFadden a Heisman Trophy runner-up last year.

But Jones isn't fooling himself. He knows his limitations.

"I played a little bit of quarterback in high school and had a lot of fun with it," Jones said. "But Darren throws it better than I can. I'm not too much of a quarterback. I don't mind taking snaps and running. I don't know about passing the ball. It (the Wildhog) is a great package. Defenses get confused, and it's going to get us some things."

Strong Plan: It's a bold move to replace last year's best linebacker in college football with a true freshman. But that's what Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron is doing with Chris Strong, stepping into the XXXL shoes vacated by NFL first-round draft choice Patrick Willis. Strong will start in today's opener against Memphis.

"Chris was the No. 1 player in the state of Mississippi, he's a big-time recruit used to pressure," Orgeron said. "He's from South Panola where they won 60 games in a row. Now that's not like the pressure of playing in the SEC or following a Butkus Award winner. But he'll handle it. We may have to be very simple what we do when he's in there."

Less Of Lester? Auburn running back Brad Lester appears to be back in coach Tommy Tuberville's doghouse. Lester was suspended for last January's Cotton Bowl because of academic problems.

"He's our No. 1 tailback, but he's taking care of some personal problems," Tuberville said on Wednesday. "We'll have to see how it works out the next few days."

Sophomore Ben Tate and redshirt freshman Mario Fannin are No. 2 behind Lester, and fullback Carl Stewart can play tailback.

Stewart, a former standout at Maryville High School, is returning from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss most of preseason practice, but is expected to play today against Kansas State.