As an out-of-state recruit, running back Eddie Lacy wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the Iron Bowl rivalry. It only took one year to fix that.

It also took help from in-state players like safety Robert Lester and linebacker Nico Johnson. The two said they have to explain the significance of Alabama/Auburn to players not from Alabama.

“You get bragging rights for 365 days,” Lester said. “That’s saying a lot. I’ve got friends that this game means a lot to, and if we lose this game, they’re going to have a lot to say to me.

“Actually, I have a bet with a friend that I went to high school with every year that if we win, he has to take a picture in Alabama gear, and if we lose, I have to take a picture in Auburn gear. And I do not like dressing up in orange and blue.”

The players currently on Alabama’s roster have experienced both sides of the storied rivalry, including a thrilling comeback win in 2009, the crushing 28-27 loss in 2010, and a 42-14 throttling in 2011.

“That really made me understand the rivalry,” Johnson said about the 2010 game. “I don’t have anything to say after 365 days, because if you don’t beat them, those 365 days are going to be bad for you. I understand it more because I’m an in-state guy. You hear all the time, ‘You chose this school over this school.’ It’s a big rivalry.”

And despite Auburn being in the midst of its worst season in decades, head coach Nick Saban said the importance of the rivalry cannot be understated.

“The Iron Bowl is a big deal,” he said. “It’s a legendary game that people remember for a long, long time and still talk about games that happened in the past, had huge impacts and effects on the future of what happened. And they’re traditionally very, very tough games. It’s important that we play our best game.”

Players react to Saturday’s upsets

While many Alabama students and fans celebrated Baylor’s upset of Kansas State and Stanford’s upset of Oregon, players said they were a little more subdued and could even take valuable lessons from the two teams’ losses.

“It’s college football; just like last year, crazy things are going to happen,” Lester said. “Crazy things are going to happen next year. The only thing we need to worry about right now is to play our football and not worry about what’s going on outside Alabama and handle it the way we need to handle it.”

When Lacy was asked what he thought about the upsets, the running back just shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s tight,” he said. “We needed it, but it’s not what we need to focus on at the moment.”

Saban said he saw the two teams buckle under the pressure of being the top teams in the country, and the pressure can sometimes make a team play timidly.

“What I see happening is people get sort of emotionally stressed out relative to their circumstances, which is where they’re ranked, who they’re playing,” Saban said. “And all of a sudden you get tentative and don’t play aggressively, you don’t prepare the same way. You’re worrying emotionally, which affects your ability to focus and you don’t play as well.”

Alabama still looking for one more game in 2013

Despite a report in The Denver Post that Colorado State was close to a deal to play Alabama in 2013 and 2015, Saban said nothing is yet set in stone.

“When we sign a contract to play a game, we’ll announce it,” Saban said. “That’s up to our administration. Whenever that happens, I think that’s up to them, it’s not up to me. We’re still looking for a game next year. I will confirm that.”

Alabama is slated to play Virginia Tech in Atlanta, Ga., to open the 2013 season, with home dates against Georgia State and Chattanooga outside of the eight-game SEC schedule. The Crimson Tide is looking to add one more game to complete a 12-game schedule.

Former Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain is in his first year as head coach of Colorado State.

Jones, Milliner up for awards

Two Alabama players were named finalists for postseason awards at their respective positions. Center Barrett Jones was named a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top interior offensive lineman. Cornerback Dee Milliner was also named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, given to the country’s top defensive back. 

Finalists for the Rimmington Award, given to the top center, will be announced on Dec. 1.

The award winners will be announced during a televised event Thursday, Dec. 6 on ESPN.