FAYETTEVILLE — Alabama is trying to shake a nasty habit.
The Tide have won at least 10 games five times since 1996, including a 12-2 finish last season. Surprisingly, Alabama has followed up each of those successes with a losing season.
Alabama (3-0) begins SEC play Saturday night against Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and it certainly doesn't look like a team in danger of enduring a losing season.
The Crimson Tide, who began the season ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press poll, have risen to No. 3 after beating then-No. 7 Virginia Tech 34-24 in Atlanta before coming home to pound Florida International 40-14 and North Texas 53-7.
"They're so physical on both sides of the ball, in their fronts and their ability to run the ball and stop the run," Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. "They've put a lot of good pieces together on that football team."
Junior quarterback Greg McElroy, one of those key elements, recognizes the task at hand for the Tide.
"It gets much tougher," McElroy said. "Everything we've done to this point is all good and grand as far as getting the cobwebs out.
"Now it's time to really start playing. Our goal is to win an SEC championship. We need to continue to work and improve throughout the course of this week."
Nick Saban, who led LSU to a share of the 2003 national championship, was hired from the Miami Dolphins as Alabama's coach in 2007 to restore the program to consistent excellence. And Alabama is 16-2 under Saban since beating Colorado in the 2007 Independence Bowl.
North Texas Coach Todd Dodge said Alabama is as good as advertised.
"They obviously should and have high hopes of being able to play for a national championship," Dodge said. "They've got all the ingredients you need: a big, physical offensive line, tough running backs, an accurate quarterback and a defense that's very tenacious."
Nine starters returned on Alabama's defense, led by 354-pound senior nose guard Terrence Cody, junior linebacker Rolando McClain and senior cornerback Javier Arenas, and there's been no dropoff.
The Tide ranks second nationally in rushing defense (42 yards per game) and third in total defense (185.3).
Offensively, Alabama is breaking in several new starters, including McElroy, but it is fifth nationally in rushing offense (267.7) and ninth in total offense (512.3).
"They're just like Alabama usually is," Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette said. "They're a power-running team ... They've got big, athletic players, and it's going to be a big challenge for us."
McElroy has completed 46 of 69 passes for 647 yards and 4 touchdowns with 1 interception. He fumbled on his first play against North Texas after being hit, but came back to complete 13 of 15 passes for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns in leading Alabama to a 30-0 halftime lead. His 86.7 percent completion percentage tied a school record.
"He's putting the ball in the hands of playmakers and seems like he has a tremendous grasp of what they're doing," said Dodge, who coached McElroy at Southlake Carroll (Texas) High School. "He played really well today and very much within himself."
Mark Ingram, a sophomore tailback, is averaging 99 rushing yards and 6.8 per carry. Freshman Trent Richardson is averaging 71.7 and 7.4; junior Terry Grant 50 and 5.6; and senior Roy Upchurch 53.5 and 9.7.
"When one of us tires, another one comes in," Ingram said. "They've just got to hit a fresh pair of legs all night. It's not fun for any defense."
Alabama's best receiver, sophomore Julio Jones, didn't play against North Texas because of a bruised knee, but he's expected to be ready for Arkansas.
The Tide certainly didn't need Jones to dominate North Texas in an all-around game that impressed even Saban.
"We challenged our players to go out there for 60 minutes and try to dominate somebody for 60 minutes," Saban said. "I felt they responded to that. They had better intensity and energy today from start to finish."
Information for this story was contributed by The Birmingham News, Mobile Press-Register and Huntsville Times
Sports, Pages 13, 18 on 09/22/2009