Alabama doesn’t play today, an opportune time for the nation’s second-ranked team to spend a weekend away from football.

Andre Smith can rest his elbow. Receiver Mike McCoy, whose absence certainly influenced Alabama’s struggles in the passing game last Saturday, can rehabilitate his hamstring injury. Glen Coffee spent the week at practice clutching a football high and tight due to his fumbling. Terrence Cody said his knees need a break; they do carry around almost 400 pounds.

“I thought our players were a litle tired last week, and I’m talking about emotionally,” coach Nick Saban said.

Oh, and the Tide can become the nation’s No. 1 team this weekend by simply staying home. No. 1 Oklahoma plays No. 5 Texas in the Red River Shootout today in Dallas.

If the Sooners lose to their big rivals, Alabama will likely take over the No. 1 spot for the first time since beating Miami in the Sugar Bowl almost 16 years ago. The Tide play Ole Miss next week in Tuscaloosa.

“That doesn’t mean anything right now,” Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson said. “Rankings come into play at the end of the season after everybody gets done playing. After the sixth week of the season, we can say we’re good, but we have a long way to go and a lot of games left to play.”

No one knows that more than Alabama’s players, who endured a 2-4 second-half record last year. But this year’s team is obviously different, given the win over Clemson at the Georgia Dome and the pounding of Georgia in Athens.

But Alabama isn’t rotating many players and found its identity playing a physical, between-the-tackles brand of football. They are bruising opponents and themselves.

“I think our team needs some rest right now,” Saban said. “Our team has played at a very high intensity level and they play with a lot of toughness, and they should be commended for that. The second half against Georgia, we lost it a little bit. We started out well against Kentucky and lost it. We need to regroup, do what we need to do to improve, get these guys some rest and get healthy. Getting Mike McCoy back will help us as well.”

Also, according to center Antoine Caldwell, the players now are adhering to Saban’s demands instead of questioning them. That, he said, might make the biggest difference in the second half compared to last year.

“I feel like the leadership is good, and I feel like a lot of people have bought in to what Coach Saban is trying to do,” he said. “And I feel like this bye week is what we needed. We’re a little banged up. Our legs are getting a little bit tired. We’re ready for the weekend off.”

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