NEW ORLEANS– Fourth-ranked Alabama came to New Orleans with one thing on its mind- redemption. The Tide hasn’t forgotten how No. 1 Clemson crushed its chances of back-to-back National Championships by a thrilling come from behind win in 2016 to win its first National Championship since 1981.

On Thursday the media spoke with the Crimson Tide’s quarterback Jalen Hurts, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, wide receiver Calvin Ridley and offensive lineman Jonah Williams. Here is what we heard:

“Last year (Clemson’s) defense was really good, but I feel like they are still a really good defense,” Ridley said. “Their defensive line is really good. Their linebackers get to the ball and make sacks. Their defensive line helps their secondary so much.”

If anyone remembers last year’s heartbreaking loss for the Tide, it’s Jalen Hurts who’s phone screensaver is Clemson winning last year’s National Championship.

“Well, first off I just want to say they’re a good team,” Hurts said Thursday morning. “They have a good front, really experienced… got a lot of good guys… good coaching. They’re really coached well, and they play really good football on both sides of the ball so I think as a team we’re going to have to be ready to play them the best way we can.”

Alabama’s offense has had to adjust to changes this season as Brian Daboll was brought on as the new offensive coordinator after Lane Kiffin left the team before last year’s National Championship game to take the head coaching job at Florida Atlantic University.

“I think early on we came out the gate, you know, new Offensive Coordinator and trying to get a grasp for him and how he does things, really emphasizing execution,” Hurts said. “I think towards the end, you’re only as good as your last game. We didn’t execute well against Auburn, but that’s the past. We know that’s something that we have to do good to be successful in this game.”

Daboll who has spent most of his coaching career in the National Football League came to Alabama after previously being the tight ends coach under Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. The most drastic difference he noticed between coaching professional and college athletes is at the collegiate level, there’s more to life than just football.

“I have children that are their age that are going to be a freshman in college in a year and a senior in high school and all their friends that I’ve been around,” he said. “So it’s, obviously, a little different. Because you’re trying to help those guys any way you can be better men, too. It’s not just all football. You’re there for them if they’re having a personal issue. You’re there for them in their studies. You’re trying to help them develop to be as good of a man as they can be.

“So they soak everything in. There’s so much other stuff going on for these guys. In the National Football League, it’s football. That’s it. But there’s a lot of other things outside of it here that you really have to, I’d say, hone in on and be there for those guys.”

Although there is more to life than football for these young athletes, all eyes are them this week as two of the most prominent college football programs in the country face off under the lights in the College Football Playoff for the third year in a row. Alabama isn’t hear to have fun; they are here to win.

“I don’t really have fun…especially not now,” said Williams. “It’s all business and a lot of people on the team feel that way. We’ve had a lot of time to work and get ready for this in the past month. I’m not here to have fun. I don’t play college football for the fun of it. This is something I take seriously. It’s not a hobby.”