Could special teams be the key to championship, as in regular season?

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«I think what we have tried to do with our guys is say, ‘Look, you had a bunch of low-percentage kicks in that game.’ I mean, if you are in the NFL and you are kicking 45-yard (or longer field goals, maybe you’re 33 or 40 percent (accurate.»

The accuracy issue extends into punting, where LSU leads with Australian Brad Wing, the first-team All-American, whose six punts in the Nov. 5 game did not yield any return yards.

«I think a lot of coaches don’t particularly like special teams and game planning for it, but when you have two great coaches like we have in this game, they obviously understand the importance of it, the magnitude of it, and how it can affect the game,» said Alabama center William Vlachos. «You can see how it affected the game the first time around.»

Alabama uses junior Jeremy Shelley for field goals under 40 yards and Cade Foster for the longer attempts. Foster missed a trio of long attempts — 40, 50 and 52 yards — and made one from 46 yards.

Foster deleted his Facebook account, but has since resumed a more private one.

«Really, the negative stuff hasn’t bothered me,» he said. «I have had so much support. It’s been 10-to-1 positive than negative.

«It wasn’t hard to deal with. I think I was harder on myself than anybody else was. I try to achieve perfection all the time and that didn’t happen that night.»

Said Alleman: «As a kicker, you feel for those guys. You try to learn from their mistakes.»

Since arriving at LSU three years ago, Alleman said the kicking game has been a consistent focal point.

«We start every single practice with special teams. That has not changed since I’ve been here,» he said.

Mandell, who has averaged 38.9 yards this season on 36 punts, said he takes the same approach into every game.

«I prepare for 10 punts, no matter who we are playing,» he said. «I am waiting for this game to come down to the end and for the special teams on our side to win it for us.»

For one team Monday, that may be the likely end.

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