Alabama rides brawn of Ingram, McClain

RB Mark Ingram and LB Rolando McClain form a punishing pair for No. 3 Alabama. Alabama's Mark Ingram and Rolando McClain struck a deal awhile back. On the rare occasions they collide during workouts, the potential All-Americans go soft. "I won't try to kill him every time I hit him," McClain said on a teleconference this week, "and he won't try to run me over." The rest of college football isn't so fortunate. When teams in different jerseys challenge the Tide, Ingram becomes one of the nation's most powerful tailbacks. McClain morphs into arguably college football's most ferocious linebacker. Together, they anchor the No. 3 Crimson Tide, who host No. 9 LSU in a Saturday showdown that figures to determine the SEC West champion. The mutual admiration between Alabama's two best players stretches beyond a few practices. Ingram said this week that if given a Heisman vote, he'd choose McClain; a few minutes later, McClain put Ingram atop his hypothetical ballot.  ... (link)