ATLANTA -- Fans and media alike view the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl matchup between No.4 Washington and No.1 Alabama through two spectrums: Southeastern Conference continued dominance and the latest flash-in-the-pan team from the Pac-12 Conference.
It's just how it is.
During the final press conference before kickoff on Saturday at 6 p.m. EST inside the Georgia Dome UW coach Chris Petersen and Alabama coach Nick Saban played a quiet game of hot potato. Neither is letting the other out-hype the other.
"Well, probably a lot of that has to do with how the game goes," Petersen said with a slight chuckle, when asked what he will remember most about the experience leading up to the game. "At the end of the day that's what you remember the most."
Saban, making his third straight appearance in a CFB Playoff semi-final bowl, continued his monotone approach to explain his experience of what has become an annual tradition.
"I think it goes with what Coach Petersen said in terms of the thing you're going to remember about these games, any bowl game, but most especially a playoff game is what happened in the game," Saban said in response to the same question.
Since the two organizations, as both coaches refer to their programs, found out their CFB Playoff bowl fate the message has been clear: We don't care what others say. We're here to play another game and hopefully at the end we'll be playing one more once the scoreboard hits 0:00.
Petersen has been forward with the Seattle-area reporters about his views of media. In a similar fashion Saban has done the same with those who cover the Crimson Tide. Both coaches put a high emphasis on developing men and above all else both have a proven winning track record.
With Saban announcing the hiring of former UW coach Steve Sarkisian as the replacement for Lane Kiffin there was an opening for Husky players to make a comment.
No one took the bait.
"Congratulations, pretty cool for him," UW junior linebacker Keishawn Bierria said earlier this month on Sarkisian getting the offensive coordinator job at Alabama. Bierria added he has not had any contact with his former coach while offering a simple "no, not at all" response when asked of any impact having some of his former coaches on the opposing sideline.
Former Washington safety Tony Parrish said as much having been around the program this season and seeing this Huskies team first-hand.
"I don't think that's much of a motivator, if one at all," Parrish said of having Lupoi and Sarkisian on the Alabama staff. "You have to give credit to the coaches - Sarkisian and Lupoi - for their work while at the Dub, regardless of the circumstances of their departures."
Parrish added, "Playing Alabama in the playoffs is more than enough motivation."
It's more than a fair point. Washington knows what it brings to the table: a strong defense, a prolific passing attack led by Jake Browning and John Ross, and a special teams unit that could prove to be the key in the Peach Bowl.
Alabama knows exactly who they are. Saban has built the perfect machine in college football and his current 25 game wining streak, tied with five other programs for the 21st longest in FBS history, is proof that his system works.
Everyone knows the strengths and weaknesses of both teams and nothing more can be said. Vegas is making a last-minute push to mark its own impact, with an ESPN report citing one casino receiving a $10,000 bet on Washington (+14) to beat Alabama.
It means nothing, but the change in the winds in the smoke-filled flashy casinos in Sin City have a point to make. Alabama is the engine that keeps on replenishing and waiting its next challenger. Washington, rebuilt in three years under Petersen, is fine playing the role of David (vs Goliath) and letting the result speak for itself.
After all, it's what got Petersen and his program to this point as quickly as they have.
