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Alabama coaches emphasizing forcing turnovers

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  • Saturday, May 18 2013 9:23 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:23:36 GMT
    University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban became the latest in a long line of great Crimson Tide sports figures inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. Saban arrived
    University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban became the latest in a long line of great Crimson Tide sports figures inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday evening.
  • Saturday, May 18 2013 9:21 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:21:31 GMT
    The Auburn baseball team, seeded 10th, will face a familiar foe in the first round of next week's Southeastern Conference Tournament as it is set to face seventh-seeded and in-state rival Alabama on Tuesday
    The Auburn baseball team, seeded 10th,  will face a familiar foe in the first round of next week's Southeastern Conference Tournament as it is set to face seventh-seeded and in-state rival Alabama on Tuesday at the Hoover Met.
  • Saturday, May 18 2013 9:19 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:19:43 GMT
    Auburn scored eight times in the fourth inning en route to an 11-6 win over No. 11 Arkansas in the regular season finale. With the win Auburn, which won its final three SEC series, two over ranked opponents,
    With the win Auburn, which won its final three SEC series, two over ranked opponents, finished the 2013 regular season 33-22, 13-17 SEC while Arkansas finished it 35-19, 18-11 SEC.

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has found something to harp on with his stingy defense.

Linebacker Courtney Upshaw says Smart runs a clip before every practice showing that the second-ranked Crimson Tide ranked 118th of 120 FBS teams last season with four fumble recoveries.

OK, so Smart has to reach a little bit to find a statistic where 1 of the nation's best defenses doesn't measure up.

The Tide did recover two fumbles and record an interception last weekend in a win at Penn State.

Coach Nick Saban says forcing fumbles has been an emphasis for his team, which has been more adept at getting interceptions.

The Tide hosts North Texas on Saturday night.

By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

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