Alabama players set early curfew for Sugar Bowl

Alabama players will face a slightly early curfew ahead of their Sugar Bowl battle with Clemson — by their own request.

The Crimson Tide’s player leadership group requested primarily 11 p.m. curfews while in New Orleans, surprising coach Nick Saban, who had expected something a little closer to 11:30.

Nick Saban asked #Alabama's leadership group about curfew in New Orleans, They said "one night 12:00, the rest of the nights 11:00.'"

Saban: "For the first time in my coaching career, I asked 'You don't want to stay out until, like, 11:30?'"

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 31, 2017

Saban is an ardent perfectionist — just ask his former assistant — so for him to be surprised by this is something. If nothing else, it looks like Crimson Tide players are as focused as Saban would want them to be.