Like usual, University of Alabama coach Nick Saban had some interesting things to say this week as the Crimson Tide geared up to face rival Auburn on Saturday (7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN):

The moment he figured out how big the Iron Bowl is was when he realized:
“The past is never dead when it comes to this game.”

On Alabama’s barrage of injuries this season:
“This is probably the most guys we’ve had nicked up.”

On technology:
“I don’t Google … I don’t know how. I don’t know what you would do.”

On Saturday’s game against Auburn:
“I think that execution still becomes the number-one goal. The team that can be the most exact in how they execute and keep their discipline, play with great emotion but also have poise in what they do. This doesn’t really matter much about who’s favored, ranks or rankings, and of that kind of stuff because rivalry games get determined by the team that can stay focused on what they need to do to execute and do it for 60 minutes in a game.”

On Thanksgiving:
“I think a lot of us run around in this world thinking about what we don’t have. But I think this is a really, really good time for everybody to just take a minute and give thanks for what we do have, because most of us have quite a bit to be thankful for. I hope that everybody has a very happy thanksgiving and spends time with their family. We’ll give thanks for all the wonderful things that we’ve been blessed with.”