ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY PRUDENTIAL: ALABAMA VS MICHIGAN

December 30, 2023

Dallas Turner

Alabama Crimson Tide

Press Conference

Q. What is most impressive to me is how you have taken over in terms of this year. (Indiscernible)?

DALLAS TURNER: It's a blessing to be here, to be able to do what I do on a daily basis around guys. You know, just having guys in your room, and you try to set the standard (indiscernible). It's just a good feeling to be here.

Q. You guys didn't get a chance to play in the College Football Playoffs last year, and now back in. Is there a greater sense of urgency after feeling like you're on the outside looking in last year?

DALLAS TURNER: Last year it was kind of tough watching the playoffs, but I feel like this is a blessing to be here. The team put in a lot of hard work and stuff like that. Some of you were talking about moments like this and everything just falling into place.

Q. What's it like for you to be to be out here in Pasadena experiencing the Rose Bowl and getting a chance to experience all this?

DALLAS TURNER: There's a lot of guys who have never been this far. It's a good experience for everybody. We're playing in a great historic game. It's going to be a big platform for a lot of people to go out and show what they can do on the field.

Q. Specifically, against this Michigan offense, what's the thing that you guys have as a focal point in your preparation?

DALLAS TURNER: Michigan offense is a very physical offense that likes to move the ball. They're ran by a very good quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, so just stop him and stop the run.

Q. What are you looking forward to about this game much?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly just playing in the Rose Bowl. It's moments like this that you dream of when you are a kid. Just being able to put my shoulder pads and helmet on and say that you're a Rose Bowl champion.

Q. This is the last year for a four-team playoff. What's your favorite moment about the playoffs, just in general?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly I feel like the favorite moment in the playoffs is the time you have with your teammates. These are some of the best times that you're going to have with your teammates going and being in a foreign city for a week or so. It's just a good overall experience.

Q. If you changed one thing about the transfer portal, what would it be?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly, the transfer portal it's very good and bad, but it opens up a lot of opportunities for a lot of different people to go to different schools. It used to be accessible too. The transfer portal, I feel like it's a good thing overall.

Q. After you made the playoffs, who is the most famous person or alumni that you have talked to?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly, I feel like the most famous alumni in my opinion is Dont'a Hightower. Him being a guy when he was here and being in a Super Bowl championship, it means something when a guy like that comes up to you first and says something to you and talks to you and stuff like that, tries to give you advice.

Q. We're playing "Would You Rather" games. Full name or number.

DALLAS TURNER: Dallas Turner, No. 15.

Q. Work out in the morning or evening?

DALLAS TURNER: Morning.

Q. Breakfast or dinner?

DALLAS TURNER: Breakfast.

Q. Run or lift?

DALLAS TURNER: Lift.

Q. Sweet potato fries or regular fries?

DALLAS TURNER: Regular fries.

Q. Arm day or leg day?

DALLAS TURNER: Arm.

Q. Dogs or cats?

DALLAS TURNER: Dogs.

Q. Have your own shoe or have an award named after you?

DALLAS TURNER: Have my own shoe.

Q. Why?

DALLAS TURNER: I love shoes.

Q. What's your mantra leading into the game on Monday?

DALLAS TURNER: DOA, dead on arrival.

Q. You are playing against the Michigan Wolverines. They love to run the ball. As an edge rusher, do you like coming up on the run or just comfortable getting after that quarterback?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly, they love getting after the quarterback, of course. Sometimes you have to put in some dirty work to set that edge too in that run game. Just playing football in general is fun to me overall. Stopping the run is a very key part. It's a key component to rushing the passer. Once you stop the run on third down, (indiscernible).

Q. Weak side and strong side? Flip them or stick to one side?

DALLAS TURNER: Just depends on what we're running on defense, what play we're running, what formation we're in. It doesn't really matter which side, for real.

Q. How did you he wanted up picking 1-5 as your number?

DALLAS TURNER: 15 is the number I've had since I was 5 years old. I bounced around between numbers here and there, but 15 is where it's at.

Q. The phrase "rat poison" that the coach uses, you know what I'm talking about. What does it mean?

DALLAS TURNER: It just means social media can be a very bad factor. Social media nowadays, we call it rat poison because a lot of people like to put a lot of things out on social media that aren't always true, and that just is something that you shouldn't be paying attention to.

I feel like the term "rat poison" just shows that social media can be a very big distraction.

Q. It's always praise too, right, because maybe you don't focus as well when you ingest too much praise?

DALLAS TURNER: When you see stuff on social media where a lot of reporters praise you and stuff like that, a lot of people get a big head. That's when work ethic starts getting questioned because you already feel like you're complacent and something like that because people are praising about how good you are and something like that. You have to come back to reality.

Q. Do you think you dealt with less rat poison this season than seasons before?

DALLAS TURNER: I feel like this season probably was the most rat poison because ever since you saw that first (indiscernible) the team, but just coming up until now and being able to play in the Rose Bowl, rat poison is still there, of course, but I feel like we definitely had more rat poison this season than the past couple of season.

Q. Did you feel that people expected less of you after you lost early and all that?

DALLAS TURNER: I feel like a lot of people tried to write us off, but we did it right back. It's a lot of motivation.

Q. Who is the fastest player on this team?

DALLAS TURNER: I'm going to say me. I'm going to say me. No, I lie.

We've got a lot of speed demons on the team. That guy over there, Jalen Milroe, is very fast. We have a lot of offensive guys, like Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Law that can run very fast. I feel like we have a very fast time overall on both sides of the ball.

Q. Who is the strongest on the team?

DALLAS TURNER: (Indiscernible) I ain't going to lie. That guy squat, like, 1,000 pounds, I believe. He is squatting 1,000 pounds.

Q. Who is your favorite Alabama player of all time?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly who I enjoyed watching the most growing up and in high school and stuff like that, I have to say Minkah Fitzpatrick. He is a playmaker. Of course, a guys that has his motor running the whole game. It was fun watching him play a lot.

Q. Whenever you go around that corner today and see the Rose Bowl logo, what's running through your mind you as a college football player, college football fan growing up?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly when I see that Rose Bowl logo on the stadium and stuff like that, it just brings me back to the moments when I used to watch this game when I was a kid. Just seeing stuff like that and just seeing the atmosphere, a lot of dreams coming to reality.

Q. What changed for you guys after that Texas game?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly what changed the most after Week 2 was that it was kind of a come-together moment as a team. We had to find our identity as an offense and defense as well. I feel like ever since then the sky is the limit.

Q. As a guy who goes up against Jalen in practice, what makes him so difficult that Michigan is going to have the most problems with overall?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly just running around trying to chase him. I've been practicing against him since I was a freshman, and practicing against Bryce too. It's kind of hard running around chasing guys like that.

Q. What jumps out? We work in Detroit, so what jumps out about Michigan's offense that's clicking right now?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly I feel like what jumps out the most is their run game, of course. Their O-line, a very experienced O-line. Very smart O-line as well. With a good running back like Blake Corum, it can be dangerous with that combination with the O-line and running back and stuff like that. Having a good quarterback like J.J. McCarthy, a field general, runs that offense very well, I feel like he orchestrates the offense perfectly.

Q. Jalen runs very well, but J.J. is sneaky whenever he sneaks out of the pocket. How much do you have to pay attention to his legs?

DALLAS TURNER: Playing against a guy like Jadyn Daniels, KJ Jefferson, things like that, you know, mobile quarterbacks, J.J. McCarthy fits in that category for sure. With him being athletic with him using his legs as well as his arms, I feel like it's going to be a challenge chasing around after him on Monday.

Q. A lot of people say that Florida State should be sitting where you are right now, but you beat the No. 1 team in the country to get here. Do you think Monday is your chance to prove to everybody why Bama should be in the National Championship game?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly, I feel like every game is a chance to prove all the naysayers wrong. We've been bashed. A lot of negative comments about us and stuff like that in the media. We're here now.

Q. Do you think it sends a message just to get to that point after that Week 2 game?

DALLAS TURNER: We'll see on Monday.

Q. What do you think of the Michigan offense?

DALLAS TURNER: I feel like that offense is very efficient in what they do running the ball and stuff like that. They can also pass the ball as well. Very sneaky. Having a quarterback like J.J. McCarthy, a real field general, he is good at what he does with his legs and his arm.

The O-line they have is an experienced O-line. It opens a hole for a great running back like Blake Corum. Watching him over the past two seasons, he is very good at what he does for sure. He is very explosive. That offense overall it's going to be a challenge to play them on Monday.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

DALLAS TURNER: They'll try to lull you to sleep with the run, run, run, and now they take the shot.

Q. I was wondering, how difficult is it at Alabama to be allowed to just (indiscernible)?

DALLAS TURNER: It's a challenge, especially at University of Alabama, when you first get there. I feel like once you get acclimated to the system and just understand how things are ran there, how you should carry yourself as a student-athlete there, things start to get a little bit easier. It is a day-to-day process, learning every day. You learn something new every day. I'll say that.

Q. Jalen said the biggest thing he learned is that you guys are a team. Some of the stuff you went through reinforced the brotherhood. What was that like for you? If you are playing fine, you lose one game, and everybody is scrutinizing how it looked; right?

DALLAS TURNER: I feel like when we lost to Texas, Week 2, a lot of people had our backs to the walls. I feel like after that loss that was a very big moment for the team to come together and figure out what we really want as a team and what we really want to accomplish this season as a team as well.

I feel like during that team that we start to emerge and bring a lot of guys together to let everybody know that we can still accomplish what we want to accomplish as a team and still reach the goals that we want to reach as a team too.

Q. What's the benefits of that versus winning every game 48-14?

DALLAS TURNER: I feel like adversity builds character. I feel like hard times bring a lot of people together. I feel like honestly that adversity brings together the team. We wouldn't be who we are as a team now without that loss.

Q. The style that you run, complementary football, how much is that (indiscernible)?

DALLAS TURNER: It means a lot. It means a lot. Overall just loving your guys and just all the ups and downs you've been through, I'll never regret it. I'll never change it.

Q. Over the course of these months, how would you describe how the defense has evolved?

DALLAS TURNER: I feel like everybody on defense is brothers. Everybody on the field, you know, we all trust each other. I know my teammate is going to have my back, and I know the DBs are going to have my back, the linebackers and everything else.

I feel like the defense itself, we're a family. We're one big family. We go out there and have fun too, more importantly. I feel like the defense overall, we came a long way. We came a long way.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly, they say we're the underdog, but I feel like we never pay attention to that social media and all that, all the external factors and stuff like that. We like to stay grounded in what we believe in as a defense and as a team.

Q. Just for you, how do you feel about the year that you've had?

DALLAS TURNER: I feel like this year everything came together for me, with regard to how my outside linebackers (indiscernible) because I feel like we all lean on each other.

Q. How do you prepare? What's your preparation for the Rose Bowl?

DALLAS TURNER: Honestly, I just play video games every night. Play video games, hang out with my friends, eat a lot of junk food, stuff like that. Honestly, I don't really prepare.

Q. They say you play a lot of video games. What's your favorite video game?

DALLAS TURNER: I be playing Roblox.

Q. Who is the best person on the team? I heard it's this guy named T.J Ferd. He is elite at any game that you want to play.

DALLAS TURNER: I feel like the best person at Roblox is Juicy. My fault. Ferd.

Q. You keep saying Juicy. Who is Juicy, and why does he have that name?

DALLAS TURNER: Juicy is Terrence Ferguson.

Q. Talking about Michigan, Coach Saban is going to be (indiscernible) about Blake Corum. Can you talk about what you are going to have to do to control Blake Corum?

DALLAS TURNER: I've been watching Blake Corum over the past two seasons. I was a fan of his last season for sure.

He's a very explosive running back. Very explosive running back. Very good vision. He always seems to -- as little as his hole, he always manages to get through it. He is a key piece to that offense that they have over there at Michigan. I feel like he is a great addition to that team.

Q. What will you guys specifically do to try to contain that?

DALLAS TURNER: Minimize the gap space, honestly, and just do what we do.

Q. Is that kind of the game plan to get them to have to run the ball more?

DALLAS TURNER: We all know that Michigan runs the ball very efficiently, but I feel like once you stop the run early, we are going to have to (indiscernible).

Q. Talking to Kool-Aid, anyone ever call him --

DALLAS TURNER: I call him Little G. That's my brother. He is for real.

Q. (Indiscernible) that's really the ultimate respect, isn't it, for a cornerback?

DALLAS TURNER: Kool-Aid, he has been doing this since he was a freshman. When you build that rep up for yourself as a shut-down corner playing on that island press the whole game, it kind of builds a lot of reputation for you.

A lot of teams know when you are trying -- he's been establishing himself since he was 18 years old. It's a blessing for him to be in the shoes that he is in now. I'm proud to call him my brother and see him grow as much as he did.

Q. He was also talking about how (indiscernible). He might only see three, four, five balls a game, but he has to stay ready. I mean, he has to play every play. He thinks it's coming his way; right? That's a challenge in itself.

DALLAS TURNER: Back in this my hay day when I played cornerback when I was 10, 11 years old, I know how boring it can be as a shut-down corner. I see where he is coming from with him not getting so much action as he would expect to when he was first getting his feet wet and stuff like that. It could be boring for a concern. Especially a shut-down corner.