Longhorn TE Ja'Tavion Sanders Putting 'Past in the Past' vs. Alabama

Texas Longhorns' tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders looks ahead at Week 2 matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

While the hearts of many Texas fans may still sink at the thought of the Longhorns' 20-19 loss against Alabama last season, Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders sees the close-knit score as a boost to the team's self esteem for Saturday's battle against the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"It was definitely a confidence builder," Sanders said. "Alabama is known as that school. They just go out there and dominate everybody. But first as a team, to play how we did it, even though we came up short ... it was definitely a confidence booster and we're definitely going to use that confidence that we gained and use it this week."

The pressure to defeat the powerhouse school, especially after the constant preseason buzz Texas received in the offseason, is off the charts for the Longhorns. However, Sanders and the rest of the Texas football roster understand that treating the Crimson Tide like any other opponent is crucial.

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"That's just football," Sanders said. "We're going into this week with the same mentality as anybody else. We know what type of opponent they are, what type of school, what type of coach they have. They're a high caliber team, but so are we, so we're going to come in there with the right mindset, right game plan."

Sanders does not live in the past. He sees Saturday as a fresh start and a new ball game, no matter the outcome of last season's meeting.

"We have to come into this game empty headed, clear minded and put the past in the past," Sanders said. "It's a whole new team, whole new season and they'll have a new team."

The Longhorns know this upcoming week could be a dogfight to the end of the fourth quarter, but capitalizing off of opportunities could change the narrative for Texas.

"This will be made for the big time guy. You know, they say big time players make big time ... I don't even have to finish that," Sanders said with a smile.