FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Alabama’s first practice in South Florida on Thursday went well, and linebacker Nico Johnson and safety Robert Lester said a players meeting beforehand might’ve helped.

Alabama practiced Tuesday and Wednesday morning before flying down to Miami on Wednesday afternoon. Those two practices weren’t the best, hence the meeting.

“Guys were so ready to be here,” Lester said this morning during Alabama’s BCS media session. “I think we were looking ahead to being here.

“We were working on fundamentals, and I think guys were not thinking about getting ready for a game. Now that we’re here, the guys are thinking about the game.”

Added Johnson: “We just felt meeting was something we needed to do.”