Coach Nick Saban says this is a Business Trip

Alabama's football team had arrived for the 2010 BCS national championship game.

Coach Nick Saban, accompanied by his wife, Terry, sat in the front seat of a first bus that read "Tradition" on the side. He quickly exited with players dressed semi-formally and carrying luggage behind him.

"It is a bowl trip," Saban said, "but it is a business trip."

Four of Alabama's four team buses were marked specially for the BCS game with words "Strength," "Passion" and "Honor," slogans that mirror BCS banners that have been placed on street lights throughout the area of Orange County where both Alabama and Texas will base operations before Thursday's game.

Intentionally, there was little fanfare -- or "clutter"-- awaiting the Crimson Tide's arrival. UA chartered two flights Friday morning from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. The first, which carried the team and coaches, lasted four hours and eight minutes and touched down at John Wayne Airport at 1:14 p.m. (Pacific).

To halt any greeting party, buses wheeled onto the tarmac to collect the Crimson Tide, though a team official estimated that about 30 or 40 fans could be spotted atop a nearby parking garage.

Meanwhile, the Westin had blocked off a hallway on its interior to allow easy passage for the team. Security personnel barred fans, media and other non-guests from hotel property.

"This is the request of Alabama," said Steve Paliska, an official from PPS Parking Inc., which was helping with security.

One determined fan, Richard McCay of Laguna Beach, remained outside the hotel. He wore an Alabama hat and waved a Crimson Tide flag as Saban and players rolled past him.