It's been a month since Alabama completed its 2015 national title run in Arizona. National Signing Day came and went. And with a few weeks left before spring practice opens, it's time to look back at the Crimson Tide's run to a fourth national championship in the past seven seasons.

We talked to several Alabama players in Arizona and at the Senior Bowl on a number of topics to take you inside the wild ride to Glendale. We'll have a series of stories in the coming days that answers a few of the questions you've been wondering about how Alabama reached the pinnacle of college football.

We start with something simple. What was the defining moment in Alabama's ride from Week 1 against Wisconsin all the way to Arizona?

TE Michael Nysewander

"I'd say Tennessee. I think that game kind of defined what our team has done. We had to fight for everything in that game. It came down to the final two minutes of that game when we got the go-ahead touchdown and we just showed a lot of fight and grit in that game. I think that's what this team has been all about. It's been our motto, fight for every inch you get and play the next play no matter what happens."

Before the national title game against Clemson and after the Week 3 loss to Ole Miss, Alabama trailed just once in the fourth quarter. It was Tennessee that brought the biggest regular-season scare with its go-ahead touchdown with 5:49 to play in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama responded with an 8-play, 71-yard drive capped by Derrick Henry's 14-yard touchdown with 2:24 left. Alabama survived, 19-14.

Backup QB/holder Cooper Bateman

"Definitely after the Ole Miss game. There wasn't a worry in the world. Everyone on the team knew we were going to be fine, just like the season before."

This would be a popular answer. Alabama had zero margin for error after a bizarre 43-37 loss to the Rebels on the third Saturday of the season.

OL Alphonse Taylor

"The defining moment was the 9-minute drive at the end of the LSU game. I feel like that's when our offense came alive."

It was actually 9:18. Alabama drained the clock and the life from LSU in the 30-16 win Nov. 7 with a 13-play drive that included 11 Derrick Henry runs. It was one final statement on a night that sent Alabama into position for the title run.

CB Marlon Humphrey

"The LSU game. It's good you can beat a team as good as LSU like that, just hold them (down)."

LB Tim Williams

"The defining moment for us was winning the game at Georgia after all the press and everything and beating Georgia and showing we can beat any top-10 team still. That was a big moment for us winning that game."

A few writers had declared Alabama's dynasty dead after losing to Ole Miss. Two weeks later, it went to Athens to face an unbeaten Georgia team ranked eighth in the country. Alabama completely overwhelmed the Bulldogs in a driving rain storm. It left town with a 38-10 win with some of the swagger back.

DL D.J. Pettway

"I want to say the Georgia game or after the Ole Miss game because that's when we came together. It's when we put all the bull aside and found out what the real focus was."

Safety Geno Matias-Smith

"We had a defining moment when we played the Cotton Bowl against Michigan State. We went out there and played a four-quarter game offensively, defensively and special teams. That's kind of what we've been pushing for all year is to have a four-quarter game, all phases of the game."

The beating was as complete as they come, especially for a national semifinal game. The Spartans ran for just 29 yards as Jake Coker turned in a career night with 25-for-30 passing for 286 yards and two touchdowns.

OL Dominick Jackson

"I would probably have to say after the Cotton Bowl and leading up to this (championship) week. After a process of elimination week every week, after Week 3 when we lost to Ole Miss at home. That's when we really knew, we've always been at Alabama, but that just put the icing on top."

QB Jake Coker

"The end. Just winning the whole thing. That was the most special thing and I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this team."

Coker made the big throws to help Alabama past Clemson 45-40 in the championship game. His 335 passing yards on 16-of-25 throwing was a career high on the grandest of stages.