It's one of the most iconic plays in Alabama football history: The Strip.

Alabama defensive back George Teague supplied the signature moment of Alabama's 34-13 national championship game victory over Miami in the 1993 Sugar Bowl when he chased Miami's Lamar Thomas, took the ball away, and ran the other direction. The play forever neutered the Hurricanes' swagger and transformed the Crimson Tide from underdog to top dog.

Alabama's George Teague makes The Strip in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. (AL.com file)

Teague, now a 47-year-old high school football coach in suburban Dallas, recalled fear as his prime motivation for chasing chase Thomas to prevent a touchdown.

"Yeah, I was out of position, bro, and I talk to my football team about being out of position or taking a play off," he said in a recent interview with AL.com. "I was kind of loafing, just thinking we were going to make the play or the stop. Geez, you want to talk about a terrifying moment in the middle of the game? That was definitely one."

The Strip is among Alabama's most iconic plays, alongside The Kick by Van Tiffin in the 1985 Iron Bowl, Ken Stabler's Run in the Mud in the 1967 Iron Bowl and Tua Tagovailoa's pass to Devonta Smith to beat Georgia in last year's national title game.

Teague also returned an interception for a touchdown against Miami, high-stepping onto the end zone to the delight of Alabama fans.

Which play does he prefer?

"Dude, any time a defensive back can score a touchdown, you know we love those," Teague said. "Probably my favorite play was being able to take one back for a touchdown in the national championship game. I don't know, I think they were both impactful."

Teague now serves as the head coach at John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas. It's his fourth high school coaching stop, all in suburban Dallas, since finishing his NFL career ended in 2001. He previously coached at Harvest Christian, Carrollton Christian and The Shelton School.

Teague recently spoke to AL.com about his playing career, why he got into high school coaching and more. Here's excerpts from that conversation:

George Teague is now a 47-year-old high school football coach in Texas. (Josh Bean | jbean@al.com)

Q: How'd you get into high school coaching?

"I had the opportunity to go into college, I had the opportunity to go into the pros, (but) the best fit was, because of family and age of my kids, and it was the right timing at the right job."

Q: Some high school coaches say they felt a calling to become a high school coach. Do you feel that way?

"It's definitely a calling. It's a tough decision. Do you go to the National Football League or do you go to these high school kids? I just felt like the biggest impact I'd make as a coach was going to be at the high school level."

Q: How often do you get asked about The Strip of Lamar Thomas in the Sugar Bowl?

"I can't think of a week that I don't talk about it, whether it's something that comes across on Twitter or just being at someone's house. Just this weekend, a couple of days ago, I was at some people's house that I really didn't know and it was brought up. Either that or T.O."

Q: Do you think you'll stay in the high school game for you entire coaching career or do you think that far ahead?

"I don't think that far ahead. When I took the first job at a school called Harvest Christian Academy, I didn't think I was going to leave there. Four schools later now ..."

Q: What's the best thing about coaching in high school?

"The very first thing is the development to the kids. It sounds so cliche, but that's what my program is all about -- trying to help those guys and girls, because I'm an athletic director as well, be the best version of themselves after they leave high school. I figure the wins will come after that. You've got to pour into those lives, give them real-life stories and testimonies and they can make good decisions once they leave."

Q: How much do you keep up with Alabama these days?

"The hardest part is I can't go to as many Alabama games as I want to, because I'm coaching on a Friday night and can't get there on Saturday. I have to really pick and choose when I can get there. That's really the most difficult part of it. I miss all that. ... I probably only get to maybe three games a year."

Q: So, you watch most of the games on TV?

"Oh, shoot, I got my nice recliner right in front of the TV. ... Yeah, our family is avid Alabama fans, my son, my daughter, my wife, my sister. Then, we've got a lot of Alabama connections here. I try not to miss any game. Or, I don't miss any games, whether on television or at the game."

George Teague high-steps into the end zone for a touchdown in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. (AL.com file)

Q: What are the hallmarks of a good defensive back?

"Your hips is the first thing I talk about, always. You've got to get guys in position where their eyes are in position. Of course, their explosion, and they've got to have a mindset that's rock-solid. You've got to let things go, kind of like (playing) quarterback. Things are going to happen. You've got to be on the edge a little bit. You're out there on that island, 1-on-1, chasing these wide receivers, you've got to have an edge to you to play defensive back."

Q: When people talk about the best high school football, Texas is always known as one of the best. How do you compare high school football in Texas to Alabama?

"Having been in both arenas, I think the talent is just as good in Alabama. I think the major difference is the structures. (laughs). The stadiums are really crazy. They're ridiculously large. Playing in Cramton Bowl in Montgomery was a big deal, but that was one. You can drive down any corner here and see everybody's stadium is 18,000 seats, 15,000 seats, you know, $60 million structure."

Q: How big is your stadium?

"It's not like that. My stadium is 5,000 seats or something like that. It's not nearly like an Allen High School."

Q: You live in McKinney, where they just built a $69.9 million stadium. What do you think of that?

"I start shooting pictures and tweeting it. It's awesome, you know, that the guys get the experience in high school, because a lot of guys aren't going to get to play in college. They're getting a grand experience in high school. It's awesome from that standpoint. But it's also some guys are going to be taking a step down at Division II schools or Division III schools."

Q: What advice would you give to a recruit, especially someone being recruited by Alabama or another big-time school?

"Go into the next level humble. There's a whole lot of me at the next level. Don't lose track of why you're really there, your education. You never know when something bad will happen. You get hurt and you need something to fall back on. And, man, enjoy the college experience. It's only four, five years. The next thing you know, you're 47 years-old like me and wondering what the heck just happened?"