TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It started with Trevon Diggs asking the last question Monday.

Sophomore cornerback Patrick Surtain II was speaking with local reporters at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility, and Diggs slipped in to ask his teammate when he plans to get a haircut.

“Next week,” Surtain said.

Fast forward roughly 10 minutes, and the tables had turned.

Diggs was now chatting with members of the media, and Surtain was able to ask a question.

“If you win the natty this year, would you shave your head bald?” Surtain asked.

“All the way bald?” Diggs responded.

After Surtain reaffirmed his conditions, Diggs pondered the challenge, then answered.

“Yeah,” Diggs said.

A reporter made sure to point out Diggs’ comments were made on the record.

“I’ve got to do it now,” he said.

This isn’t an uncommon occurrence for Alabama players, however.

In January of 2018, quarterback Jalen Hurts chopped off his signature dreadlocks in a bet with running back Josh Jacobs after the Crimson Tide defeated Georgia in the national title game.

On Monday, Hurts was named the starting quarterback at Oklahoma.

Also on Monday, Alabama was voted No. 2 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll behind the Clemson Tigers. The Crimson Tide received 10 first-place votes, while the Tigers earned the other 52. As has been well-documented, the two teams met in last season’s national title game, and Clemson trounced Alabama, 44-16, in Santa Clara, Calif, to finish 2018 as champions.

The lopsided loss has served as motivation for the Tide all offseason long, especially Diggs, who was unable to play in the final nine games of the season because of a foot injury. And with the 2019 campaign set to begin in 12 days, as Alabama’s players get ready to turn the page on a new season, the 28-point defeat has been in the back of their minds for seven months.

But don’t count on it being brought up by head coach Nick Saban during team meetings.

“I don’t think he has to use it much,” Diggs said. “We know what happened, so I feel like we know in our heads what happened in the Clemson game, but the only thing we can do is learn from it and fix our mistakes and get past it.”

Alabama will return to the practice field this evening at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Tide will open the 2019 season against the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Atlanta (2:30 p.m. on ABC).

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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