When Alabama takes the field Saturday night against Western Kentucky, the Tide will face a quarterback in TJ Finley full of confidence in his team and himself.

The former Auburn and LSU quarterback hasn’t beaten the Crimson Tide, but, during an appearance on BookIt Sports, Finley was blunt when assessing the 6 p.m. kickoff at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“We have all the pieces we need to make a run this year,” he said. “Whether we go to Alabama and win or not, we’re gonna show Alabama this ain’t the regular Western Kentucky that you’re just gonna roll over and do anything like that. It’s a whole new ball club.

“Alabama has a whole new ball club that people have to take into consideration that they might not be who they think they might be.”

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More than that, though, Finley is just pumped to play.

“Abso-freaking-lutely,” he said. “I honestly and genuinely cannot wait to get out there with the mindset I have right now. The way I am in shape. The way my body feels. The weapons we have around me. The defense we have. The coach we have.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.