TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When Ramzee Robinson says he's the "Best In Number One," he's not bragging.

The Alabama cornerback, who wears jersey No. 1, is just trying to make the best of a potentially misleading nickname. And, he stresses, that nickname is spelled "BINO", not "Beano."

"A lot of guys used to tease me about the gas pill and all that," Robinson said. "I just came into this year and was like, 'I'm going to make a good meaning for it.' "

Robinson is pretty clearly No. 1 in the Crimson Tide secondary entering the season-opener Saturday night against visiting Hawai'i. He's the only returning starter at defensive back and with 23 career starts is a veteran on a largely inexperienced defense.

In fact, Robinson got his first career start as a redshirt freshman in the 2003 season finale at Hawai'i.

He's been the starter ever since, becoming known for more than just an interesting nickname.

The origin of Bino is a little hazy. A middle school coach started calling him "Rambo," then that morphed into "Rambino." Then, somehow, friends dropped the only part that had an actual connection to his name.

And now he's just Bino.

Robinson has also undergone a transformation as a player. He has gone from being the corner opposing quarterbacks liked to pick on to a first-team preseason All-Southeastern Conference pick.

"The thing that I remember about Ramzee is our first year when he was a redshirt freshman," coach Mike Shula said. "He'd come in in our nickel package, and when he came in it just seemed like everyone was looking to pick on him because they felt like he was one of the weak parts of our defense.

"He struggled a little bit, but he never got discouraged."

Robinson takes some issue with that characterization, figuring offenses would try to take advantage of any freshman cornerback. But the 5-foot-10, 186-pounder took advantage of the experience regardless.

"I just learned that playing college football is more than just athletic ability," he said. "It's all about technique, it's all about film study and knowing your opponent.

"If I could go back in time, I wouldn't change anything, because it helped me grow fast. It helped me mature early. I'm to the point now where everything's happening like clockwork."

And that's a good thing for the Tide. Alabama lost Roman Harper, Anthony Madison and Charlie Peprah from last year's secondary, and opens the season against one of the nation's most prolific passing teams.

Robinson is preaching confidence to his younger teammates in the secondary, a quality he believes is essential for a cornerback, who might get torched on one play and then get tested again on the next play.

"Confidence being a corner is something you've just got to have," Robinson said. "It's something that will be tested day in and day out. You can easily lose that. I try to teach these guys that confidence is all you've got.

"It's your personality. It's who you are as a corner. That's something about me that should never change."

Robinson also has a more prominent leadership role on a defense with seven new starters. It's a role he takes seriously.

"You have to do the right thing on and off the field," said Robinson, who received a degree in management in May. "It's not just about being out here making plays, it's about you going to class, staying out of trouble, helping out other players when they need help.

"It's an everyday job."