Alabama’s Kenyan Drake, right, breaks away for a touchdown return against Clemson’s Jayron Kearse (1) during the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz.
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Whether or not Alabama was the right fit for him to put up big numbers at tight end, Howard has established himself as one of the best in the country and provides an interesting prospect for National Football League scouts.
Crowds of people poured out from bars onto University Boulevard after Alabama beat Clemson 45-40 on Monday to win the national title.
Alabama joins Notre Dame, which won four titles from 1943-49, but those Fighting Irish never even played in bowl games, nevertheless two playoff games.
But what a thriller it was in the desert.
Clemson’s star quarterback tallied 478 yards against Alabama – 405 passing, 73 rushing – but the sting of the 45-40 loss in Monday’s College Football National Championship Game made appreciating a personal achievement almost impossible. Kiffin was surprisingly hired by Saban two years ago after he flamed out as the USC head coach, and everyone said Saban was insane, but who looks insane now? And they did so on a night that two of their premier defensive players, CB Mackensie Alexander and DE Shaq Lawson, were at less than full strength.
Clemson was No. 1 every week in the college playoff rankings and had won 17 in a row dating to last season.
In the end, the Tigers (14-1) just couldn’t keep up with the huge chunks of yards Alabama gained throughout the evening, especially in the final quarter.
“I’ve never been prouder of a bunch of guys”, Alabama coach Nick Saban said. Bryant’s best runs were four championships in 13 years (1961, 1964, 1965 and 1973) and three in five years (1961, 1964, 1965).
Watson disagrees. He said he’s got to work on his accuracy and get stronger.
It was a classic, full of big numbers, big plays and special moments that swung momentum in a game that went back and forth. After a disappointing semifinal loss previous year, Alabama will be looking to retake the top spot. Next season, the ending could be very different. “At the end of the day, this team’s on another level and next year we’ll try to get that national championship”. Unfortunately, the Crimson Tied crushed the hopes and dreams of the Clemson fans when Coker connected with Howard on a 63-yard screen pass, and Henry punched it in for the game-clinching touchdown. J Howard five times for 208 yards and touchdowns of 51 and 53 yards. We didn’t cover as well as we’re capable of and we weren’t able to handle him up front with our rushers.
After Alabama had tied it at 24-24 with 10:34 to play in the game on a 33-yard field goal by Adam Griffith, an onsides kick gave the Tide back the football when Marlon Humphrey caught the ball in the air at midfield.
“I think as long as he’s in Alabama”, Coker said, “Alabama is going to be up at the top”.
Senior Kenyan Drake was also among the heroes in returning a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter after Clemson had pulled within 31-27 on a field goal with still 7:47 left in the contest. After Derrick Henry scored the first touchdown of the game on a 50-yard run, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson responded with two touchdown passes to Hunter Renfrow in the first quarter. But it was Howard who not only set both players up for glory, but finally lived up to expectations that have hung over his head during his entire college career. “At least the nation saw tonight why we’ve been so successful”, Swinney said. “This program doesn’t take a back seat to anybody”.
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The 6-foot-6, 242-pounder always had the speed, as evidenced by that eye-catching play against LSU as a freshman.
