Alabama blanked LSU for the next in 2011 and crushed Notre Dame to repeat in 2012. Alabama pushed foes around like a schoolyard bully in years past.
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After Alabama tied the game 24-24 in the fourth quarter, the Tide elected to go for the surpise onside kick.
If you think about it from Saban’s perspective, it wasn’t as big a gamble as it appeared. I thought I would share.
“I really appreciate the maturity that our guys showed this year in terms of staying focused on what was important for the team and putting that first, and I think it worked out really well for us”, Saban said. We’ll go back to work and challenge ourselves and have a great off-season, great spring, finish up recruiting. However, after some early jitters, Coker settled down nicely and made the plays he needed to in order to win the game, including a huge scramble on a third down in the final few minutes to set up Henry’s final touchdown. It made Saban abandon protocol.
So dominant is Alabama most times that gimmickry and hocus-pocus are seldom required to do the deed. And Saban was right.
Clemson will get back Mike Williams, who was injured in the opener against Appalachian State after leading the Tigers in receiving in 2014. It drove 61 yards to a field goal that drew the Tigers within 31-27. Howard was the offensive MVP, catching five passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
Coming into the contest, Howard, a junior, only had two touchdowns in his career. Did team X win the game or did team Y lose it? The Tigers are in good hands, and Watson didn’t have to say what we’re already thinking.
From the time the teams landed at the airport, I was part of the media following the teams’ every move – practice, Media Day, coaches conference, parties, and more. I had confidence in the players.
Lesson learned: True freshman Minkah Fitzpatrick is going to be a great corner or safety for Alabama, but he got exposed Monday night. We’ll learn from this, we’ll grow from it, and I appreciate our fans.
I love that answer.
Alabama was a 6.5-point favorite at kickoff according to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI. This was preparation meeting opportunity and trusting the process.
“Coach Saban is Coach Saban, regardless, on or off the field”.
“Coach Saban has done a great job, no question about it”, Stallings said. “We just had three critical errors where we just didn’t do our job”. They do a lot of pressuring, stunt linebackers. I wasn’t happy about the sacks.
Saban told him at the team hotel before the game they’d probably run the play.
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Monday’s game, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, pitted the winners of the semifinal games in the second College Football Playoff. That’s one way to look at it, but we shouldn’t overlook the ways Alabama won the game, especially a gutsy call by Saban with everything on the line. But a great quarterback helps.
