“To get ahead when you’re playing against a player like that is really, really important”. A perfectly executed onside kick by Griffith was recovered by Marlon Humphrey gave Bama the ball back keeping the Tigers offense on the bench and infuriating Swinney in the process. This year’s championship was Saban’s 5th national title, where four of them was with Alabama. I can’t speak about Bear Bryant because I wasn’t around during his time, but in this day and age, there is no one more dominant than Nick Saban and his Alabama football program.
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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.
“Well, O.J., quite honestly, should have been more involved all year long”, Saban said.
“We felt like we had to win special teams in this game”, Saban said.
The defeat prevented Clemson from being the first Football Bowl Subdivision team to finish a season 15-0. “You don’t have to think about it too much during the season, you just want to play football”.
Howard kept sneaking behind the Clemson defenders and finding himself wide open for big plays: touchdowns of 51 and 53 yards and a galloping 63-yarder in the fourth quarter that set up Alabama’s final touchdown.
Henry had an outstanding first half and picked up 100-plus yards on the ground for the 10th time this season to pass Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram as most games with 100 yards in team history. In fact, Clemson’s defensive front was so physically overwhelming that Alabama struggled to protect quarterback Jacob Coker, who was sacked five times, and run the ball in the second half.
Henry rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns, while Jake Coker threw for 335 yards and two scores. I thought that the crowd was incredible tonight. “It was just a great feeling to get in the end zone again”.
Deshaun Watson certainly did his share for Clemson. Alabama had 473 yards. He meant it: After Alabama tied the game at 24 with 10:34 left in the fourth quarter, Saban took a risk and called for one, and it worked marvelously.
“This team made a tremendous commitment to one another and that is why I am so happy for them”, said coach Nick Saban, who earned his fifth career national title. The five previous Alabama opponents scored a total of 40 points, and four of them went to bowl games.
Clemson responded to the Howard TD with a field goal to make the game 31-27.
His path appeared to be blocked at about the 20, but then he made a sharp left turn, outraced the Tigers to the other side of the field and sped to a 95-yard return for six points.
There was a madcap quality to last night’s game, but only in the moments when Watson wasn’t on the field. But it was a still debated pass interference call in overtime that gave the Buckeyes another chance, and they won 31-24 in double OT. In many ways they did and they still out-gained Alabama 550 yards to 473, as Watson accounted for 478 yards (405 passing, 4 TDs and 73 rushing).
“We try to emphasize with our players that if you’re a first-round draft pick, the business decision is you should go out for the draft”, Saban said on Tuesday. “Just some little things like that is going to really force yourself in a hole, and it’s hard to beat a team like Alabama if you make those mistakes”. Recognizing that Alabama’s ship was taking on water, he went into scramble mode to save it. He played against type. He had three touchdowns.
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
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And just like that, the college football season is over.
