When it comes to the viewership of Monday night’s college football’s championship game, it’s both good news and bad news for ESPN. His other titles at Alabama came in 2009, 2011 and 2012. “Not everybody can coach a great player, and I think he has a gift to be able to do that”.
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Clemson took a 24-21 lead on a 60-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard plunge from running back Wayne Gallman. I’m not sure if it’s just wishful thinking, but I get the feeling that Alexander could stay after having to leave the game with a hamstring injury.
The Tide hit Clemson early with Henry, who scored the game’s first touchdown on a 50-yard burst through the middle.
Watson led Clemson to a field goal to make it 31-27, and boom, another Alabama big play.
Watson threw his third touchdown pass to make it 38-33 with 4:40 left, and then Alabama, after a 63-yard catch and run by Howard put Alabama at the Clemson 14, went back to Henry, its workhorse Heisman Trophy victor.
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban says he gave Kiffin a lift back to the hotel in the early hours Tuesday morning.
Alabama joins Notre Dame, which won four titles from 1943-49.
– This is the fifth time Alabama has won a national title without being ranked No. 1 during the regular season. “I owe them our best as coaches and people who can support them to give them the best opportunity to be successful in the next challenge that they have”. There is no doubt in my mind that Deshaun Watson will have his name called as the 2016 Heisman Trophy Winner.
Alabama was a unanimous No. 1 in the final AP poll and Clemson finished No. 2.
Henry had 20 carries for 75 yards.
Henry’s numbers were certainly noteworthy, but surprisingly the game’s MVP was Alabama tight end O.J. Howard as he tallied 208 yards and two touchdowns on only five receptions.
This is the sixth National Coach of the Year award for Swinney this year. But all those five-star recruits and future National Football League players that dot the Alabama roster showed resiliency and toughness.
That onside kicked stunned the stadium and Clemson, and brought a big grin to the face of the country’s most serious coach. There is another wave ready to roll.
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“We want to be a program that is competing at this level on a consistent basis and I think to do that, you’ve got to be a top-10, top-15 type program year in and year out”, Swinney said.
