Saban smiles; in other news, Tide wins title
posted by LW, Friday, January 08, 2010
Yeah, Alabama's 2009 BCS title will always come with an asterisk.
Just not the asterisk you were thinking.
*-Nick Saban's first smile ... ever.
Seriously, it takes a cold, determined man to maintain a scowl when, title in hand, he's doused with Gatorade by two of his players.
Watching Saban on the podium after the game, you half expected him to go on a tirade and say he doesn't want what happened last night to detract from the team's focus on winning a title in the 2010 season.
He's a heartless robot -- or certainly appears to be -- but he's a heartless robot who can coach his butt off.
That much was apparent on the game's two defining plays, both of them orchestrated by the punishing defensive mentality Saban has constructed in Tuscaloosa.
That's the focus in Pat Forde's column from the game.
His defenses don't just shut offenses down. They beat offenses up.
Thursday night in a bizarrely entertaining Citi BCS National Championship Game, the dead-serious Saban became the first coach to win titles at two different schools because of two game-turning, molar-rattling tackles that will echo in Alabama lore for years to come.
One came just four minutes into the game. The other came with just three minutes left. In between was a whole lot of craziness -- coaching gaffes and comebacks and plot twists galore. But the Crimson Tide's two punishing shots on Texas quarterbacks were the trademark Saban plays that bookended their 37-21 victory over the Longhorns at the Rose Bowl.
The first was end Marcell Dareus' knockout blow to senior Colt McCoy just five plays into Texas' first offensive possession. The legally lethal hit on McCoy's throwing shoulder ended his night, his season and his superb college career. The diagnosis was a pinched nerve. The result was a clinched title.
"It certainly changed the game," Saban said.
The other tackle was linebacker Eryk Anders' unimpeded blind-side blitz that leveled gritty freshman Garrett Gilbert, resulting in a fumble the Crimson Tide recovered at the Texas 3-yard line. Prior to that play, Gilbert was authoring an amazing Hollywood story, picking his jaw up off the Rose Bowl grass after a gruesome first half and dragging the Longhorns back from down 24-6 to 24-21. But the Tide defense would not tolerate what would have been an epic collapse; it forced the turnover and Bama scored the touchdown that put the game away.
"The difference in the game," Saban said.
This is SabanBall. Hit like your scholarship check depends on it. Take the ball away (five times in this game). Win.
Certainly sums everything up, no?
Mike Freeman of CBS Sportsline says Alabama's title deserves an asterisk because of Colt McCoy's departure after his team's fifth offensive snap.
Alabama had this game gift-wrapped when arguably the best quarterback in college football was lost to a shoulder injury just five plays into the contest. It was a chaotic piece of fate tied together with a nice little bow for the Crimson Tide. Gifts after Christmas are always nice.
The final 37-21 score is highly deceiving. The game was much closer and there's no question if Colt McCoy had played, this contest would've featured a completely different texture. If he'd been able to finish, the Longhorns might've won by 10 points.
Look, I was as deflated as anyone when McCoy went down ... and out.
The title game between two traditional powers -- and in the Rose Bowl, no less -- had me jacked. I was pulling for the Horns, but mainly I was pulling for an exciting game.
Could Texas have won by 10 with McCoy throwing darts and utilizing his excellent mobility? Maybe.
But it's sure as heck not a sure thing.
Alabama's offensive game plan changed dramatically once the Tide found itself up 24-6. If McCoy is in the game and it's close, the Longhorns wouldn't necessarily have shut down the Crimson Tide on all those second-half possessions.
But it sure would've been cool to see what would've happened with a healthy McCoy.
In this column by Dennis Dodd, Mack Brown says he knows what would've happened.
"It wouldn't even have been close," he said in an unguarded moment outside the locker room.
Brown and OC Greg Davis are catching a lot of heat for that shovel pass that blew up in their faces late in the first half, but I didn't have a major problem with it.
Much more of a problem with the Horns failing to punch it in on their first possession. Lining up in the I formation and trying to power through the teeth of the Crimson Tide's defense wasn't particularly bright, IMO, even with McCoy out of the game.
Andy Staples says McCoy didn't shed any tears after the game. Seemed pretty darn close when ABC was interviewing him on the field.
Ivan Maisel says the Crimson Tide don't give a rat's behind about any asterisks attached to this victory. As well they shouldn't.
Watching Alabama's long-awaited return to national supremacy, you couldn't help but think back to where it all began: the Georgia Dome in the 2008 season opener.
I remember being skeptical of the Tide heading into that game against Clemson ... and completely sold on the Tide after their brutal undressing of the Tigers.
Saban is 26-2 since that day, including a perfect 16-0 in SEC regular-season games.
And does anyone think he's not just getting going?
If you're not a fan of the SEC and don't want to consider the prospect of the conference swiping five straight BCS titles, you might not want to read this take.
The 2011 BCS Championship Game will be played in Glendale, Ariz.
Alabama fans should make their reservations now.
That's not arrogance or overconfidence.
It's just good business.
This organization that Nick Saban has constructed is made of strong stuff, and one national title won't satisfy it or stop it or even slow it down.
Moving right along, Demaryius Thomas is scheduled to announce whether he'll bolt early for the NFL.
Don't be surprised if four key Yellow Jackets -- Thomas, Dwyer, Morgan, Burnett -- all leave early. That's the buzz, anyway.
In The State, Ron Morris recounts the highs and lows from the 2009 football season.
And Andrew Carter of the Orlando Sentinel examines the questions facing ACC basketball.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Yeah, Alabama's 2009 BCS title will always come with an asterisk.
Just not the asterisk you were thinking.
*-Nick Saban's first smile ... ever.
Seriously, it takes a cold, determined man to maintain a scowl when, title in hand, he's doused with Gatorade by two of his players.
Watching Saban on the podium after the game, you half expected him to go on a tirade and say he doesn't want what happened last night to detract from the team's focus on winning a title in the 2010 season.
He's a heartless robot -- or certainly appears to be -- but he's a heartless robot who can coach his butt off.
That much was apparent on the game's two defining plays, both of them orchestrated by the punishing defensive mentality Saban has constructed in Tuscaloosa.
That's the focus in Pat Forde's column from the game.
His defenses don't just shut offenses down. They beat offenses up.
Thursday night in a bizarrely entertaining Citi BCS National Championship Game, the dead-serious Saban became the first coach to win titles at two different schools because of two game-turning, molar-rattling tackles that will echo in Alabama lore for years to come.
One came just four minutes into the game. The other came with just three minutes left. In between was a whole lot of craziness -- coaching gaffes and comebacks and plot twists galore. But the Crimson Tide's two punishing shots on Texas quarterbacks were the trademark Saban plays that bookended their 37-21 victory over the Longhorns at the Rose Bowl.
The first was end Marcell Dareus' knockout blow to senior Colt McCoy just five plays into Texas' first offensive possession. The legally lethal hit on McCoy's throwing shoulder ended his night, his season and his superb college career. The diagnosis was a pinched nerve. The result was a clinched title.
"It certainly changed the game," Saban said.
The other tackle was linebacker Eryk Anders' unimpeded blind-side blitz that leveled gritty freshman Garrett Gilbert, resulting in a fumble the Crimson Tide recovered at the Texas 3-yard line. Prior to that play, Gilbert was authoring an amazing Hollywood story, picking his jaw up off the Rose Bowl grass after a gruesome first half and dragging the Longhorns back from down 24-6 to 24-21. But the Tide defense would not tolerate what would have been an epic collapse; it forced the turnover and Bama scored the touchdown that put the game away.
"The difference in the game," Saban said.
This is SabanBall. Hit like your scholarship check depends on it. Take the ball away (five times in this game). Win.
Certainly sums everything up, no?
Mike Freeman of CBS Sportsline says Alabama's title deserves an asterisk because of Colt McCoy's departure after his team's fifth offensive snap.
Alabama had this game gift-wrapped when arguably the best quarterback in college football was lost to a shoulder injury just five plays into the contest. It was a chaotic piece of fate tied together with a nice little bow for the Crimson Tide. Gifts after Christmas are always nice.
The final 37-21 score is highly deceiving. The game was much closer and there's no question if Colt McCoy had played, this contest would've featured a completely different texture. If he'd been able to finish, the Longhorns might've won by 10 points.
Look, I was as deflated as anyone when McCoy went down ... and out.
The title game between two traditional powers -- and in the Rose Bowl, no less -- had me jacked. I was pulling for the Horns, but mainly I was pulling for an exciting game.
Could Texas have won by 10 with McCoy throwing darts and utilizing his excellent mobility? Maybe.
But it's sure as heck not a sure thing.
Alabama's offensive game plan changed dramatically once the Tide found itself up 24-6. If McCoy is in the game and it's close, the Longhorns wouldn't necessarily have shut down the Crimson Tide on all those second-half possessions.
But it sure would've been cool to see what would've happened with a healthy McCoy.
In this column by Dennis Dodd, Mack Brown says he knows what would've happened.
"It wouldn't even have been close," he said in an unguarded moment outside the locker room.
Brown and OC Greg Davis are catching a lot of heat for that shovel pass that blew up in their faces late in the first half, but I didn't have a major problem with it.
Much more of a problem with the Horns failing to punch it in on their first possession. Lining up in the I formation and trying to power through the teeth of the Crimson Tide's defense wasn't particularly bright, IMO, even with McCoy out of the game.
Andy Staples says McCoy didn't shed any tears after the game. Seemed pretty darn close when ABC was interviewing him on the field.
Ivan Maisel says the Crimson Tide don't give a rat's behind about any asterisks attached to this victory. As well they shouldn't.
Watching Alabama's long-awaited return to national supremacy, you couldn't help but think back to where it all began: the Georgia Dome in the 2008 season opener.
I remember being skeptical of the Tide heading into that game against Clemson ... and completely sold on the Tide after their brutal undressing of the Tigers.
Saban is 26-2 since that day, including a perfect 16-0 in SEC regular-season games.
And does anyone think he's not just getting going?
If you're not a fan of the SEC and don't want to consider the prospect of the conference swiping five straight BCS titles, you might not want to read this take.
The 2011 BCS Championship Game will be played in Glendale, Ariz.
Alabama fans should make their reservations now.
That's not arrogance or overconfidence.
It's just good business.
This organization that Nick Saban has constructed is made of strong stuff, and one national title won't satisfy it or stop it or even slow it down.
Moving right along, Demaryius Thomas is scheduled to announce whether he'll bolt early for the NFL.
Don't be surprised if four key Yellow Jackets -- Thomas, Dwyer, Morgan, Burnett -- all leave early. That's the buzz, anyway.
In The State, Ron Morris recounts the highs and lows from the 2009 football season.
And Andrew Carter of the Orlando Sentinel examines the questions facing ACC basketball.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Donnie Patterson. Donnie Patterson is the founder of Patterson Tax Service, located in Easley, S.C. He has been active in tax preparation since 1970, and offers a full range of tax and bookkeeping services.
Larry Williams. Larry has covered the daily beat at Clemson since 2004. Williams, who worked for the Charleston Post & Courier from 2004-08, joined Tigerillustrated.com in November of 2008. He may be reached by email at ldubya08(at)gmail.com. Replace (at) with @.