By: Jamal Smith Sports Editor
The Alabama Crimson Tide are at the top of the mountain in college football once again after beating out ACC powerhouse, the Clemson Tigers, 45-40 on Monday, Jan. 11.
Alabama becomes only the second team in college football history to win four national titles in a seven-year span. Equally impressive are the five National Championship rings held by the Crimson Tide’s head coach Nick Saban, who has won four with Alabama and one with LSU.
Saban’s five undisputed national titles, places him second in championship hardware among past and present coaches, only one title away from the record set by another Alabama coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant.
To get this victory, Saban had to use all of his players’ talent. But that wasn’t enough, Saban also needed to pull a rabbit out of his hat; an onside kick, one of the most memorable and gutsy trick plays in a national championship game.
With 10:34 left in the final quarter and the score tied at 24-24 after an Alabama touchdown had just evened the score, Saban called for an onside kick. Crimson Tide kicker Adam Griffith surprised the Tigers’ defense with a perfectly executed onside kick that was caught over the shoulder by Alabama defensive back Marlon Humphrey to give Alabama the ball back.
“When the other team squeezes the formation like that, we call the ‘pop kick,’” said Saban after the game. “I made the decision to do it because the score was [tied] and we were getting tired on defense, and if we didn’t do something to take a chance and change the momentum of the game, we wouldn’t have a chance to win.”
Saban’s gamble paid off just a few minutes later when Alabama quarterback Jake Coker connected with his wide receiver, O.J. Howard for a 51-yard touchdown strike.
But even after the game’s momentum swung in Alabama’s favor, the Clemson Tigers would not back down and showed why they went undefeated in the regular season. Clemson’s quarterback, dynamic play-maker Deshaun Watson, calmly led his team downfield which led to a field goal and cut Alabama’s advantage 31-27.
Then both teams went on a scoring spree. First, on Clemson’s kickoff, Alabama’s return man, Kenyan Drake, exploded down the sideline for a 95-yard kickoff-return touchdown. Then on Clemson’s next possession, Watson threw his third touchdown pass of the game to bring the score to 38-33 with 4:40 remaining for the game.
“We stand toe-to-toe with everybody in the country,” said Clemson’s head coach Dabo Swinney. “This program doesn’t take a backseat to anybody.”
Alabama answered the Tiger’s scoring drive a minute later when the Crimson Tide’s running back, and 2015-16 Heisman Trophy winner, Derrick Henry, bullied his way into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game to bring the score to 45-33.
With the time ticking away, Clemson’s quarterback Watson threw his fourth touchdown pass but it was too little too late, and Alabama reigned victorious. Watson tallied 478 total yards, setting the record for the most total yards ever in the national championship game.
“All the stats don’t really matter to me,” said Watson at the press conference after the game. “I just wanted to get the win and do something that we haven’t done in 34 years.”
The national championship was close, hard fought, and satisfying, especially for Alabama.
