![\"635881579220501598-USP-NCAA-FOOTBALL-CFP-NATIONAL-CHAMPIONSHIP-ALABA-78806948\"](\"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernjournal\/files\/2016\/01\/635881579220501598-USP-NCAA-FOOTBALL-CFP-NATIONAL-CHAMPIONSHIP-ALABA-78806948.jpg\")
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By: Jamal Smith \r\nSports Editor<\/pre>\nThe 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s head coach Nick Saban, who has won four with Alabama and one with LSU.<\/p>\n
Saban\u2019s 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 \u201cBear\u201d Bryant.<\/p>\n
To get this victory, Saban had to use all of his players\u2019 talent. But that wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the other team squeezes the formation like that, we call the \u2018pop kick,’\u201d said Saban after the game. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saban\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
But even after the game\u2019s momentum swung in Alabama\u2019s favor, the Clemson Tigers would not back down and showed why they went undefeated in the regular season. Clemson\u2019s quarterback, dynamic play-maker Deshaun Watson, calmly led his team downfield which led to a field goal and cut Alabama\u2019s advantage 31-27.<\/p>\n
Then both teams went on a scoring spree. First, on Clemson\u2019s kickoff, Alabama\u2019s return man, Kenyan Drake, exploded down the sideline for a 95-yard kickoff-return touchdown. Then on Clemson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
“We stand toe-to-toe with everybody in the country,” said Clemson\u2019s head coach Dabo Swinney. “This program doesn’t take a backseat to anybody.”<\/p>\n
Alabama answered the Tiger\u2019s scoring drive a minute later when the Crimson Tide\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
With the time ticking away, Clemson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The national championship was close, hard fought, and satisfying, especially for Alabama.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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