CFB National Championship secures Saban’s legacy

Monday night, Nick Saban picked up his fifth national championship and fourth in the last seven years at the University of Alabama. Saban’s fifth title puts him one behind Bear Bryant’s six, the record for the most in the poll era. Bear still holds the heart and soul of the Tide faithful, and sets the precedent for success Alabama expects of itself. However, one championship behind and with plenty of coaching years left, Saban may have made his case for the title of greatest coach in Alabama, SEC, and national lore.

However, Saban captured his latest title with a different style than previous teams. The 2015 Tide team played smaller and quicker than teams of the past. The defensive linemen this season played less to consume opposing linemen as Alabama lineman had previously, but played quicker, regularly disrupting plays in the backfield more frequently. The star studded line, containing three potential first round draft picks, allowed the Tide to nearly double the sack total of previous years, up to 31 from an average of 19 over the previous years. And although the Tide only recorded two sacks in the title game, they certainly pressured Deshaun Watson, the star Clemson quarterback, forcing some errant throws and punts.

Alabama’s offense has certainly modified under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin during the 2014 and 2015 campaigns. Each campaign revolved around a quarterback in his first and only season starting, a brutal, downhill running game, and quick reads and throws from quarterbacks, with an emphasis on RPO’s, or run pass options. In the semifinal game, Alabama executed its passing attack to near perfection, as senior Jacob Coker completed 25 of 30 passes for 286 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions, despite Derrick Henry, Alabama’s Heisman running back rushing for 75 yards on 20 carries, a pitiful 3.8 yards per rush. The title game carried similar results, with Coker passing 335 yards, two touchdowns, and once again zero turnovers. Both Watson and Coker’s toughness helped carry their respective teams through a close game into the final minutes.

Coker tended to hold the ball too long in the first half, a key component of the five sacks he took. After star Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander left the game with a hamstring injury, Clemson’s pass defense seemed to fall apart, leaving Alabama receivers wide open multiple times, including a 51-yard touchdown to OJ Howard following a successful onside kick from the Tide, giving Alabama a 31-24 lead with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter and a lead they would hold until the game’s end.

Clemson Heisman candidate quarterback Deshaun Watson performed tremendously, carrying his team with his arms and legs to unpredictable first down after first down, methodically working the Tiger offense into scoring position each drive. The Clemson staff, however, has faced criticism for limiting  running back Wayne Gallman’s touches. The “Wayne Train,” as the Clemson faithful affectionately dubbed the redshirt sophomore over the course of his 1,500 yard season, received only nine touches in the first half. Although the situation partly resulted from various option plays, in which Watson chooses whether he gets the ball or another player does based on the defenses’ actions, many viewers felt that forcing balls to Gallman would eventually result in a big play or two, and by the game’s end the Alabama defense would have felt more exhausted and strained, all while limiting hits on Deshaun Watson in a twenty carry game for the sophomore pivot. Late in the game, Gallman provided all he could, including a touchdown run and a 39 yard reception that required breaking four Crimson Tide tackles, but all his efforts arrived too late.

The title game capped off a largely disappointing bowl season in the most exhilarating fashion possible. Unheralded receivers starred for both teams, both quarterbacks made unfathomable throws and runs, but most importantly; Nick Saban’s special teams clinched the game. The first half consisted of tough yards, short plays, and plenty of excitement from Deshaun Watson, walk-on Clemson freshman Hunter Renfrow, and Derrick Henry. Kevin Dodd, the Tiger’s second best defensive lineman, recorded three sacks and disrupted much of the running game. Alabama tight end O.J. Howard won the offensive MVP award, despite entering the game with no touchdowns and only 394 receiving yards in the season. He caught two touchdowns and five receptions for 204 yards in the title game, due in no small part to an iffy Clemson pass defense.

On Monday, the Clemson Tigers battled the Alabama Crimson Tide for the National Championship title. After a four hour game and a lucky onside kick, the Crimson Tide prevailed, taking the win 45-40. The win secured Alabama's fourth national title under head coach Nick Saban.
Michael Smith
On Monday, the Clemson Tigers battled the Alabama Crimson Tide for the National Championship title. After a four hour game and a lucky onside kick, the Crimson Tide prevailed, taking the win 45-40. The win secured Alabama’s fourth national title under head coach Nick Saban.

The Tide special teams, however, sealed the win in the final minutes with an onside kick and a kick return touchdown. The onside pooch kick caught the entire stadium off guard and set up a go-ahead Alabama touchdown. Called with 10:34 remaining in the fourth and the game tied at 24, the situation surprised a great deal of viewers, but the execution shone brilliantly. Alabama lined up as if to kick it deep, but kicker Adam Griffith stopped short and tapped the ball to the opposite side of the field, away from the Clemson return team and directly into the arms of reserve cornerback Marlon Humphrey. O.J. Howard would catch a touchdown just two plays later.

Kenyan Drake, the Powder Springs native and Hillgrove alum, expanded the lead past the point of a reasonable comeback. With 7:31 remaining in the fourth, Drake fielded the ball at his own five yard line, went straight up the right numbers, then cut back across the field, shaking a tackle and outrunning the kicker to a diving touchdown, prolonging the Alabama’s dynasty. Of course, Lane Kiffin exists solely as College Football’s resident buffoon, so the buses left without him, leaving him stranded in Glendale, Arizona. At least the ring looks the same in the end.