Congratulations to my Alabama Crimson Tide, who won their 23rd SEC championship last night and will face Notre Dame on January 7 for their 15th national championship.
Clearly I am pleased with the result, but this was a stressful game to watch for a passionate fan. Both teams played very hard. Both teams made mistakes. There were enough twists and oddities that anyone inclined to make too much of a single play could easily do so.
It’s not panicking when a blocked field goal turns into a two-score deficit halfway through the third quarter in a game that hadn’t, to that point, brimmed over with offense. It’s connecting on a long TD pass against a defense that looked to have effectively taken such away.
It’s a decision—one that looks inexplicable now—not to spike the ball on first and goal at the 8 with 12 seconds, no timeouts, and a 4-point deficit. It’s C.J. Mosley getting his paw on it at the line, redirecting it to an unintended receiver. It’s The Process working all game long with what might be, by some measures, only Nick Saban’s fourth-best Alabama team to date, and working just enough to make those happenings decisive.
The team’s got heart. That, more than anything else, is why I think they’ll deliver #15 on January 7.
Roll Tide!
You might also like:
- Despite contrary whispers, Alabama still needs that second Ole Miss loss
As soon as Alabama dropped the Ole Miss game, and assuming Alabama righted the ship, Alabama needed … - Alabama 41, Georgia 30, and beyond
Good news, rest of the country: we’ve likely deep-sixed those stupid black jerseys for you forever. … - Roll Tide, Papaw
Check this out: This is an Alabama Crimson Tide cocktail glass that belonged to my grandfather. I ha… - Alabama fans, please keep some perspective
What a bunch of babies. Certainly not all of you, but way too many of you, judging from my Twitter f… - Alabama 26, Georgia 23
A few morning-after thoughts on Alabama’s 17th national championship, and the game that secured it: …
Far too stressful. I don’t think ND has the DNA or the horses to hang with this Bama team. UGA had the horses, but not the DNA. LSU has the DNA, but lacked the horses. Think we win by 2-3 scores, bro. But even if we don’t, I like our chances late.
I like your breakdown.
I’m glad we have a month to heal. That game beat the hell out of us.
That was a great game.
Miria, for a fan of hard-played, in-the-trenches football with no skin in the game, I heartily agree.
For a passionate fan, it was murderous viewing. SO pleased with the result. SO did not have fun getting to it.