Monday night Alabama crushed Notre Dame 42-14 in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami. This was the third title in the last four years for the Crimson Tide, and their second consecutive. The game was never close. Alabama scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, and led 28-0 at halftime. Quarterback A.J. McCarron threw 4 touchdown passes in the rout. Alabama was a 9 1/2 point favorite, but this game was ridiculous. Notre Dame appeared to leave their top ranked scoring defense at home in South Bend.
Alabama outgained the Irish on the ground 265-32. The passing yards were about even, but that’s mostly because the Irish were trying to come from behind from early in the game. Alabama had 2 running backs go over 100 yards for the game. Eddie Lacy, the MVP of the Championship Game, rushed for 140 yards, while T.J. Yeldon ran for 108 yards. Alabama lost several players to the early rounds of the NFL Draft last year, but it didn’t seem to hurt them very much. They just keep reloading each year.
One of the most entertaining parts of the game occurred when the cameras were on A.J. McCarron’s girlfriend, who was Miss Alabama. Announcer Brent Musburger was practically slobbering on his microphone as he was talking about her. He told the young boys in Alabama to pick up a football and start throwing it, and maybe the same thing could happen to them. McCarron has a beautiful girlfriend and is now the only quarterback ever to win 2 National Championships in a row. Musburger made a good point, and his advice should be heeded.
Notre Dame’s offense finally came to life in the second half, but it was much too little, too late. Alabama was up 35-0 before the Irish scored their first touchdown. At least they weren’t shut out like LSU was in last year’s title game. The twelve opponents that Notre Dame defeated this year, mostly with their great defense, must have been thinking, who are these guys that can’t cover a receiver or even make a tackle. Heisman trophy runner-up Manti Te’o was almost nonexistent in the game. He didn’t make any big plays, and was one of the players that forgot how to tackle in the 44 days since their last game.
Nick Saban, the head coach of Alabama, has now won 4 National Championships, 3 of them with the Crimson Tide. He only trails legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant, who won 6 titles, for the most championships in college football history. Saban is now tied with Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy and USC coach John McKay for the second most titles. It seems as if the Bear’s record is in jeopardy, the way Alabama recruits and performs on the football field. Saban has been pursued by NFL teams, but he says he wants to stay at Alabama. He was head coach of the Miami Dolphins for the 2005 and 2006 seasons, where he compiled a 15-17 record. Head coaches Chip Kelly of Oregon, and Brian Kelly of Notre Dame have also decided to stay with their college teams. I think all 3 of them made the right decision. Keep the college game strong, by keeping the great college coaches where they have success.
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