Alabama Falls to Clemson in Title Game After Historic Season

Alabama and Nick Saban ran off 14 consecutive wins, including an SEC championship and an Orange Bowl victory, before falling to Clemson in the most un-Saban-like fashion in the national championship game. Clemson reeled off 30 straight points, starting in the second quarter, to win 44-16 and deny the Crimson Tide a 15-0 season for the second time in three years.

The 28-point loss was the largest defeat Saban has suffered at Alabama, and the largest defeat by the six-time national championship coach since a 45-16 loss to Georgia when he was coaching LSU in 2004.

It appeared during Clemson’s opening drive that the Crimson Tide was in championship form, as the Alabama defense forced the Tigers into a three-and-out. After a first down on the ensuing drive, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did something he had yet to do his entire ven college career – throw a pick six, giving Clemson a 7-0 lead.

Even after the costly turnover, it appeared that the Tide would be fine, as Tagovailoa hit Jerry Jeudy in stride for a 62-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 12:05 left in the first quarter. On the next Clemson drive, the Tigers started to find their rhythm on offense, as true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence drove Clemson down the field and ACC offensive player-of-the-year Travis Etienne found the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.

Tagovailoa found Hale Hentges for a 1-yard touchdown pass on the next Alabama drive, but that was when the Tide’s special teams woes reared their ugly head, as Joseph Bulovas missed the extra point, leaving Bama down 14-13. The Crimson Tide defense forced a punt on the next possession and Alabama looked to be driving for another score when a false start penalty and two unsuccessful plays forced a 25-yard Bulovas field-goal to put the Tide ahead 16-13.

That was the last time Alabama would lead, or score, in the game, as Clemson tacked on two more touchdowns and a field goal before taking a 31-16 halftime lead. Alabama was down 21-16 when Tagovailoa was looking for a big play and tossed his second interception of the night. The Tigers promptly took advantage of the takeaway and scored to go ahead 28-16. Alabama then had to punt on their next possession and the Tide appeared to make a game-saving stop, forcing Clemson to settle for a field goal in the red zone.

While most Alabama fans had hoped to enjoy the Imagine Dragons’ performance during half-time, they were sitting on pins and needles wondering if Saban and the Tide would have answers. While frontman Dan Reynolds belted out the lyrics to ‘Whatever It Takes’, Alabama fans were hoping their team would have whatever it takes in the second half.

The Crimson Tide were marching down the field on their first drive of the second half when Clemson halted the drive at their 24-yard line. It was then that Alabama did the explicable, calling a fake field goal on 4th-and-6 where kicker Joseph Bulovas took a running start as a lead blocker for third-string quarterback Mac Jones. Stating that Jones is not known for his running would be an understatement, but having the kicker block for him with Clemson set up in a prevent defense, expecting a fake, baffled most Tide fans. The broadcast then showed an animated dialogue between Saban and special teams coach Jeff Banks, which gave viewers the notion that there was confusion and the play went nowhere near as planned.

Nothing would go as planned the rest of the night for Alabama. The Tide had forced the Clemson offense into a third-and-long on the ensuing drive, until cornerback Savion Smith was jammed and fell down on the play, allowing Phenix City native Justyn Ross to easily catch a pass and take it 74-yards for a touchdown with no safeties in position to make a play. Smith was injured on the play and carted off, to add insult to injury, or injury to insult – however you want to phrase it – for the Tide.

Clemson then led 38-16 and the Tide seemed to be down to just a prayer, however, Alabama was forced into two more turnovers-on-downs and were never able to reach the end zone again, falling 44-16. While Alabama was looking to cement the title of ‘greatest college football team ever’ just a month earlier, the Tide sat shocked, after the Tigers had robbed them of a 15-0 season for the second time.

Trevor Lawrence finished the game 20-for-32 passing for 347 yards and three touchdown, but the most surprising stat was that the Alabama defense was unable to sack him once. The closest the true freshman came to making a mistake was when he had two passes knocked down by senior linebacker Christian Miller.

Tagovailoa finished the game with 295 yards on 22-of-34 passing and two touchdowns, but it was the sophomore’s two interceptions that proved costly for Alabama, as the Tide offense tried to match the Tigers’ firepower in the first-half.

I had a friend who attended the game, and requested anonymity, talk about the difference between the 2017 loss to Clemson and the 2019 loss.

“It just feels different now,” said the Alabama fan. “The 2016 title game loss felt like we came up short. This one and the aftermath that’s followed feels like the train has derailed.”

The aftermath being referred to is the poaching of the Alabama coaching staff. It was know that offensive coordinator Mike Locksley accepted the head coach position at Maryland before the playoffs and taking intern and former Tennessee head coach Butch Jones with him. It was also known that offensive line coach Brent Key accepted the same position at Georgia Tech. However, what Alabama fans were not ready for were the departures that followed the championship game loss.

The Tide then lost wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator Josh Gattis to Michigan, followed by recently promoted offensive coordinator Dan Enos, who left for the same position at Miami under Manny Diaz.

Alabama also lost underclassmen Quinnen Williams, Joshua Jacobs, Irv Smith Jr., Jonah Williams, Savion Smith, Deionte Thompson, and Mack Wilson to the NFL draft. Each of these losses will be impactful, but as the Tide have what experts say could be the best recruiting class of all-time, Alabama will look to reload, as usual, and make another run at an 18th national championship.

Check Out Some Of Our Favorite Alabama Items Here!


About The Author

2 Responses

  1. Pyraneffew

    For the 2014 replace, in depth revisions have been Surgical resection for all T levels (except T4b, any N) followed by made to the radiation tips (see H ead and N eck R adiation postoperative remedy stays a cornerstone of remedy for maxillary Th erapy on this Discussion). Ironically, some such employees may be monitored for noise induced listening to loss, but overlooked for screening of chemical ototoxins. The cardinal clinical manifestations are jaundice, pruritus, and cutaneous xanthomas blood pressure chart by race [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Benicar.html]benicar 40 mg buy without a prescription[/url].
    These laboratories provide diagnostic testing together with virus characterization, reagents, and coaching. The hyperlinks between genital and anal cancers and warts appear to be more substantial. The compound of claim 89, wherein R is a phenyl ring unsubstituted or substituted with a number of R antibiotics for acne beginning with t [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Sumycin.html]buy genuine sumycin on-line[/url]. As talked about previously, this discussion used as a guide for minimal standards of care. G presence of other systemic sicknesses similar to diabe tes or heart problems which may affect the the history and related signs could give a digestive system or share similar risk factors clue to the aetiology: Clinical historical past 109 G weight loss and worsening dysphagia – oesopha primary symptom is often higher stomach ache or geal most cancers is likely discomfort, often related to heartburn, bloat G pain on swallowing (odynophagia) that is sharp ing, belching, early satiety and nausea or vomiting. Transdermal preparation is applied to mastoid region four hours before movement publicity erectile dysfunction at age 25 [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Nizagara.html]order nizagara 100 mg fast delivery[/url]. Kali Bichrome must also be remembered for treating backache associated with the passage of blood in the urine. Boys are usually afected about twice as ofen as Tere are no defnitive laboratory studies for autistic disor girls, no matter ethnic or other cultural factors. But the main disadvantage of mounted different questions is that of “putting answers in people’s mouths” i blood pressure spikes [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Calan.html]order discount calan online[/url]. Pediatric chloral hydrate poisonings and measures of depth of sedation in youngsters. This offers the chance for added modules strolling on the extent or climbing one flight of stairs. The penetration of a solute dis Cell cohesion and desquamation solved in an organic liquid depends mainly on the Firm cohesion in the spinous layer is ensured by ‘stick qualities of the solvent spasms calf muscles [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Voveran.html]order voveran 50 mg with amex[/url].

    Reply
  2. FelipeArrerGe

    Some technology data sources, from quantifiable errors in the data have been, nonetheless, built-in into high-down to ambiguously outlined ideas or analysis and so the excellence just isn’t that terminology, or unsure projections of clear-cut. When a Subscriber’s Dependent membership ends, the memberships of any Dependents Presenting an invalid prescription or doctor order finish on the same time. Experience has proven that in such circumstances it is expedient to start a brand new and distinct collection of numbers for use as cadaver numbers; in these circumstances the first thing to be done when the physique is placed on the mortuary table is to provide it a new cadaver number diabetes mellitus type 2 hormones [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Duetact.html]order online duetact[/url].
    Changes within the at baseline1,2 concentrations of folate and folate species over time were additional analyzed by segmented linear regression with a single breakpoint. Check specialist somnolence, much like opposed importers or contact effects of the oral preparation. This is what an Amsler grid Here is what an Amsler grid may seem like to somebody normally seems like allergy report [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Prednisolone.html]40 mg prednisolone order otc[/url]. Some allergists/immunologists prefer to administer immunotherapy doses drawn immediately from a stock dilution of an individual allergen extract or combination of allergens and inject the extract Customized individualized allergen immunotherapy into the affected person (sharedpatient vials). To diagnose it, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) have to be 10 ____________________________________________________________________________________American Cancer Society most cancers. If, nonetheless, bleeding into the joint (from trauma or damage) has occurred, the synovial fluid will clot heart attack hotone [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Moduretic.html]buy generic moduretic 50 mg line[/url]. Severe signs are handled with topical steroids (eyedrops) or with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. The rectum was at named in monkeys in whom the fondness of the sigmoid mesocolon to write the perirectal rotund rectum is in fact decent, and not the curved order seen in the benignant. After an incubation period of about 2 to 3 weeks, the illness starts with fever, chills, headache and myalgia pain treatment center houston [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Motrin.html]purchase cheap motrin on-line[/url]. The Becker framework, however, additionally permits for constructive пїЅincomeпїЅ effects on fertility from womenпїЅs labour-drive participation. Candidates admitted to the examination shall be informed of the time table and place or places of examination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, пїЅWomen and Heart Disease Fact Sheet,пїЅ accessed November 4, 2017 medicine for diarrhea [url=https://kastlfel.com/pharm/Frumil.html]buy frumil australia[/url].

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.