Processing the Tigers: Alabama comes up just short in rematch
For the remaining 2016 University of Alabama football season, TideSports intern Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to show how the Crimson Tide uses “The Process” against its opponents.
TAMPA – No. 1 Alabama lost to No. 2 Clemson, 35-31, on Monday in front of a Raymond James Stadium-record 74,512 people for the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Stellar stats
· Combining the last two year’s games, Alabama has a one-point lead over Clemson, 76-75, in national championship games.
· Linebacker Reuben Foster made 12 total tackles for the Crimson Tide. No one in CFP title game history has reached that total on his own. Last year, former UA defensive back Geno Matias-Smith had 11. So did former Clemson defensive back T.J. Green.
· The Tigers ran 99 offensive plays against the Crimson Tide, the most in the Nick Saban era at Alabama.
· The last time Alabama lost to Clemson was in 1905. It was in the midst of a 13-game winning streak, but that ended. The Tigers now have four wins over the Crimson Tide.
· Last year’s Alabama-Clemson matchup was decided by five points. It was the smallest margin of victory ever in a CFP title game. Well, four points decided this one. The Tigers also had to overcome a 14-point deficit to do so, marking the largest comeback in bowl game history.
· The Tigers had never defeated a No. 1 team in football. They also had never recorded three victories over SEC teams until this season either, topping Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina.
Obscure facts
· Before Monday, Alabama coach Nick Saban was 97-0 with double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter. Now he’s 97-1.
· Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is the first coach to beat his own alma mater for a national championship. At the ago of 47, he is also the youngest coach to win it since 2008, when Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was 44.
· There has never been a national championship rematch before. Alabama won last year and finished its season, 14-1. Clemson won this year and finished its season, 14-1. In a way, the next time could be a tiebreaker.
· Heading into the game, the matchup was very even-keeled defensively. Both Alabama and Clemson had been allowing opponents a 52.7 passing completion rate. UA had just one more sack than Clemson, too. By end game, the Crimson Tide had four more sacks than the Tigers this season.
· Starting at 8:19 p.m. ET and ending at 12:27 a.m. ET, the title game came just five minutes short of becoming the longest bowl game this season. It clocked in at 4:08 total. It was, however, the longest CFP National Championship ever, by 23 minutes.
· Tight end O.J. Howard continued to haunt the Tigers. He was wide open during the third quarter to catch a 68-yard touchdown pass. He scored twice against Clemson last year on 51- and 53-yard receptions. You’d think the defense would be all over him.
Quoting Nick Saban
On how this loss feels after making it to the end…
“One game doesn’t define a team, and I think our team demonstrated time and time again this year that they were winners. I’m extremely disappointed that we didn’t have a better outcome (Monday), but I’m also at the same time very proud of what this group of young men was able to accomplish.”
Quoting the Crimson Tide
Running back Damien Harris, on how rest of the week will go…
“I don’t know if the sting will go away in a couple of days. It’s crazy because the loss against Ohio State two years ago, the older guys, they still feel it. I’m not sure this will go away in a couple days, but season’s over now.”
Quoting the opponent
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, on Colin Cowherd calling his team a fraud…
“I don’t know him, never met him. Ask Alabama if we’re a fraud. Ask Oklahoma if we’re a fraud. The only fraud is that guy, because he didn’t do his homework. I hope y’all print that.”
Name of the game
CU: Ray-Ray McCloud, a sophomore wide receiver from Tampa for the Tigers.
GAME LEADERS
Top 3 rushers
1. UA: Bo Scarbrough, 16 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns
2. UA: Jalen Hurts, 10 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown
3. CU: Wayne Gallman, 18 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 receivers
1. UA: O.J. Howard, four receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown
2. CU: Jordan Leggett, seven receptions for 95 yards
3. CU: Mike Williams, eight receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 passers
1. CU: Deshaun Watson, 36-56-0 for 420 yards and three touchdowns (sacked four times)
2. UA: Jalen Hurts, 13-31-0 for 131 yards and a touchdown
3. UA: ArDarius Stewart, 1-1-0 for 24 yards
Top 3 defenders
1. UA: Reuben Foster, 12 total tackles (a sack)
2. UA: Rashaan Evans, 11 total tackles (half a sack and a pass breakup)
3. UA: Ronnie Harrison, 10 total tackles
NEXT UP
There is no next up. That’s the end of the season. Alabama finished 14-1 and opens up next season on Sept. 2 against Florida State in Atlanta.