A classic game? Nope, just classic Alabama domination
Touchdown, Alabama! And there were a bunch of those Monday night. (AP photo by John Bazemore)
UPDATED WITH NICK SABAN QUOTES
Miami Gardens, Fla. – For a minute, this felt like a real event. That was the minute before kickoff, when the stadium was alive and both sides lived in hope. Then the game began, and it got …
Ugly? If you’d hoped for a competitive BCS championship game, yes. But in another way, what came after was a kind of brutal beauty. A great football team played at the peak of its power, and how often are we privileged to witness such brilliance? If this wasn’t quite UCLA beating No. 1 Houston 101-69 in the 1968 Final Four, it was pretty darn close.
Alabama led by seven points after three minutes, by 21 four seconds into the second quarter. At that moment, the Crimson Tide had outgained No. 1 Notre Dame 203 yards to 23 and had scored more points than the vaunted Irish defense had allowed in four quarters this season. It’s easy to say now that Notre Dame stands revealed as a fraud, but this is what Alabama does. It takes big-shouldered No. 1 teams — LSU last January, Notre Dame this time — and renders them puny by comparison.
Again we were reminded that there is no other league like the SEC, which has won seven BCS titles in succession and might win the next 77, but now we know that, even among the SEC’s array of heavyweights, there’s no program like Alabama and no coach like Nick Saban. This was once seen as the least of the past five Tide teams – afterward, Saban said his men “certainly exceeded every expectation we had for them” — but it was again the best in the land.
Three of the past four BCS title games have been won by Alabama, and four of the past 10 championships have been taken by Saban. What began as domination by a conference has yielded to the singular excellence of one driven man. College football has its Krzyzewski, meaning a coach who isn’t just the best but the best by such a distance as to make it seem unfair.
Said Saban: “A world like ‘dynasty’ is not one I’m much interested in. I’m more interested in ‘accomplishment’ and ‘consistency’ and ‘performance.’ ”
SEC zealots will insists Notre Dame wouldn’t have gone unbeaten against an SEC-caliber schedule, and it probably wouldn’t. (Even Alabama didn’t.) But the Irish arrived as a proud and strong team that had beaten Stanford, which won the Pac-12, and Oklahoma, which finished tied atop the Big 12, and other Brand Names. But it was clear after one drive that Notre Dame at its best couldn’t touch Alabama, and rarely does Bama allow any opponent to look its best.
Eddie Lacy burst through holes as as broad as an airport runway, and those few times he encountered Irish resistance he shrugged it aside. The decorated Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o was made to look ordinary, and the Irish lineman couldn’t lay a pinkie on AJ McCarron, who found receivers running free and easy. And when Alabama dazzles you with offensive footwork, you’re in for a long night.
Early in the second quarter, there came a moment when the difference in class was made manifest. The fleet Irish quarterback Everett Golson shook free on a third-down scramble and had a clear path to the first down. C.J. Mosley, whose tip of Aaron Murray’s final pass decided the hairbreadth SEC championship game, ran down Golson and stopped him short.
Only moments earlier, Irish coach Brian Kelly chose to try for a first down on fourth-and-five at the Alabama 39. The play failed, and it underscored how quickly Alabama can drive a sound coach to desperation. (Fun fact: When Notre Dame scored late in the third quarter, it marked the first points Bama had yielded in the 108 minutes and seven seconds in the BCS title game, a span over which it had outscored three opponents — Texas, LSU and now Notre Dame — 69-0.)
This game was 28-0 at the half — it would end 42-14 — and 28-nil wasn’t from the famous 31-0 halftime spread Alabama had amassed against No. 3 Georgia in Athens on Sept. 28, 2008. That game stands as the first watershed victory of Saban’s Bama, and almost everything since has been a consolidation of gains, and who out there seems apt to stem the raging Tide?
Said Saban, quibbling: “We got here by five yards. Georgia was five yards from scoring (to win the SEC title).”
Before Monday night, no school had repeated as BCS champion. Alabama now has two in a row, and three of four, and the belief in Tide circles is that next year’s team will be even better. Just as the SEC has lapped the rest of the collegiate field, Alabama has lapped the mighty SEC. Even within the only conference that matters, there’s only one team that matters. Nick Saban’s team.
“This was really special,” he said, “and someday when I’m sitting on the hill watching the stream go by, I might think even deeper thoughts. But what about next year’s team? Somebody’s got to think about that.”
By Mark Bradley
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414 comments Add your comment
Big Gator
January 8th, 2013
10:05 am
Mark Richt would be fired at UF, Ala, LSU by now all whom have won BCS titles, Muschamp has 1 more year to lose to UGA or not play for NAT and he is out, no other school lets a coach hang around 10 to 15 years like Georgia and never play for NAT.
Sportsrwriters in Florida are all ready putting the heat on on Muschamp not like Mark Bradley who praise Georgia for being average and wining the east.
Dave
January 8th, 2013
10:06 am
And T A&M is going to be a hand full next year against anyone, Bama will be their usual self, USCe (and particularly Clowney) will be a beast, if UGA can get their D to jell early, we will be in the mix. Then there’s the “Jekyl and Hyde” Florida and LSU. They can beat anyone on a given day, but they can also lose to anyone as well. I’m dreading Saturdays without football and looking forward to August of 2013 already. Now, if I can only get through boring baseball season to make it there….
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 8th, 2013
10:06 am
We’re all lucky we will have 4 teams soon because once Urban gets OSU back in the hunt along with the useless Irish you will see the northern MSM place those two at the top each year. Only a fool couldn’t see the difference in the physical size of Bama and the children from Notre Dame yet the media would tell you ND is top shelf!!!! Manti would get to play at Bama but only late in the 4th QTR against Miss State and other Little Sisters of the Poor. The only time AJ got a good lick was when Barrett hit him.
Alabama will be a great football team in 2013 since we have some pass rushers coming and that has to happen. We made Murray look like Joe Namath since he had all day. It is strong to win one NC but 3 in 4 years with 85 limits is really strong. Congrats to the team ,coaches, and us redneck fans.
Note to the elite and sophisticated Irish fans….The Mobile Homers beat the feck out of the Golden Domers! Roll Tide…..word is Alvin Kamara committed to Bama after the game.
DawgNole
January 8th, 2013
10:08 am
Lowcountry Jacket
January 8th, 2013
12:29 am
It’s great to see Clemson and UGA play again… That was once a great rivalry, and the schools are only a few dozen miles apart, and so it makes sense. That rivalry is a lot like the Tech-Auburn rivalry… We don’t get to play very often anymore, but those are fun games.
__________________
Couldn’t agree with you more. Given their proximity to each other and the colorful (albeit UGA-dominated) series history, there’s NO excuse whatsoever for UGA and Clemson to play the shameful OOC schedules we’ve seen in recent years without playing each other.
Louie
January 8th, 2013
10:08 am
I’m an SEC guy all the way, but #2 clearly belongs to Oregon. They lost only 1 game (in overtime to a top 10 team). I’d argue that A&M should be #3 and Georgia #4. No way, Notre Dame should be ranked above any of those teams.
GTBob
January 8th, 2013
10:08 am
Come on…Notre Dame number three in the final poll?
When are people going to realize that polls have nothing to do with how good the teams actually are? Florida is ranked above Louisville after Louisville blew them out and they have the same record.
Joey
January 8th, 2013
10:09 am
“Oregon and Bama would have been a game.”
***********************************
I don’t think so, JB.
Not with Saban having a month to prepare for that offense.
Remember, even Auburn’s lousy D held down Oregon’s 60 point a game O in the ‘10 Big Game, and LSU did the same last year.
drsoul
January 8th, 2013
10:10 am
As a BAMA alum and faithful fan living in Georgia, I watch Georgia closely and after the TIDE, always want them to show up, too. This was a good season for Georgia…great SEC championship game…went down to the wire….two great teams on the field that day represented their schools, the SEC and the college game at the highest level. In my humble observations of programs, going back to the BEAR days in college, I think that Georgia will always have the opportunity to recruit great athletes and have great programs. The one large missing factor is the lack of real effort of organization and discipline by the head coach and his staff. There are glaring pluses with elements of this staff, but I truly think that Richt, while being a real Christian guy, is just not what it takes to be a college coach in the SEC. I do not think that he has personally, nor demands a strong work ethic of his staff and the disciplinary governing of his team is weak. Not to say certain coaches on his staff do not have a different work habit and stronger, but without the leader it does not show. There are too many elements of distraction today for athletes and ‘faith words alone’ does not make a leader…you have to be ‘hands-on’ 24/7 to make it work. I do not think that Richt is that kind of coach and relies to much on the ‘individual commitment’ from the athlete, without the constant monitoring of the coaching staff to make it work.
I may be a little unique, but again, I wish Georgia the best (except when it comes to the Tide) and do believe one of the best championship games this year was played and seen right here in Atlanta.
JB
January 8th, 2013
10:11 am
Big Gator….I agree about Muschamp. Losing to Dawgs twice and laying an egg in that Bowl and no real depth at QB after TWO years is wearing thin in Gainesville. Let him lose to Dawgs again and not win the East and Foley will be smitten.
old dog
January 8th, 2013
10:13 am
And last, but not least, Notre Dame will end up ranked 4th or 5th, and THEY ARE NOT A TOP FIFTEEN TEAM…..PERIOD!
JB
January 8th, 2013
10:15 am
Lordy, I hope that’s not true about Kamara. He’s a stud.
Smug
January 8th, 2013
10:15 am
BCS National Championship, what a mismatch. Anybody who follows the SEC knew this was going to be a blowout. Notre Dim should have never been in this game. The only decent team they played was Stanford & they went to OT. I guess the Irish can go back into hibernation for another 15 years before the liberal northern press can dust them off again. The SEC continues to rule.
Woooo
January 8th, 2013
10:15 am
I hate to rain on your parade Dawg fans but if saban had a month to prepare for uga the dawgs wouldve gotten blown out too.
Now go back to celebrating bama’s win as if uga actually won something. You people are pathetic and are embarrassing yourselves.
old dog
January 8th, 2013
10:16 am
Enter your comments here
old dog
January 8th, 2013
10:17 am
And, last but not least, Notre Dame will be ranked 4th or 5th, and they ARE NOT A TOP FIFTEEN TEAM….PERIOD!
JB
January 8th, 2013
10:18 am
What’s real world, and we can say it’s not all we won’t, but recruiting wise, Bama is at a point where they pick who they want, fill the numbers, and let everyone else fight over the rest. In fact, most that sign with the other football schools had Bama #1, and just didn’t make the cut. Now, that’s not 100%, but it’s not far off.
Dave
January 8th, 2013
10:19 am
When do the final BCS rankings come out? I’ve seen the AP. Just curious……
JB
January 8th, 2013
10:20 am
Wooo… don’t think so.
GTBob
January 8th, 2013
10:22 am
The SEC continues to rule.
More like Alabama continues to rule.
DAWGTOWN
January 8th, 2013
10:22 am
WOOOO or auburn fan
get a job
DAWGTOWN
January 8th, 2013
10:23 am
GTBOB
bama’s scout team would win the acc.
DawgNole
January 8th, 2013
10:24 am
Clowney is KIng
January 8th, 2013
6:52 am
You UGA fans who says UGA is #2 in the land, how do you explain 35-7 on October 7th, 2012? UGA fans have convenient amnesia when it comes to that game, like it never even happended!
_______________________
Same way you SC fans explain 44-11 on Oct 20, 2012. SC fans have convenient amnesia when it comes to that game, like it never even happened!
By the way, do you think Clowney would appreciate your calling him a “Klng”–whatever that is?
stendek
January 8th, 2013
10:26 am
Hi Mark. Those supposidly unbeatable northern teams become highly beatable when they play someone from the South worth a damn! Notre Dame would be fortunate to break even in Southeastern Conference. What a bunch of overrated losers they are! SHEESH.
Bubba
January 8th, 2013
10:27 am
Final standings will have 1 Bama, 2 Oregon, 3 TAM 4 Ga.
DawgDad
January 8th, 2013
10:29 am
AP now has Oregon and Notre Dame ranked ahead of Georgia and Texas A&M. Fox power rankings are worse. This is why the new playoff system will be just as big a travesty as the current system, quite possibly worse on an expanded scale. Anybody paying even passive attention knows, I mean knows, Georgia and Texas A&M would rip Notre Dame to shreds, and I have a strong sense Oregon is essentially — Clemson.
The only “fair” system is to devise a playoff of conference winners (forget the independents, if they want to play for a championship they need to affiliate with a conference). This restores the integrity of the conferences and conference championships, but it would totally destroy a lot of the pagentry and tradition of college football.
Bama Mike
January 8th, 2013
10:30 am
In my opinion the 3 most dominate teams at the end of the year which carried over into their respected bowl game. In no particular order
1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Texas A&M
If we are number one then Georgia should be number 1.5
Congrats to all on great seasons
Big Gator
January 8th, 2013
10:30 am
Once you win the SEC championship any team after that is a joke, people talking about Org would gave Bama a run, this is the same looking Org team Auburn crushed with Cam, the SEC is a semi pro conference.
In the SEC its almost impossibe to go undefeated, teams like Ohio State, USC, Okl would be 4th or 5th best in the conference, Louville had what over 20 players from Florida imagine if those players had of stayed home and played at UF, the south rules college football”””””’
Bull Butter
January 8th, 2013
10:31 am
Bama will be back in it next year,make no mistake about it!
Orlando Dawg
January 8th, 2013
10:33 am
Go Dawgs! Roll Tide! SEC Baby…Uga and Bama in Atlanta in Dec. UGA takes it this time!! But it is going to be a kick arse season! Clemson, LSU and the SEC East schedule is brutal!!! Go Dawgs!
JB
January 8th, 2013
10:33 am
Thanks Bama mike…..and congrats. It was over at 14-0.
stendek
January 8th, 2013
10:34 am
Give Nick Saban twice what he is making! Let him bring all his assistants. Get that winner to Athens. NOW! Even if the stay is a brief one. Dawg fans hunger for a TRUE sideline leader! Notice how he was all over those biased officials? Even up by plenty of points? True passion for winning. Long absent in Athens. Sigh.
Scott
January 8th, 2013
10:37 am
“7 IN A ROW!!!” – Fans of teams that haven’t won 1
GTBob
January 8th, 2013
10:37 am
GTBOB
bama’s scout team would win the acc.
Bama’s scout team would probably win the SEC.
GTBob
January 8th, 2013
10:40 am
If we are number one then Georgia should be number 1.5
South Carolina beat them by 28 points. They almost lost to Kentucky, and Tennessee and struggled against a bad Nebraska team. Just because Alabama laid an egg in the SEC championship doesn’t mean UGA is a great team.
crimson1
January 8th, 2013
10:41 am
I think we can get the number one lineman and the the best pass rusher with this win. Let us face it. Everybody wants to associate with a winner. Nick Saban is a winner. The man is becoming a living legend. Roll Tide!
DAWGTOWN
January 8th, 2013
10:41 am
GTBOB
retraction:
Bama’s scout team’s girlfriends could win the acc and blow uour the bees.
DAWGTOWN
January 8th, 2013
10:42 am
your bees
Moist Dawg
January 8th, 2013
10:42 am
After reading these comments I am disgusted to be a Dawg fan. You Dawg “fans” are running around like a bunch of fairies celebrating nick satans win when the realty is that our recruiting just got harder. You people make me sick. The truth is we have a long way to go in the offseason if we want to be that good. I really hope CMR was game planning last night and not celebrating some other teams victory like some of you losers. Sickening
Ben an SEC fan
January 8th, 2013
10:43 am
Bob Dawg; I agree ND should have dropped out of the top 10. They received the same biased support for a final ranking of #4. This represents the same type votes that put them in the BCS NC game. Do the voters really think ND is better than UGA?
T&AM
January 8th, 2013
10:44 am
@ 5 yards short
UGA doesnt deserve a # 2 ranking…UGA blew it when it got walloped by SC. UGA’s Run defense is a joke.
The same can be said for Alabama’s defense. Considering how we and GA shredded it…. lol
Enjoy your championship…..
WOOF
January 8th, 2013
10:44 am
GTBOB
I am sorry you were so bullied in your private school….truly….. or home school.
Alphare
January 8th, 2013
10:44 am
LSU 14 while ND 4?
That’s pathetic! ND doesn’t have chance against LSU even with Les at the helm.
DawgNole
January 8th, 2013
10:46 am
93 dog
January 8th, 2013
8:30 am
How is Urban Myer allowed to commentate for ESPN while he is coaching OSU?
______________________
How is he allowed to “commentate” for anyone anytime? After all, he’s no more than another of the “experts” who predicted a ND victory last night.
old dog
January 8th, 2013
10:46 am
Bottom line: SEC fan or not, ‘Bama fan or not, Tech fan or not, even FOOTBALL fan or not, Notre Dame is not a top-tier team…..period!
Wooooo
January 8th, 2013
10:48 am
The way you UGa fans are acting maybe Saban will let you put UGA on the bottom of the trophy, or maybe Saban will send you a chip from the crystal that you can put in the trophy case. You Dawg fans need to wipe off the drool and stop acting so pathetic, you’re making fools of yourselves.
monty
January 8th, 2013
10:50 am
All the ESPN pundits gave such man-love to the Irish all year. It was sickening. Everyone who knows SEC football knew they would be exposed. And is Tao really better than say Ogeltree or Jones? Or Bama’s best players? Sorry, I didn’t see it. But he does play for Notre Dame who just happens to play alot of teams who aren’t SEC caliber. For all the pundits and algorithms they got it wrong. Everyone knew except the BCS that Bama was number 1 and Notre Dame was perhaps a #8-12 team.
D man
January 8th, 2013
10:51 am
I almost nailed it. My prediction was Bama 42-13, missed it by one point. Also, Dawgs should be ranked ahead of Notre Dame. We should be ranked number 2…
GTBob
January 8th, 2013
10:53 am
We should be ranked number 2…
What did UGA do to earn a #2 ranking?
shankit
January 8th, 2013
10:54 am
Bama should give thanks to Baylor for upsetting Kansas State
and the team that beat Oregon. Else, they would have been
playing Louisville in the Sugar Bowl, who is a much better team
than Notre Dame.
Title 15
January 8th, 2013
10:54 am
in 2013, bama will be even better—mark it down, title #16 is on the way!!! RTR!!!