College football title game
There are simply too many things to try to cover from the Alabama-Georgia national title game on Monday night.
Just too many.
But we are here to try to cut through the riffraff. Let's try to cut it to a simple top-10 list that we will not try to pry into a certain number of words. (Translation: Buckle up, because here we go.)
1. Nick Saban made arguably the most ballsy call in the history of football. Think about this: Saban was chasing all-time history, a legacy that has one-name icons like Bear and the rest. And dude looked at the true freshman back-up quarterback and said "You are up." And to make it even more meaningful, he pegged that freshman to replace Jalen Hurts, the sophomore QB who had a 25-2 record as a starter and was the reigning SEC player of the year.
2. Alabama players play hungry in every game, and above all things that Saban can claim - and deserves - as high praise, that may be the greatest. Simply put, Saban has created a machine that cycles through almost everything else. Think of all the assistants who have left, the injuries this year, you name it, and there is nerve, ever any excuses.
3. This is a loss that will sting for the Bulldogs. Georgia is certainly trending upward, and there will be a lot of talk about UGA losing the battle and winning the war. That said, a Georgia win would have been an accelerator to the spring board Kirby Smart and Co. are using.
4. Never underestimate the importance of kickers. Man, Alabama and Nick Saban would be even better and even more historic if it had a kicker it could trust. Seriously, if you are the best kicker in the country, would you not be headed right there. (Side note: Alabama's kicker made Vegas some money last night as more than 53 percent of the money was on the under, and that missed kick at the end forced overtime and pushed the total north of 46.)
5. As for the game, well, the game-tying touchdown to Calvin Ridley for Alabama was a complete and total prayer throw. Watch the replay. In fact, we believe the Hawaii freshman was throwing to someone else and Ridley came crossing through and grabbed the ball.
6. A new rivalry emerges. For most of us, the tug of war that college football passion generates is predictable and and probable. And that's cool. Auburn fans hate Alabama. And vice versa. Georgia fans hate Tennessee. And vice versa. Here's believing that the friendly "My enemy's enemy is my friend" logic that connected Alabama and Georgia will be tampered down sooner rather than later.
7. Saban actually looked happy after this win. That's a scary thought for the rest of college football if the Dark Lord actually appreciates and shares success, well cats and dogs living together; peanut butter and jelly not mixing; Oreos have said no thanks to milk.
8. Sony Michel made more money in the last month than anyone this side of Bitcoin investors and Kevin Sumlin. Michel was a dude, and he converted a slew of third-and-longs on simple hand-offs Monday night. His numbers in the last two games are stout: 25 carries, 279 rushing yards, and four total TDs. Dude averaged 8.0 yards per carry this year. Wow.
9. Along those lines, last night was not Jim Chaney's best showing? After UGA picked Tau Tagovailoa midway through the third, UGA went dead silent on offense, gaining 56 yards on its final 23 snaps. Discuss.
10. Is Jalen Hurts the best teammate ever? And if you are an Alabama fan, would you blame Hurts if he wanted to transfer heading into next year? That said, it's not like Hurts has an NFL future, so maybe he stays.
Have to make the call
OK, we are awed by Saban.
He is the best ever and it's simply not close.
Heck he's so good, we willing to push chips in on Saban being the best coach in the history of team sports.
Yes, Geno may have more dominating stats, and Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach may have more titles.
But if a landscape as unpredictable as college football, Saban's level of continued success and dedication to the pursuit of excellence is staggering.
Six national titles. The last five in nine years. Stew on that.
Now know this: Last year, Alabama lost a title on the last play of the game against one of the five best college quarterbacks of the last 15 years. In 2013, Alabama lost a shot at the national championship because of the Kick Six, which by most accounts is one of the three or four single craziest ends to a college football game. Alabama lost to THE Ohio State in the first college football playoff in 2014 because Cardale Jones made two simply perfect throws.
That means that not only has Saban won a history-rewriting five titles in nine years, his Alabama program is a break or three away from having as many as eight titles in the last nine years. Let that sink in, and remember that we graduated from Auburn, so praising any and all things Alabama is not exactly easy.
And the decision to lift Jalen Hurts for a teenager who before last night had as meaningful snaps as you did simply puts the exclamation point on everything that he is.
Now comes the time that Big Jim Haslam and the Cleveland ownership group give Saban whatever it takes to coach the Browns.
Whatever it takes. Ownership stake in the team. If Gruden is worth $10 million a year, Saban is worth $15 million. (And make no mistake Alabama is going to try to match whatever is put out there.)
And if the Cleveland thing does not work, then the New York Giants need to come calling.
Do we think he will take it? No, not really. But if you are an NFL owner, you have to make the call right? (And let's be really clear here: If Haslam pulls that off, it would get him back in the good graces of Johnny Vols Fans everywhere.)
Too early college football poll
1. Alabama. Did anyone notice how many freshmen Alabama used last night? Seriously.
2. Clemson. Some heavy losses in the front seven, but the Tigers offense will be high-flying with Kelly Bryant back.
3. THE Ohio State. J.T. Barrett's 22-year college career is finally over, but the talent is evident for THE Buckeyes.
4. Wisconsin. The always-tough-on-defense Badgers welcome back 10 starters on offense next year.
5. Penn State. Even with Saquon Barkley, the Nittany Lions and quarterback Trace McSorley - who will start next year on a lot of Heisman shortlists - will be in the mix.
6. Georgia. Jake Fromm and D'Andre Swift are a great foundation.
7. Miami. If the Hurricanes can avoid the injuries that derailed them this year, they will be in the mix for the playoff.
8. Washington. Seriously, Chris Peterson is on the short list of of folks battling to be there way behind Saban and right being Urban Meyer.
9. Virginia Tech. Josh Jackson will not make the same mistakes he did in 2017. Justin Fuente knows what he's doing.
10. Oklahoma. No player will be more difficult to replace than Baker Mayfield, but former five-star recruit and Texas A&M transfer Kyler Murray has skills.
11. Michigan State. Part of a very talented Big Ten core, the Spartans defense returns most of its impact players, including linebacker Joe Bachie.
12. Stanford. If Bryce Love decides to come back to school - the deadline for underclassmen to enter the draft is next Monday, Jan. 15 - the Cardinal could be higher. And likely should be.
13. LSU. A ton of top-tier talent, but the Tigers new-look offense will be under a lot of scrutiny. This team could finish in the top three in the country or in the bottom three of the SEC West. Yes, the swing is that great.
14. USC. Replacing Sam Darnold will be a chore, but the Trojans have been recruiting at an elite level and will have more speed than anyone on their schedule.
15. Boise State. Seven returning offensive starters, including quarterback Brett Rypien, is nice. Ten returning defensive starters is even more nice.
16. Michigan. This could be low if Shae Patterson - the Ole Miss transfer - finds a way to be eligible in 2018.
17. Auburn. The junior defections at running back and on defense to the NFL hurt. But the monster holes to fill are across the offensive line - where four senior starters with more than 100 career starts combined - and in the secondary are going to be tough. The schedule - September tests against Washington and LSU as well as November trips to Georgia and Alabama - is no cupcake either.
18. FSU. This may be low if Deondre Francois is the player in '18 we thought he would be in '17.
19. TCU. Gary Patterson knows what he's doing friends.
20. Florida Atlantic. Here's a fun question for the group: What is Lane Kiffin's next landing spot, because he is not long for Owl World.
21. Kansas State. The up-and-down run that was 2017 will be calmed by an offense that could return all 11 starters.
22. Notre Dame. The offensive line - a clear Irish strength in a bounce back '17 - will lose four starters as well as its top two tight ends. That's a hard hurdle to clear.
23. Mississippi State. Yes, new coach Joe Moorhead has the challenge of replacing the best coach in program history. He also has the blessing of a pretty talented core. Side note: This is where Bob Shoop, the former UT defensive coordinator, landed.
24. UCF. Yes, a lot leaves Orlando - including coach Scott Frost and his entire staff - but quarterback Milton McKenzie, who tortured Auburn in the second half of the Peach Bowl, comes back and that's a huge boost.
25. Texas. We almost went South Carolina here, but here's thinking the Longhorns in year two of the Herman era will be better.
This and that
- OK, did anyone else explore the plethora of ESPN viewing options? Personally the "Film Room" hosted by Tom Luginbill with college head coaches Mike Bobo, David Cutcliffe, Pat Fitzgerald, Mike Gunday, Matt Luke and Kevin Sumlin was excellent. Excellent.
- LeBron James finished minus-39 in plus/minus Monday night. Worst of his career.
- We kicked around so many great things from the national title game, but there was anyone more happy about the final outcome than the Alabama kicker, who gagged the game-winner (which would have secured the under.) Monday night?
- Speaking of the title game, yes the controversy involving the officials continues to swirl around football at all levels. So it goes.
- More title game talk, this Tweet coming from TFP all-around college football guru and Press Row cohost David Paschall: Alabama won a national title after losing Marlon Humphrey, Jonathan Allen, O.J. Howard, Reuben Foster, Cam Robinson, Ryan Anderson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Tim Williams and ArDarius Stewart in the first three rounds of the 2017 draft.
- Also of note: Alabama is the favorite in 2018 to win it all according to Vegas. The Tide are a 3-to-1 pick. Georgia (9-to-2), Clemson (6-to-1), THE Ohio State (8-to-1), Michigan (10-to-1) and Penn State (12-to-1) are the frontrunners according to the folks who know things. The next group is Texas, Wisconsin, Auburn and Miami at 25-to-1, and followed by Oklahoma, LSU, Washington and Michigan State at 30-to-1.
- In the final AP poll, UCF finished No. 6 and got four first-place votes.
- Congrats to AuburnTideFan for a great run through the Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler Optional). Email us your contact info and we'll get those prizes in the mail.
Today's question
Yes, it's a Tuesday. You know what that means.
True or false, Nick Saban is the best coach working in all of team sports.
True or false, Nick Saban is the best coach ever in the history of team sports.
True or false, Georgia will be back in the playoff next year.
As for today, Jan. 9, well, Richard Nixon would have been 105. JK Simmons is 63 today. Dave Matthews is 51. Bob Denver (aka Gilligan) would have been 83. Bart Starr is 84.
The iPhone was announced on this day in 2007.
Rushmore of all-time college football coaches. Go.