While there surely were lots more important things in most people’s lives, and in the events of our nation and our world, there still was no question that “what it was, was football” that got the primary attention of a great many sports fans Thursday night.
In the national championship college football game, the University of Alabama was determined to prove it deserved its No. 1 rating, and the University of Texas was determined to prove otherwise.
Well, Alabama won, 37-21, but not as easily as the score suggests.
In fact, Alabama seemed to be sluggish and in trouble in the first quarter, before Tide quarterback Greg McElroy got into his passing groove and Alabama’s Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram became the most valuable player on offense.
There was the unfortunate early throwing-shoulder injury that knocked Texas quarterback Colt McCoy out of the game. It put a heavy burden on valiant backup Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert.
The game got down to a tense 3-point Alabama lead before Alabama, boasting 13 wins to zero losses in the regular season, put the game away, adding one loss to Texas’ 13-0 regular-season record.
A fine sports tradition kept all fans on edge and provided an excellent sports spectacular in the midst of a world of many cares and challenges.