It’s high-five of national titles for Saban
glendale, ariz.» Step aside, Bear. There’s a new legend in Tuscaloosa, Ala. At the risk of stirring up the everlasting wrath of the Houndstooth Nation, Nick Saban locked up the title as the greatest coach in college football history with his fourth national title in seven years Monday night. And, yes, that includes Bear Bryant. If there were any doubts about Saban’s genius — and how could there be? — he pulled off one of the gutsiest calls you will ever see with another championship hanging in the balance.
Alabama had just tied the national championship game against Clemson at 24-all on Adam Griffith’s field goal with 10:34 remaining in an instant classic of a contest.
The crowd of more than 75,000 settled back into its seats, eagerly anticipating what the response would be from quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Tigers. Saban wouldn’t give them a chance. Instead, he called for Griffith to pooch the kickoff toward the Clemson bench, the ball traveling no more than 15 yards. Marlon Humphrey, a freshman defensive back from suburban Birmingham, Ala., ran up under it without breaking stride, with no one from the orange-clad Tigers around.
Humphrey couldn’t take it any farther. It didn’t matter. Alabama ball. Two plays later, Jake Coker launched a pass down the middle of the field. Tight end O.J. Howard ran up under it — again with no one around— for a 51-yard touchdown that put Alabama ahead to stay. The Crimson Tide went on to a 45-40 victory. With that, Saban’s legacy was ensured. The best ever. He is now tied with Frank Leahy for the second-most coaching titles as determined by The Associated Press. Throw in a fifth that Saban won at LSU — a BCS crown that is every bit as a legitimate, even though it was shared with AP champ Southern Cal — and he’s now in hallowed territory.
Crimson ride
A look at Alabama’s titles with Nick Saban: 2015: A back-and-forth affair for three quarters, Alabama scored 24 fourth-quarter points, sparked by an onside kick after a game-tying field goal in the final quarter. The 45-40 win stopped Clemson from becoming the first team in majorcollege football history to finish a season 15-0, and it earned Saban his fourth title in seven years. 2012: Season ended with an emphatic 42-14 victory over Notre Dame in the BCS title game. Went 13-1, and the Crimson Tide’s seniors capped a 49-5 run over four years. 2011: Led by the nation’s best defense and seven first-team All-Americans, Alabama overcame an overtime loss to LSU and won the rematch 21-0 to capture the first of two consecutive national titles. Alabama won it all despite not winning the SEC West, with the 12 wins coming by an average of 29.1 points. The Tide’s defense held LSU to 92 total yards in the 21-0 victory. 2009: Saban’s first national title with the Tide, which went 14-0. Running back Mark Ingram became the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner. Alabama beat Texas 37-21.