Lucky Thirteen — Alabama Wins BCS National Championship

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

Alabama’s thirteenth national championship comes home to Tuscaloosa. It was a game for the ages as they say. #1 Alabama versus #2 Texas. Alabama was 0-7-1 against the horns all time. Was. After all was said and done, after all the battle scars were engraved, after all the laughter and all the tears, The University of Alabama defeated Texas 37-21 in Pasadena, California for the BCS National Championship in the Rose Bowl where Alabama won their first four national titles.

It turned out to be a true war. Alabama was behind early 6-0, after a fake punt resulted in an interception, and field goal and the ensuing kick off was allowed to hit the ground, a live ball, that Texas recovered. They would be held to another field goal. Their All-American quarterback Colt McCoy went out of the game on the first drive, after being hit in the shoulder by the Tide’s defensive tackle Marcel Dareus. In came freshman QB Garrett Gilbert. Gilbert struggled on and off throughout the night, with some throws that let you know that Texas football will be just fine and a few that made you feel bad for the kid. He arrived to that game expecting to watch Colt McCoy do his thing one more time, then wound up playing pretty much the entire game. He seemed to be growing up live on TV, right before our eyes after throwing two interceptions early, one, with three seconds left in the half, returned by Dareus for a TD. Then he seemed to get comfortable and mature and led the Horns back for two scores and a two point conversion to dwindle Bama’s lead to just three. 24-21.

Then the game turned again. With Texas holding all the momentum. After a missed 52 yard field goal by Leigh Tiffin and a stalled drive by the Tide, Texas got the ball back with 6 minutes left. Plenty of time to take the lead and win the game. Not to be. Maybe the biggest play of the game came on Texas’ second play of that drive, when Tide linebacker Eryk Anders sacked Gilbert and forced a fumble that Bama recovered on the Longhorn three yard line. Mark Ingram would score the touchdown, his second of the night to put Alabama up 31-21. They would add another score by freshman Trent Richardson, his second. Tiffin missed the extra point, leaving Alabama with a 37-21 victory to crown a wonderful season.

14-0.  Alabama’s first Heisman winner, Mark Ingram led the Tide with 118 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Proving he didn’t buy the Heisman jinx talk, becoming only the second player in the BCS era to win the Heisman and the National Championship in the same year, the sixth player since 1950 to accomplish the feat, the first running back since Tony Dorsett for Pittsburgh in 1976. Trent Richardson had 109 yards on 19 carries and two TDs, also. Greg McElroy was 6 of 11 for 58 yards passing. He just never seemed to be comfortable and thankfully wasn’t forced to throw, thanks to our running game.

The Tide brings home lucky thirteen, their eighth major poll title, tying them with Notre Dame for the most. They lead the nation in bowl appearances and bowl wins also.
Alabama is picked to be the pre-season number one for next season as well. Next season will bring what it will when it will. For now they can bask in the glory and relish every second of fame that comes with winning a National Championship. What Coach Nick Saban has brought to the Capstone is nothing short of amazing. Bringing a storied program back to where it once was, back to where Crimson Tide football belongs. At the top. Where it looks they may be to stay.

Congratulations Alabama, on your unbeaten season, your Heisman Trophy winner, your unprecedented six first-team All-Americans, your 22nd SEC title, and your 13th National Championship. Congratulations Alabama on lucky thirteen. May it bring thirteen more. Roll Tide!!!

By MP

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Tags: Alabama versus Texas, BCS National Championship, Pasadena California, Rose Bowl, University of Alabama
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