Hometown Heroes: Howard Crawford stepping up for UAB. 8C
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F R I D A Y , J A N U A R Y 8 , 2010
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CRIMSON TITLE Alabama back on top with 13th national championship By Cecil Hurt Sports Editor
PHOTO | JASON HARLESS
Alabama running back Mark Ingram celebrates after scoring on a 1-yard run with two minutes left to play against Texas in the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, Calif.
INSIDE
■ PICK SIX: Defensive lineman Marcell Dareus gives Tide a big lift with interception return for a TD | 4C ■ MARK OF A CHAMPION: Tide running back Mark Ingram comes through with big runs in second half, despite injury | 4C ■ CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENTS: Picture page from Alabama’s win against Texas | 5C ■ LEADER STEPS UP: Linebacker Rolando McClain leads Tide defense despite illness | 6C
PASADENA, CALIF. | It was a BCS National Championship Game that turned into a classic — even if the University of Alabama would have preferred otherwise. The Crimson Tide captured its first national championship in 17 years, and its first of the BCS Era, holding off a valiant second-half comeback by Texas to defeat the Longhorns 37-21 at the Rose Bowl. The win also was the first ever for Alabama against Texas in nine tries. But the results were far more important than the mere ending of a losing streak. “I’ve never been prouder of a group of guys,” said Alabama head coach Nick Saban. “The blood, sweat and tears they put in was tremendous. Most people don’t realize the dedication it takes to do that. “We had a lot of anxiety at the beginning of the game. We made some mistakes. Then it was like we won the game at halftime. But (Texas) had the ability to come back. Give them credit. But our guys made the plays and I was proud that our guys were able to finish (and) put it away.” The Longhorns, as Saban noted, did not go quietly. Texas had pinned its hopes on the passing of quarterback Colt McCoy, and when he went out in the first quarter with a right shoulder injury, the Longhorns were lost for the rest of the half. Two special-team foibles in the early going — a fake punt attempt on the first series that was intercepted by Texas’ Blake Gideon and a failure to field a sky kick that resulted in a Longhorn recovery — led to two Texas field goals and a 6-0 lead. But the important development in the early going was the loss of McCoy on a first-down play from the Alabama 11, his shoulder injured on a hit by the Crimson Tide’s Marcell Dareus. The 6-0 lead held up through the first quarter, but with McCoy’s replacement, Garrett Gilbert, struggling and the UA 1-2 rushing attack shifting into gear, the Crimson Tide exploded for 24 second-quarter points on touchdown runs by Mark Ingram, from 2 yards out, and Trent Richardson on an explosive 49-yard run. Leigh Tiffin added a 26-yard field goal with 29 seconds remaining in the half. On the ensuing possession, Texas elected not to kill the clock and turned the ball over for what may have been the game’s most devastating touchdown. Gilber t’s shovel pass attempt to Tre Newton with 15 seconds remaining in the half was intercepted at the line by Dareus, who shoved Gilbert out of the way and went 28 yards for a touchdown that put the Crimson Tide ahead 24-6. Texas regained the momentum in the second half as Gilbert’s comfort level increased. SEE TITLE | 6C
Saban deserves credit as Alabama earns national title PASADENA, Calif. here was a point on Thursday night when it appeared the 2009 BCS Championship might come easily for the University of Alabama. Colt McCoy, Texas’ bright star at quarterback, was injured. The Crimson Tide rushing attack was rolling downhill like twin landslides in Pasadena’s nearby San Gabriel Mountains. Texas appeared demoralized. Alabama appeared bent on demolition.
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CECIL HURT
It seemed that the confirmation of the three most important words to all of the UA family — “Alabama Is Back” — was inevitable. But it didn’t come easily in the end. And it shouldn’t have. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for Alabama’s 13th national championship to be easy. It wouldn’t have mirrored the journey Alabama has taken over the past 17 years, from the top of the college football mountain to the depths and now, after so long, back to
the top again. If it did nothing else, the win redefined “looking down the barrel of a gun,” the phrase that has haunted Alabama football for a decade. Now, instead of thinking about an NCAA committee chairman uttering those words, the Crimson Tide can think of Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert, aflame with momentum and poised to push the Longhorns down the field again. SEE HURT | 6C