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MIZ-MATCH
No. 1 Alabama puts away Missouri to capture 24th SEC title; clinches spot in inaugural College Football Playoff
STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON
Alabama running back Derrick Henry runs the ball into the end zone for a fourth-quarter touchdown against Missouri in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The No. 1 Crimson Tide won, 42-13.
Sims throws for 262 yards, two touchdowns for Tide By Cecil Hurt Sports Editor
ATLANTA | If a nation was looking to Atlanta for some College Playoff drama, it was wasting its time. The Alabama Crimson Tide decisively seized its spot in the fi rst playoff, likely as the No. 1 seed, by routing SEC East champion Missouri, 42-13, in the Georgia Dome and securing its record 24th SEC championship in the process. As it had done a week before against Auburn, the Crimson Tide slammed the door in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points and raising its record to 12-1. Gritty Missouri had cut the Crimson Tide lead to 21-13 with 4:37 to go in the third quarter — but in the fourth quarter, it was all Alabama. “We had cut it to one score, and then they take it, go 65 yards and answer,” Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel said. “Then they hold us, we punt them down to the 10-yard line
This title a little more enjoyable for Tide
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SELECTION SHOW
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■ When: 11:30 a.m., today ■ What: Semifinal playoff pairings for the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl as well as participants in the Peach, Fiesta, Orange and Cotton Bowls will be revealed. ■ TV: ESPN
and they go 90 yards and score. “Those were two statement drives by them. That’s what great teams do.” The Crimson Tide executed a flawless opening drive, marching 68 yards in less than four minutes to take a quick 7-0 lead on T.J. Yeldon’s 2-yard touchdown run. Missouri struggled offensively but held on defensively for the rest of the quarter, which included a missed Crimson Tide field goal. Alabama then hit on its biggest offensive play of the half early in the SEE T IDE | 6C
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ATLANTA year ago, the Alabama football team was stunned, stinging with pain from a season-wrecking loss to Auburn and reeling from the realization that there would be no third consecutive national championship. That was supposed to happen automatically, even robotically, for the Crimson Tide. But it didn’t. And when it didn’t, the 2013 team didn’t recover. It lost the Sugar Bowl and triggered a whole year of worry and concern and anguish among a fan base that had grown as accustomed to winning the hardware as Daniel Day Lewis on Oscar night. CECIL The consternation only grew worse in HURT the long, hot Summer of Quarterback Uncertainty, with many Crimson Tide fans pinning their hopes on a Florida State transfer who had never started a game. The doubters were doubting. Bob Stoops was gloating. Every meal, Alabama fans felt, came with a side order of misery. Then a funny thing happened. It wasn’t that there were no expectations for Alabama coming into 2014. That never happens. But these were cautious expectations, tempered by anxiety. SEE HURT | 5C
STAFF PHOTO | ERIN NELSON
Alabama receiver Amari Cooper (9) and running back Altee Tenpenny celebrate after the Crimson Tide’s victory over Missouri. Cooper caught an SEC Championship Game record 12 passes.
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TIGER LAPSE:
DOMINATION:
ON TARGET:
QUARTER GLANCE:
FOUR DOWNS:
NOTEBOOK:
ANALYSIS:
After pulling close in third quarter, Mizzou fades away
Tide defense holds Tigers to 41 rush yards, one touchdown
Blake Sims completes 23 of 27 passes as Tide offense stands tall
Breakdown of each quarter
How the Crimson Tide answered questions against Missouri
Sims, Cooper set SEC records in title game
Tide offensive line doesn’t dominate, but gets the job done
For video and a photo gallery of Alabama’s game against Missouri, go to www.tidesports.com