Pretty Ballsy Move By Saban!

[Fryowa]

Probably shouldn't be ignored that the Bama QB took a horrible sack right before he threw that touchdown. He sorta went from goat to legend in about 10 seconds

Parrish (#14) had a PI, face mask that moved Alabama inside field goal territory with 1st and 10, and got torched by Smith by 10 yards to allow the TD--------all within the last 4:00. I'd say the Tide-a-roos should thank that guy, he did more than Tagovailoa did to help out.

Josh Jackson wouldn'ta done that.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Absolutely agreed. I've been a Bama fan for years and I was terrified that Jalen was going to cost us the game in the days leading up to the game - by the end of the first half, I was getting ready to get piled on for my boys losing. I'm sure that locker room was unpleasant at halftime based on how inept the offense looked. But Saban, oh man, that was legendary coaching. I was at my buddy's place (huge Hawk fan) for the second half and the moment UGA had 4th and short on the 39 and Kirby punted it, I guaranteed him that Bama was going to win. I pointed out that Kirby was acting just like Ferentz 1.0 after they put up 20 points. If you have an elite team on the ropes, you have to go for the jugular like Ferentz did against OSU - you can't pussyfoot around playing a field position game. You can't let them hang around down two possessions.

The really remarkable stat on Saban is how few active coaches have beaten him. I don't remember the full list, but it is like Ferentz, Meyer, Dabo, Richt, Sumlin (did he leave A&M and get a new job) and Gus Malzahn. I think one or two other guys might have a W still hanging around from his MSU days, but holy crap, that is a pretty damned elite list Ferentz is on. Thank you Tate to Holloway!

And such integrity, as well. Benching the guy who slugged th...oh, wait...

 

[hawkeyebob62]

It does make you wonder what the QB situation in Alabama is going to look like this offseason. How does Jalen Hurts go into next season with any sort of confidence when he got benched in the title game?

Obviously Alabama isn't used to having their running game shut down completely so my guess is Hurts remains the starter, but the fans are going to be calling for the backup every single time Hurts struggles or Bama is losing.

SiriusXM 84 today had a couple guys saying Hurts will transfer to FAU...or wherever Lane Kiffin may end up...

 

[hawkeyebob62]

The kid made some goofy young mistakes but he also made some great plays, a way better passer than hurts who just couldnt seem to see the field.

I do think the young kid got to play against a Georgia defense that was getting tired in the 4th qtr. It is hard to play when you are getting held a lot which other people mentioned and I saw. It takes a lot of energy to ward off someone grabbing you.

Again a gutsy coaching change even though I am not a Saban or Bama fan. It is easier to make changes when you have 5 natty titles already under your belt.

Prolly why Pierschbacher chose Bama. Saban, et. al., let him in on the fact he'd get called for holding a lot more at Iowa than at bama.

 

[Adam]

Fvck Alabama! But damnit all if that isn't the finest football program of all time.

 

[okeefe4prez]

How many football teams are you a fan of besides Bama and jNW? And maybe Iowa.

I'm just kidding on that one. Me and a buddy at work (Illini fan) adopted Bama fandom in late 2015 (after Iowa's meltdown against MSU) because we work with a bunch of jerkoff OSU, ND and Michigan fans. It's nice to have something to talk smack about where there's just no comeback. Bama is better than them all. This one OSU fan was probably 2 seconds away from punching me after I showed him a picture of the Iowa-OSU scoreboard a few days after the selection show where Bama got picked over OSU - I was all like "oh man, that ass beating Iowa laid down paved the path for my Tide to win another title so I should send Coach Ferentz a gift basket or something." Dude did not respond to my emails last night or this morning, but he sure was chirping when we were down 13 at the half. ROLL TIDE!

 

[okeefe4prez]

Fvck Alabama! But damnit all if that isn't the finest football program of all time.

They're just ridiculous. Think of the best players we've had in the Ferentz era. They have like three guys on the current roster at that position who are better (save for maybe Josh Jackson and Nate Kaeding). Bulaga? Pfft, they've got three guys as good. Clayborn? Pfft, they've got better guys. Kirksey? Hitchens? Have you seen their LBs? Shonn Greene? Yeah, they roll like 5 deep at RB and they're all good. I've never seen anything like it.

 

[okeefe4prez]

And such integrity, as well. Benching the guy who slugged th...oh, wait...

Nick is too busy calling games to worry about minor behavioral issues. And he redeemed himself with that clothesline tackle on the next kickoff.

 

[Adam]

Nick is too busy calling games to worry about minor behavioral issues. And he redeemed himself with that clothesline tackle on the next kickoff.

Pretty sure that swinging on a coach has no redemption possible from plays on the gridiron.

 

[tweeterhawk]

I can't really see Ferentz having the kahonas to do that with the back-up, let alone true freshman.

Never, ever, ever. Although I don’t think Ferentz will ever have the luxury of coaching the top-ranked prep player at any position, let alone QB.

Coaching in the national championship game, either.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Any chance Saban rides off into the sunset because he's bored? Give some other folks a chance geez. Dude has never lost to a former assistant of his and it's quite a long list of them now. Thought I heard he's making 11 mil a year.... I guess if that's true I'd coach till they kicked me out too. But geez who can bitch about KF getting less than half that? I mean he does get more than half as many wins a year usually....

 

[okeefe4prez]

Never, ever, ever. Although I don’t think Ferentz will ever have the luxury of coaching the top-ranked prep player at any position, let alone QB.

Wasn't Blake Larsen the number 1 tackle or am I misremembering?

 

[okeefe4prez]

Any chance Saban rides off into the sunset because he's bored? Give some other folks a chance geez. Dude has never lost to a former assistant of his and it's quite a long list of them now. Thought I heard he's making 11 mil a year.... I guess if that's true I'd coach till they kicked me out too. But geez who can bitch about KF getting less than half that? I mean he does get more than half as many wins a year usually....

I think he wants to win one more so he can claim he's better than Bear Bryant.

 

[Adam]

Nick is too busy calling games to worry about minor behavioral issues. And he redeemed himself with that clothesline tackle on the next kickoff.

also throwing your helmet or arguing is a minor behavioral issue. Swinging at a coach is pretty major.

 

[tweeterhawk]

Wasn't Blake Larsen the number 1 tackle or am I misremembering?

Most services had him at No 3 at OT. Never started IIRC.

 

[SteveGarvey1]

Could you ever see Kirk participating in a national championship game?

Probably only in the ceremonial coin toss or as a guest in the broadcast booth.

 

[tweeterhawk]

The kid made some goofy young mistakes but he also made some great plays, a way better passer than hurts who just couldnt seem to see the field.

I do think the young kid got to play against a Georgia defense that was getting tired in the 4th qtr. It is hard to play when you are getting held a lot which other people mentioned and I saw. It takes a lot of energy to ward off someone grabbing you.

Again a gutsy coaching change even though I am not a Saban or Bama fan. It is easier to make changes when you have 5 natty titles already under your belt.

I thought the kid had a great second half. Elusive most of the time. Threw the ball with the right amount of velocity or touch. Saw the field. Even after that sack for a huge loss in overtime, he came right back on the next play for the huge TD pass.

 

[mopkins]

SiriusXM 84 today had a couple guys saying Hurts will transfer to FAU...or wherever Lane Kiffin may end up...

I just cant see it...yet. If Hurts transferred he'd have to redshirt and sit out next year. I gotta believe Saban is telling him he's still the starter for next year or at the very least its a 50/50 competition

 

[westender]

At half Saban chose to go with a pretty inexperienced true freshman QB, who really had not played much during the year. Saban realized that he needed more passing, in particular downfield, and realized the freshman gave him the best chance with his arm. It was a pretty bold move yanking the starter who has gone something like 25-2.

I can't really see Ferentz having the kahonas to do that with the back-up, let alone true freshman. I realize that young man was the #1 dual threat QB coming out of HS, but still is only a freshman. Helluva move by Saban to jump start Alabama.

They were going to lose the game otherwise anyway, so what is to lose at that point.

 

[SamBrownlee48]

It's hard to imagine Ferentz, or any other Iowa coach, having a guy like Tua on the roster.