Nick Saban‘s coachspeak was at a championship level too heading into halftime of the BCS national title against Notre Dame. “We still have 3o more minutes of football,” Saban said, his team up 28-0.
Technically, Saban was right, but that final 30 minutes was more of a formality. Alabama had unofficially locked up another BCS championship. A couple of hours later, Saban was hoisting the Coaches’ Trophy after his second-ranked Tide knocked off No. 1 Notre Dame 42-14, giving the program its third BCS championship in four years.
There are a lot of adjectives one could use to describe what Alabama did to the Irish in Miami. Some are illegal in certain states, but it was Brent Musburger who probably described it best when he said “What a road kill.”
Things began favoring the Tide immediately when the offense took just three minutes on its opening possession to drive 82 yards in five plays to score first. Alabama’s offense was so balanced and efficient that it finished with exactly 264 yards passing and rushing. That would be courtesy of the Tide’s offensive line. A.J. McCarron usually had all day to throw it (and to open receivers) while Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon both rushed for over 100 yards.
Conversely, Notre Dame’s top-10 defense was helpless to do anything. The best hit on McCarron all night? From his center, Barrett Jones in an odd, late-game scuffle.
It’s no big deal now. Alabama is in the middle of one of the best runs in college football history. Surely Jones and McCarron turned those shoves into hugs.
We’ll have more coming from tonight’s game.