15 Reasons why Alabama-Clemson IV will be the best of the series
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama head coach Nick Saban pose with the championship trophy during a news conference for the NCAA college football playoff championship game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
It’s always amazing when two dynasties clash.
Everyone knows about the 10-year war between Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes. Tom Osborne and Barry Switzer used to go at it in the Old Big 8. Steve Spurrier and Bobby Bowden pretty much cemented the Sunshine Showdown as a big-time in-state rivalry. The glory years of Bob Stoops and Mack Brown in the Red River Shootout was must-see television.
Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney are both rock star coaches with two of the best programs in all of College Football. This will be the third time in the past four years that the two will be coaching for all the marbles and fourth-straight overall meeting in the Playoffs.
Both coaches split their two National Title games, but this year’s winner will have ultimate bragging rights. Thousands of fans across the country are tired of watching Saban and Swinney hog all the post season glory. However, they can’t deny each coach’s accomplishments, competitiveness and how they made their mark on the sport.
Enjoy Monday night everyone, because it’s going to be an instant classic and here are the reasons why.
15. College Football is taking over the Bay area: This will be the first National Championship Game played in California that’s not the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
14. Alabama and Clemson are undefeated: For the first in the CFP Championship both two teams enter the game unblemished. One will finish the season an astonishing 15-0, which is unprecedented in today’s game!
13. Both teams’ starting signal-callers: Trevor Lawrence is only a true freshman and has led the Tigers to the biggest game of his life. He leads the ACC in passing efficiency and has thrown for 27 touchdowns. Alabama’s true sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is already a house hold name. The Heisman runner-up has set the College Football world on fire since the second half of last year’s National Championship Game and has 41 touchdown passes on the season.
12. Two of the best defenses in the nation: Saban and Swinney recruit deep and hard on that side of the ball and the performances and statistics from these units are jaw-dropping. So many defensive NFL Draft prospects will be on the field you could lose count. Expect some hard-hitting!
11. Clemson’s senior wideout Hunter Renfrow: He broke Alabama’s heart two years ago with that game-winning touchdown reception that gave the Tigers their second National Title. The veteran has a chance to have the last laugh with a cherry on top to finish a great career.
10. The battle of assistant coaches: Newly-hired Maryland Coach Mike Locksley had a horrible tenure with New Mexico, but rejuvenated his career under the guidance of Saban and won the Frank Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant this season. He’ll be on the sidelines in College Park this fall. Brent Venables experience as a Defensive Coordinator at Oklahoma and Clemson will land him a head coaching gig sooner than later. Venables been apart of a National Championship from each team.
9. Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy: The true sophomore sensation won the Biletnikoff this season and can stretch the field on any defense on any given play. 63 receptions, 1,176 yards and 13 touchdowns backs up his deep-threat capability.
8. Alabama’s ball-hawking defenders: The Crimson Tide is No. 2 in the SEC in interceptions with 14. Five different players have two or more interceptions. Alabama’s players in the secondary basically blankets receivers. Lawrence has only thrown four interception this season so something has to give.
7. Clemson running back Travis Etienne: The true sophomore had a marvelous season and led the ACC in rushing with 1,572 yards and had 22 touchdowns on the ground. He’s a game-breaker, who led the league in scoring and should take some of the pressure off of young Lawrence, especially on screen passes and in open space.
6. Clemson’s defensive line: Star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence won’t be playing, but there’s still plenty of star power for the Tigers up front. Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins and Austin Bryant are all beasts, relentless and eat opposing quarterbacks for breakfast. They will make life hard for Tagovailoa in the pocket and will be his biggest challenge of the season.
5. B.Y.O.G.: Bring Your Own Guts will be the motto for all of the Clemson players and Swinney will expect nothing less on his team’s quest to the program’s third National Title. The Tigers will come out inspired and won’t be intimidated by the mighty Crimson Tide.
4. The Mascots: Clemson’s The Tiger and Alabama’s Big Al will be representing their teams to the fullest on the sidelines and will get the crowd pumped up for the big plays. It’ll be interesting to see which head gear Lee Corso puts on for his pick of the game.
3. Alabama’s return game: The Crimson Tide has returned a kickoff and punt for touchdowns and this unit may be the difference makers in what should be a close game into the fourth quarter. A kick return for touchdown and an onside kick changed the game in Alabama’s favor in these team’s first Championship Game.
2. Sacks: Clemson leads the ACC in sacks: Alabama leads the SEC in sacks. We could be in store for a sack frenzy Monday night. Good luck to both team’s offensive line because they’ll need it. Sitting back in the pocket will have both quarterbacks with a deer in headlights look on their faces.
2. Saban’s wondering eyes during interviews: Watching his eyes go back and fourth between the interviewer and the camera during halftime and post game interviews is priceless. After years of doing these interviews Saban still looks uncomfortable in the spotlight.
1. The Halftime Show: Imagine Dragons is one of the best rock groups to come out of Las Vegas. Lil Wayne is the self-proclaimed best rapper alive. The two on stage together should be very memorable and a performance for the ages.
