I said the same thing after the Crimson Tide dismantled Notre Dame to win the 2011 national title, but I have never seen more of a complete effort than I saw last night in Arlington.
There were so many spectacular plays last night in all three phases of the game. The first was Jake Coker's 50 yard pass to Calvin that was perfectly thrown and Calvin made a sensational catch on to set the Tide up at the one where Derrick took it in with 5:36 left in the second quarter to put the Tide up 7-0. Adam Griffith's 47-yard field goal was right on the money right before half to put the Tide up 10-0 going into the break. Griff has been brilliant since the middle of the season. Jake to Calvin for the six yard, seven in which Herbie and the officiating expert for ESPN went into all this conjecture about whether Cal was in or not on the catch. I told my wife Calvin had possession, got one foot down, seven. It wasn't complex. And it was a spectacular play by Calvin. Cyrus's 57 yard punt return for a seven was a thing of beauty. Wow, that Cyrus is something else. He also had an interception right before the first half ended right in front of the end zone that kept Michigan State from scoring. Then Coke's 50 yard bomb that was perfectly thrown to Calvin for another seven in the third quarter was tremendously thrown. Derrick capped it off with an 11 yard run after Kenyan had broken off a huge 58 yard run prior to that. It was great to see Kenyan pop one off like that. If Kenyan and/or the awesome Bo Scarbrough can give Derrick some help against Clemson, that would be huge. And finally, Dillon Lee's beautiful, athletic interception to close out the game for the Tide capped off a spectacular night for this football team. What an athletic play as Dillon reached over his right shoulder pulled the ball in and kept his feet inbounds to secure the pick as the Tide finished off business, 38-0, over the Spartans of Michigan State.
Kiff and Kirby are the best in the business. This is a all time good college football team. Clemson will be a challenge though. DeShaun Watson presents problems with his prolific running and passing and Wayne Gallman is the real deal running the football. Clemson plays good defense and have good lines on both side of the ball and playmakers on the perimeter in the passing game and linebackers and defensive backs who can make game changing plays. Dabo has done a superb job at Clemson. The Alabama secondary will be tested, and with DeShaun's wheels, that could cause problems for the Tide defense. The Tide opened as a seven point favorite in Vegas. Will have much more next week as the Tide prepares to battle the Clemson Tigers for the National Championship, a week from Monday, January 11, 2016 @ 7:30 PM CT/8:30 PM ET at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. ESPN will televise. Chris, Herbie, Heather and Tom on the call. The officiating crew will be from the Pac-12 and Terry Leyden will be the lead official. This should be a fun one.
One last thing on Jake Coker. I listened to Jake's postgame interview and I told my wife he's just a good country boy from Mobile, Alabama, salt of the Earth kind of guy. As they say in small towns in Alabama, Jake's just "good people." Love the guy. After the head coach of Alabama, being the quarterback at the University may be the toughest job in the state, and Jake has handled it with character, humility and poise. He drives a Chevy Silverado and his Christmas present from his family was a shotgun. Once his season is over, he's going hunting.
Jake was 25-of-30 last night for 286 yards and 2 TDs. He was spectacular. Calvin and Cyrus were too. Ryan Anderson, Jonathan Allen were amazing as well and Reggie Ragland was Reggie Ragland. He's the best linebacker in football and his future in the game looks extremely bright as a future All-Pro in the National Football League. I don't know any one of the top 28 or so players on defense who won't be in the top five rounds of the NFL draft in April for those who are going out. Reggie Ragland, Jonathan Allen and Cyrus Jones look like top 1o picks in April. The whole group. It's just an absolutely, historically great defense. There may have been a Miami defense in the early 2000's or the Nebraska defense in 1971 with Rich Glover and company that compared, but I don't know if there's been a better college defense in the history of the game. But they'll be tested next week against the Clemson Tigers. Another chance to leave a legacy that may have never been matched and might not be matched for a very long time in college football. Unless, of course, S does it again next year.
Today's games
Yesterday: 1-2
Overall bowls:17-14
Outback Bowl
No.23 Tennessee 42, No. 13 Northwestern 31
11 AM CT/Noon ET
ESPN 2
UT by 10
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl
No. 19 Florida 24, No. 14 Michigan 21
Noon CT/1 PM ET
ABC
Michigan by 4
Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl
No. 8 Notre Dame 31, No. 7 Ohio State 28
Noon CT/1 PM ET
ESPN
Ohio State by 6 1/2
Rose Bowl
No.6 Stanford 31, No. 5 Iowa 24
4 PM CT/5 PM ET
ESPN
Stanford by 6
AllState Sugar Bowl
No.12 Ole Miss 38, No. 16 Oklahoma State 28
7:30 PM CT/8:30 PM ET
ESPN
Ole Miss by 9