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Alabama Football
Tide Number ONE In A.P. & Coaches Poll
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide (14-1) captured national championship number 16, and the fourth in seven years under head coach NICK SABAN on Monday night after defeating the then-number one Clemson Tigers 45-40 in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Glendale, Arizona. This was Saban's fifth national title overall, with one coming as the head man at LSU. He is just one championship away from tying legendary PAUL "BEAR" BRYANT for the most national championships won by a coach.
The final polls are out, and Alabama was voted Number One as was expected. The Southeastern Conference had five teams in the Top-25 in the Associated Press Poll and six in the Coaches Poll.
The Crimson Tide faced seven of the teams in the Associated Press Poll as well as seven in the Coaches Poll this season.
Here's a look at the final tally:
Associated Press
1 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
2 Clemson
3 Stanford
4 Ohio State
5 Oklahoma
6 Michigan State
7 TCU
8 Houston
9 Iowa
10 Ole Miss
11 Notre Dame
12 Michigan
13 Baylor
14 Florida State
15 North Carolina
16 LSU
17 Utah
18 Navy
19 Oregon
20 Oklahoma State
21 Wisconsin
22 Tennessee
23 Northwestern
24 Western Kentucky
25 Florida
Coaches Poll
1 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
2 Clemson
3 Stanford
4 Ohio State
5 Oklahoma
6 Michigan State
7 TCU
8 Houston
9 Ole Miss
10 Iowa
11 Michigan
12 Notre Dame
13 Baylor
14 Florida State
15 North Carolina
16 Utah
17 LSU
18 Navy
19 Oklahoma State
20 Oregon
21 Wisconsin
22 Northwestern
23 Tennessee
24 Georgia
25 Florida
There is no "after bowl games poll" for the College Football Playoff Poll. According to the website the first poll was November 3rd and the final poll was released December 6th.
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Alabama Men's Basketball
Bama Basketball Hosts South Carolina Tonight
Men's Head Basketball Coach Avery Johnson
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama men's basketball team faces a tough test at home tonight as they must face their second consecutive nationally-ranked opponent in Southeastern Conference play. The No. 19/15 South Carolina Gamecocks come calling at Coleman Coliseum, and will be the first of two games between the two teams scheduled for this month. Tonight's game begins at 8 p.m. CT, and then Bama travels to South Carolina on Saturday, January 30th for the second contest.
South Carolina will be the Crimson Tide's fifth Top-25 opponent this season. Alabama is 2-2 this season against ranked teams.
Alabama has dropped two straight games, with the last one coming to then-No. 9/8 Kentucky by a score of 77-61.
Tonight's game will be broadcast by the SEC Network, with Mike Morgan handing play-by-play and Joe Dean handling color/analyst duties. The game will also be available on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart and Bryan Passink.
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Saban's Tuesday Morning Chat
Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Alabama head football coach NICK SABAN, the assistant coaches and the Crimson Tide were still in the after-glow Tuesday morning after last Monday night's 45-40 victory over the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Tuesday morning he, as well as MVPs EDDIE JACKSON and O.J. HOWARD briefly spoke with the press before departing for home in Tuscaloosa.
Saban opened kidding around, clearly relaxed and enjoying his fifth national championship, and fourth as head coach at Alabama. He kidded about everyone getting a good night's sleep, and yet he still got up at 6:15 a.m. yesterday morning after a very late night and very little sleep.
The coach was grinning, jovial, and yet humble in his comments about the Monday night National Championship victory. He said he was pleased with what the coaches and team were able to accomplish Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
He said while he will enjoy the championship victory, he is driven by more than championships. He said that is what keeps all this fresh for him.
Of course the subject of coaching in general, and coaching at Alabama would come up...especially since it's never gone away since he arrived. When he was asked how long he wanted to coach, Saban was quite candid. He said that is actually scared him to think of a time when he isn't a part of a team. He went ahead and said he really had no timetable "for not being part of the team."
Whereas that doesn't actually say he is staying at Alabama, it should be quite clear the coach is having fun, has business ties, and the biggie is he has family ties. At present, why not believe the last six or seven statements this past couple of years that he isn't going to leave Alabama.
Saban addressed the onside kick when the score was deadlocked at 24-24. He said that the defense wasn't stopping them, and he needed something to swing the momentum. He said that it was a "calculated risk" and did indeed change the momentum in Alabama's favor. It led to the second score for Bama in less than a minute.
The head coach joked a little about his offensive coordinator, LANE KIFFIN, missing the team bus and being stranded. He said that Lane "ended up hitching a ride" with him. He said he thought Kiffin was just having a good time and missed the bus.
Saban said the players will get some much-deserved down time before the lifting program got underway.
Alabama won its 16th National Championship Monday night, the fourth in seven years.
What a season!
Roll Tide!
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