The Alabama Crimson Tide Roll to the National Championship Over the Texas Longhorns

On January 8, 2010 The University of Alabama defeated the University of Texas Longhorns 37-21 for their first national title since 1992 and thirteenth overall. It was a very hard fought year for the Tide when many outside of Tuscaloosa and their fans were not even thinking they would win the SEC let alone the National Championship. I had a feeling they this year would be their year. They started the year out of the top ten but like a wise person once said, "It is not were you start but were you finish that matters".

The game was billed as a pretty fair contest, but many gave the tide the edge in large part because of their defense and being a much better running team. Texas had an equally impressive defense, but did not face as many good teams as Alabama did during the year. The game started bad for Texas though as former Heisman candidate quarterback Colt McCoy was injured on the first drive causing True Freshman Garrett Gilbert to play the rest of the game.

The game started out looking pretty bad for the Crimson Tide. They tried to fake a punt backed up in their own territory on their first drive and the pass by punter P.J. Fitzgerald was picked off. The Tide defense did only allow a field goal on that drive, but the Longhorns lost Colt McCoy in the process. Texas had a major fear of Alabama return man Javier Arenas breaking one for a touchdown so they kicked very shallow the majority of the game. This took the Crimson Tide by surprise and the first kickoff was fumbled but Texas could only manage another field goal. The Tide then started to roll though.

In the first part of the game it appeared every time that Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy dropped back to pass he was on his rear end from being sacked. The tide then started moving the ball and Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram scored on a two yard run followed by forty nine yard gallop by Trent Richardson. Leigh Tifton added a twenty eight yard field goal before the half. Texas tried a shuttle pass that was then picked off by Marcell Dareus and returned 28 yards for a touchdown putting the Crimson Tide up 26-6 at the half.

Garrett Gilbert was able to pull it together after a very rough first half and hit Jordan Shipley on two scoring drives in the second half and got a two point conversion pass. It started to look like a ball game until Mark Ingram scored his second touchdown of the day and put it away for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Ingram was also voted the player of the game.

Individually it was pretty much a running day for Alabama almost reminiscent of the days of Bear Bryant. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram had 116 yards on 22 carries for two scores. Trent Richardson added another 109 yards on 19 carries and a score. Both will be back next year. Quarterback Greg McElroy managed the game very well but only threw minimally. He was 6-11 for 58 yards with no picks or TDs and not receiver caught more than 2 passes. Defensively the Tide put the pressure on just about the whole game. They managed a bit of a breakdown in the second quarter but came back and finished strong. They did only manage one sack, but also had a strip of Gilbert and an interception returned for a touchdown. Arenas intercepted two passes for the Crimson Tide defense.

It was not as pretty for Texas, but I will say that Gilbert has nothing to be ashamed of. He brought his team close to winning and was a true freshman. Prior to the game he only threw 26 passes and never faced anything like the Crimson Tide defense. He completed 15 of 40 passes after going 1 for his first 11 for 186 yards. He threw two touchdown scores and 4 interceptions, but in all fairness two of those really were not his fault. The Texas running game really did not do anything at all like most of the season. Jordan Shipley caught 10 passes for 122 yards and two scores. Had it not been for Ingram's second score he would have been my player of the game pick. The Texas defense did not get any interceptions, but were able to sack Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy five times.

It was a really good game once Gilbert got settled down. I think both teams will be in the hunt next year. I think Gilbert will be a pretty darn good quarterback for years to come. If Alabama and Texas play for the National Championship next year Gilbert might take it to the Crimson Tide.

Sources

Watched the game on ABC

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/boxscore?gameId=201001070073