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SPORTSWednesday 10 January 2018
Walk-Off
Continued from Page 18 hit him in stride for the na- Alabama head coach Nick Saban poses next to the NCAA college football championship trophy
tional championship. Tago- at a press conference in Atlanta, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. Alabama beat Georgia 26-23 in overtime
Last year we lost on the last vailoa was brilliant at times, to win the NCAA college football playoff championship game on Monday night.
play of the game and this though he had a few fresh-
year we won on the last man moments. He threw Associated Press
play of the game. These an interception when he
kids really responded the tried to pass on a running liams was hurt. It’s a testa- said Tagovailoa. “He did Mecole Hardman for an
right way. We said last play and all his receiv- ment to the relentless ma- a good job, made some 80-yard touchdown pass
year, ‘Don’t waste the feel- ers were blocking. He also chine Saban has built. plays in the passing game. that had the Georgia fans
ing.’ They sure didn’t, the darted away from pass But this game will be re- Just a great win. I’m so feeling good about ending
way they played tonight.” rushers and made some membered most for his de- happy for Alabama fans. a national title drought that
Smith streaked into the end impeccable throws, show- cision to change quarter- Great for our players. dates back to 1980.
zone and moments later ing poise of a veteran. Fac- backs trailing 13-0. Unbelievable.”Saban now Fromm threw for 232 yards
confetti rained and even ing fourth-and-goal from “I just thought we had has six major poll national and for a while it looked
Saban seemed almost gid- the 7, down seven, the left- to throw the ball, and I championships, including as if he was going to be
dy after watching maybe hander moved to his left felt he could do it bet- one at LSU, matching the the freshman star of the
the most improbable victo- and zipped a pass through ter, and he did,” Saban record set by the man who game, the first to true fresh-
ry of his unmatched career. traffic that hit Calvin Ridley led Alabama’s last dynas- man to lead his team to a
A few hours later, Alabama in the numbers for the tying ty, coach Paul Bear Bryant. national title season since
was voted No. 1 in the final score with 3:49 left in the This was nothing like the Jamelle Holieway for Okla-
AP college football poll for fourth quarter. He finished others. homa in 1985. “I mean, if
the 11th time, three more 14 for 24 for 166 yards. The With President Trump you want to find out about
than any other program. winning play was, basically, in attendance, the all- Jake Fromm, go ask those
After Alabama kicker Andy four receivers going deep. Southeastern Conference guys on the other side of
Pappanastos missed a 36- “After the sack, we just got matchup was all Georgia the ball, and they’ll tell you
yard field goal that would up and took it to the next in the first half before Sa- because that’s a really
have won it for the Tide play,” Tagovailoa said. ban pulled Hurts and the good defense he just went
(13-1) in the final seconds “I looked back out, and five-star recruit from Ha- against,” Georgia coach
of regulation , Georgia (13- he was wide open. Smitty waii entered. The president Smart said.
2) took the lead with a 51- was wide open.” Freshmen watched the second half A little less than a year after
yard field goal from Rodri- were everywhere for the from Air Force One. the Atlanta Falcons blew
go Blankenship in overtime. Alabama offense in the “I don’t know how Coach a 25-point lead and lost in
Tagovailoa took a terrible second half: Najee Harris at Saban found me all the overtime to the New Eng-
sack on Alabama’s first running back; Henry Ruggs way in Hawaii from Ala- land Patriots in the Super
play, losing 16 yards. On III at receiver; Alex Leath- bama,” Tagovailoa said. Bowl, there was more pain
the next he found Smith, erwood at left tackle after “Thank God he found me for many of the local fans.
another freshman, and All-American Jonah Wil- and we’re here right now.” Two years ago, Georgia
The Tide trailed 20-7 in the brought in Smart, Saban’s
523-0300 third quarter after Geor- top lieutenant, to bring to
gia’s freshman quarter- his alma mater a dose of
back, Jake Fromm, hit Alabama’s Process.q
