The Battle Plan
1/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
The Pinnacle of College Football
What a great week it has been for Alabama! A national football championship win over the No. 1-ranked Clemson Tigers in Phoenix and a basketball win over an undefeated and No. 15-ranked South Carolina team at Coleman Coliseum. And our gymnastics team lost a close one at UCLA but takes on the Missouri Tigers tonight at home. It doesn't get much better than this!
We have talked all year about this football team being special. They proved just how special they are in what may be the most entertaining college football national championship game ever played. It was a legitimate matchup of the top two teams in the country. It featured a spread, hurry-up, no-huddle team against a more traditional pro-style team with both sides featuring strong defenses.
The first half was a slugfest and ended in a 14-14 tie. The second half was a fireworks show that ended in a 45-40 Crimson Tide victory.
I said before the game that if we got to the fourth quarter and it was close - we would win. The fourth quarter came and we were down, 24-21. I must admit I wasn't very confident at that time. But our team outscored them 24-16 in the fourth quarter with a tremendous show of poise, confidence, courage, and a relentless will to win.
The fourth quarter began with our team driving 80 yards and kicking a field goal to tie the score at 24-24. Then, the best onside kick I have ever seen in my life was executed on the kickoff by Adam Griffith as he kicked a blooper into the open area to his right that was caught on the fly by Marlon Humphrey. It was a great call by Coach Saban that shocked everyone in the stands and in TV land, and turned the momentum solidly in our favor. Two plays later, Jake Coker found O.J. Howard open and hit him for a 51-yard touchdown, making the score 31-24.
Clemson drove, but Alabama kept them out of the end zone. A field goal made the score 31-27. I was hoping for a long Alabama drive to eat up most of the remaining time, however, Kenyan Drake had other plans! He took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 95 yards for an Alabama touchdown, taking the score to 38-27. Alabama fans around the world were happy to see Kenyan make that play, especially after all the injuries and tough luck he has had.
The game continued to go back and forth to get to the 45-40 final score. Of all the great plays Derrick Henry has made at Alabama, his last one might have been his best. After an unsuccessful attempt by Derrick behind heavyweight blocking from the one-yard line, we tried the same play again. When I saw the play and the replay, I thought he didn't get close. He didn't on the first and second effort, but on the third, he found a crack, lunged forward extending his arm and the ball clearly crossed the goal line. That was the play that finally iced the game.
This was a true team victory. Everyone can be proud of playing in one of the greatest games in Alabama history. Many players made plays that contributed to the win. Many received public recognition on TV. Many others did not, but the coaches and the players themselves know their contributions. There are many, though, that didn't get to play that were a vital part of the victory. The scout team that worked against the varsity, putting on a good look every week to prepare the team, deserves a great deal of credit for their efforts throughout the year. We look forward to a final celebration to formally recognize the players and coaches for winning The University of Alabama's 16th national championship. The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. next Saturday, January 23, on University Boulevard at Denny Chimes with a program on the north steps of Bryant-Denny Stadium at the Walk of Champions to follow. It is, indeed, a rare and unique time at our University being a part of a program that has won four of the last seven national championships, and competing hard for the other three. Hats off to these great players, coaches, and support staff.
A Special Victory for Our Men's Basketball Team
And what a game our basketball team played Wednesday, soundly beating an undefeated and 15th-ranked South Carolina squad! Our team jumped on them early and never took their foot off the gas. This game, too, was a great team effort, but Riley Norris shot lights out in his 27-point effort with seven rebounds. Justin Coleman scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds. So far, this team has beaten three top 20-ranked teams, as well as beating Clemson on the road. As you know, Clemson beat Duke earlier this week. I love the way this basketball team competes. I can't say enough about the way our student body turned out to support our team. Their section was packed Wednesday night and they definitely had a positive impact on the game. Their energy and enthusiasm was contagious.
As we said during the preseason when we announced the seating changes made, we are evaluating the Coliseum seating plan throughout the remainder of this season. We'd love everyone to show up early, stay late, be loud and have a good time while providing our team with one of the nation's finest home-court advantages. It is disturbing to me to see the number of empty seats in prime seating areas. If you can't make the game, give them to someone who will come and be excited about coming, or return the tickets to us so we can find someone.
We look forward to competing for championships as our spring sports all start soon. I am especially excited to see our baseball team get started in the newly-renovated Sewell-Thomas Stadium. It is one of the best in the country and I believe our fans and our team will take pride in what we've built. It is my hope that our fans will come out and see the stadium, buy tickets, and then come out this spring and support our team.
CFP Championship Game Had 6th-Most Viewers in Cable TV History
According to media who report on the business of television, our victory over Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game was the most-watched cable program since the inaugural CFP National Championship Game last year and the audience is the sixth-best in the history of cable television.
Alabama has played in four of the eight most-watched cable television programs: No. 2 - 2015 CFP Semifinal/Sugar Bowl vs. Ohio State (28.3 million viewers); No. 5 - 2013 BCS Championship vs. Notre Dame (26.4 million); No. 6 - 2016 CFP Championship vs. Clemson (25.7 million); and No. 8 - 2012 BCS Championship vs. LSU (24.2 million). Three of those games also rank among the all-time leaders for events live streamed over the internet: the 2016 CFP Championship (1,934,000 unique viewers), the 2016 CFP Semifinal at Goodyear Cotton Bowl (1,047,000) and the 2015 CFP Semifinal at Allstate Sugar Bowl (912,000).
ESPN has televised the eight most-watched programs in the history of cable television (six national title games and this year's two CFP semifinals). It is also interesting to note that our national championship victory set streaming records on WatchESPN, for events covering all sports except for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. When factoring in the WatchESPN's 2014 World Cup numbers, our game against Clemson ranks third all-time in total minutes watched, fifth in unique viewers and sixth in average minute impressions. The game averaged 25,667,000 viewers with a 14.7 rating, according to ESPN and Nielsen.
As I noted, it was the most-watched cable program since the inaugural CFP Championship on Jan. 12, 2015, which had the highest overnight rating in cable history. The eight most-watched programs in the history of cable television have all been college football games: the two CFP national title games, both of this season's CFP semifinals and four BCS Championship Games.
Crimson Tide Foundation Update: Sewell-Thomas Stadium
The new Sewell-Thomas Stadium is in the final construction stages as Alabama baseball prepares to host our first game of the season next month. The new "Joe" will provide Alabama baseball with the home it needs and deserves. The design will enhance the game day experience for players, fans, and VIPs. The stadium will feature three levels (field, concourse, and luxury) and will include a large canopy, new concession areas, a team store, skyboxes, clubs, a new press box, and an Alabama Baseball Hall of Fame. Additionally, a free-standing batting facility and a new family area, complete with playground and outfield gathering areas, will provide better entertainment value and a baseball atmosphere for our fans and their families. Additionally, this facility will put a spotlight on Alabama's oldest sport and will serve as a vital recruiting tool for our coaching staff. As you can imagine, this impressive new facility comes with a hefty expense. Of the approximately $42 million cost, the Crimson Tide Foundation has been tasked with raising $20 million through private donor support. We are currently 46 percent of the way to that goal. For more information about how to support this project, or any of our other facilities, please visit the Foundation's website at www.crimsontidefoundation.org.
Sports Updates
Women's Basketball
Coach Kristy Curry and her squad return home Sunday to host the Georgia Lady Bulldogs in Foster Auditorium at 4 p.m. CT. We've had some of the best crowds in program history this year, and we are hoping to continue that trend as we move along in the SEC season. The fans have certainly helped rally the Tide as our women's basketball team is 10-1 in Tuscaloosa so far this season. There are several events and promotions set for Sunday, in addition to featuring our annual We Back Pat game, focused on bringing awareness and recognition to The Pat Summitt Foundation and its fight against Alzheimer's disease. In addition, Callie's Place, a local animal welfare organization, will host an adoption event outside Foster Auditorium beginning at 2 p.m. and, as always, Tuscaloosa Toyota has provided great giveaways.
Gymnastics
Dana Duckworth and her team started the 2016 season last Saturday on the road against the always tough UCLA Bruins in Pauley Pavilion and, while our side didn't come out with a win, they did get some great experience that will help prepare us for the championship season down the road. There were many bright spots out in Los Angeles for the Tide, including sophomore Mackenzie Brannan winning her first collegiate all-around with a score of 39.350. Mack also won the vault with a 9.9. Sophomore Kiana Winston and junior Katie Bailey shared top honors on the uneven bars with matching 9.9s. Overall, we went 24-for-24 on the day, including 17 routines that scored 9.8 or better, and five that the judges rewarded with 9.9s. It was a solid start, just ahead of the score we posted to begin the 2015 season, which you will remember ended with another SEC championship for the Tide. After opening up on the road for the first time in three years, our ladies open the home and SEC portion of the 2016 season tonight with the Missouri Tigers. Alabama is ranked sixth this week, while Missouri is 14th.
Swimming and Diving
Our swimming and diving teams opened the New Year at home with a two-day meet against Tennessee last Friday-Saturday, Jan. 8-9. Coach Denny Pursley's squad split the meet with our men beating the Volunteers in a down-to-the-wire showdown, 164.5-154.5, after trailing by three points heading into the final event. While our women were competitive throughout, they fell to the Volunteers, 199-120. For the men, it came down to the 400 freestyle relay. In the end, Alabama went 1-2, with freshman Robert Howard and junior Alex Gray joining senior Crews Wellford and junior Kristian Gkolomeev combining to lead the "A" relay to victory with a time of 3:25.30 while the `B' relay of freshman Knox Auerbach, sophomores Mathew Adams, Will Freeman and Christopher Reid clinched the overall win by taking second in the event with a time of 3:29.56. After taking this weekend off from competition, our swimmers and divers will close out the regular season next Saturday against Georgia Tech in Tuscaloosa at 11 a.m. We hope to see you there as we honor this year's senior class.
Men's Tennis
Coach George Husack's team opens up the 2016 dual match season this Saturday, Jan. 16, by hosting a doubleheader. The 2016 schedule is tough right from the start, as the Tide will face off against No. 16 Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. CT before taking on Georgia State at 5 p.m. CT. A busy few days for the team continues on Monday as another home doubleheader awaits, with Alabama set to play UAB at 1 p.m. CT and Samford at 5 p.m. CT. George and his staff have put together a talented group this season, and it would be great to see the stands filled with fans for these first home matches of the year. Admission is free, so head on out to the courts and check out the action over the coming days.
Women's Tennis
Head coach Jenny Mainz takes her 15th-ranked team to Evanston, Ill., this weekend for its final tune-up before the dual match season gets going as the Tide will compete in the Wildcat Duals, a three-day event involving players from host Northwestern, DePaul and TCU. Earlier this week the SEC released its Preseason Women's Tennis Coaches Poll and Alabama was picked to finish fifth in what is annually one of the top conferences in the country. Headlined by our two-time defending NCAA doubles champions, Maya Jansen and Erin Routliffe, it should be another exciting season for Jenny and her program.
Track & Field
The Alabama men's and women's track & field teams head to Nashville, Tenn., this weekend to compete in the Commodore Indoor Invitational, hosted by Vanderbilt. The meet will be the indoor season opener for Dan Waters' squads, who will look to continue their rise among the nation's elite programs. Reigning NCAA outdoor long jump champion Quanesha Burks returns for the Crimson Tide, as do five male student-athletes who earned first team All-America honors during the 2015 indoor season. Both teams have high aspirations this season, as the team builds for a strong indoor season before an outdoor campaign that will culminate with Alabama hosting the 2016 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Tuscaloosa in May.
Upcoming Action
Here's a summary of athletic events over the next several days (times listed are for the location of the event: CT is Central Time, ET is Eastern Time, MT is Mountain Time, PT is Pacific Time):
Saturday, January 16
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Tennis | vs. Virginia Tech | UA Tennis Center | 1 p.m. CT |
| Men's Basketball | at Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. | 5 p.m. CT |
| Men's Tennis | vs. Georgia State | UA Tennis Center | 5 p.m. CT |
| Indoor Track & Field | at Commodore Invitational | Nashville, Tenn. | All Day |
Sunday, January 17
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Basketball | vs. Georgia | Foster Auditorium | 4 p.m. ET |
| Gymnastics | vs. Auburn | Birmingham | 3 p.m. CT |
Monday, January 18
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Tennis | vs. UAB | UA Tennis Center | 1 p.m. CT |
| Men's Tennis | vs. Samford | UA Tennis Center | 5 p.m. CT |
Tuesday, January 19
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Basketball | at Auburn | Auburn, Ala. | 8 p.m. CT |
Thursday, January 21
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Basketball | at Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | 6 p.m. ET |
Friday, January 22
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gymnastics | vs. Arkansas | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | 6 p.m. CT |
| Indoor Track & Field | at Auburn Invitational | Birmingham | All Day |
Where to See, Listen and Follow Alabama Sports
Here's how to follow Crimson Tide teams in action this week via TV, radio, rolltide.com and social media (access a complete listing of Alabama Athletics social media platforms):
Men's Basketball
TV: Jan. 16 at Vanderbilt (SEC Network); Jan. 19 at Auburn (SEC Network)
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (check local listings)
Online Streaming: Jan. 16 at Vanderbilt (SEC Network +)
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaMBB
Women's Basketball
TV: Jan. 17 vs. Georgia (SEC Network)
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (check local listings)
Online Streaming: Jan. 21 at Florida (SEC Network +)
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaWBB
Gymnastics
TV: Jan. 22 at Arkansas (SEC Network)
Twitter: @BamaGymnastics
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Men's Tennis
Twitter: @AlabamaMTN
Track & Field
Twitter: @AlabamaTrack
Live Results: Jan. 16 at Vanderbilt (www.cfpitiming.com)
Catch Alabama Athletics on the SEC Network
Here's a summary of our athletic events to be televised over the next week on The SEC Network and its platforms. Read this schedule closely as some events can be seen via SEC Network +, which is available online via ESPN3. If you can't make it to our games in person, catch us on radio or TV. (All times listed are Central Time)
Saturday, January 16
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2 a.m. | REPLAY: Gymnastics vs. Missouri | SEC Network |
| 9 a.m. | REPLAY: Gymnastics vs. Missouri | SEC Network |
| 5 p.m. | Men's Basketball at Vanderbilt | SEC Network |
Sunday, January 17
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 4 p.m. | Women's Basketball vs. Georgia | SEC Network |
| 6 p.m. | REPLAY: Gymnastics vs. Missouri | SEC Network |
Monday, January 18
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | REPLAY: Gymnastics vs. Missouri | SEC Network |
Tuesday, January 19
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | Men's Basketball at Auburn | SEC Network |
Wednesday, January 20
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 4 a.m. | REPLAY: Men's Basketball at Auburn | SEC Network |
| 11 a.m. | REPLAY: Men's Basketball at Auburn | SEC Network |
Thursday, January 21
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | Women's Basketball at Florida | SEC Network + |
Friday, January 22
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | Gymnastics vs. Arkansas | SEC Network |
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season. I want to, again, extend my personal thanks to all of you who support our programs at events, with your prayers, goodwill, and generosity in endowing scholarships and building facilities. It really does take all of us to Keep the Tide Rising!
Happy New Year and Roll Tide!
