New Orleans — They say the best goes on.
That’s exactly what the Alabama Crimson Tide and their top stars did Saturday afternoon at the Caesars Superdome.
To be honest, it hasn’t been an easy journey for our leaders this year. Yes, the Crimson Tide won the College Football Playoff National Championship in Ohio State in 2020-21.
Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr. and Jordan Battle were named captains before the season.The three understood the expectations of this Alabama team. After leaving Indianapolis bitterly in January, the Crimson Tide was named to the nation’s top team in preseason. Many fans believed the team would qualify for the show’s 19th National Championship.
But it didn’t go down that way.
Since 2010, Alabama has lost twice during the regular season. Withstood two field storms. It endured strong and sometimes brutal criticism from fans and outside media.
Still, the team stayed together. It stayed together so it could prove to the world of college football how good it was.
“I’m an emotional person,” said Anderson. “So for me, it wasn’t really about me. [it was] My teammates worked hard these last two weeks, so I mean, the practice we had, all the film studies we had to go through, no school, nothing, everyone was just locked up. I see everyone smiling and laughing and having a good time. Just the brotherhood that was there, it was amazing. I think that’s why I’m so emotional right now. Because they all hold a special place in my heart. “
Crimson Tide did just that in spectacular fashion, proving its potential on Saturday afternoon. On the CFP selected team he smashed the team that beat one.
Head coach Nick Saban said, “I think there were teams who cared today.”[The team] We cared about how they played, took pride in their performance, and cared about each other. And I think it started when we started practicing. “
Choosing to play in a “meaningless” bowl game is downright crazy for some people, but Alabama’s top star has decided he wants to wear the crimson and white uniform once again.
scroll to continue
“This was a huge opportunity for our team. […] It’s about trying to prove something,” Young said. “It means a lot for us to end the season the right way.”
And boy did it pay off.
“A little bit in our mouth that if we put in a dominant performance, it will show people that we probably deserve to do a little bit better than us in terms of playoff results. I think there was a tasting,” Saban said. “But at the same time, I’m proud that we were in the Sugar Bowl and that we won the Sugar Bowl. But I’m most proud that the team was there — the University of Alabama. , represents them in a first-class way in the way they compete and play in the game.”
One of Crimson Tide’s quietest stars had one of the best, if not the best, games of his career. That player is Brian Branch. He was all over the field picking up 12 tackles, 4 tackles for losses, sacks and interceptions.
“Brian Branch has played well all season,” Saban said. “He made some big plays today. I had a part.”
Alabama failed to make the playoffs. But inside the locker room, this team always knew what they were capable of.
Next year’s Crimson Tide will be very different. Alabama, like every other year, aims to rebuild and rebuild. People like Young and Anderson will probably be gone, but they will never be forgotten.
“For us, it’s the standard by which we live,” said Young. “It’s not something you can do once, or ‘I’ve done this, I’ve done this, I’m done.’ It’s going to be the future of the program, the future of everything. not.”
There are a lot of great Crimson Tide teams that didn’t win the national championship. The 2022 version of Alabama might be the best of them all.
Related item:
No. 5 Alabama Takes Decisive Sugar Bowl Victory Over No. 9 Kansas State
Alabama Shows You Can Also Play With Your Heart While Throbbing Kansas At The Sugar Bowl
How Alabama turned a 10-0 deficit into a crushing Sugar Bowl victory