Tired of anti-SEC talk? Nick Saban pours it on Jim Harbaugh with late TD
Jim Harbaugh has made it a hobby to criticize the SEC for years, and because of that, he’s become Public Enemy No. 1 across the SEC. He’s a nemesis of the first rate. SEC Network host Paul Finebaum regularly calls out Harbaugh and Michigan for hanging on to the coach despite consistent losses in big games.
This relationship came to mind when Alabama tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run from Najee Harris with 26 seconds remaining to make the final score 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl. In fact, Alabama outscored Michigan 21-0 after halftime, and overall rolled up 480 yards compared to 395 from the Wolverines.
Harbaugh’s history of calling out the SEC and multiple coaches, from Harbaugh to Georgia’s Kirby Smart, along with the summer camp controversy from 2016 was fresh on the minds of many fans.
Here’s a sampling of the reaction at the end of the game:
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I feel like Saban didn’t take a knee there because of all of Harbaugh’s anti-SEC talk over the past couple of years.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 1, 2020
Nick probably thought about this tweet when letting Najee score that last touchdown https://t.co/rJB5zxjYK9
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) January 1, 2020
Nick Saban telling the Tide to go for the TD up 28-16 pic.twitter.com/LZpp6qjNLv
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 1, 2020
Nick Saban pays Jim Harbaugh back for those satellite camps in Alabama
Alabama beats Michigan 35-16 pic.twitter.com/TkH243nFxo
— Ryan C. Fowler (@RyanCFowler) January 1, 2020
Did Saban just disrespect Harbaugh? Let’s discuss
— B1G Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) January 1, 2020
The odd dagger from Saban at the end, but that was probably a combination of things:
*Reward Najee for a good drive
*Get Najee some more draft tape
*Defend a little SEC honor re: Harbaugh’s many shots at the conference.— Jess Nicholas (@TideFansJessN) January 1, 2020
That handshake between Saban and Harbaugh had more room for Jesus than a middle school dance
— Ñic Gulas (@Nic_Gulas) January 1, 2020
Alabama was without 9 (NINE) starters today, including their best player on each side of the ball. They’re also without a projected major contributor at RB. Nick Saban unsurprisingly took his 2nd string to Orlando and tea bagged Jim Harbaugh. https://t.co/5MVucd0BCl
— Wesley Gullett (@WesleyGullett) January 1, 2020
I love that Nick Saban hates Harbaugh. Punching in that TD to rub salt in the wound is maybe one of the top 5 plays of the Saban era. Beautifully done.
— papaw ghost (@BourbonGhost) January 1, 2020
I loved the fact that they scored. Maybe it was to let Najee have one last one (if he leaves) but I really hope it was intended to stick it to Harbaugh. Over rated. UM fans were acting like relevancy again was a given when he took over. Nobody is afraid to play them.
Nice second half, boys. fHarbaugh and of course, nice job Barners. fAuburn.
Hadn’t pulled for Bama in ages, but I did in this game. Congrats Bama fans! Good luck in the future!
Same
Roll Tide brother!
Thank you Coach Saban, absolutely the right thing to do to that particular narcissistic serial killer looking moron.
That’s a little much.
Maybe he let him score because he did so much work on that drive. Literally carrying 4/5 UM guys for yards at time. He earned a chance to score. Simple explanation.
Harbaugh and Cowherd are both D bags, glad Saban didn’t take a knee
That was great. Glad he did that to stupid Michigan and their idiot coach.
Good grief! You got Ohio St. whining about SEC officals helping out their ‘ACC buddies’ in the Semi-final and now you got Michigan complaining about Saban running up the score on them. Gee, what was Najee supposed to do.. just fall down, to keep from scoring? I don’t think Saban told the boys anything. He just let them keep playing. What a bunch of B1G losers!
There is no question that Nick Saban ran up the score on purpose for sevaral reasons! For one it was because Josh Gattis lateral move to Michigan which pissed Saban off how it went down. Furthermore Harbaughs offense system has stunk prior to this year. So Harbaugh thought I will lure away Gattis serves 2 purposes, steal Alabama trade secrets and rub it in Sabans face Im stealing away his guy. The other primary reason score got run up is due to both Michigan players and the college football world in general running their mouths about Alabama. That Alabamas run is over, they are pedestrian now, the legacy run has come to a halt, their are new kids on the CFP block now. Sabans new message now to the football world is long live the king and we arent going anywhere!
Gattis got an actual promotion at Michigan to OC. That wasn’t a lateral move.
As the Ol’ Ball Coach once said, if you don’t want us to keep scoring, stop us.
Or words to that effect.
This isn’t running up the score. Good coaching teaches players to play as well as they can. It’s up to the other team to stop them. In 2001 Miss State gave Mich. the wrost defeat in the hidstoruy of Mich. football. Only way to be sure a team doesn’t make a comeback is to keep your foot on the gas.
Sorry, 2011.
Worst. This thing needs an edit function.
I would go so far to say Alabama “poured it on”
I hope Harbaugh stays at Michigan forever. The question is which SEC beats him next year.
UF and Bama beat UM 41-16 and 35-16 in consecutive bowls…classic. How you like them apples Harbaugh?
Thank you, Nick, please do it again if you have the chance.