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Alabama’s season ending in disappointing fashion, as the Crimson Tide fell to eventual national champion Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. That loss put a down note on the year, but it wasn’t what will define this Alabama team. We run down the biggest moments of the season in chronological order, recapping a fairly thrilling year for the Tide.
- Blake Sims’ performance against Florida: The questions about Sims’ aptitude were put to rest as the Crimson Tide overcame some early turnovers to demolish Florida. Sims set a school record for total offense and led a rout over the Gators, firmly establishing himself as the starter going forward and setting the tone for Alabama’s record-breaking offensive season.
Memorable quote: “I just try to take what I take and what the defense gives me, and just try to trust my guys that they’re going to be there.” — Sims
- Miscues against Ole Miss: Missed field goals, special teams fumbles and a last-second interception all combined to doom Alabama in its only loss of the regular season. All of those issues would crop up again at various points throughout the season, although none of those instances cost them a regular season game.
Memorable quote: “We did not finish the game like we needed to.” — Nick Saban
- Landon Collins’ game-sealing interception against Arkansas: In a 14-13 game, Collins made a spectacular play on the ball that surely made Amari Cooper proud to seal a win for the Crimson Tide. With that play, the Alabama sideline exploded in a show of emotion rarely seen from Saban’s teams.
Memorable quote: “My teammates told me nobody was there, so I had to make a play.” — Collins
- The last-minute, game-tying drive against LSU: Alabama’s playoff hopes were on the line in Death Valley. LSU scored with less than a minute to go, putting the Tigers up three. After struggling all game, Sims and the Tide’s offense came alive, marching down the field in 50 seconds in time for a game-tying field goal, setting them up to win it in overtime and keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Memorable quote: “(Sims) made some great plays when he had to. … I’m really, really proud of way he hung in there.” — Saban
- Iron Bowl shootout: Alabama made up for the Pick Six game in the highest-scoring Iron Bowl in history. This game showed just how scary Crimson Tide were offensively, with Sims overcoming three interceptions and Cooper outdoing all of previous superhuman efforts. It also highlighted some of the defensive issues that would come back against Ohio State a little more than a month later in the Sugar Bowl.
Memorable quote: “We haven’t played a lot of games where we give up 44 points and win. That’s not really our style.” — Saban
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
