Alabama football: What to get the Tide team that has (almost) everything?
By Marq Burnett
Published:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With Christmas on the way, we figured it’d be a good time to look at some things Alabama would like to see under its tree.
The Crimson Tide took a few days off before traveling to Miami for its Orange Bowl showdown against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Alabama is the only team in the country to make the Playoff in all 5 years of its existence.
1. A win over Oklahoma
A victory over Oklahoma would put this Alabama team one step closer to achieving immortality. Alabama has done a lot during the Nick Saban era, but the Crimson Tide has only gone undefeated once (2009). A win over Oklahoma would put Alabama at 14-0, and one win away from another perfect season. This Alabama team has put up historic numbers, breaking plenty of school records. But it won’t matter if they lose to the Sooners on Dec. 29.
2. A healthy Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa’s ankle is arguably the biggest storyline ahead of the College Football Playoff. Tagovailoa was knocked out of the SEC Championship Game, and had to have surgery on his right ankle to repair a high ankle sprain. Tagovailoa practiced with the team before they took their Christmas break. He said he expects to be 100 percent come game time.
For every Alabama fan, that is a positive sign.
Tagovailoa is an elite passer, but his ability to move around in the pocket gives Alabama’s offense another weapon. Hopefully he is fully healthy ahead of the showdown with Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray.
3. Jalen Hurts returns (again)
Jalen Hurts surprised a lot of people when he decided to stick with Alabama this season. Hurts played throughout the year, and played well. So much so that he saved Alabama in the SEC Championship Game after Tagovailoa went down.
Hurts threw the tying touchdown pass, and later run for the go-ahead score to secure a victory over Georgia, the team that led him to losing his starting job this season.
Hurts rewrote his history with that win over the Bulldogs. He’s again an Alabama hero. He’s already earned his degree so there is nothing holding him back at this point. Still, would Hurts returns and finish out his last year of eligibility at Alabama?
4. Terrell Lewis ready for the Playoff
Terrell Lewis is probably Alabama’s best pure pass rusher, but he’s missed all of the season with a knee injury. Lewis returned to practice prior to the Auburn game, but didn’t see the field. With the added time off between the SEC Championship Game and the Orange Bowl semifinal, it’ll be interesting to see if Lewis is medically cleared. Even if he’s on a snap count, having someone with Lewis’ explosiveness off the edge would be huge for Alabama’s defense.
5. Another national championship
This one is a no-brainer. Alabama fans are always hungry for national championships, and they’ve become spoiled since Saban arrived. Another championship would give Alabama its second “three in four years” run of titles. This is an unprecedented dynasty, and likely something we’ll never see again in the sport.
It also would give Saban his seventh overall national and sixth at Alabama, which would move him ahead of Bear Bryant all-time and equal Bryant for most at Alabama.
Veteran Alabama beat reporter Marq Burnett covers the Crimson Tide for Saturday Down South.
