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Bama hangs on to win Saban Bowl, beating LSU in OT
Originally published 06:16 p.m., November 8, 2008
Updated 10:34 p.m., November 8, 2008
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Nick Saban lingered at LSU's end of the field, seeking out the players he once recruited to the Tigers. He wanted to give each of them a hug, pass along a few words about how much they still meant to him.
Then it was time to head the other way.
Saban's wearing crimson now.
In a bittersweet return to the school he once coached, Saban kept his current team on course for a shot at the national championship with a thrilling win Saturday. After missing a chip-shot field goal on the final play of regulation, No. 1 Alabama stayed perfect when John Parker Wilson scored on a 1-yard sneak in overtime for a 27-21 victory over the 15th-ranked Tigers.
The Crimson Tide wrapped up a spot in the Southeastern Conference championship game, a stunningly quick accomplishment even for a coach of Saban's renown. He took over a proud program that had been mired in mediocrity, and needed only two years to bring it back to the prominence it held under Bear Bryant.
"We are at about 19,000 feet," Saban said. "The mountain is at 26,000 feet, and the air is changing a little bit. The air is a little rarer."
He's familiar with this position, having led LSU to the BCS championship in 2003. He traded the Tigers for the NFL's Miami Dolphins, only to decide after two seasons that he was a college coach at heart.
When Alabama called with a $4 million-a-year contract offer, Saban jumped at the chance — even though that put him back in the SEC West, the same division as LSU. Needless to say, most Tiger fans weren't exactly thrilled to see their former coach wind up at one of their biggest rivals.
All along, Saban has insisted the decision wasn't personal.
"We have special memories of this place," he said. "We always will, and no one will ever tarnish those no matter what they do."
Alabama (10-0, 6-0 SEC) barely survived its toughest test yet. After Charles Scott tied it for LSU on a 1-yard touchdown run with just over 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Alabama drove into position to win it. From the 12, Saban called his final timeout with 3 seconds remaining.
Leigh Tiffin lined up for a 29-yard field goal, but his kick was low and Ricky-Jean Francois swiped it away with his big right hand.
LSU got the ball first in overtime, only to give away even a shot at the field goal when Jarrett Lee threw his fourth interception — the third pick of the game by Alabama's Rashad Johnson, tying the school record. The Tide didn't even bother with another field goal try, having already missed twice.
Wilson hit Julio Jones along the sideline, and the freshman dragged his defender to the 1 for a 24-yard gain. Two plays later, Wilson powered into the end zone to win it. Saban, surrounded by a larger-than-usual contingent of state troopers, threw up both arms, then strolled onto the field to shake hands with his LSU successor, Les Miles.
For a minute or two, it looked as though Saban might head to the wrong locker room, but he was merely trying to speak with his ex-players. Finally, after drifting deep into the Tigers end of the field, he took off running toward the Alabama locker room — with a dozen troopers struggling to keep up. He pointed toward the Crimson Tide's raucous contingent before disappearing into the tunnel.
There were no hard feelings toward those LSU fans who held up signs such as "Miles Over $aban."
"It's really not sweeter clinching the (SEC) West in Tiger Stadium," Saban said, his voice rising. "It really isn't. My emotions for this place are positive, not negative. I didn't leave LSU to go to Alabama. I left LSU to go to Miami. Myself and my family learned that we didn't like professional football as much as we liked college. So we had the best opportunity to return to college football at the University of Alabama. There is nothing personal in that for me."
LSU (6-3, 3-3), the defending national champion, was eliminated from the conference race and, in all likelihood, any consideration for a spot in the BCS.
"This one is bitter. It's painful," Miles said. "But as a competitor, when you play your tail off, there's a comfort in that."
Glen Coffee rushed for 126 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown that put Alabama ahead 21-14 in the third quarter. Wilson was 15 of 31 passing for 215 yards.
Last year, LSU won "Saban Bowl I" with two touchdowns in the final three minutes, pulling out a 41-34 victory in Tuscaloosa and going on to finish No. 1. But this was his first game at Tiger Stadium as the Alabama coach, and a crowd of 93,039 — the biggest in LSU history — turned out to give a rude reception to the coach they once celebrated.
At the end of the third quarter, the public-address announcer tried to fire up the crowd by noting that nightfall had descended on a stadium known for its raucous evening games.
"The sun has found its home in the western sky," he said. "It's now Saturday night in Death Valley!"
LSU responded, turning the game into a thriller. The embattled Lee, who heard boos from the home crowd as the errant passes piled up, guided a 14-play, 72-yard drive. The redshirt freshman completed four passes for 58 yards, including a 24-yarder to Brandon LaFell.
The bruising Scott took it in from the 1 for a 21-21 tie. He finished with 92 yards and a pair of TDs. Lee was 13-for-34 for 181 yards.
"There are a lot of mistakes that you just can't make at this level of ball," Lee said. "It's something that for sure I need to work on."
Early on, Alabama found itself in an unusual position: behind. Having trailed for only 1 minute, 15 seconds in its first nine games, the Tide went down 14-7 when Scott broke off a 30-yard touchdown run for the Tigers with just under 6 minutes left in the first quarter.
LSU scored two touchdowns in less than a minute, capitalizing on one of three Alabama turnovers in the first half.
After Lee threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Bird, Javier Arenas had the ball knocked away on the ensuing kickoff return. Kicker Josh Jasper fell on the loose ball along the Alabama sideline, not far from Saban.
Scott got a huge block from left guard Herman Johnson and broke threw a gaping hole to score the touchdown that gave LSU its first lead.
Alabama was on the short end of the score until Lee made a familiar mistake. The young quarterback badly overthrew Terrance Tolliver, Johnson picked it off and went 54 yards for a touchdown — the sixth time this year Lee threw an interception that was returned for a TD.
The Tide fumbled away its opening possession just inches short of the end zone, but Johnson's first interception gave Alabama the ball again at the LSU 15. Wilson turned that chance into a TD, shoving it in from the 1 for the first of his two TDs.
Alabama, which had outscored its first nine opponents 198-26 in the opening half, had to settle for a 14-all tie at the break.
"That was as lethargic a half of football as we have played all year," Saban moaned. "We just didn't look the same out there. We looked a bunch of guys who were tired."
They were all jumping around at the end.
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Comments
Posted by ldavenport (anonymous) on November 8, 2008 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ROLL TIDE!!! ROLL!!!!
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Saban Bowl? Give me a break.
Posted by lkccameeks (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i was really suprised Bama had such a hard time with LSU especially with all the mistakes Lee was making. a 15th ranked team took them to OT.
that just shows BAma is not all that. maybe that took their attitude down a notch!
Posted by kdnichols (Ken Nichols) on November 9, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You'll find out in 2 weeks. Roll Tide!!!
Posted by PrAaHe (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have fun playing Florida :-)
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I see the typical Auburn fans had to post their babble on here today. You folks could care less about your own team as long as Bama loses. It must be sad playing football 115 years and have nothing to show for it. By the way, Saban is about to put your boy Tubb's in the unemployment line.
Roll Tide!!
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tuberville might as well already be in the unemployment line, even so, he won't be hurtin' a bit if he does leave. By the way, Bamer has 6 years of catchin' up on the Iron Bowl and I doubt that will happen in our lifetime, even if Bamer does win this season.
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That sums up The Barn's tradition. 6 wins over a team that has been on probation. Of course that is the only thing Auburn fans care about is beating Bama. They don't worry about winning a NC. Another thing, Why didn't you post anything on the Auburn article about the big win over the Skyhawks yesterday? You chose to post it here I see. Your obsession of Bama is noted.
You know, Bama may very well get beat by Florida, Heck they might get beat by Miss.St. next week. But as I sit here this evening they are 10-0 and SEC West Champs. Those players have worked hard to get where they are now. Actually, I think they are playing beyond their abilities. By the way, Bama still owns the series 38-33-1, So I guess the Barn still has some catching up to do in our lifetime!
Good coaching makes a difference!
Roll Tide!!
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's a standard excuse, "We've been on probation", go cry on somebody else's shoulder. By the way, at least we have a BARN, and a real mascot. I've been to Bamer games. It's ironic how the elephant sounds like a roaring Tiger. Har ...
Posted by heathermc (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MAYBE AL IS CHOKING ON A FURBALL FROM YOUR KITTY CAT, LOL. IT DIDN'T HELP THAT A FEW REFS WERE CALLING A LITTLE TOWARDS LSU. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE TEAM AND THE REFS. PLUS LSU WAS DETERMINED TO PUT "$ABAN" IN HIS PLACE, SO THOSE GUYS WERE WORKING FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN A WIN OVER BAMA. NO MATTER WHAT THEIR RANKING LSU IS NEVER A PUSHOVER.
Posted by lkccameeks (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i was waiting on a bama fan to bring up both "we've been on probation" and the refs made bad calls last night.
even you heard the tv announcers say several times" bama fans that was a accurate call". even they know how bama likes to blame everything else except they didnt play well. LSU usually is a tough team but their quarterback was no where close to playing good and gave them several chances. Auburn is having a bad season i have no problem admitting that. but we have had several good ones. I stand behind my tigers whether they have a good season or bad. however i know several so-called Bama faithful that over the past few years quit wearing the crimson and white and didnt even watch them play. now that they are having a good season, they are all into bragging and supporting their team. typical!
where's the loyalty during those tough times. i still wear my orange and blue no matter what, and i will be at that game on Nov. 29th supporting them all the way to the end whether we win or lose!
WAR EAGLE!!!!!
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nobody's crying. You started this when you came on here flaming Bama for no reason. Is that the best you can do? "At least we have a barn"? LOL!!!
Here are a few more "Barn Logic" things I have learned over the past couple of years.
1. "Saban will never come to Bama"
2. " Tony Franklins spread offense will be unstoppable"
3. " Julio Jones will never make it in the SEC"
4. " Georgia and Clemson will kill Bama this year"
5. " Recruiting dosen't matter"
6. " We only recruit players with character"
Let me know how all of this is working out for ya.... WDE Hayride!!!
Go Bammer!!!! Roll Tide!!!
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lkc, Don't come in here with that fair weather fan stuff. I read an article today that there were only 53K in Jordan Hare yesterday for homecoming.
And by the way, You want to talk about excuses, What's the excuse for never winning a National Championship?
RTR!!
Posted by rmims404 (Roger Mims) on November 9, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Call me a Bammer or whatever you like. I watched every loss as well as the few wins we had last year. I have also watched every game on TV and listened to Eli Gold and company for the games that weren't televised this year. We are 10-0. I say Go Bama, Roll Tide, Number One and all the other stuff. Bama leads the series Vs. Auburn 38-33-1 and unless the Tide has a train wreck, it will be win number 39 in about 3 weeks. Whatever happens, may the best team on that day win. Both teams have a bunch of good guys trying to get a good education and play one of America's favorite competitive sports at the same time. As Coach Bryant used to say, "The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards." I know "The Bear" is long gone but he was the best. Now Nick Saban is proving that he is up to the task.
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Roger, Could not have said it better myself. You just can't reason with an Auburn fan. I didn't dare bring up Coach Bryant in my previous posts because I would have been accused of living in the past.
Roll Tide!!
Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I fail to see why Auburn fans are so quick to brag about the 6 in a row thing. So what? Those games are all history, in the past.
If you insist on living in the past, let me remind you that Bama beat Auburn NINE years in a row a while back. But then you have an excuse for that too, don't you?
Posted by PrAaHe (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Phil, the same reason Bama fans are quick to bring up "The Bear", their 12 fraudulent NC's, and the 9 wins over Auburn all those years ago.
Posted by rmims404 (Roger Mims) on November 9, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Been a long time since 1957 hasn't it PrAaHe?
Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 4:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fraudulent PrAaHe? If we were into questionable accolades we would crow about the 5 or 6 other national championships we were named to by various organizations. I will get you a list when I return.....
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 6:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Phil, You are exactly right. Some organizations have Bama winning 17 championships. It just amazes me that none of these Auburn fans posted anything on their teams article but decided to trash Bama on this one. It just proves they are obsessed with Bama.
Do not try to compare trophy cases with the Crimson Tide. It's an argument you will never win.
RTR!!
Posted by PrAaHe (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
and Auburn could easily claim 6 or 7 NCs, yet we only claim the one.
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on November 10, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ya'll need to chill. Sound like a bunch of snotty-nose kids. I'll tell ya one thing, I am a Tiger (Auburn) fan. But I will have to say, overall, I am tired of the same ol record at Auburn. Over the past few years, the Tigers almost get there, but never catch the big wave. I think it's time for a new coach and a new coaching staff. It's gonna take some time to get over this latest screw-up.
Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All right, here we go, a complete list of football national championships awarded to Alabama and Auburn by various groups, claimed and unclaimed by the universities:
Auburn:
UNCLAIMED:
Auburn University was named national champion in football in 1913 by Billingsley.
1983 Auburn FACT, Football Research, NY Times
1993 Auburn National Championship Foundation
CLAIMED:
1957 - AP, Football Research, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Poling, Williamson
Alabama:
CLAIMED:
The University of Alabama claimed national titles in football in 1925, 1926, and 1930.
1934 Alabama Dunkel, Houlgate, Poling, Williamson
1941 Alabama Houlgate
1961 Alabama AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FB News, Football Research, Helms, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, NFF, Sagarin, UPI, Williamson
1964 Alabama AP, Berryman, Litkenhous, UPI
1965 Alabama AP, Billingsley, Football Research, FW, National Championship Foundation
1973 Alabama Berryman, UPI
1978 Alabama AP, FACT, Football Research, FW, Helms, National Championship Foundation, NFF
1979 Alabama AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, FB News, FW, Helms, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NFF, NY Times, Poling, Sagarin, Sporting News, UPI
1992 Alabama AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Eck, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NY Times, Sporting News, UPI/NFF, USA/CNN
UNCLAIMED:
1945 Alabama National Championship Foundation
1962 Alabama Billingsley
1966 Alabama Berryman
1975 Alabama Matthews
1977 Alabama Football Research
As you can see, awards from the same group were claimed some years and not others, by both schools. I do not know why that is the case. The NCAA obviously only recognizes the titles they present/endorse but I feel if these groups honored these young men by the standards they had in place at the time, it was earned and I will recognize it.
That being the case, I have no problem with Auburn saying they have been so recognized in four different years. And I would not argue someone stating Alabama had been so recognized in 17 different years.
Will all agree with my standard? No. Does it change my high opinion of these young men who gave so much for their respective schools? No.
Posted by Traci (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a Auburn Tiger Fan all the way!!! So with that said Auburn fans lets worry about our own team and quit worrying about Alabama. After what they have been there they deserve to have some things go their way for once. So lets just worry about the Auburn Tigers and not worry so much about what is going on in Tuscaloosa....WAR EAGLE!!!!!
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on November 10, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Traci, I don't ever WORRY about Bamer. It's just a game. Other's have sold their soul to the game, but there are a lot more legitimate things to WORRY about ... such as "who the president-elect of this country is! DOH! I know, I know ... what does that have to do with this story. :B
Posted by Traci (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you Dude. You are right there are much more important things to worry about.
Posted by steve42 (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"I don't ever WORRY about Bamer"
That statement itself reveals your true feelings.
It might as well read "I don't ever worry about beings that are so far beneath me that I must utter a slur to describe them"
To think my wife's family cites the "bad attitude" of Tide fans as justification for siding with Auburn.
Hello Pot, have you met my friend, the kettle?
This kind of nonsense is one reason that national sportswriters and commmentators hate to give one ounce of due respect to Alabama, or by extension, the SEC. They're embarrassed to appear in favor of teams linked so closely to this kind of petty bickering.
Posted by dmbaldwin (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People are going to argue over who's the best, that's just part of the game. It's like Clanton and Jemison or Verbena and Marbury. They are rivals! Everyone picks who they want to win and of course they brag and gloat over years past. That's just the way it works. I believe that's the reason it's called "bragging rights". You say what this team did or did not do and I'll tell you what I think they did or didn't do. Again it's all part of the game. Some years Alabama is going to be better and some years it will be Auburn. That's just the way it goes. The Aub/Ala game is a toss up. There have been years that NO ONE could have told you who was going to win but God himself. Anyone who's a fan of either side will tell you that. So have fun, root for your team, go all out. It's part of the game.
Posted by psychologistdmp (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please. This "petty bickering" is what gets fans excited about the games and, in essence, sells tickets and brings in money to the respective schools. If this "petty bickering" wasn't and hadn't taken place, do you honesty believe that the Alabama-Auburn game would be televised given that Alabama is playing a team that isn't even ranked in the top 25? (I know this goes both ways Auburn fans.)
As far as the SEC not getting the recognition it deserves because of comments between fans.....really? I'm sure there are no other rivalries across the country that stir up feelings and cause fans to speak their minds like what we are seeing today....right.
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on November 10, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Speakin' of "pot" steve42, is that what you were smokin when you wrote that? Talk about bickerin' ...
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Traci wrote:
I am a Auburn Tiger Fan all the way!!! So with that said Auburn fans lets worry about our own team and quit worrying about Alabama. After what they have been there they deserve to have some things go their way for once. So lets just worry about the Auburn Tigers and not worry so much about what is going on in Tuscaloosa....WAR EAGLE!!!!!
Things go their way for once?? You must be 6 years old!! Things have been going well for Alabama for decades!! You make that sound like Bama has never been here before!! LOL
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Phil, Great post, But you will only confuse Auburn fans with facts. For those of you who think we have more important things to worry about, why are you still here reading and posting? Besides, Obama is going to take care of all of us so I have plenty of time to talk about football...LOL
P.S. I hope you know this is all good clean fun. It's that time of year for the Iron Bowl and I enjoy getting the hackles up on a Barner.... Let's play some Football!!!!!
Posted by getbizi (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm neither a Bama of Auburn fan per se, but with all the sqwauking that Alabama does, even during losing seasons, I can see where Auburn would have some acrimony toward Bama.
If the past few weeks are any indication, I have a feeling that the Fla. Gators are going to paste Alabama.
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
getbizi, You may be right. Florida is playing very well right now. But Bama has two more games to play before I start worrying about that. I think Miss.St. and Auburn will be tough games. Saban will cross that bridge when it gets here.
One at a Time!!
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on November 10, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OOOHHHHHH!! .... now that was a "true" unbiased opinion. That's exactly what we've been tellin' you Sabanites for years! Squawk, that's the word I've been lookin' for! :O
Posted by bama1870 (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL!!! Sabanites?
Thats good, I have heard SaBear, Dinky, Satan,and $aban but that's a new one!!
Posted by PrAaHe (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oh, Bama certainly deserves to be where theyre at right now. Any team that can go undefeated in the SEC (so far) def. deserves to be #1. And steve42, the bickering is what makes the SEC so great! (besides the teams!). The SEC easily has the most loyal fans in the country. Why would they be embarrassed to be in favor of teams with this kind of loyalty? That would be an honor!
Posted by Traci (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bama1870,
I am 34 years old so I am way past 6 years. All I was saying is that after the last several years Alabama has had they deserve the season they are having. And by the way my husband is a huge Alabama Fan. So Roll Tide and War Eagle.
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