January 10th, 2017 at 12:33 AM ^
first
January 10th, 2017 at 12:38 AM ^
Happy Bama lost, but they got shafted on 2 missed calls with the pick plays in the end zone.. 1 was the game winning TD.. The WR didn't even try to hide it and went after the corners knees lolol
January 10th, 2017 at 12:40 AM ^
IDK. The picking WR didn't even touch the guy guarding Renfrow. I mean, he tried to pick him, but I'm not sure he actually did. If anything he seemed to get pulled to the ground by the guy guarding him.
Still, I think the NCAA should do something to crack down on those plays.
January 10th, 2017 at 8:32 AM ^
The best chance for that to happen is to have Saban bitching about it so they just might.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
Yeah, it seemed like there was a little contact initiated by the Clemson WR but the Alabama corner then straight up grabbed him around the shoulders and manhandled him. Reminded me of the play vs Ohio State when Darboh was straight up tackled by a Buckeye DB.
It's in Alabama's best interest to commit pass intereference there like they did the play before. There's so little time left - they might as well. The game can't end on a defensive penalty but if they commit PI and break up the play, whether its called or not, the odds Clemson goes for it instead of taking the FG are greatly reduced. I thought thats what they were trying to do, but the contact there backfired on them.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:41 AM ^
The first quarter hit on Williams could have been called targeting and I'm not so sure about that shot to the head the Watson took wasn't penalty.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^
I saw two that qualified.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:19 AM ^
There were a couple dirty hits delivered by Alabama. One of the guys sat out previously for targeting and was back at it. And not one of those incidental ones, it looked intentional and avoidable to me.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:41 AM ^
They had their calls though. They should have had two players tossed for targeting and didn't.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:52 AM ^
Boulware should have been called for targeting. I think it was 4th quarter when he crushed a Bama WR/RB trying to catch a ball. Clearly helmet to helmet.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:21 AM ^
But I don't think it warranted an ejection.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:43 AM ^
Few penalties (including egregious holds) were also called either way....officials more than let them play...
January 10th, 2017 at 9:23 AM ^
I logged in just to upvote this.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:00 AM ^
They were on the two yard line so they could block on the goal line since it's within 2 yards of the line of scrimmage. That's basically how bubble screens work as well.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:02 AM ^
Or refs only call that shit against Notre Dame like when it happened to them last year or was it 2 years ago against FSU?
lol.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^
ND picked further downfield... plus they're Notre Dame, so fuck them.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:04 AM ^
to legally pick within a yard of the line of scrimmage
January 10th, 2017 at 1:05 AM ^
Was that a recent change because I remember ND getting flagged for it against FSU.
January 10th, 2017 at 6:50 AM ^
The ND Penalty was far more blatant. The receiver barreled into the db and kept shoving him into the end zone.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:04 AM ^
He was bearhugged by the corner as he tried to get to the rub/pick. It looked like sabans counter to it was to have the cb mug the wr. Afterall, the DB made contact and forced him to the ground.
January 10th, 2017 at 2:17 AM ^
That's not a pick! He didn't even touch the defender. He ran it perfectly, which means legally and effectively. The WR is allowed to jam the CB, just like the CB is allowed to do the same to the WR. The first one as well - WR turned around to face QB with arms up before the other CB made contact with him.
So well executed.
January 10th, 2017 at 8:10 AM ^
I agree with this - I thought it was a well designed and executed play. The WR can block within 3 yards of the LOS in college, which is why RPOs work. We all know it was a pick, and it would have been called in the NFL. But in college, that is nothing more than a well executed RPO play.
And I thought it was a helluva call there - Clemson went for the win. That play wasn't meant to be a quick shot to a timeout for the FG if incomplete. That was going for the end zone all the way. If the pass wasn't there, Watson only had 2 yards to shuck and jive his way into the EZ. I'll give Swinney a lot of credit for giving up on the FG to tie, and going all in for the win.
January 10th, 2017 at 8:40 AM ^
Serious question - what does RPO stand for?
January 10th, 2017 at 8:43 AM ^
Run-pass option.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^
Rock, Paper, Omelette
January 10th, 2017 at 9:06 AM ^
No foul
January 10th, 2017 at 9:29 AM ^
That was not a pick. Tommy Brown ran around the wash and that left Renfro wide open. Had he tried to run thru the wash and collided with the Clemson WR that ran the slant a penalty could have been called.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:13 PM ^
Did you miss the (at least two) uncalled targetings by Bama defense against Clemson O in first half? Hard to say Bama got shafted.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:05 AM ^
Maybe firing your offensive coordinator days before the national championship isn't the best move.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:06 AM ^
Doubt Kiffin would've made much of a difference. Hurts is only a freshman. He'll get better.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:54 AM ^
He's better than Saban/Sark allowed him to be. They were so goddamn conservative and easily could have scored a lot more. Pretty funny that's part of why Saban ditched Lane.
The whole second half Clemson basically knew where the ball was going. Then they get behind and really let it rip for a TD with two minutes left, which they should have done more of all game.
I guess that OJ Howard play was nice but mostly a blown coverage and they spent the rest of the game throwing rock over and over to set up one scissors.
January 10th, 2017 at 6:30 AM ^
Well, Bama didn't tear it up offensively against Washington, either - 17 offensive points. That was with Kiffin, right?
January 10th, 2017 at 6:51 AM ^
And their mighty defense gave up 35 points and 500 yards while even getting 2 turnovers.
January 10th, 2017 at 2:29 PM ^
Lane opened up/modernized the Alabama offense to great success (3 first year starting QBs, a ton of offensive records).
That's what got them here on that side of the ball and poor execution against Washington made Saban go into a shell for this game/get rid of Lane. Washington wasn't waving pre snap at where the ball was going.
Or did you love all those screens Sark called that got blown up because they were obvious?
January 10th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^
Normally yes , but is there ever really a bad time to fire Lane Kiffin ?
January 10th, 2017 at 6:54 AM ^
...to get negged multiple times. Congratulations.
January 10th, 2017 at 7:43 AM ^
Bama. That is all.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
I heard there has been a rash of suicide attempts in the state of Alabama since last night. Fortunately, the height of most mobile homes has rendered most of those attempts resulting in sprained ankles.
More to follow.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:33 AM ^
Ugh fuck Clemson and fuck Dabo. But also fuck Alabama. Fuck everything
January 10th, 2017 at 12:35 AM ^
I sure am a fan of Deshaun Watson. A player and performance for the ages.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:47 AM ^
Totally agree on Watson. Has amazing character and is a phenomenal player deserving of the title.
Not a fan of his coach, however, and his post-game comment where he said he wasn't sure how he got there reminded me of how they went after Rashan Gary and nearly stole him... which resulted in a particular interim AD criticizing illegal recruiting methods by particular programs... and I felt a little bit of anger I'd have to say. This is the reality of college football, however, and if I need to try to get over it.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:47 AM ^
The holy trinity of the Clemson program.
January 10th, 2017 at 5:48 AM ^
Hated seeing either win but it was a good game regardless.
Who do you want to win. Devil Dabo or Devil Nick?
January 10th, 2017 at 8:40 AM ^
Just so long as it wasn't Devil Urban.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:48 AM ^
And I will say that I believe he's an excellent coach, but I wonder what college football would be like on an even playing field.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:20 AM ^
Ironically Clemson brings in classes that are good but not great. They tend to hover at the back end of the top ten. Quite good, obviously, but they're not exactly pulling in top three groups every season.