Argumentative Essay: The Alabama Crimson Tide

The College Football Playoff National Championship game will take place Monday night, pitting top two teams in the country. In what should be a thrilling battle for college football supremacy, No. 1 Clemson meets No. 2 Alabama Monday at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Tigers and Crimson Tide will square off for just the second title under the new playoff format. Below is a preview of the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship game.

The Path

Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1)

The Alabama Crimson Tide are one victory away from redeeming their disappointing effort from a season ago. In last year’s national semifinal, the Tide were upset by the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in what was a closely contested matchup. Alabama head coach Nick Saban and his returning

players have had a year to dwell on the anguish that their loss to Buckeyes brought.

This season, the Tide have scribbled a check mark next to all of their most significant preseason goals — Except one. Alabama finished the regular season with a 12-1 record, including a 29-15 SEC Championship victory over the Florida Gators. The Tide followed the SEC Championship with a 38-0 pounding of the Michigan State Spartans in this season’s national semifinal. There’s just one last check mark to add to Alabama’s list of objectives — Defeat the Clemson Tigers to win the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship.

If Alabama were to topple the undefeated Tigers Monday night, it would be the vaunted SEC’s first national championship since the Tide blew out Notre Dame 42-14 in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. An Alabama win could also reaffirm the SEC’s perception as the nation’s toughest conference. As for the Tide head coach, a win against Clemson would give Saban his fifth national championship (fourth at Alabama - 2009, 2011, 2012), further immortalizing his historic career.

Clemson Tigers (14-0)

Aside Clemson supporters, there haven’t been many folk who have believed in the Tigers this season. Clemson was a four-point underdog heading into its national semifinal matchup with Oklahoma before demolishing the Sooners 37-17 in the Capital One Orange Bowl. The undefeated Tigers aren’t favored heading into their national championship matchup with Alabama either as the Tide have hovered around a 5-to-7-point favorite to defeat Clemson. Here’s a question for all of the doubters that have waited for the Tigers to begin ‘Clemsoning’ this season: What is there not to like about the 2015-16 Clemson Tigers?

Clemson has a fiery head coach, Dabo Swinney, that recruits at the highest level and seems to enjoy almost every second of his job. During Swinney’s celebration of his 100th game at Clemson and an ACC Championship victory over North Carolina, Swinney even lived up to his first name in an exhibition for his players in the locker room after game. Monday night’s meeting with the Tide likely means that much more to Swinney, considering the Clemson coach is an Alabama alumnus who payed for the Tide’s 1992 national championship team.

The Tigers also have a Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback and a 1,400-plus yard rusher in its backfield that by all accounts seem to be exceptional student athletes. Throw in a couple of talented studs on defense and it’s difficult to comprehend why the No. 1 team in the country has to reprove its worth week after week.

Hesitancy to believe in the Tigers could be a byproduct of Clemson’s perceived national standing. Clemson isn’t regarded as a national program in the same light as an Alabama, or an Ohio State, or a Florida State, or a USC. However, the Tigers can help change that perspective with a win over the favored Tide Monday night. With a win over Alabama, Clemson would capture its first national title since 1981 and become the first team in FBS history to finish a season 15-0.

Key Players

Alabama Crimson Tide

- Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, has had one of the best season’s by a running back in Alabama history. Henry, a 6-foot-3, 242-pound bulldozer in cleats, has rushed for 2,061 yards this season, an Alabama school record and the most in the SEC this season. The junior running back has also added 25 touchdowns this season, which could be his last in a Crimson Tide uniform. Alabama has had no problem feeding Henry the ball as the Tide running back has averaged a little more than 25 carries per game this season, including two games in which he carried the ball more than 40 times. Henry has failed to rush for 100 yards in a game just four times this season, while he reached at least 95 rushing yards in two of those four outings. If Henry finds success against Clemson’s defense Monday, it could be a long night for the Tigers.

- Jake Coker

Early in the 2015 season, the Alabama coaching staff wasn’t sure who its starting quarterback should be. Through Alabama’s first three games this season, both Cooper Bateman and Jake Coker saw plenty of playing time. In the Tide’s third game this season, a 43-37 loss to Ole Miss, Coker outperformed Bateman and the rest is history. Coker started the next week against Louisiana Monroe and every game since, leading Alabama to an SEC Championship and an appearance in the National Championship game. Coker has done everything you want a quarterback to do with a strong running game to support. The senior quarterback has thrown for 2,775 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. Coker doesn’t turn the ball over much and if he can protect the pigskin against Clemson, which he failed to do with two interceptions in the loss to Ole Miss, it would only bolster Alabama’s chances of taking its fourth title in seven years.

Clemson Tigers

- Deshaun Watson

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson dominated college football this season with his arm as well as his legs. Watson has thrown for 3,600 yards with 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while the sophomore quarterback has also rushed for 1,032 yards and 12 touchdowns. HIs outstanding play earned a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, yet Watson could only watch as the trophy was awarded to a player who will be on the opposite sideline Monday night. Watson has been college football’s best dual threat this season. If he continues his superb play against Alabama, the Tigers could capture their first championship in more than three decades.

- Wayne Gallman

Clemson running back Wayne Gallman has been one of the best running backs in the country that few seem to recognize. The sophomore tailback has rushed for 1,482 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, including a 150-yard, two touchdown performance in Clemson’s romping of Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Gallman has been the perfect compliment to Watson as the duo has helped Clemson maintain its perfect record this season. Gallman, however, could have a tough time running against an Alabama defense that ranks No. 1 against the run in college football.

Defensive X-factors

Alabama Crimson Tide

- Reggie Ragland

Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland has been the Tide’s most consistent defender the last two seasons.

A season ago, Ragland (93 total tackles) finished six tackles behind safety Landon Collins for the team lead in the category. This season, Ragland (97 tackles) has 33 more tackles than any other Alabama defender on what many consider the best collegiate defense in the nation. One of Ragland’s primary objectives will be minimizing long runs by Deshaun Watson when the Clemson quarterback escapes the pocket.

- Jonathan Allen

Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen is a member of the most stout defensive front in college football. The junior defensive lineman led the Tide in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (14.5) this season as Allen has forced his name up draft boards. Allen recorded two sacks in Alabama’s obliteration of Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, which coincidentally were his only two tackles in the game. If Allen can keep sustained pressure on the elusive Deshaun Watson, it could throw Clemson’s offensive rhythm off enough to help the Tide come out victorious Monday night.

Clemson

Tigers

- B.J. Goodson

While fellow defensive stalwart Shaq Lawson attracts most of the headlines, Tigers linebacker B.J. Goodson might be Clemson’s most impactful player this season. The senior linebacker leads Clemson with 98 tackles, while also totaling 14 tackles for loss, 5½ sacks and two interceptions this season. Goodson’s experience and playmaking ability has been invaluable for a Clemson defense that has only two other seniors. Goodson will be tasked with slowing down Henry and Alabama’s rushing attack, an undertaking that won’t be easily accomplished.

- Shaq Lawson

After sitting behind All-American Vic Beasley the last two seasons, Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson has had a breakout season in 2015. Lawson led Clemson in sacks (10.5) and the nation in tackles for loss (23.5) this season, earning All-American honors just like his predecessor Beasley. There was some question as to whether Lawson would play against Alabama after the junior suffered a sprained ligament in his knee in the first quarter of the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. Lawson has insisted he will play against the Tide Monday night, but it remains to be seen how effective he can be once he’s on the field. If Lawson is at least 80 percent healthy Monday night, it could be enough for the projected first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to still have a significant impact on the game.

Prediction

Last season, Alabama was the favorite to win the inaugural College Football Playoff before the Tide were upset by Ohio State in the opening round. It was evident in the Cotton Bowl that Alabama wasn’t going to suffer the same fate against Michigan State as it did last season against the Spartans’ Big Ten brethren. The Tigers haven’t lost a game this season, but they also haven’t faced a defense as menacing as Alabama’s. While Clemson has a top-15 defense, the Tigers rushing defense ranks outside the top 30 teams in the nation this season. Clemson allows more than 128 rushing yards per game to opposing offenses, which bodes well for Derrick Henry and the Tide ground game. Alabama’s physical nature should overpower the athletic Tigers en route to the Tide’s fourth title in the last seven years.