2010 BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: TEXAS VS. ALABAMA

2010 BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: TEXAS VS. ALABAMA
by William Queen-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online
(eds: note-William writes this piece from Texas' point of view. We will have a second piece from the "Tide's" pointof view over the weekend)

Texas caught the bad end of the BCS in 2008 and, due to a 3-team tie, was forced to sit out the Big 12 championship game which ultimately sent Oklahoma to the BCS national championship game. Though they ended their season off on a good note with a close win over the bowl-bereaving Buckeyes. Quarterback Colt McCoy entered his senior year with very high expectations, as he has yet to win a national championship. Well, needless to say, 13-0 closes the deal. Though their win over Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game was all but certain, the Longhorns still came out with the W and a ticket to the big one. Perhaps their biggest question was the level of difficulty they played throughout the season. But a #1 rushing defense complimented by the #3 scoring offense, stats don’t lie.

With more than a month to build up hype for this game, the media has yet to disappoint. Predictions shoot out in every which way, so why not give it a shot? Plus, with all this extra time to think about it, it better be good.

When it’s game time, the betting lines can say whatever they want, but the real football has yet to be played and the clock has yet to start ticking. But when they do take the field in the most important college football game of the year, predictions won’t matter and the experts aren’t any smarter than the fans sitting at home. Texas, Alabama, who want’s it more?

The game started out all in favor of the Horns. Sending Bama’s offense in reverse and sniffing out a fake punt, Texas had the ball on Alabama’s side of the field with tons of momentum. However, perhaps the most important event of the game, quarterback Colt McCoy left the game due to injury. But all was sound in Texas, as they were winning after a field goal. And as if things couldn’t get any more lopsided to start off the game, the kickoff is recovered by Texas on Bama’s side of the field once again. Yet, the Tide’s defense calmly held Texas to another field goal.

At this point, though every ounce of momentum is in favor of Texas, yet they only lead by a mere six points. A lead that could easily be overshadowed by a quick Alabama touchdown. Their offense hasn’t been up to par since the loss of McCoy. But if Bama keeps it up, it doesn’t matter who’s taking the snap, Texas has this game wrapped up.

Well unfortunately for Texas, the Tide are undefeated for a reason; Ingram caps off their next drive with a touchdown run from 2 yards out. Now losing 7-6, Texas fans are simply praying that Colt McCoy will come back on the field. But he’s long gone in the locker room and wouldn’t be seen for the rest of the half. A personal foul and a few incomplete passes force the Longhorns backwards and into punt formation and after a few of those go by, it’s only a matter of time before Alabama responds. Trent Richardson, Alabama’s 2nd string running back, runs a 49-yard game-changing touchdown and puts the Tide up 14-6.

More and more drives go by and Texas begins to realize that they have virtually no shot at scoring this half. Garrett Gilbert, the backup Texas quarterback, wouldn’t be able to throw a touchdown pass to save his life.
Actually, I take that back. With less than 15 seconds left, Gilbert throws a shovel pass to the running back and his pass is intercepted for a touchdown with just three seconds left n the half.

As a Texas fan, I died a little inside when I watched this play. A true freshman quarterback is forced into a situation where he’s the starting quarterback for Texas in the national championship vs. the #1 defense in Alabama. And what does he do? Throw an interception for a touchdown.

Just as the 2nd half starts, it is announced that Colt McCoy is not going to play for the rest of the game. A legendary career, one of the best quarterbacks of the decade that quarterback sneak for no gain was Colt McCoy’s last play of his collegiate career. Now, Texas has a dilemma. How do they overcome a 24-6 halftime deficit with a true freshman quarterback with almost no confidence on the biggest stage in college sports?

Starting off the half, Gilbert looked a little more stable offensively and started to make some connections with their talented receivers. However, the scoreboard stays the same and the Tide maintain the lead.
Drive after drive went by and Texas’ time started to run out. With under six minutes left in the 3rd quarter now, Texas was attempting to sustain an actual scoring drive. But their success simply didn’t change.
Just as Texas looked like they had absolutely no hope to pull this game together, the Horns get a great stop on defense and gets great field position to start off the drive. The only thing was, could they convert?
The answer is yes.

A 44-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Gilbert to Jordan Shipley sparks the life in Texas Alabama’s lead is cut to just eleven. And hey, while we’re at it, we might as well throw an onside kick in their; Nick Saban isn’t the only coach that can make up bad trick plays. The only difference is that this one worked. Texas recovered the onside kick with great field position with only an eleven point deficit.
The next drive didn’t go quite as expected though. All three downs were passes down field to big-time receivers Jordan Shipley and Malcolm Jenkins; all three incomplete. After the punt, the 3rd quarter came to an end and the final quarter of college football was about to be underway. Perhaps the most impressive unit of the 2nd half, the Horns defense held all three of Bama’s offensive drives to 3-and-outs; a great turn around by the Texas defense.

Alabama started off the 4th quarter with the ball and decides to put an end to all this Texas madness. A drive aided by two Texas personal fouls, one a pass interference and the other illegal touching, the Tide simply wasted time and helped secure their lead while they had the ball in their possession. Texas would’ve had em’ stopped twice before, but, as I mentioned before, two personal fouls put Alabama in decent position to make a scoring drive. On a 52-yard field goal, Alabama missed wide left and gave Texas another chance with just under 11 minutes left in the 4th.

At this point, you can see the game coming to a close. The time has almost winded down to a point of desperation for the Horns. Though it’s only an 11-point game, if Texas doesn’t score here then it’s not looking good.
Tic, Toc; the clock is running and the Horns offense isn’t exactly running along with it. Though the ball is moving down the field, the time is slipping away right before out eyes. Just over 6 minutes left in the game, in the season.
But memories of the 2005 national championship between Texas and USC start to flow back into the minds of Texas fans as Garrett Gilbert connects to Jordan Shipley in the end zone to cut the lead to three! Images of Vince Young running into the corner of the end zone, the confetti and all, seeping into the minds of Texas fans.

Mark Ingram won’t put up with it though, as he carries Alabama’s offense on his back to a few first downs. But once Alabama turned to passing, the drive stalled and were forced to punt with 3:21 left in the game. As if it could be any more nerve racking. Losing 21-24 with 3:21 left to go… in the national championship. The whole season is on the line and in the hands of a true freshman quarterback. The #3 scoring offense in the nation vs. the #1 defense in the nation, Texas-Alabama; this is college football.

The last hope for Texas, the game winning drive. First and ten on their own 17. And they fumble it. Gilbert got hit from behind and fumbled the ball and was recovered by Alabama with just 3:02 left in the game.
A season-breaking play for the Texas Longhorns, all Alabama has to do is waste time and score a touchdown from four yards out and they will have sealed the deal.

First and second down go by, both handoffs to Ingram, and still no touchdown. But the Heisman winner prevails and scores from a yard out on 3rd down to wrap up the national championship game with just over two minutes to go.
Texas started off fast, but when Colt McCoy went Sam Bradford on everybody and got hurt, the game plan for both teams were completely changed. The offense for Texas was forced to be conservative and helped Alabama go on a 24-0 run in the 2nd quarter. Though the Horns scored a touchdown in both the 3rd and 4th quarter, Bama’s lead was too strong to overcome and Heisman winner Mark Ingram was just not gonna let it happen. 22 carries for 126 yards, a 5.3 average, and 2 touchdowns, Ingram did not disappoint. Only a sophomore, this guy is a player.

The last time Greg McElroy lost a football game as a starter was in the 8th grade, an impressive streak for anyone who’s ever played football. Also, this is not only a win for Alabama, but a win for the SEC. This marks the first time in college football history that a team from the same conference has won 4 straight national championships. Quite a statement for both Alabama and the SEC.

Now, when it’s all said and done, the final score stands at Alabama - 37 Texas - 21. Not many people thought it would be Alabama by 16, but sometimes football is unpredictable; just ask Colt McCoy. Defiantly the biggest changing variable to the game, McCoy changed college football history forever.