Alabama, Clemson to meet in college football title game

No, it’s not that call.

Alabama quarterback Jake Coker (14) escapes the grasp of Michigan State defensive lineman Lawrence Thomas (8) during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, in Arlington, Texas.

Please, by all means, bring your own guts. “We worked our butts off and this is what you get when you work hard”. She’s also pretty sure you’ll need ’em. It’s another week for Alabama to prepare for a fourth national championship under Saban.

The Michigan State freshman running back slowed and surveyed the crowd of celebrating Alabama fans, as their team got ready to accept a Cotton Bowl trophy after a 38-0 win over the Spartans. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is an Alabama alumnus who played on the Tide’s 1992 national championship team. A win against Clemson would give Alabama its fourth national title since the 2009 season; a Clemson title would be its first since 1981.

Lucky for Dabo he’s a protege of Gene Stallings.

A 10-0 halftime lead didn’t satisfy Saban.

It would only get worse.

Unlike the Tide, the Big Ten champ Spartans (12-2) weren’t able to figure anything out when they had the ball. It’s been 52 years since a Cotton Bowl loser was held scoreless. A punt return touchdown and a 50-yard throw from Coker to Calvin Ridley solidified Alabama’s dominance throughout the game. Or Ridley climbing over a defender to cradle a Coker dart to his chest while tap-dancing for another score?

Saban improved to 9-0 over his former assistants and his team made the Spartans appear almost comatose at certain points of the second half.

Last season the Crimson Tide couldn’t get past the semifinals, upset by Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. He went down at the 1-yard line, and Henry punched it into the end zone for his 24th touchdown of the season, setting an SEC record and giving Alabama a 7-0 lead with 5:36 to go in the first half.

The defining moment may have been Derrick Henry flattening a 250-pound defensive end with a Mike Tyson right cross of a stiff arm for the final touchdown.

Connor Cook had a tough night.

Coker was supposed to be the Crimson Tide’s weak link, but he was the best quarterback on the field.

Cook had Michigan State in position to score in the final seconds of the half, but he was picked off by Jones at the goal line.

Don’t misunderstand. Watson’s a terrific player and the leader of a terrific team.

Alabama looked like a team with no weaknesses against Michigan State.

Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander on Ridley will be National Football League good on good.

The defense was even more impressive, especially since star end Shaq Lawson was knocked out of the game in the opening minutes with a knee injury.

Swinney against Alabama is the icing. He’s not scheduled to stare across the sideline at another protege until 2017, when Alabama and Florida State will open the Atlanta Falcons’ new stadium, in what should be Saban’s first matchup with Jimbo Fisher, but he could see Florida’s Jim McElwain, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, or South Carolina’s Will Muschamp in SEC Championship Games in the near future.

Now, he’s going against the greatest coach of this generation. It should be some reunion.

Can Swinney now put a stop to Saban? Mama may have to cover her eyes either way.