The Other Game: Alabama Crushes Michigan State

The Cotton Bowl was won perhaps above all by quarterback Jake Coker, a redshirt senior, who exploited the one-on-one coverage that both teams knew talented pass-catchers such as receiver Calvin Ridley and tight end O.J. Howard would receive. Coker finished 25-of-30 for 286 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think past year when we came to this game I think we were just happy to be in the game”, coach Nick Saban said. “And the last thing I want to do is look at the downside and say, ‘Our last game as Spartans we lost.’ We want to be positive people”.

There’s no question that the Crimson Tide entered the Cotton Bowl match-up against Michigan State with a focus level that even impressed a head coach not easily impressed.

“So we knew that we would have to throw the bubbles and the smokes and the outside perimeter stuff and try to get them blocked on the perimeter to be able to move the ball effectively”. He caught eight passes for 138 yards and two TDs. When Cook finally found a rhythm and had the Spartans at the Alabama 12 late in the first half, he underthrew Aaron Burnbridge for an easy interception by Cyrus Jones near the goal line. Teams such as Ohio State, Auburn, Mississippi and Texas A&M have given the Crimson Tide trouble; more traditional offenses seem to play into Alabama’s hands.

Henry carried the ball 20 times for 75 yards, he scored two touchdowns and his longest gain of the night was 14 yards but his team is moving forward to the next game.

“We have a lot of respect for Michigan State’s defense, and they played a hard, physical game”, said Coker, who has completed 73.1 percent of his passes in the past 10 games. At the end of the first half, with Alabama beginning to overwhelm the MSU party goers with its 10-0 lead, Henry only had 39 yards on 11 carries. So we’re going to have to practice better. They count on us to do their job covering and we count on them to get pressure on the quarterback.

And when Alabama added three touchdowns in the third quarter, it was time for the Spartans to face an uncertain future.

“Just got to keep the focus we had in preparation for this game”, Coker said.

Baker Mayfield was 26 of 41 for 311 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

It’s fairly certain he will play that card again as Clemson prepares to play favored Alabama in the CFP National Championship Jan. 11 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

They never mentioned it before the game, but Alabama players said they heard and spoke quietly among themselves about the “talk” Michigan State did before the game.

Michigan State embraced its role as the underdog and came in expecting to slug it out with the Tide and it smothering defense and hammering Heisman victor. After watching Coker’s performance and poise on the game’s biggest stage, it’s incredible to think that this starting job was still up in the air after a few weeks of regular season play. He is the 19th player in Football Bowl Subdivision history and the first in the Southeastern Conference to surpass 2,000 rushing yards. It was Jones’ fourth punt return for a score this season and in his career. But that day included two touchdowns.

“As a unit”, Watson said, “it’s tough to beat us when we’re all on the same page and have each other’s back”. “We’ve got to finish”.

ALA-De. Henry 1 yard rush (A. Griffith kick), 5:36.