Clemson Positioned to Become No. 3 in AP Poll

The Alabama defense limited Florida to just 70 yards of second-half offense and kept the Gators out of the end zone.

After getting off to a rough start, the Alabama defense stepped its game up by holding the Gators to 261 yards and forcing three turnovers.

Whether Saban wants it or not, his team, through offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, is using the head coach’s bugaboo to flummox opposition.

Alabama graduates Bill and Donna Whalen, of Atlanta, were among the thousands of Tide fans who came to the Georgia Dome about three hours before the game started to attend Fan Fest.

“Of all the teams and as good as Alabama’s been, we’ve never had a chance to host them”, Stokan said of the postseason event.

“I don’t see a lot of weaknesses, even in the depth piece”. “It was really fun to watch the few times that I watched them (on television) and they really play well and (we) have a lot of respect for what they’ve done”.

The Crimson Tide scored twice more in the second half to win 54-16 for its third consecutive SEC championship. That was in 2009 when Alabama went 14-0 and won the first of his four national titles at the school.

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl teleconference was almost done when Nick Saban asked to make a statement. “If Washington had a stronger strength of schedule, I don’t think the conversation would have been as hard”.

Despite having -7 yards of total offense at the end of the first quarter, Alabama led 16-9.

Alabama had two non-offensive touchdowns – including a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Josh Jacobs and an interception returned 44 yards for a score by Minkah Fitzpatrick.

To commemorate the silver anniversary, Steve Spurrier and Gene Stallings – coaches of Florida and Alabama, respectively, when the teams met in the league’s first three championship games – were at midfield for the pregame coin toss. It was most points surrendered by Florida since a 62-24 loss to Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl. They had another long TD drive near the end of the first half to give themselves a glimmer of hope.

By the time the SEC Championship game returns to Atlanta next season, the Georgia Dome will have been imploded, if all goes as planned.

“We wanted to take in every moment because this is the last SEC Championship game in this stadium, and we may not be able to afford tickets for the playoff game”, she said.

Clemson entered last year’s playoff bidding for 15-0, and had a chance to finish with that record – but lost the title game to the Crimson Tide.

“We knew he’s not a guy that’s going to light you up with his arm”, cornerback Jalen Tabor said.

The Clemson star completed 23 of 34 passes for 288 yards, including TDs of 21 and 10 yards to Jordan Leggett and 15 yards to Hunter Renfrow for a 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Appleby hurt Alabama with 17-for-26 passing for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

“We just wanted to do what we do best, and that’s run the ball”, Scarbrough said. But that’s merely nitpicking. Developing a quarterback is McElwain’s top priority.

“That’s something we’ve got to do and we’ve got to make sure it happens sooner than later”, McElwain said. The kicking game was also shaky after Florida blocked a PAT and returned it for two points.

The Crimson Tide capped off an undefeated campaign with a 54-16 win against Florida, which assured Alabama the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

“Not many people can say they did that, win the SEC four out of five years”, Anderson said.

Appearing on a Sunday afternoon teleconference put on by the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, Alabama’s venerable head coach refused to sign off without expressing congratulations to Washington’s Chris Petersen for the Huskies’ inclusion in the four-team playoff.

Early in the second half, Florida did attempt to make things interesting.

The Gators probably are headed to the Citrus Bowl (on December 31) or the Outback Bowl (Jan. 2).