Saban, Swinney want underclassmen draft deadline pushed back

Even Bear Bryant had peers, or almost so.

“We don’t really pay attention to what other teams say”, Alabama center and team captain Ryan Kelly said.

FILE – In this August 30, 2008, file photo, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden, left, congratulates Alabama coach Nick Saban after No. 24 Alabama beat No. 9 Clemson 34-10 in a football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. “And we certainly have a lot of respect for their players and their accomplishments and their coaching staff and the great job they’ve done all season long”. Alabama is not built to lose. Alabama’s defensive front, led by A’Shawn Robinson, led the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 2.3 yards per carry. The foursome of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi will call the game for ESPN on Monday evening to determine college football’s national champion. – Clemson might be the 2016 preseason No. 1 no matter what happens.

Clemson’s top two receivers – Artivis Scott and Charone Peake – have combined for 1,485 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Alabama believes it can get pressure with its defensive line, then matches up with man coverage on the outside and underneath and leaves two safeties over the top to protect the deep halves of the field. Not many opponents do.

If the Tide win – this time, they’re favored by a touchdown – it’ll lift their ridiculous average-victory total to 12 in the last eight seasons. You’ve got to bring your A game. It tried pregame bluster, which the visitors ignored.

Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland, the Crimson Tide’s lone captain on the defensive side of the ball, said that what stands out about the Tigers offensively is the togetherness they play with as a unit, especially on the offensive line. Clemson’s Wayne Gallman has thrived with defenses focused on Watson, rushing for 1,482 yards. In that one, they won by three scores.

To borrow from the philosopher Mike Tyson, everyone has a plan until getting hit in the mouth. Alabama 28, Clemson 13. – I’ve spent most of my season yelling that Alabama is the best team in college football, and Clemson isn’t.

DE Shaq Lawson: Also a first-round draft prospect who, at 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, isn’t the biggest guy around, but displays surprising power, quickness and agility. “They are young players. It nearly makes playing the games a little bit easier”. “This last one, I guess it was the toughest because I knew it was my past year”. But a knee injury suffered during the Orange Bowl put his status in doubt for the championship game.

“You’ve got to have great players”, Swinney said of Saban’s recruiting success. Clemson insiders are less optimistic.

Love him or hate him, Saban is the best there is, one of the best ever.

There’s an old saying in places like Tuscaloosa, AL, and Clemson, SC, where people hunt birds and drive pickup trucks.

Freshman Calvin Ridley set Alabama’s single-season receiving mark after garnering 1,031 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season.

Successful head coaches in any sport are only as good as their players. “If we do that, everything else takes care of itself”. “I think we’re a great offense”. ‘Hey, I want their best guy, I want their best guy.

Yeah, yeah. What’s a Clemson guy going to say? But the Tigers have faith in themselves and their quarterback, and Deshaun Watson of Gainesville is the multi-talented type who has troubled Alabama’s defense. The Tide will break open a close game in the fourth quarter behind the strong legs of Henry.

Saban and Swinney held a joint press conference Sunday.

Not that Saban will waste even a second entertaining such debate.

Any support you hear for expanding the College Football Playoff does not come from the leadership. But both have been effective in what they’ve been asked to do, and one final request has been made of them: win a national championship.

The only coach in Saban’s constellation has been Ohio State’s Urban Meyer.