Worthy of a National Title?

Last night the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Texas Longhorns 37-21 in the BCS title game. Yet, is it really fair to call Alabama, National Champions? While, certainly they won the game and that is all that really matters, there win is somewhat hollow.

Despite the 16 point differential Alabama only had a 3 point lead with just less than 3 minutes to play and Texas had the ball. That despite the fact that Texas had played awful since starting Senior Quarterback Colt McCoy left the game. McCoy was hurt on the first offensive drive of the game for Texas.

McCoy is the only reason that Texas was in the BCS Title Game and his loss in the first five minutes of the game caused Texas to completely fall apart. A brief 6-0 lead was demolished by a confident Alabama team and the halftime score was 24-6 in Alabama’s favor. Somehow the true freshman backup for Texas Garrett Gilbert, led a rally late in the third quarter and throughout the fourth quarter to bring the game within reach. Then just when Texas thought they might have a shot Gilbert threw his third interception and a fourth interception was to come in the final two minutes.

Alabama didn’t look particularly prepared for the game in the first five minutes before McCoy left. They didn’t look very good in the second half either. In fact the only time Alabama looked good was after they knew the single biggest obstacle to their National Title hopes, was out of the game.

Don’t take credit away from Nick Saban. What he accomplished this year was phenomenal but this was a very disappointing finish to a college football season. As a football fan whose team and conference wasn’t represented in last night’s game, I feel almost cheated out of what was supposed to be a very close and entertaining game. Yet after the game I am still left wondering, which was the better team.