The 2017 Alabama used to be the biggest and most prestigious yacht race in the world. However, it was eventually canceled due to political pressure after China threatened to not allow any foreign ships through its waters on their way there. What happened?
The “university of alabama mascot” is the nickname for the university of alabama. The nickname was first used in 1892, and has been used ever since.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIA — As Alabama and Georgia prepare for their rematch (8 p.m. ET Monday on ESPN/ESPN App), it’s difficult to forget what transpired in the national championship game the last time they played.
Because what occurred was so memorable.
Second-and-26 will always be remembered in college football, particularly in the histories of Alabama and Georgia. Tua Tagovailoa not only won the title for Alabama, but he also shattered Georgia hearts all over again as he fired a wonderfully placed throw to DeVonta Smith for a 41-yard score in overtime.
“I believe I blacked out a little bit when that occurred,” said Brent Key, a former Alabama coach who is now a Georgia Tech assistant. “The next thing you know, everyone is on the field, and we’ve won. It was a tremendous game to cap off that year’s season.”
Former Georgia assistant Shane Beamer, now the head coach of South Carolina, remarked, “It was probably the most saddened locker room I have ever been in, as a player or as a coach.” “I can still see Tua stepping back and throwing, and it’s like seeing it happen in slow motion.”
On Tua Tagovailoa’s walk-off TD throw to DeVonta Smith four years ago today, Alabama won their fifth national title under Nick Saban.
It’s still wonderful. pic.twitter.com/4Fxoj698cY
January 8, 2022 — ESPN (@espn)
Despite the fact that Key and Beamer are no longer with their respective clubs, a total of 15 players from both squads were on the bench in Atlanta. For obvious reasons, the outcome of the game has lingered with them.
Phidarian Mathis, Alabama’s starting defensive lineman, stated, “I feel like coming in as a freshman and having that experience as a young kid, sitting back and seeing those men battle for that national title, it was fantastic.” “In particular, Tua’s big-time play.”
Georgia dominated the first half, establishing a 13-0 lead at halftime as Alabama starting quarterback Jalen Hurts failed to move the Crimson Tide efficiently.
The focus in the weeks building up to the game was on Hurts and Tagovailoa, and whether Alabama was playing the correct quarterback. Now it’s up to Alabama coach Nick Saban to make a choice.
Before speaking with the players, Beamer recalls walking into the coaches’ locker room with Kirby Smart and his staff for a short chat.
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“‘Look, Nick’s going to make a change at quarterback,’ Kirby said, and I remember it to this day. He’s going to put Tua in, I’m telling you.’ And I remember thinking to myself, ‘There’s no way he’s going to take Jalen Hurts out at halftime in the national championship game, after all Jalen’s done.’ Kirby, on the other hand, sensed it and knew it was going to happen for whatever reason.”
From inside the Alabama locker room, then-offensive line coach Brent Key claimed Saban made the decision to open the third quarter with Tagovailoa at quarterback swiftly.
“Without a question, I’m sure Coach Saban ran those situations through his mind before the game,” Key said. “When it comes to him, nothing is left to chance.” However, you are then placed on the spot. Coach Saban has a little amount of time to gather information, but he will make the choice that he believes is best for the football team to win the game.
“The public believes you come out and it’s a fairy tale as the second half progresses, but there were still bumps and ups and downs as we went through in the second half.”
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It was now second-and-26. “Holy cow, we’ve got our job cut out for us now,” Key thought to himself as he stood on the sidelines.
Smith streaked along the sideline after Tagovailoa took the snap. He was the one who made the game-winning pass.
The moment revealed so much more to Alabama’s Brian Robinson Jr. That season, as a freshman, he was a reserve. However, seeing rookies like Tagovailoa and Smith make game-winning plays meant something else.
“The experience with that game simply helped me grasp the competitiveness level,” Robinson said. “When you put Alabama and Georgia football on this platform, it generally comes down to two teams brawling and battling till the finish.”
“That day, things weren’t going so well for us. On both the attacking and defensive sides of the ball, we still needed to make some improvements. And, just because they were part of a team, they stood up when their numbers were called.”
There was total despair in the Georgia locker room, as well as among Georgia recruiters and signees watching from home, as much celebration as there was on the Alabama sideline.
As a true freshman, Kearis Jackson came in Athens in early January 2018 and was immediately assigned to the scout squad, assisting the Bulldogs in their preparation for the national championship game. Despite his youth and inexperience, Jackson wanted to provide the greatest impression possible and do his tiny bit to the defense’s preparation.
Jackson couldn’t go with the squad since he wasn’t on the 2017 roster, so he had to watch from his house in Fort Valley, Georgia.
Even though Alabama shattered the hearts of the Bulldogs once again, those moments in practice inspired something in Jackson that he now carries with him.
“Being able to watch the game on TV sort of ignited my desire to be in those same colors with those same people in the next few months, and [we] can be competing for something larger than I ever thought, the national championship,” Jackson said. “And now, the opportunity to compete in my first national championship has finally presented itself. It’s been a dream come true as well as a journey.”
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