CW National Championship Edition Spring 2021

TU E S D AY, JA N UA R Y 1 2 , 2 0 2 1 VO L . 1 2 7, I S S U E 6 

N AT I O N A L C H A M P I O N S H I P G A M E A L A B A M A 5 2 , O H I O S TAT E 24 

3 M a m b a M e n t a l i t y : 

T h e t r i f e c t a wa s b a c k a t i t a g a i n – b u t n o t 

w i t h o u t t h e h e l p o f a s te l l a r d e f e n s e . 

4 To t a l D o m i n a t i o n : 

W h a t d o yo u g e t w h e n yo u c o m b i n e M a c J o n e s , 

N a j e e H a r r i s a n d D eVo n t a S m i t h? 

P u r e m a g i c . 

6 M o s t Va l u a b l e P l a ye r : 

T h e s m a l l - tow n w i d e receive r wa s a n 

u n l i ke l y p i c k f o r H e i s m a n . B u t h e wo n ’ t 

l e t t h e f a n f a re get to h i s h ea d . 

‘we the best’ 

C W / H A N N A H S A A D

2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 

January 12, 2021 

WHAT’S INSIDE: 

SUBSCRIBE HERE: 

CW.UA.EDU/EMAIL-SIGNUP/ 

3 

Mamba Mentality: 

How a banged-up Alabama 

offense still beat down the 

Buckeyes 

Top 5 Alabama Football 

3Playoff Moments 

cw.ua.edu 

P.O. Box 870170 

EDITORIAL STAFF 

editor-in-chief 

managing editor 

engagement editor 

chief copy editor 

opinions editor 

chief graphics editor 

chief page editor 

news editor 

culture editor 

assistant culture editor 

sports editor 

assistant sports editor 

photo editor 

multimedia editor 

lead designer 

social media strategist 

social media strategist 

414 Campus Drive East 

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 

Newsroom: (205) 348-6144 

Fax: (205) 348-8036 

Advertising: (205) 348-7845 

Rebecca Griesbach 

editor@cw.ua.edu 

Leah Goggins 

managingeditor@cw.ua.edu 

Adaya Jackson 

engagement@cw.ua.edu 

Bhavana Ravala 

Mikayla Wyatt 

letters@cw.ua.edu 

Tomia Teague 

Garrett Kennedy 

Keely Brewer 

newsdesk@cw.ua.edu 

Honorine Ntoh Yuh 

culture@cw.ua.edu 

Jeffrey Kelly 

Alexander Plant 

sports@cw.ua.edu 

Ashlee Woods 

Hannah Saad 

Alex Miller 

Pearl Langley 

Emily Earle 

Elissa Nation 

ADVERTISING STAFF 

creative services 

Alyssa Sons 

The Crimson Wh is the community newspaper of The 

University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially 

free newspaper produced by students.The University 

of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and 

editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and 

do not represent the official opinions of the University. 

Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room 

1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. 

The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, 

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. 

4 

Pass. The. Ball. The lasting 

impact of Steve Sarkisian 

6Most Valuable Player: How 

DeVonta Smith Stumbled 

into the Heisman 

5Pass. The. Ball. The lasting 

impact of Steve Sarkisian 

7Trophy case 

The Crimson White, USPS #138020, Copyright © 2021 

by The Crimson White. The Crimson White is published 

twice weekly, Mondays and Thursdays, August through 

April when classes are in session by The University 

of Alabama, Student Media, 414 Campus Drive East, 

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. Business and Editorial Offices: 

Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, Accounting and 

Circulation Offices: Student Media, Box 870170, 

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, Call 205-348-7257 to subscribe. 

Periodicals postage is paid at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. 

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson 

White, Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. 

All material contained herein, except advertising or where 

indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2021 by The Crimson 

White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire” and 

“Periodical Publication” categories of the U.S. copyright 

laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the 

expressed, written permission of The Crimson White. 

An unlikely season. An 

8inevitable end.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 


3 

‘Mamba Mentality’ 

How a banged-up Alabama offense beat down the Buckeyes 

BY ALEXANDER PLANT 

SPORTS EDITOR 

Even with a postponed season 

and several COVID-19 restrictions, 

2020 didn’t stop the Crimson Tide 

from a championship drive. Alabama 

soundly defeated the Ohio State 

Buckeyes 52-24 on Monday night 

and tied the College Football Playoff 

National Championship record for 

largest point differential. 

Star seniors like wide receiver 

DeVonta Smith and running back 

Najee Harris returned for one reason: 

to finish as one of the best offenses 

in college football history. Alabama 

was a nine-point favorite before 

the game, and by halftime they had 

already covered the spread, up 35-17. 

The key to championship success 

was unprecedented teamwork – a 

trait that led Alabama to win their 

previous 12 games. 

“I think that's just like part of this 

team,” Smith said. “Just everybody 

knowing that there's going to be 

some games where you're going to 

get all the touches and some games 

you're not going to, and I think 

that's just everybody just buying into 

the process and just believing the 

coaches and everything that they do.” 

The praise didn’t end there. 

"I think perseverance is the one 

word that describes this team the 

best,” coach Nick Saban said during 

the ESPN post game show. “This is 

a team that was always together. 

Everybody bought into the principals 

and values of the organization. They 

did a great job. This is a great team.” 

The historic Alabama offense 

finished the season in the top five 

in every major passing statistical 

category among power-five teams. 

And Jones, Smith and Harris 

continued to push numbers further 

to the top Monday night. 

Jones passed for a CFP National 

Championship record of 464 

yards, and Smith and Harris were 

responsible for 215 and 79 receiving 

yards respectively, as well as four 

combined receiving touchdowns. 

Smith, among all of the recordsetting 

performances, finished 

his decorated college career by 

being named CFP Offensive 

Player of the Game. 

Smith gave credit to the young 

players who stepped up for him, 

as well as other Alabama stars 

like junior wide receiver Jaylen 

Waddle and senior offensive 

lineman Landon Dickerson. 

“It just came down to the young 

guys putting in the work every day 

of the week, knowing if someone 

went down they were going to 

have to come in and do something 

big,” Smith said. “That's why 

you come to Bama.” 

Alabama defense’s Red Zone 

performance was the most 

underrated of the night. Alabama 

only allowed 24 points during 

the game and held Ohio State to 

a touchdown in the second half. 

And although Alabama gave up 147 

rushing yards, the loss was far and 

away from the 272 rushing yards per 

game that Ohio State was averaging 

coming into the game. 

One of the biggest plays the defense 

had on the night was a turnover on 

downs near midfield early in the 

second half. Sophomore defensive 

lineman Christian Barmore blew 

through the Buckeyes’ offensive line 

and tackled running back Master 

Teague in the backfield. This play 

shifted the last of the momentum 

completely in Alabama’s favor, and 

the sideline erupted in shouts and 

fist pumps. 

Barmore was called the jell of 

the defense by multiple players and 

coaches throughout the season. His 

fiery energy motivated a struggling 

defense to transform into one of the 

best in college football and earned 

him the title of CFP Defensive Player 

of the Game. 

The Crimson Tide beat the No. 3, 4 

and 5 teams by an average of 24 points, 

which is almost unprecedented 

in modern college football. 

Additionally, Nick Saban won his 

seventh National Championship, 

the most for a single coach to win in 

college football history. 

“We came in with Mamba 

mentality,” Barmore said during 

the trophy ceremony. “We came 

to dominate. We worked hard. 

We the best.” 

Bowled Over: UA’s biggest playoff highlights 

BY ASHLEE WOODS 

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR 

Alabama has been in the College 

Football Playoffs almost every year 

since its inception, and, needless to 

say, the Tide has had some exciting 

plays. Here are our top-five faves. 

#5 Run Bo, Run: Against 

the Washington Huskies 

at the 2016 Peach Bowl, 

running back Bo Scarbrough 

said “that’s game” as he broke 

free for a 68 yard touchdown 

run in the fourth quarter. 

The Huskies had a chance 

to stop Scarbrough in the 

backfield, but he was able to 

break away from Washington 

defensive tackle Greg Gaines 

and safety Jojo McIntosh 

as he – and the Tide – 

rolled over Washington 

to reach the National 

Championship game. 

CW File 

#4 Move Calhoun, Get 

Out The Way: Against the 

Michigan State Spartans 

at the 2015 Cotton Bowl, 

running back Derrick Henry 

added another nail in the 

Spartan’s coffin as he 

stiff-armed defensive end 

Shilique Calhoun on his way 

to the end zone. It’s not 

easy moving a 260 pound 

defensive end, but Henry did 

it with style and finesse. 

#3 Snag ‘n’ Score: Against 

the Clemson Tigers in the 

2016 Sugar Bowl, defensive 

tackle Daron Payne picked 

Clemson quarterback Kelly 

Bryant off of a deflection. A 

few plays later, Payne would 

catch a pass from Alabama 

quarterback Jalen Hurts on 

second-and-goal to put the 

Tide up 17-6 in the third 

quarter. 

#2 Kicking Perfection: 

Later in that same game, 

Alabama pulled off a gutsy 

call by head coach Nick 

Saban. Alabama placekicker 

Adam Griffith managed an 

onside kick after Alabama tied 

the game early in the fourth 

quarter. The ball travelled 

the necessary yardage and 

was caught by cornerback 

Marlon Humphrey to give the 

Tide the ball back at midfield. 

#1 2nd and 26: Arguably 

the most iconic play in 

Alabama football history, 

quarterback Tua Tagovailoa 

and wide receiver Devonta 

Smith etched their names 

into the hearts of Alabama 

fans with the gamewinning 

touchdown against 

the Georgia Bulldogs. 

Smith was able to sneak 

behind the secondary as 

Tagovailoa launched the 

pass downfield. And the 

rest? It’s history. 

CW File



Total Domination: The historic offensive trio makes 

top tier competition look subpar 


SPORTS EDITOR 

“You already know who I want to 

go up against,” Ohio State defensive 

back Shaun Wade said before the 

College Football Playoff National 

Championship game. 

Before the game, Desmond Howard 

said on the ESPN pregame show that 

if Shaun Wade guarded Alabama 

senior wide receiver DeVonta Smith, 

his draft stock would drop from first 

round pick to undrafted free agent. 

I’m really proud of this 

team from the top 

down. We set this as a 

goal to be the greatest 

team to ever play, and 

I think we made a 

valid statement. 

MAC JONES 

Although Wade’s draft stock might 

not plummet to those lows, Smith 

showed just how inferior Wade and 

other defenders have been compared 

to the Heisman Trophy winner. 

Smith finished the night with 215 

yards and three touchdowns, but 

DEVONTA SMITH 

12 Receptions 

215 yards 

3 Touchdowns 

NAJEE HARRIS 

29 Touches 

158 Yards 

3 Touchdowns 

more importantly he continued his 

record-setting streak. 

Smith set a new standard in his 

Heisman season finale, busting up the 

records for most receiving yards and 

receptions in a half of the National 

Championship, most receptions in 

a National Championship and most 

receiving touchdowns in a National 

Championship 

Smith was all over the field for 

the Crimson Tide. Returning punts 

and kickoffs and somehow being left 

open throughout the night, there was 

nothing Ohio State could do to stop 

the game’s most valuable offensive 

player. However, his performance was 

cut short after a hand injury early in 

the third quarter. But Smith’s absence 

only left more room for Alabama’s 

other two offensive luminaries 

to shine. 

After the first half, Alabama 

offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian 

started to run the clock. When the 

Crimson Tide opened the second 

half with a 35 to 17 lead, the game 

was all but over. Alabama pulled 

away for good in the opening drive 

with a field goal from sophomore 

kicker Will Reichard. The Crimson 

Tide milked 7:13 off of the clock, and 

from that point on it 

All photos courtesy of Alabama Athletics 

was nothing but a waiting game. The 

Crimson covered sideline inched 

closer and closer to storming the 

field and being covered in confetti. 

On top of winning the Heisman, 

the trio of Smith, junior quarterback 

Mac Jones and senior running back 

Najee Harris won numerous other 

national awards, but none of them 

mattered to them if they didn’t walk 

out of Hard Rock Stadium as the 

crowned champions. 

“I'm really proud of this team 

from the top down,” Jones said after 

his dominant performance. “We set 

this as a goal to be the greatest team 

to ever play, and I think we made a 

valid statement.” 

Jones went on to do what he, Smith 

and Harris do best: praise every 

single player on the roster. 

“I think we're the best team to ever 

play,” he said. “This will probably 

be the only team to play an all-SEC 

[Southeastern Conference] 

schedule. I think 

we have to give 

everyone the credit.” 

Jones specifically 

called out the sacrifice by 

junior wide receiver Jaylen Waddle 

and senior offensive lineman Landon 

Dickerson. He said that their injuries 

were extremely significant and that 

their hardwork and dedication to 

play in this game was phenomenal. 

In his closing remarks Jones uttered 

the words of many past champions: 

“Anything is possible.” 

Although much of the news and 

commentators of the game focused 

on Smith’s performance, it was the 

combination of Jones and Harris 

that closed out the second half for 

the Crimson Tide. Jones finished 

the night with a school record of 36 

completions and Harris capped his 

night off with 158 total yards and 

three touchdowns. 

Throughout the year the three 

stars have praised each other at every 

turn. Tonight was no different. 

“His commitment, his dedication 

in the film room,” Smith said. “I don't 

think anyone has prepared as hard 

as [Jones].” 

Even after Alabama was up 45 

- 24 late in the third quarter, Jones 

and the Alabama offense did not 

stop trying to score. A deep 27-yard 

pass from Jones to sophomore wide 

receiver John Metchie III was the nail 

in the coffin for the Buckeyes as the 

clock hit 0:00 in the third. The drive 

was finished by a Harris touchdown. 

With that score he joined Smith in 

scoring three touchdowns during 

the night. 

With COVID and 

everything going on, it 

made us just more of 

a team. 

DEVONTA 

SMITH 

On top of his career-high 464 

yards, Jones also threw for 5 

touchdowns, both breaking and tying 

College Football Playoff National 

Championship records. It was hard 

MAC JONES 

36-45 Pass 

completion rate 

464 yards 

5 Touchdowns 

to pick who out of the three had the 

best game, but the CFP Offensive 

Player of the Game was given to 

Smith. As always, Smith remained 

modest and revered the team’s 

dedication to finish the season as 

strong as they did. 

“With COVID and everything 

going on, it made us just more of a 

team,” Smith said during the ESPN 

post-game ceremony. “Keeping our 

bubble small. The discipline of this 

team is like no other.” 

Individually, this trio’s discipline 

and talent was enough to make 

them each contenders for the most 

aspired-to trophy in college football. 

Together, it was enough to make 

them national champions and alltime 

greats.



5 

PASS. THE. BALL. 

The lasting 

impact 

of 

Steve 

Sarkisian 


SPORTS EDITOR 

Photos courtesy of Alabama Athletics 

Alabama football used to be known 

for running the football relentlessly. 

Under the leadership of head coach 

Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide has 

a strong history of dominating 

games with running backs like 

Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and 

Derrick Henry. 

But offensive coordinator and 

soon-to-be head coach of the Texas 

Longhorns Steve Sarkisian has 

changed the program forever. 

Alabama’s passing revolution has 

taken off to new heights in the last 

five years. Before, it was thought 

to be impossible for an Alabama 

quarterback to score more than 30 

touchdowns. Now it’s expected. 

Sarkisian’s presence as Alabama’s 

offensive coordinator has 

transformed the way that even 

Saban looks at how college football 

is played. Saban said in a press 

conference earlier in the 2020 season 

that defenses can’t be graded the 

same as years past because offenses 

like Alabama’s score at such a 

rapid pace. 

The University of Texas 

announced Jan. 2 that Sarkisian 

would become the next head coach of 

the Longhorn’s football program. But 

both Saban and Sarkisian said that 

he would remain with Alabama until 

after the College Football Playoff 

National Championship. 

That’s part of the 

business. But he’s 

going to be here with 

us throughout this last 

game, and we’re trying 

to finish things the 

right way. 

DEVONTA 

SMITH 

Senior wide receiver and Heisman 

Trophy winner DeVonta Smith 

said the team learned of Sarkisian’s 

departure shortly before the media 

in a meeting with Saban. 

“Everyone is happy for Coach 

Sark,” Smith said. “That's part of the 

business. But he's going to be here 

with us throughout this last game, 

and we're trying to finish things the 

right way.” 

According to Saban, Sarkisian is 

a great planner and does his best to 

make sure that Alabama is always 

ready to take care of business. 

“I think the players have a lot of 

confidence in what we're doing,” 

Saban said. “And I think they have 

confidence in the fact that they're 

well prepared for every game so they 

don't go in with a lot of question 

marks or apprehensions in terms of 

how we're going to handle certain 

things and what adjustments we 

need to make in the game to be able 

to continue to have success.” 

Sarkisian released a statement 

shortly after the news broke that he 

would be taking the job. He said that 

he was a coach on the USC team that 

played against Texas in the infamous 

BCS National Championship game 

in the 2005-06 season. He never 

thought that 15 years later he would 

become the head coach of Texas. 

“This is a unique and compelling 

opportunity to lead this storied 

program to the next level, 

competing once again amongst the 

best in college football," Sarkisian 

said in a release. 

With Sarkisian at the helm, 

Alabama has become a back-toback 

top-five rated offense in college 

football. Players like Smith, Tua 

Tagovaloia, Jerry Jeudy and junior 

quarterback Mac Jones have excelled 

in his pass-first offense. Sarkisian 

has kept Alabama up with the times 

and pushed the team to the forefront 

of modern college football. 

Although this is not the Alabama 

of old, fans and critics of the Crimson 

Tide can’t complain too much about 

the way that the team is performing, 

thanks to Sarkisian’s high-powered 

prowess. He will now take his 

talents to Austin, Texas, and look to 

challenge his former boss in College 

Football Playoffs to come.



Most Valuable Player: How DeVonta Smith stumbled into the Heisman 


SPORTS EDITOR 

DeVonta Smith woke up at 6 a.m. 

on a brisk January Tuesday, hit the 

Mal Moore Athletic Facility, worked 

with trainers, ate breakfast, practiced 

with his teammates and watched film. 

It was just a normal day. A normal 

day to win the Heisman. 

The history of college football has 

been defined by two major crowning 

achievements every year: the National 

Championship and the Heisman 

Trophy. From household names like 

Tim Tebow to small-town stars like 

Derrick Henry, the Heisman defines 

the best player from college football 

every year. 

For many of the recipients, winning 

the Heisman is the defining moment 

in their career, but for senior wide 

receiver Smith, it’s all about “looking 

onto Ohio State.” 

The 2020-21 season had been 

anything but consistent. Players from 

schools around the country opted out 

of playing, and the largest conferences 

of college football postponed their 

seasons due to COVID-19. But 

one thing remained fairly certain: 

Alabama would bring home the 

Heisman Trophy. From the season’s 

start to finish, Alabama had at least 

one player on the Heisman watch 

list. The final four finalists were 

announced Christmas Eve, and Smith 

and Alabama junior quarterback Mac 

Jones made the cut. 

Alabama football press conferences 

were strictly business, even when it 

came to Heisman prospects. Smith 

nor Jones ever brought up the award 

without it being asked of them. 

“Right now I’m not really worried 

about the Heisman Trophy,” Smith 

said to a reporter the day before the 

ceremony. “I’m just trying to come in 

with the team this weekend, just look 

forward to getting on to the game 

plan for Ohio State.” 

When asked why he and his 

teammates always put the team first, 

Smith gave a straightforward answer. 

“You’re not out there playing by 

yourself,” Smith said. “With team 

success comes individual success. 

If the team is doing good, then 

everybody is doing good, and that’s 

what it all comes down to.” 

The award ceremony, presented 

by ESPN, was exactly how Smith 

is described by most: quiet. Due 

to COVID-19, the ceremony was 

virtual, but Smith, Jones and coach 

Nick Saban were present in person 

in Tuscaloosa. Smith’s overall 

message conveyed perseverance 

and determination. 

You put your mind to 

it, you can do it. 

DEVONTA 

SMITH 

“Just to all the young kids out 

there that’s not the biggest, not the 

strongest, just keep pushing because 

I’m not the biggest,” Smith said during 

his acceptance speech on ESPN. “I’ve 

been doubted a lot just because of my 

size, and really it just comes down to: 

You put your mind to it, you can do 

it. No job is too big. If you put your 

mind to it, you can do it, and just 

keep believing in God, and you’ll get 

where you want to be.” 

Smith surely showed that same grit 

on the field. This season he caught 

105 passes and tallied 1,641 yards and 

20 touchdowns. Smith led the nation 

in all three of those categories. He also 

set milestones both in the SEC and at 

Alabama. Smith holds the Alabama 

career records for receiving yards and 

receiving touchdowns and is 10 yards 

away of breaking the conference 

record for career receiving yards. 

Smith is the Crimson Tide’s thirdever 

Heisman winner, joining Mark 

Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry 

(2015). Alabama is the only school 

in the 21st century to have a nonquarterback 

win the Heisman. 

After the ceremony, Smith 

dedicated his achievements to the 

culture and foundation that Saban 

and Alabama have built over the past 

14 years. 

“It’s just a family,” 

Smith said. “Just 

when you got here, 

everyone was on the same mission to 

become the best player that they can 

be and everybody helped each other 

in a different way, and just being 

around those guys, they’ve taught 

me so much just from things on the 

field to off the field, and they’ve just 

guided me to where I am today, and 

I’m so thankful for them.” 

Smith went on to say that he never 

even thought about winning the 

Heisman, and when they announced 

it on the broadcast he “blanked out.” 

“I’ve had conversations, seen 

people send me things about it and I 

kind of brushed it off,” Smith said. “I 

never sat up there and honestly just 

thought about, ‘I could possibly win 

it.’” 

Smith has stated 

countless times that 

winning the Heisman 

was never his goal. 

There were two 

things he sought 

out to achieve 

by the end of 

his career at 

Alabama: his 

degree and 

a National 

All photos courtesy of Alabama Athletics 

Championship title. 

Smith is aware that the main part of 

being in a lead role at Alabama is the 

stardom. But the Amite, Louisiana, 

native likes his small-town lifestyle 

and prefers to go under the radar. 

“I kind of like just being out of the 

way,” Smith said. “I’m not the most 

vocal person. I don’t like talking that 

much. So it was kind of enjoyable 

while it lasted. Now things, I have to 

talk more. I mean, I’m getting used to 

it now. I’m getting better at it, and I 

enjoy it.” 

Smith said winning the top honor 

in college football will not change his 

dedication or workload. 

“Just remain humble and just 

keep doing things the way I’m doing 

it,” Smith said. “If I just keep doing 

things the way that I’ve been doing it, 

it got me here and it’s going to keep 

me going.”



7 

CW / Leah Goggins 

THIS IS HOW 

CELEBRATE THE CRIMSON TIDE ® IN STYLE WITH FREE SHIPPING 

ON ORDERS OVER $50. ENTER COUPON CODE: BAMA18XNC 

Offer expires January 31, 2021. Excludes course materials.



An UNLIKELY season. 

An INEVITABLE end. 

All Photos CW / Hannah Saad

CW National Championship Edition Spring 2021

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?