For the last week, I feel like I’ve been the only person who had this niggling feeling that Alabama was going to lose to Clemson. Perhaps I just need to know more people who actually like sports. Prior to the game, I was the only guy in my department that picked Clemson to win the National Championship. I predicted a final score of 38-30. I wasn’t that far off. So I was right in my sports predicting, which is a little validating, but the end result of it is still Clemson as National Champions, so it does leave me with some slight nausea.
But seriously, whether it was ESPN or other national outlets, workplace proximity associates who like to pretend like they know things about sports, or even the mythical girlfriend, just about everyone I’d heard from since the field was set seemed to favor Alabama over Clemson. And justifiably so, Alabama was undefeated going into the National Championship, and they’d already proven they could beat Clemson by having done so in the previous year’s National Championship.
Regardless, I just had this feeling in my gut, that feeling that comes from having watched an exorbitant amount of sports throughout my entire life, that Clemson was going to win the game. Their QB was pretty much the ultimate bridesmaid, having come so close the year prior, and having been snubbed for two straight Heisman Trophies; and at literally his last collegiate game, he had absolutely one shot to immortalize his entire college career, before he’ll inevitably be making gobs of money in the NFL. Needless to say, a graduating Deshaun Watson with a chip the size of South Carolina on his shoulders against an 18-year old true freshman in Alabama’s Jalen Hurts, regardless of his immense talent, just didn’t seem like a favorable matchup for Crimson Tide supporters.
Honestly though, this year’s National Championship game was just as exciting as last year’s Alabama-Clemson game; at least the final eight minutes of it. The first three quarters were a grinding snoozefest that made it look like Alabama was in control, but then the string of three-and-outs started to mount and it became pretty apparent to me that Clemson was in control of the game. And then with about eight minutes left to go, both teams decided to start letting it all hang out, throwing bombs, losing their cool, trick plays and shit, that led to three scores over the final six minutes.
Just about everything I’ve ever observed about Clemson to why they’re a dangerous team came to fruition last night; namely their ability to convert ridiculous 3rd and long plays routinely and namely to Hunter Renfrow, whom I personally like to believe is a frequent benefactor to some reverse racism; an undersized white slot receiver who goes overlooked by just about everyone on the defense and ends up burning opponents with all these short cut routes and is always open because nobody suspects the little white boy. He’s basically a shoe-in to be Tom Brady’s next Wes Welker, if Brady is still playing when Renfrow elects to go pro.
It also didn’t help that Alabama basically gave the game away with poor clock management and more importantly, losing their cool and getting dinged with two critical penalties that put Clemson at the 2-yard line when it almost seemed like they might be able to hold them to a field goal and deal with it in overtime.
But in a way, I’m glad it didn’t go to OT, because it was already well past midnight at that point, mythical gf had already thrown in the towel, and I didn’t want to be up any later. I just wished Alabama’s defense held it together for one last series and won the game, instead of Clemson. And now we’re stuck with a reality in which Clemson are National Champions, and I’m not mad just disappointed.
The specific time and date are not set yet, but Virginia Tech hosts Clemson next season. As monumental as it would be for Tech to take down the defending National Champions, the homer in me has already resigned to the fact that it’s probably a guaranteed loss and another Clemson victory over the Hokies.
Whatever though. As is often the mantra of all sports fans, there’s always a next season, with renewed hopes and faith that results will be more favorable.
