Written By: Erik Slaby
(New Orleans, LA) There is an old popular saying that states good things come in threes. In regards to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide against the Clemson University Tigers, hopefully that’s the case. This is the third time that these two teams have faced off against each other in the last three years. The previous two matchups were in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. This matchup will take place in the Sugar Bowl and the winner of this game will play in the National Championship game.
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams spoke about playing Clemson a third time. “It’s exciting, you know, third part of the trilogy. They’re a great team, but we don’t look at it differently than any other game. It’s just another game on the schedule that we’ve got to prepare for, same as any other, so we try not to be influenced by emotion.”
Right now, in this burgeoning rivalry, both teams are 1-1 against each other and know what is at stake in this game. Win and you’re in. Lose and go home. Alabama won the first matchup against Clemson in 2016, while Clemson won the most recent matchup last year on a last-second touchdown pass from former quarterback Deshaun Watson to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins spoke briefly about beating Alabama last year and how difficult it might be to defeat them again.
“Just winning the National Championship, no matter who it’s against, was great,” said Wilkins. “But to beat a team that everybody looks up to as the model program was even better. That being said, they don’t lose to a team two times in a row much, so we’re really going to have to bring it. They’re going to be ready to play against us. They had a year to sit around and think about it and let that loss marinate so I’m sure they’ll come out ready to play.”
Speaking from his experience and how Clemson lost the first matchup to Alabama, lived with that loss for a year and then won the second matchup the next year, Wilkins implied that Alabama may have an emotional advantage for the same reason. “We had to sit around and just let that loss marinate and it hurt obviously,” said Wilkins. “Anything could happen though because it’s a new year, new game and new team.”
The demeanor of the Alabama players made it clear that they are ready for this game to take place as they are coming off a loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. They also seem to still be a bit disgruntled about losing to Clemson last year in the National Championship game. Alabama running back Damien Harris spoke briefly about struggling offensively at times in the game last year and how they actually beat themselves.
“I don’t really know if it was that much of what they did,” said Harris. “I think we had a lot of miscommunication, a lot of lack of fundamental execution on plays that caused us to have negative plays. Whether it was blocking the right guy, or taking the right step or getting beat inside out things like that. Again, I don’t really think it was really that much of what they did, I thought we just had a lack of fundamental execution.”
Fundamental execution has been a key point for Alabama heading into this game, with Harris stating, “we thought that we really lacked that in our game against Auburn so since that game, that’s really what we’ve been focused on and improving our fundamental execution.”
Clemson linebacker Dorian O’Daniel spoke about the uniqueness and benefits of playing Alabama for a third year in a row. “It’s definitely a credit to them the fact that this is the third time in a row that we’re going to be playing them. It definitely helps having played them three times just because you’re kind of familiar with their system and what they do. So, it does help us.”
However, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables cautioned that fact stating, “if it's an advantage for us, it's an advantage for them, too.” He added that even though they are playing Alabama again, it’s a new year and a different team so you have to prepare like it’s an unfamiliar team. “But you got to start over. And just how you normally prepare for any other opponent just in regards to a complete breakdown and ‑‑ because they've changed, evolved, you know, in different ways, too. Because they have a new coordinator and some players have changed.”
Both of these teams are eager to take the field for the third addition of this grudge match, break the tie and determine which team will be playing in the National Championship. The game takes place on January 1st, 2018 at 8:45 EST at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams spoke about playing Clemson a third time. “It’s exciting, you know, third part of the trilogy. They’re a great team, but we don’t look at it differently than any other game. It’s just another game on the schedule that we’ve got to prepare for, same as any other, so we try not to be influenced by emotion.”
Right now, in this burgeoning rivalry, both teams are 1-1 against each other and know what is at stake in this game. Win and you’re in. Lose and go home. Alabama won the first matchup against Clemson in 2016, while Clemson won the most recent matchup last year on a last-second touchdown pass from former quarterback Deshaun Watson to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins spoke briefly about beating Alabama last year and how difficult it might be to defeat them again.
“Just winning the National Championship, no matter who it’s against, was great,” said Wilkins. “But to beat a team that everybody looks up to as the model program was even better. That being said, they don’t lose to a team two times in a row much, so we’re really going to have to bring it. They’re going to be ready to play against us. They had a year to sit around and think about it and let that loss marinate so I’m sure they’ll come out ready to play.”
Speaking from his experience and how Clemson lost the first matchup to Alabama, lived with that loss for a year and then won the second matchup the next year, Wilkins implied that Alabama may have an emotional advantage for the same reason. “We had to sit around and just let that loss marinate and it hurt obviously,” said Wilkins. “Anything could happen though because it’s a new year, new game and new team.”
The demeanor of the Alabama players made it clear that they are ready for this game to take place as they are coming off a loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. They also seem to still be a bit disgruntled about losing to Clemson last year in the National Championship game. Alabama running back Damien Harris spoke briefly about struggling offensively at times in the game last year and how they actually beat themselves.
“I don’t really know if it was that much of what they did,” said Harris. “I think we had a lot of miscommunication, a lot of lack of fundamental execution on plays that caused us to have negative plays. Whether it was blocking the right guy, or taking the right step or getting beat inside out things like that. Again, I don’t really think it was really that much of what they did, I thought we just had a lack of fundamental execution.”
Fundamental execution has been a key point for Alabama heading into this game, with Harris stating, “we thought that we really lacked that in our game against Auburn so since that game, that’s really what we’ve been focused on and improving our fundamental execution.”
Clemson linebacker Dorian O’Daniel spoke about the uniqueness and benefits of playing Alabama for a third year in a row. “It’s definitely a credit to them the fact that this is the third time in a row that we’re going to be playing them. It definitely helps having played them three times just because you’re kind of familiar with their system and what they do. So, it does help us.”
However, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables cautioned that fact stating, “if it's an advantage for us, it's an advantage for them, too.” He added that even though they are playing Alabama again, it’s a new year and a different team so you have to prepare like it’s an unfamiliar team. “But you got to start over. And just how you normally prepare for any other opponent just in regards to a complete breakdown and ‑‑ because they've changed, evolved, you know, in different ways, too. Because they have a new coordinator and some players have changed.”
Both of these teams are eager to take the field for the third addition of this grudge match, break the tie and determine which team will be playing in the National Championship. The game takes place on January 1st, 2018 at 8:45 EST at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.