Boy, am I glad I DVR’d “The Bachelor” last night…ha ha… because Alabama and Clemson put on one helluva National Championship game, one for the ages!

Fourteen different scoring plays between the two teams, seven of which came in the 4th quarter alone! Alabama came out on top 45-40, only after after successfully squelching a last ditch on-side kick by Clemson after they scored with only :24 left on the clock.

Derrick Henry and Nick Saban VICTORIOUS

I’ll be honest, I was pulling for Clemson even though they were 14-0 going into the game, I wanted to see some new blood raise the Championship Trophy instead of one of the usual suspects. The Tigers last championship was in 1981 when they defeated Nebraska in the Old Orange Bowl 22-15.

SI Cover 1-11-1981

Alabama has become as regular in National Championship talk, as Bush and Clinton are mentioned in politics. The Crimson Tide has now has won 4 Championships in 7 years… 3 of the 4 from 2009 – 2012. Last night’s win by Saban, ties him with what Frank Leahy did in a 7 year span at Notre Dame, when he coached the Irish to 4 Championships from 1943 to 1949. Leahy and Saban are the only two in that exclusive club, and will be for quite some time.

Frank Leahy

So the big question in Tuscaloosa, and NFL cities with coaching vacancies, does Saban go for number 5 in Alabama or does he make another run with the big boys?

(photos courtesy wallpapercare, sports insights, the vault chareston, fansided, Notre Dame 247 sports)