B
Bama News
Michigan LB: Alabamaās final TD was āslap in the faceā
Alabama scored a touchdown with 26 seconds left already up two scores on Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
With the clock ticking down under 30 seconds and Alabama comfortably up two scores, a decision faced the play callers.
Take a knee or run another play with the Citrus Bowl win over Michigan already in hand. The Crimson Tide huddle looked to the sideline and the play was called. Najee Harris did the rest -- pounding it two yards up the gut for a touchdown with 26 seconds left.
Final score: Alabama 35, Michigan 16.
Playing with something to prove, the Tide used all 60 minutes on Wednesday afternoon in Orlando. That didnāt necessarily sit well on the Michigan side of Camping World Stadium.
āIt was kind of a smack in the face,ā middle linebacker Cameron McGrone told reporters after the game. āBut it is what it is. Itās football, weāve got to be ready all times, and we werenāt ready that play.ā
The ESPN booth, which included former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, expressed some degree of surprise that Nick Saban opted for the play over taking a knee.
There didnāt seem to be any hesitation on the Alabama sideline. Tight end Miller Forristall didnāt remember any talk of a kneel down.
āNo, pretty sure we just signaled it in,ā Forristall said. āAnd we were like, āAll right, letās go.ā We were ready to put it in the end zone.ā
Receiver DeVonta Smith felt the same way.
āNo, we were just trying to milk the clock and run some time off,ā he said.
Alabama finished the season 11-2 with the win over the 9-4 Wolverines of the Big Ten.