Bank of Holly Springs

Behind The Scoreboard

Tigers No. 1

Yes, it actually happened – the title drought has ended for Clemson.

Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers dethroned the defending champs, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Now that a week has passed, hopefully all the Alabama fans have come to terms of what took place that frenzied Monday night, Jan. 9.

And cheers to Clemson – 35 years in the making!

College football’s first national championship rematch between Alabama and Clemson was a fitting sequel to the original in 2016 – except this time – an unusual twist at the end.

Clemson became the first team to beat Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty in a national title game. The Tigers took down the top-ranked Crimson Tide 35-31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff.

Waiting on the one play that would deliver the championship that they all so desperately wanted – Deshaun Watson came through. With a second remaining in the game, Watson found Hunter Renfrow for a 2-yard touchdown to give the Tigers their first national championship since 1981.

Last year, Alabama won its fourth title under Saban with a 45-40 classic in Arizona. On last Monday night, Clemson closed the deal and denied the Tide an unprecedented fifth championship in eight seasons.

And the ACC became the undisputed college football kings – a remarkable post-season capped with a well deserved national championship. This moment was 35 years in the making for Clemson, but it was 64 years in the making for the ACC.

Will the Crimson Tide or the Tigers be back again after the 2017 season?

Let’s take a look at how both teams will look in 2017.

Alabama finished its 2016 season record 14-1 and 8-0 in the SEC. On its returning starters: seven - offense, six -defense, and one - special teams. There will be some key losses –  TE O.J. Howard, DE Jonathan Allen, DE Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Tim Williams, LB Ryan Anderson, LB Reuben Foster and safety Eddie Jackson. It’s a possibility the Crimson Tide may have as many as six players selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft – a record tie with Miami back in 2004. So Saban will have some work to do. But as we all know, Alabama reloads better than anyone else in the country. Besides, there are plenty of former five-star recruits waiting to step forward. Quarterback Jalen Hurts should be better in his second season as a starter.

Clemson closed its 2016 season record 14-1 and 7-1 in the ACC. Clemson’s returning starters: five – offense, seven – defense, and one - special teams. Key losses for the Tigers are – QB Deshaun Watson, WR Mike Williams, WR Artavis Scott, C Jay Guillermo, TE Jordan Leggett, RB Wayne Gallman, DT Carlos Watkins, LB Ben Boulware, SS Jadar Johnson and CB Cordrea Tankersley. Coach Swinney faces a rebuilding job in 2017. The Tigers have plenty of young players ready to step up. Sophomore QB Kelly Bryant is the favorite to replace Watson.

Holly Springs South Reporter

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