For much of the week Clemson coaches made bad jokes about Alabama and appeared to be taking the game less than seriously. The national media gave Alabama little to no chance against the number 9 Clemson Tigers. Alabama and Coach Nick Saban came into the Georgia Dome Saturday with one thing in mind, total DOMEination. The Crimson Tide heard Clemson's defensive coordinator insinuate that Alabama cheated to land the number one recruiting class this year, then later recanted stating he was only joking. They heard the Clemson players and coaches alike talk as if they had won the game before it had ever been played. They heard the national media telling them they weren't ready to take on a team of Clemson's caliber. They didn't listen , but instead they decided they would prove the world wrong by dominating Clemson every step of the game, or should I say DOMEinate? Yes, they DOMEinated the Tigers on the fertile neutral ground of the Georgia Dome. You see, there is a reason the game was played in Atlanta. Atlanta is a hot spot for recruiting and the game gave Alabama a chance to showoff its stuff, and showoff they did.
Alabama effectively squashed the nations top running back duo of James Davis and CJ Spiller, who were dubbed "Thunder and Lightning" holding Clemson to zero net yards on the ground. Ouch. Can you say Fizzle and Drizzle? On Clemson's second down of their first possesion they tried running up the middle. Bad move. Davis fumbled and true freshman Donta' Hightower recovered. It was going to be a fun night. It quickly became apparent that The Crimson Tide had come into the Georgia Dome ready to play football and that Clemson had not. Alabama's first three possessions produced two field goals, a touchdown, and insight as to where the game was heading. The game moved only one direction – whichever way Alabama wanted it to go.
Alabama controlled both lines of scrimmage, making Clemson look like a bunch of
elementary boys trying to play college football. Pathetic, but fun to watch for the Alabama fan. "We got whipped every way you can get whipped offensively and defensively," said Clemson coach Tommy Bowden. "I don't think we've been beaten that bad physically in the last three years — at least the last three years." "We never established control of the game at any point," Bowden said. "When a kickoff return is the highlight of your offensive production, that's not very good." Clemson center Thomas Austin said, "They came and they whipped our butts on both sides of the line of scrimmage. We didn't play with a sense of urgency like we should have. I'm embarrassed."
Alabama not only dominated every aspect, but they did it as a team, a very young team. Alabama had a minimum of eight freshmen who played Saturday. The young Tide team ended up trouncing the Tigers 34-10 as fans and prospective recruits from around the nation watched. Mark up a "W" on the schedule and a "W" for the recruiting process.
