Dent in Tide’s armor offers SEC hope

Published 6:09 am Sunday, January 15, 2017

We can argue what Clemson’s national championship victory over Alabama will mean for the overall development of mankind, peace on Earth, all those important things.

But it’s always possible it was just a football game. One football game, at that.

Probably too early to tell.

It was different, that’s for sure.

Certainly it was an inspiration for many.

Alabama didn’t win it.

That was enough of a shocker.

The knee-jerk reaction, seemingly nationwide, certainly in the Southeastern Conference, was a big sigh of relief. This all-encompassing crimson tide — billed as equal parts Godzilla and King Kong as a nationwide threat — had been stopped at the gates before it engulfed the entire countryside.

There really hasn’t been time to properly analyze the miracle, and it may take years, generations before we know and understand the long-term effects on society.

But maybe it’s safe to go outside again.

For now, sure.

There’s a whole new college football world out there, a great, big beautiful tomorrow full of endless possibilities.

That’s the way it seems.

It is, however, possible that too much is being read into the “Demise of the Crimson Tide,” the victory for truth, light and Dabo over the dreaded St. Nick Saban.

The truly classic game, for instance, is most often being compared to the Texas national championship victory over Southern Cal in the 2006 Rose Bowl (following the 2005 season) under similarly heroic circumstances.

The subplot there is that Southern Cal, which at the time seemed every bit the unbearable dynasty that Bama was at this time last week, never really was the same again.

Good point.

It’s quite possible that the theory is nothing but wishful thinking, that instead of slinking away that Saban will not take this lightly and — run for your lives — come back with renewed and even greater focus on The Process.

I wouldn’t put it past him.

He’s certainly not going anywhere, as USC head coach Pete Carroll eventually did in fleeing Southern Cal.

But there’s no getting around the fact that Alabama lost.

There’s always that.

In the SEC, the celebration was particularly frenetic, the ecstasy hit closer to home with the realization that the conference race is no longer a foregone conclusion, that there’s a blueprint available to study and follow to slay the demon.

It’s not exactly a paint-by-numbers kit, but Clemson has shown the way, given hope to one and all. The bonds have been broken, the shackles tossed to the side.

Except … who, exactly? Just who would that be waiting in the wings?

This wasn’t exactly a banner year for the SEC.

Take away the Alabama games and the SEC went 5-6 in the bowl season.

LSU’s domination of Louisville was one of the few holiday bright spots, although kudos to Mississippi State for holding off Miami of Ohio.

But none of them appeared to have a Deshaun Watson at quarterback, which seemed to be Job 1 for this chore.

But, OK, there’s now hope.

If a guy named Dabo can win the national championship, it opens up all kinds of possibilities — maybe even a Cajun B?B? in purple and gold. Dabo Swinney was even something of a surprise choice when Clemson originally promoted him from interim head coach to head coach after a half-season audition.

Sound like any Coach O you know? Hey, it can work. It’s been scientifically proven.

Especially now that Alabama is … OK, vulnerable may be too optimistic of a word.

But perhaps now the SEC won’t feel obligated to follow blindly in Saban’s footsteps, trying to mimic his every move, relative to his every nuance.

It may even be possible to win championships while flashing a big Dabo Dabo Do smile.

Could it be doable to win championships while actually having fun along the way?

Maybe.

At the least we’ve been shown there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

Just a reminder, though — the Tide lost with one second remaining in a game it led most of the way. There’s always a chance it turns out to be more of a fluke than a mandate.

l

Scooter Hobbs covers LSU

athletics. Email him at

shobbs@americanpress.com