Alabama Football: Constructing all-Saban era best moments bracket
By Dakota Cox
Second-and-26 Region
1-seed: 2nd and 26
Of course this monster play by Tua Tagovailoa had to be the top seed. It’s the moment that he wrote his name in the crimson flame. Down by three, out of field goal range, in his first ever meaningful game in college, and he throws one of the best deep balls in college football history. It belongs in the college football history books, not just the Tide’s.
16-seed: Tua TD vs. Adam Griffith’s 5/5 performance
I’ve already touched on these moments individually, but the winner of that poll will go up against 2nd and 26.
8-seed: “Rat Poison”
This is one of Saban’s calmer quotes in front of the camera, asking the media to stop hyping up his team. It instantly became a meme in the Tide community, with even Lane Kiffin getting in on the fun.
9-seed: “Make his a** quit”
We don’t have many of Saban’s pre-game speeches on video, but this is one for the ages. Before the LSU game, he asked how much it mattered to the team, and the proved it on the field.
4-seed: Tebow crying in the SEC Championship game
Alabama fans despised Tim Tebow, so making him cry was one of the first iconic moments of the Saban dynasty. I may or may not have a picture of this moment framed on my bedroom wall.
13-seed: Da’Ron Payne INT vs. Clemson
It isn’t Payne’s best play in this game, but we’ll have to save his offensive skillset for a better seed than 13th.
5-seed: “This is not the end. This is the beginning”
After winning his first title with the Tide, Nick Saban promised more. It’s safe to say he lived up to this promise.
12-seed: Jonathan Allen’s Superman sack
Jonathan Allen was a beast for the Tide on the d-line and this was definitely his greatest play. He leaped over the running back to sack Trevor Knight against Texas A&M.