The Decade Begins in Style: College Football National Championship Game 2010
As sports fans bid the first decade of the 2000’s farewell, one of the nation’s most popular sports sent it out in style. College football’s popularity skyrocketed throughout the duration of the decade. On January 7, college football fans had a chance to watch a great game between the undefeated teams of Texas and Alabama. Before we get to the game, let’s look back at the regular season. For those who are unfamiliar with the college football bowl season, here is a brief explanation. Before the season gets under way, teams are ranked according to ability and recognition. As the season continues, top tier teams lose to lower ranked or unseeded teams and drop in the rankings. The regular season eventually ends, and the drama intensifies as smaller schools need to go undefeated to keep their bowl game hopes alive. At the end of the season, the top teams receive berths in national bowl games, and the top two teams compete for the National Championship. This year the game took place in Pasadena, California at the Rose Bowl, college football’s most renowned stadium and bowl game.
The Alabama Crimson Tide came into the game as a heavy favorite and looked to live up to the hype. The Texas Longhorns came in as the underdog just as they did in the 2005 Championship game against USC in the Rose Bowl, where they ended up defying all odds and clinching the National Championship. The game started out well for Texas due to costly Alabama mistakes. Alabama quarterback P.J. Fitzgerald faked a punt and instead attempted to throw the ball on fourth down only to be intercepted by sophomore safety Blake Gideon, leading to an eventual field goal by Texas. The second error by Alabama came on the very next play; senior cornerback and special teams player Javier Arenas muffed the football on the kickoff. Texas recovered the ball and was in great field position. A few plays later, senior quarterback Colt McCoy, the leader of the Texas offense, attempted to run the ball but was brought down at the line of scrimmage by a vicious hit resulting in an injured right shoulder. He would not return. During his post game interview, McCoy said his arm “was dead.” However, Texas was able to kick another field goal to give them a 6-0 lead, which they took into the second quarter.
Alabama came into the second quarter planning to pound the football with their talented halfback duo of Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram and freshman Trent Richardson. Ingram showed his power as he scampered into the end zone with a 2-yard touchdown run. Richardson followed up with a dazzling 49-yard touchdown run to put the Tide up 14-6. As time was expiring on the first half of play, Alabama scored again on a mishap by Texas, leading to an interception returned for a touchdown by defensive lineman Marcell Dareus.
The third quarter stood as a defensive battle until McCoy’s freshman replacement, number one high school recruit at quarterback Garrett Gilbert, heaved a 44-yard touchdown pass to senior standout wide receiver Jordan Shipley to cut the Tide’s lead to 24-13 near the end of the quarter. Gilbert and Shipley connected again after an onside kick recovery to start the fourth quarter. Texas’s offense then successfully converted a two-point play to cut Alabama’s lead to three. Ultimately, Texas’ comeback effort was cut short as the Tide’s rushing attack proved too strong. A pair of 1-yard scores by Ingram and Richardson respectively locked down the win for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The first decade of the 2000s provided many memorable sports moments. Although this game was not the exciting thriller of years past, it was a milestone for college football because it showed tremendous growth of the sport over the past decade. As this decade begins, college football fans look forward to the game’s expansion over the next ten years.
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