Alabama fans were pissed off, national media pundits are trolling the Crimson Tide, and some have bought into the run of national championship for Nick Saban being over after the Tide lost to Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines captured a 27-20 overtime victory in an iconic College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup.
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Coach Saban addressed the media following a disappointing finish. Most would consider this season a failure because Alabama did not accomplish the ultimate goal; however, the 72-year-old had a very interesting take on the outcome.
“This is one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history, in terms of where they came from and what they were able to accomplish,” Saban said about what he told his players after the loss to Michigan. “They won the SEC Championship, and I am very proud of this group. I wish I could have done more as a coach to help them be successful, help them finish, and all we can do now is learn from the lessons that failings bring to us.”
Alabama suffered a loss to Texas early in the 2023 season, but it pressed its way to a Southeastern Conference Championship and the CFP. People doubted sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe in the beginning, but he became the catalyst to get the Crimson Tide to the postseason. The Tide fought all year long to prove people wrong, yet it could not finish when it mattered most.
This loss will eat at Saban for a long time because a seventh national title opportunity slipped away.
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Alabama has to regroup after a season that resembled the 2014 campaign for it. Blake Sims, a former Tide quarterback, guided the 2014 team to an SEC Championship and an appearance in the inaugural CFP. Alabama suffered a loss to Ole Miss early in the season at Oxford (Miss.), but the team bounced back and pushed together to the postseason. Alabama found a way in the following season to a CFP National Championship. Three years in a series have gone by without a national title for Saban.
He has some soul searching to do, but he viewed the 2023 season as a success.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
