Tonight, the 11th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) will challenge the 3rd-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) to a fight spicy enough to pepper the gumbo at the Superdome. Alabama has lived the championship-or-bust lifestyle for the last two years, but the Crimson Tide simply can’t afford to brush this game off.
Four big reasons that Alabama needs to win the Sugar Bowl.
1) Closing the Curtain. This will be quarterback AJ McCarron’s last game at Alabama. Despite leading his team to two national titles (red-shirting on the bench for a third championship in 2009), and passing for 8,632 career yards so far with only 13 career interceptions, McCarron was never able to compete very seriously for the Heisman—arguably the most coveted accolade for anyone who plays the QB position. McCarron, who has never ended a season with a loss, deserves to go out on a high note.
2) The Ante Has Been Upped. McCarron has declined an invite to play in the senior bowl, instead relying on his on-the-field performance over the last three years to make his case to the NFL. Truthfully, a statement victory over the Sooners would only amount to sprinkles on the cupcake of a great career, but a loss would lead to the inevitable, hyperbolic questions about a McCarron meltdown.
3) Lightning Should Never Strike Twice. The last time the Crimson Tide went to the Sugar Bowl? 2008. They’d just suffered a loss to 4th-ranked Florida in the SEC title game, 31-20. After the loss, Bama arrived in New Orleans sporting Florida’s old #4 ranking and a bruised ego. Although favored by more than a touchdown, they were routed by #6 Utah in a very awkward 31-17 upset.
4) Revenge is Best Served a la Controversy. Just before leaving for N’awlins, McCarron told reporters, “We might not win the national championship, but we can have everyone talking about us more than the national championship team, and that’s happened in the past.” The Crimson Tide may not have the opportunity to beat play FSU in the national championship game, but Bama knows that a solid defeat of the Sooners (in conjunction with a sloppy title game) might re-trigger the question: “Who is the best team, anyway?”
Most of all, the Crimson Tide owe it to their legacy that they change the story line for the 2013 season. No one will ever forget the “Kick-6” ending of the Iron Bowl, but it shouldn’t overshadow an entire body of work which only boasted one loss and two close games—a considerable feat when playing in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
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