TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide football team wrapped up its practice schedule with a walkthrough on Sunday afternoon, the team’s final meeting before tonight’s College Football Playoff National Championship.
Sunday’s walkthrough put the final touches on the gameplan for top-ranked Clemson. The 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship game is now hours away with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT at University of Phoenix Stadium. The foursome of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi will call the game for ESPN to determine college football’s national champion. The contest with the Tigers will be the Crimson Tide’s fourth time in seven seasons playing in college football’s national championship game.
On Saturday evening, Beats headphones with a note reading, “Finish strong. Beat Clemson!” were distributed to the players, a gift from former Tide standout and current Raiders rookie Amari Cooper.
In support of the current team, Cooper, in addition to 11 other former Alabama players and current NFL stars will join the 2015-16 Crimson Tide team on the sidelines during the national championship game. James Carpenter (New York Jets), Landon Collins (New York Giants), Marcell Dareus (Buffalo Bills), D.J. Fluker (Chargers), Rashad Johnson and Ed Stinson (Arizona Cardinals), Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons), C.J. Mosley (Baltimore Ravens), DeMeco Ryans (Philadelphia Eagles), Carson Tinker (Jacksonville Jaguars) and DeAndrew White (San Francisco 49ers) will all be in attendance on Monday night. Rounding out the list of pros returning to cheer on the Crimson Tide is former Heisman Trophy winner and current New Orleans Saint running back Mark Ingram. One of the most decorated runners in program history, Ingram will be the team’s College Football Playoff honorary captain.
The Sunday schedule began with Alabama head coach Nick Saban joining Clemson’s Dabo Swinney at the Camelback Inn for each of the coach’s final press conference. The Crimson Tide then traveled to University of Phoenix Stadium after lunch, the team’s first time inside the stadium since landing in Arizona. The players and coaches posed for their team picture before the final walkthrough.
Alabama and Clemson will meet for the 16th time with the Crimson Tide leading the series, 12-3. The Tigers won each of the first three matchups, but Alabama enters Monday’s game riding a 12-game winning streak against Clemson. The most recent meeting came in the 2008 Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game in Atlanta, as the Crimson Tide came away with a resounding 34-10 victory over then-No. 9 Clemson to give head coach Nick Saban his first win against a top-10 opponent at Alabama.
Source: Univ. of Alabama Athletic Department
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