Alabama defense smothers the Tigers
BY DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
1/10/12 at 4:47 AM
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NEW ORLEANS - Alabama delivered what everyone expected from the first play of the BCS title game, when a host of red jerseys stuffed LSU running back Michael Ford at the line of scrimmage: a rock 'em, sock 'em affair dominated by defense.
The Crimson Tide's was simply better.
Led by bruising linebacker Courtney Upshaw and the opportunistic C.J. Mosley, the second-ranked Crimson Tide shut down the Southeastern Conference's top scoring offense in a 21-0 victory Monday night that earned Alabama its second BCS championship in three years.
"I think it was a great team win. The defense did a great job," coach Nick Saban said. "The offense controlled the momentum of the game from the start to finish."
It was the first shutout in the history of the BCS title game, and the first blanking of the Tigers since 2002, when Alabama beat them 31-0 in Baton Rouge.
That was back when Nick Saban was roaming the Tigers' sideline.
The Crimson Tide didn't allow the Tigers to convert a third down until the fourth quarter, and didn't allow a snap in its own territory until there was 7:30 left in the game.
Of course, Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower promptly sacked Jefferson to force a fumble that was recovered by his good buddy Nick Gentry. The way things were going for the Tigers, it was a fitting way for their best offensive series of the night to end.
