Alabama beats LSU in college title game
By Associated Press
Jan 10, 2012 12:21 AM CST
Alabama head coach Nick Saban reacts after being dunks after the BCS National Championship college football game against LSU Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in New Orleans. Alabama won 21-0. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)   (Associated Press)

Alabama romped to another college football title by beating top-ranked Louisiana State 21-0 in the Bowl Championship Series title game Monday, using a smothering defense, a numbing barrage of field goals and one belated touchdown.

The Crimson Tide posted the first shutout in the 14-year history of the BCS, relying on Jeremy Shelley's right boot for most of the points _ he made a bowl record-tying five field goals _ and letting its defense do the rest.

While only crimson-clad fans will remember this game fondly, Alabama clinched its second title in three years and erased any doubts that it deserved to be in the decider above candidates like Oklahoma State or Stanford.

Then again, one of those teams might have actually scored a touchdown before Alabama finally did, with 4:36 left in the game, long after the game had been decided.

These powerhouse teams played each other twice in a span of about two months, and amazingly did not score a single touchdown until Trent Richardson broke off a 34-yard run.

"We certainly didn't play a perfect game, we got a field goal blocked, we couldn't find the end zone for a long time, but we just kept playing," Alabama coach Nick Saban said.

"Our offensive team did a great job. Defensively, we just played well, played the box. Our special teams did a great job."

LSU had beaten eight ranked teams _ including Alabama in early November _ to establish itself as the clear No. 1 going into the bowls, but the Tigers crossed midfield only once, and that was with eight minutes left in a mini-drive that looked like finally breathing some life into the game.

However the Tigers _ who were outgained 384-92 in total yards and managed just five first downs _ were immediately driven back. The last gasp was appropriately the sight of beleaguered quarterback Jordan Jefferson getting the ball knocked from his hand before he could even get off a fourth-and-18 pass.

Coach Nick Saban has won a pair of BCS titles at Alabama, plus another at LSU in 2003. He's the first coach to win three BCS titles, denying LSU's Les Miles his second championship. The Tigers will have to settle for the Southeastern Conferencetitle, but that's not likely to ease the sting of this ugly performance.

LSU simply couldn't do anything _ running or passing. Kenny Hilliard led the Tigers with 16 yards rushing, while Jefferson was 11 of 17 passing for 53 yards, usually hurrying away passes before he was sent tumbling to the Superdome turf. He was sacked four times and threw one mystifying interception when he attempted to flip away a desperation pass, only to have it picked off because his intended receiver had already turned upfield looking to block.

Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron was the offensive MVP, completing 23 of 34 for 234 yards. Richardson added 96 yards on 20 carries. But an even bigger cheer went up when the defensive award was presented to linebacker Clayton Upshaw, who had seven tackles, including a sack.

"This defense is built on stopping them, and that's what we did," Upshaw said. "We wanted to come out and show the world we beat ourselves the first game. We wanted to come out and dominate from start to finish, and that's what we did."

With the way his defense was playing, McCarron simply had to avoid mistakes and guide the offense into field-goal range. He did that to perfection.

"When you have a great offensive line like I have, and great players around you, it makes your job easy as quarterback," McCarron said. "I've got to give all the credit to them. I wish I could have the whole team up here."

LSU failed to match its BCS title game victories in 2003 and 2007, the last two times the game was played in New Orleans, about 80 miles from its Baton Rouge campus.

"We couldn't sustain any consistency," coach Miles said. "The calls became much more difficult."

Miles never considered switching to backup quarterback Jarrett Lee, who started the first eight games for the Tigers _ four of those while Jefferson was serving a suspension for his involvement in a bar fight.

"We felt like with Jefferson's feet and the ability to get out of the rush, that it was fair that he finished," Miles said. "He certainly had a tremendously strong year in any regard. Boy, we wanted to finish this one. It's hard to finish a season that was so successful this way."

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