It’s strange how one game changed everything for an Alabama team that was previously undefeated and considered by many to be among the best of all time.
But give credit to Clemson. It not only dominated Alabama in the national championship game, it changed the entire narrative about the Crimson Tide’s season in the process. Suddenly quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was a mere mortal, the defense was an undisciplined mess and the coaching staff appeared in desperate need of reconstruction.
Then a school-record seven underclassmen declared for the NFL draft.
Then seemingly every assistant coach on the staff up and left.