Alabama sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was very clear with his message after the Crimson Tide’s stunning 44-16 loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff national championship game tonight in Santa Clara, Calif.
“Just five words. Good is not good enough,” Tagovailoa told reporters in the postgame press conference.
The 2017 Saint Louis graduate, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting this year, finished 22-for-34 for 295 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Tagovailoa threw a pick-6 on Alabama’s first drive of the game to fall behind 7-0, but answered with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy to tie the score at 7-all on the next drive.
The 2016 Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State offensive player of the year added a 1-yard TD pass and had the Crimson Tide up 16-14 early in the second quarter before Alabama gave up 30 unanswered points.
Tagovailoa’s second interception of the game came in the second quarter with Clemson ahead 21-16. He was stopped on a fourth-down run in Clemson territory twice in the second half was pulled for backup Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter with Alabama trailing 44-16.
“We didn’t finish he way we wanted to finish we didn’t do the things we needed to do to execute and be successful in this game. Thats all it is,” Tagovailoa said.
He later added: “We’ve got to execute play at a fast level, high level intensity (and) focus (on) what you’ve got to do play by play. We’ve got to go out there and do what we do.”
Alabama was 2-for-4 scoring in the red zone and just 4-for-13 converting third downs.
The Crimson Tide (14-1) had their 16-game winning streak snapped dating back to last season. It was the first loss for Tagovailoa as a starter in 15 games.
Roll over Tide. How bout them Tigers!!!
Alabama’s O-Line got Man-Handled and their Defense looked Lost…
NOTRE DAME played Tougher Defense against Clemson!!
Yep on the bright side, ND wasn’t so overrated as much as Clemson is just that good.
Clemson’s O and D lines just played lights out during these playoffs. Alabama barely got to the Clemson qb. The Clemson Defensive scheme was a thing to watch; not often you can make Tua look uncomfortable.
Tide and Tua will be back in it next year, but Clemson might go back to back with all the parts they have coming back.
Keep your head up Tua and just do what you do. After you and your teammates got crushed by Kahuku in your junior year, you came back better and stronger and just killed us your senior year.
Looking forward to you winning the Heisman next year!!!!
RRFL!
Clemson’s defense and offense did their job and manhandled Alabama’s offense and defense. You can’t send 4 guys without any blitzing all night and have Clemson’s QB pick and choose his receivers especially when Alabama’s DB’s were weak and inexperience in their coverage. Alabama’e OC and DC need to reevaluate their schemes when playing teams like Clemson. Defense wins game and it showed when Clemson held Notre Dame to 3 points and Alabama to 16 points. Clemson deserved the title and next season will be interesting…Alabama, Clemson and Texas will be in the mix.