CHAPTER 1 SWEET REVENGE The Clemson Tigers faced the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff CFP National Championship Game on January 9 2017. Alabama was looking for its second straight national title and second straight defeat of Clemson in the championship game When the Tide jumped out to a 14-0 lead an Alabama repeat appeared likely But Clemson had come from behind to win games before The Tigers knew they had what it took to stay with Alabama So they kept working Eventually that hard work paid off Two straight touchdowns in the fourth quarter gave Clemson a 28-24 lead with 4:38 to play Then Clemson needed a big stop from its defense The Tide faced a third and 16 play from their own 26 yard line Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts completed a 15 yard pass just short of the Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams 4 makes a leaping catch against Alabama
first down marker If the Tigers could make a stop on fourth and 1 they would likely run out the clock and win the national championship SUCCESS IN LOSS Deshaun Watson had one of the greatest performances in college football history in a losing effort in the CFP national championship game played in January 2016 Watson's 405 passing yards were the most ever in a national championship game And with 73 rushing yards he also broke the record for most total yards in a Instead Alabama running back Damien Harris barreled forward for a first down Just two plays later Hurts ran for a 30 yard touchdown and the Crimson Tide led 31-28 Just over two minutes remained in the game For Clemson it was starting to feel like the previous year's title game when the Tigers and their star quarterback Deshaun Watson came up just short losing to Alabama 45-40 title game Now Watson had another chance He'd already put up huge stats He would end the season with 4,593 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes He had been a finalist for the Heisman Trophy But he wanted the national title most of all Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney had brought Watson to Clemson Since taking over as head coach in 2008 Swinney had become known for recruiting elite talent Watson was one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country But Swinney could also spot talented players who didn't get as much attention from the scouting services
Dabo Swinney center meets his players to discuss strategy against Alabama One of those players was Hunter Renfrow The skinny wide receiver was not offered a scholarship by any team in the top division of college football But Swinney met Renfrow and thought he could play Swinney himself a former walk on receiver at Alabama offered Renfrow a chance to walk on at Clemson Renfrow and Watson would play a major role in the end of the game Clemson started at its own 32 yard line with 2:01 to go A field goal would tie the game and likely force overtime But a touchdown could win it for the Tigers Watson immediately got to work moving the Clemson offense down the field 7
