Much like the New York Yankees bowing out in the postseason or the Golden State Warriors' dynasty coming to a crashing halt, it's never easy being at the top and the fall is recognized by many.
Alabama is picking up the pieces following Saturday's unexpected 48-45 loss at Auburn, a setback that squandered any remaining hopes at getting back to the College Football Playoff for Nick Saban's team.
“Very, very disappointing," Saban said after the game. "I know our fans are disappointed, but I can promise you that our players are disappointed, and we’re all very, very disappointed. It’s my responsibility to get our team to do these things better, and that certainly will be the goal in the future.”
Ranked just outside the top four coming into the Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide committed 13 penalties, gave away two touchdowns via interception returns for scores and didn't execute well enough on special teams to beat a quality opponent on the road.
“The disappointing thing to me is we came here with the idea that we needed to play with a lot of discipline, not get a lot of penalties, do a great job of executing and doing our job on a consistent basis, people holding and being accountable so that we can get the kind of execution that we’d like to get and people make decisions through their discipline that’s going to put the team first and help enhance the team’s chances of being successful," Saban said. "And I don’t think we did that great. We got way too many penalties, put ourselves in too many bad situations."
Here's some of the reaction from media members following Alabama's loss that ended the Crimson Tide's final four aspirations:
Alabama still hasn’t defeated a Top 25 team this year. So I’m sure selection committee will move Tide up to No. 4 this week
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 1, 2019
Oft-criticized for the selection committee's perceived "Bama bias" over the past few weeks, the Crimson Tide will surely fall out of the Top 5 and perhaps behind another SEC team when Tuesday's latest rankings are revealed. The Iron Bowl was a must-win for Alabama to add a quality victory to the resume this season after Saban's team had fallen in their other opportunity this month against LSU. This is the first time Alabama has suffered multiple losses during the regular season since 2010.
Wonder what Alabama fans are going to do with all the money they saved up for the two playoff games....
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 1, 2019
The only program to appear in every College Football Playoff since inception, that streak is now over for Alabama. The end goal for this year's team was to get another crack at Clemson after January's disappointing loss left a dark stain on an otherwise memorable campaign. Alabama will watch from home as the unbeaten Tigers, who have won 27 straight, are a win away from getting back to the Playoff in hopes of defending their national title.
My god. Alabama. Epic choke job. Nick Saban is going to Darth Vader choke someone to death in the locker room.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 1, 2019
Saban's powers not withstanding, the veteran coach and six-time national champion was livid just before halftime and in the final moments on Saturday following two game-defining plays. The first came on Auburn's field goal as time expired in the second quarter after the Tigers had been gifted another second on the clock by the officiating crew. Later, Alabama's substitution penalty with 1:17 to play gave Auburn a first down, clinching the victory. Discipline was an issue throughout.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) December 1, 2019Alabama and Nick Saban losing the game and any shot of college football playoff because they have 12 guys on the field.
You hate to see it. You really do.
Here's is Saban full quote on the end-of-game play that cost the Crimson Tide a chance at getting the final possession of the game:
"Well, when somebody puts the punter in, you’re going to put the punt return team in. Punter came in but he came in to play wide receiver, so as soon we see the guy on the field we put the return team in," Saban said. "But then they were just staying in formation, probably, to let the clock run down and call timeout or take a penalty because you want as much time off the clock as possible But we saw the quarterback behind them — which they can quick kick, which they did earlier in the game — we tried to put the defense back on and we didn’t have any trouble subbing anybody in, but Waddle was deep and a little late getting off, we were trying to get his attention to get him off. He didn’t get off fast enough, so he was the 12th guy that they penalized us for. but they did sub, so they give us time to sub in those situations. Whether they did or didn’t, it’s not my call.”
Gary Danielson explaining why a two-loss Alabama team that didn't even win its division absolutely has to be part of the playoff picture pic.twitter.com/2KakFEqnaV
— BUM CHILLUPS (@edsbs) December 1, 2019
This sums up the collective eye-roll that happens nationally when anyone tries to give their reasoning on why Alabama is worthy of a Playoff spot. Many didn't think the Crimson Tide deserved the No. 4 seed two years as a non-SEC West division champ, but Saban's team took out top-seeded Clemson and then Georgia to win it all. America has opined for weeks a similar situation could happen again, though the chances were lessened following Tua Tagovailoa's season-ending injury. Now, Alabama has no argument to speak of in getting to the final four.
"Nick Saban on the sideline, not a happy guy." pic.twitter.com/fV2fRPObJg
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 30, 2019
— bomani (@bomani_jones) December 1, 2019if this holds up, alabama will be 24-3 the last two seasons, 14-2 in conference.
and i sweh fo gawd, saban better pick that sh t up or it's not gonna be pleasant in tuscaloosa. i wish i was joking.
This came in the first half after the clock appeared to expire on the Tigers after a successful screen pass led to a conversion in field goal range. Without a timeout, Auburn hurried to the line with its field goal time, but time should have run out since it would take at least a second to get to the line and snap the ball, according to Saban. Alabama's coach asked for an explanation and went ballistic on the SEC officiating crew. In the end, those were the three points the Crimson Tide lost by at Jordan-Hare.
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) December 1, 2019Alabama handed Auburn the game.
Self-inflicted wounds will keep Alabama from making the College Football Playoff for the first time.
The two interception returns for touchdowns damaged Alabama's chances, but the missed chip-shot field goal from 30 yards out that likely would've sent the game to overtime was a bitter pill to swallow for a team too often hurt by kicking woes.
— Russ Mitchell (@RussMitchellCFB) December 1, 2019Nick Saban complaining about Malzahn's trick play at the end of the game is symbolic of EVERYTHING wrong with #Bama this season.
If he spent less time whining, maybe his team would play more disciplined football & not surrender nearly 100 pts in 2 games.
It's true — Alabama's defense all but laid down in its two biggest games of the year this season. Injuries mounted at linebacker and penalties were a season-long issue. Alabama led the SEC in total penalties (90) this fall.
Added senior safety Jared Mayden, “When you play a good team, you can’t make those penalties. You can’t set yourself back against good teams because good teams can stop you, stop what you’re doing. We just shot ourselves in the foot too many times.”