See Alabama Win a National Championship

If the disappointment of not returning to a BCS bowl in 2010 wasn't enough motivation for the Alabama football team, it got an overdose of tragedy during the months building up to the 2011 season.

Mere days after the annual A-Day scrimmage and unveiling of Nick Saban's statue for winning the 2009 national title, a series of horrific tornados struck the state on April 27, killing 53 people in Tuscaloosa alone — including long-snapper Carson Tinker's girlfriend Ashley Harrison. He barely survived with a concussion, a broken wrist, and an ankle injury.

In May, reserve offensive lineman Aaron Douglas was found dead on a balcony the morning after attending a party in Jacksonville.

Despite all that, and a 9–6 overtime loss to LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 5, Alabama managed to reach the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans, where it dominated the rematch against the Southeastern Conference–rival Tigers with a 21–0 victory.

"I've never coached a team that was more determined, more dedicated to overcoming adversity than this group of guys," Saban said. "I've never seen a more dominant performance than what they did in the national championship game against LSU."

Although running back Trent Richardson was a Heisman Trophy finalist who set the Alabama single-season rushing record, and after moving from right guard to left tackle Barrett Jones became the third Crimson Tide player to win the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman), the defense put itself on the short list for best-ever consideration.

Alabama finished the season by leading the nation in pass-efficiency defense (83.69 rating), pass defense (111.46 yards per game), rushing defense (72.15), scoring defense (8.15 points), and total defense (183.62 yards per game) — in addition to third-down defense, red-zone defense, first downs allowed, and three-and-outs — all by wide margins.

It pulled off the first shutout in BCS history, never mind the title game, and the Tigers crossed the 50-yard line only once.

Meanwhile, with A.J. McCarron often passing on first down he became the first sophomore quarterback to lead his team to victory in the BCS title game and was named the offensive MVP.

"We knew coming into the game somebody else had to step up, and coach just gave me an opportunity," said McCarron, who completed 23 of 34 attempts for 234 yards and had no turnovers. "I don't think I did anything special."

If so, he was the only one.

"Tonight, he was on a whole other level, he actually blew me away," center William Vlachos said. "He talked to us at halftime, he talked to us pregame, he's on the stage getting offensive MVP. The guy is unbelievable."

With 4:36 remaining, Alabama scored the one and only touchdown between the two teams in eight quarters and one overtime of play on the season. Richardson recorded his 21st rushing touchdown of the season by bouncing outside on a 34-yard run.

"That was probably the most fun touchdown I've ever scored," Jones said. "Two games of frustration of not finding the end zone, just to seal the deal, that was a great feeling."

In addition to winning its second crystal football in three years, Richardson won the program's first Doak Walker Award (best running back), Jones collected the ACA Sportsmanship Award and Wuerffel Trophy, and Alabama was also presented with the Disney Spirit Award that annually goes to college football's most inspirational player, team, or figure. Tinker accepted on behalf of the Crimson Tide roughly a month before the championship.

"It's awesome," Tinker said between hugs and falling pieces of crimson and white confetti at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. "There are no words that can describe this. Just a lot of work paid off. Everyone here faced some kind of adversity, and just to see how they all came out of that is a great thing."

But that didn't keep the Crimson Tide from relishing the finality of the moment and all it had accomplished. For example, after playing in his final game for the Crimson Tide,...