GregCook

Alabama vs Clemson

This much-anticipated game featured a clash between two powerhouse programs, the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide, in what became the third consecutive postseason meeting between these two storied teams.

The Stakes

The Sugar Bowl was one of two semifinal games in the College Football Playoff for the 2017 season. The winner would advance to the CFP National Championship to face the victor of the Rose Bowl, which featured the Georgia Bulldogs and the Oklahoma Sooners. As such, the stakes were immense, with both Clemson and Alabama aiming to secure another shot at a national title. This game marked a continuation of the fierce rivalry between these programs, which had developed following their previous playoff encounters.

The Teams

The Clemson Tigers entered the game as the No. 1 seed in the CFP rankings, boasting a 12-1 record. Under the leadership of head coach Dabo Swinney, Clemson was riding high after a dominant regular season and a decisive victory over Miami in the ACC Championship Game. The team was anchored by a stellar defense, led by All-American defensive linemen Christian Wilkins and Clelin Ferrell, and a dynamic offense led by quarterback Kelly Bryant.

The Alabama Crimson Tide, ranked No. 4 in the CFP rankings, came into the game with an 11-1 record. Coached by the legendary Nick Saban, Alabama was making its fourth consecutive CFP appearance, a testament to its sustained dominance in college football. Despite losing to Auburn in the Iron Bowl late in the regular season, Alabama earned a playoff spot thanks to its overall strength of schedule and reputation. The Tide’s defense, led by linebacker Rashaan Evans and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, was among the best in the nation, while the offense featured dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts and a potent running game.

Pam and I have so many fond memories that were made in New Orleans. We were married in the Atrium at the Royal Sonesta Hotel there on Bourbon Street many years ago.

The Game

The atmosphere inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome was electric, with fans from both schools filling the stadium with energy and anticipation. The game was a defensive showcase from the outset, with both teams trading blows and struggling to gain significant offensive momentum in the first quarter.

Alabama struck first, capitalizing on a Clemson turnover to score a field goal and take an early lead. The Crimson Tide's defense set the tone early, smothering Clemson’s rushing attack and pressuring Kelly Bryant relentlessly. By the end of the first half, Alabama had extended its lead to 10-3, thanks to a touchdown run by Damien Harris.

The second half saw Alabama’s defense take complete control. In the third quarter, the Crimson Tide’s defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne made a game-changing interception, returning it deep into Clemson territory. Payne, showing his versatility, later caught a touchdown pass on a trick play, pushing Alabama’s lead to 17-3. Moments later, linebacker Mack Wilson intercepted Kelly Bryant and returned it for a touchdown, effectively sealing the game.

Clemson’s offense, which had been so potent throughout the season, struggled to find any rhythm against Alabama’s suffocating defense. Kelly Bryant was sacked multiple times, and the Tigers managed only 188 total yards, a season-low. Alabama’s relentless pressure and disciplined play stymied Clemson at every turn.

The final score was 24-6 in favor of Alabama, a decisive victory that sent the Crimson Tide to the CFP National Championship Game. This win not only avenged their loss to Clemson in the previous season’s title game but also reaffirmed Alabama’s status as a perennial powerhouse in college football.

The Coldest Day - The High Temperature on this Day in New Orleans set an Historic Record at a Mere 35° Degrees!

I'm unsure what the temperature was with the "chill factor", however, I do know that it was the coldest time Pam and I ever spent there and we've spent a lot of our vacation days in New Orleans over the years. The following day Pam and I are riding the trolley and greeting everyone with a ROLL TIDE!.

That night as Pam and I were standing in line with 72,000 people, Pam heard someone calling my name. It turned out to be Charles and Shirley Hulsey, our very good friends.

The odds of someone running into someone they know in a crowd of 72,000 people depend on several factors, including:

• Size of the social network: The number of people the individual knows and might recognize in such a setting.
• Overlap with the crowd: The likelihood that someone from their social network is also in the same crowd.
• Ability to recognize: The chance of visually or otherwise recognizing someone in such a large group.

Simplified Estimate

Let's make some assumptions for a basic calculation:

• A typical person has about 150 people in their extended social network (Dunbar's number).
• The crowd is a random mix of people with no specific preselection (e.g., attendees at a large concert or sports event).
• There is no systematic bias (like the crowd being mostly local residents).

The probability of someone running into someone they know in a crowd of 72,000 people is approximately 0.208%, or about 1 in 480. This is a relatively low probability, assuming the crowd is randomly distributed and there are no special conditions that increase the chance of overlap (like a local event or shared interests).