Jake Coker's Ultimate Redemption Story Is What College Football Is All About

GLENDALE, Ariz. — As the celebration started making the transition from the confetti-filled field to the smoke-filled locker room at University of Phoenix Stadium, Alabama offensive lineman Alphonse Taylor couldn’t help but have a little fun in front of some reporters.

Using a half-filled Gatorade as a microphone, he decided to turn the tables a little and interview senior quarterback Jake Coker himself.

“I’m with the man, the myth and the legend, Jacob Coker everybody,” the massive junior right guard yelled into the bottle. “How does it feel to be a national champion?”

“I can’t describe it, especially after having to play behind all you fat [boys], it really makes it special,” Coker said while playing along and trying to get someone to light his victory cigar.

“You’re not too small yourself. What was going through your head when you took that knee in that last possession?”

“Indescribable.”

A few minutes later, Coker finally sat down and let the emotions start to wash over him. He hadn’t had the best game, completing 16 of his 25 passes, but his 335 yards ended up being a career high.

Moreover, he had done it—like the big it, the its of all its. After leaving Florida State and transferring to his beloved Alabama in 2014, he helped lead the Crimson Tide to a national championship with Monday’s dramatic 45-40 victory against Clemson.

“I’m exhausted,” he said. “We had to earn it, that’s for sure.”

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Like a lot of his teammates, Coker took a pounding. He was sacked five times, and Clemson totaled nine tackles for a loss in a game that changed hands five times before Alabama finally pulled away—and then the game still went down to the wire.

While junior running back Derrick Henry finished with 158 rushing yards on 36 carries and three touchdowns, Alabama knew going in that it would need more than the Heisman Trophy winner to win.

Head coach Nick Saban called it a “big-little” game, in that Clemson’s defense was the kind Alabama’s offense was going to have some negative plays against (although it didn’t anticipate that many), but it would have the chance to get some playmakers into open space.

“I thought we would be able to make some big plays in this game,” he said.

Harry How/Getty Images

Noticing the Clemson players sometimes needed a while to get lined up how they wanted, part of Alabama’s strategy was to go hurry-up. The result was that the Tigers would get into formation but then be unable to make adjustments before the snap.

One result was junior tight end O.J. Howard having a breakout game with 208 yards on five catches, including touchdowns of 53 and 51 yards.

He was essentially left uncovered on both, the first giving Alabama its initial 21-14 lead early in the second half following the extra point, and the second helping the Crimson Tide pull ahead for good in the fourth quarter.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

“We needed that big time,” Coker said about the first touchdown, as Saban had noted during his halftime interview that his quarterback was holding on to the ball too long.

But Howard’s biggest play may have been the 63-yard catch-and-run that set up Alabama’s final touchdown, a one-yard Henry dive that took defensive linemen Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson helping out as fullbacks to drive in and a review to confirm.

“Some of those plays were fast plays,” offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said. “We were trying to use that to our advantage, and some of our guys were able to make plays.”

Finally, after Clemson rallied for a final touchdown and the subsequent onside kick went out of bounds, Alabama breathed a sigh of relief and began the celebration for its 16th national championship.

“I can’t even put it into words. Dream come true,” wide receiver Richard Mullaney said.

Actually, it was better than that for Coker, who was a fifth-year transfer like Mullaney but wasn’t heavily recruited by Alabama despite growing up in Mobile. He ended up initially attending Florida State, which appeared to be a much better opportunity for him at the time.

Harry How/Getty Images

It obviously didn’t turn out that way as Coker never lost a game he started.

“Five years ago, I never though I’d be here, that’s for sure,” Coker said.

So when the game ended, Coker ran over to hug his family in the front row and give a shout-out to brother Patrick Brown, an Air Force captain whom he calls his inspiration.

“When you win a national championship with Alabama, that’s about all you can ask for. That’s the top for me. I couldn’t be more proud.”

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.