Nick Saban Hopes Alabama Won't 'Waste a Failure' After Clemson Title Game Loss

Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban discussed the importance of bouncing back from last season's CFP National Championship loss to Clemson on Wednesday.

According to ESPN.com's Alex Scarborough, Saban wants his team to use the loss as a learning experience: "We played against a really, really good team ... and we weren't able to finish the game like we needed to. There were a lot of lessons to learn, and hopefully we won't waste a failure."

Alabama entered the title game with a perfect record, but it was unable to slow down Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, and fell 35-31 in dramatic fashion.

Although the Crimson Tide have been college football's most dominant team during Saban's time at the helm, wide receive Calvin Ridley admitted that they feel they have something to prove entering 2017. 

"We have a chip on our shoulder," he said, per Scarborough.

Alabama will require some shuffling on the defensive side of the ball, but the offense remains largely intact with reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year Jalen Hurts returning at quarterback.

The Tide bounced back from a disappointing 2014 Sugar Bowl loss by winning the 2015 national title, so Saban-led teams are undoubtedly capable to using big defeats to fuel future success.