LOS ANGELES — See if this sounds familiar? Clemson University and Alabama University are competing in the playoffs for the national championship.
For college sports fans, Saturday will be another example of the Tigers and Crimson Tide competing on the national stage. But this time, it won't be played on the gridiron, with Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban on the opposing sideline.
It is played on a 94-foot long basketball court, and a place in the Final Four is at stake.
This is relatively new territory for a school primarily known for its accomplishments on the football field. Alabama, a 16-time national champion and perennial favorite, is playing in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2004 and second in team history. Clemson also achieved success by winning two College Football Playoff titles, making it to the Elite Eight for the second time since 1980. By the end of the night, one team will advance to the Final Four. first time.
Suddenly, things sound strange.
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“With Alabama and Clemson playing in Los Angeles, most people would think we're playing here in the Rose Bowl,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said.
Admit that you attend a football school
Reaching the Final Four is a huge accomplishment for any school, regardless of other sports, but Oats and Clemson head coach Brad Brownell believe that at schools where football is the main focus, each Final Four spot is a huge accomplishment for any school. recognizes what it means for the program.
“Alabama football is obviously the best football program in the country in college football. They've had all kinds of national championships,” Oats said. “But Alabama has won national championships in multiple sports. The athletic department as a whole is a championship-caliber athletic department.
“We need to elevate men's basketball to the level of many other sports.”
During Oats' tenure, the Crimson Tide won the SEC and conference tournaments twice, made four consecutive tournament appearances and earned the top overall seed in 2023. Despite that success, Oates wants more. “I've never been to the final four,” he admitted.
While Alabama achieved most of its recent success before Oats arrived in Tuscaloosa, Brownell has seen Clemson rise to prominence during his time at CFP. Before that, Brownell said, he has to realize he's a basketball coach at a football school. This is a reality that others must accept as well.
“If you're the head basketball coach at Clemson or Alabama, you're not going to be a basketball school. You're going to be a football school. You better embrace that early on,” he said. “That's okay. I'm good at that.
“I feel pressure because I want to run a program as good as any other coach.”
If you want further proof of how basketball is on the back burner at these schools, just look at Clemson star forward PJ Hall. He is from Spartanburg, S.C., about 105 miles northeast of Clemson, but said he didn't realize how much of an impact a chance to make the Final Four would have on a team that had never made it before. .
Nick Saban receives support from Dabo Swinney
With a national championship-winning coach at their disposal, Oats and Brownell would be foolish not to seek guidance from recently retired Nick Saban or current Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney while running this tournament.
Oats went to Saban for inspiration, telling him his “rat poison” story as a way to keep the team focused. Saban also texted Oats about having a “next play” mindset, which speaks volumes given the seven-time National Championship coach's inexperience with technology. It tells the story.
Meanwhile, Swinney texted Brownell multiple times before the Sweet 16 game against Arizona and they have continued to talk since that win. Brownell has a hunch that Swinney is using the basketball team as a bet for dinner with “old buddies” from Alabama.
Still, Brownell said he and Swinney have a great relationship, playing golf at Clemson and spending vacations with their families. Swinney also FaceTimed guard Joseph Girard III after the Arizona game.
What does reaching the Final Four mean for Alabama and Clemson?
Both sides recognize how monumental the Elite Eight win is for their programs. At Alabama, players will have a chance to rank among the greats who have ever stepped foot on campus, just like the countless NFL stars who once called Bryant's Denny Stadium their home.
“He's probably going to be a legend on campus,” guard Rylan Griffen said. “They always say that's where legends are made. If we make it to the Final Four, it's going to be a historic team that will go down in Alabama history. It would be great to be a part of that.”
Due to their recent success, each team has gained renewed interest from their fan base. While most of the calendar year is spent focusing on football season or preparing for the upcoming season, basketball teams are currently in the spotlight on the biggest stage.
“Just knowing how much people care about what's going on with us in this program right now is really exciting,” Girard said. “Obviously everyone always talks about Clemson football and how big their support is. It feels great to know that we're getting a lot of that right now.”
Both teams are familiar with each other, with Clemson defeating Alabama in November. But both teams acknowledge they are a much different unit than the one they played four months ago.
“Getting to the Final Four would mean a lot to the program. It would show that we are competing with all the best programs in the country for the biggest thing,” Oates said. Told. “If we can accomplish that, this will be the biggest win in Alabama basketball history.”
Mr Brownell said: And we're all really proud of that. But I'm just trying my best to make the program as good as possible. I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish over the past 14 years. This year has certainly been special. ”
Saturday will be a historic victory for one of them.
Follow Jordan Mendoza on social media @jordan_mendoza5.
