An interesting bit of richness emerged on Wednesday, a twist between Utah and Alabama football that spirals back some 14 years, back to when the Utes, led by quarterback Brian Johnson, defeated the Tide in the Sugar Bowl, in what might be the biggest Ute victory ever, when Kyle Whittingham not just out-coached Nick Saban, but temporarily humbled him, too.
All Utes who watched that game remember it — with great fondness.
Well. Saban now is surprising most of college football by retiring, having presumably punctuated — the man is 72 years old — a brilliant coaching career during which he won seven national championships, six in Tuscaloosa. On the same day, it was reported that the Utah quarterback who beat him, Johnson, now the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, has captured the interest of the Carolina Panthers for their head coaching job. Johnson had no comment on the report, and is unable to officially interview until the Eagles’ season ends. They face the Tampa Bay Bucs on Monday night in the NFC Wild Card.
One legendary coaching career ends as a Ute legend’s coaching career arches upward. Who knows if Johnson actually gets that top position, but either way he’s knocking at the door.
Reflecting back on that Sugar Bowl win for Utah, there are a few images that persist for those of us who covered it up close. The first is Saban’s rather haughty approach to that game, putting on airs that the Crimson Tide were superior to the lowly Utes. If Saban didn’t intend to give that impression, he did a lousy job of keeping it tucked in.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham and Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) hold their trophy aloft after the Utes defeated Alabama in the 75th annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, January 2, 2009.
Second was the look on Saban’s face when the Utes rode a rocket from the opening kick, stacking up a 21-zip lead in the first quarter and then holding on for a 31-17 victory. One moment in particular stands out — when late in the third quarter, the Crimson Tide were attempting to continue closing the gap, down still by a 28-17 count, and Utah’s defense stoned Alabama on a crucial third-down-and-short play, forcing the Tide to try a field goal that sailed off target. All told, Utah’s D yielded just 31 rushing yards to the Tide’s power run game that night. Saban’s countenance then and there had the general look of a man who had taken a powerful Joe Frazier left hook to the side of his melon. Maybe that’s when the proud coach figured that these gutty little Utes from the other side of some mountain range known as the Wasatch Front were better than he figured.
Third was a postgame snapshot of Saban, when he uttered, among other adjusted words, that Johnson “is the best quarterback we’ve played against all year.” Humility was a bitter few forkfuls of grub the Utah QB had served up.
“And I separated my shoulder in the third quarter,” Johnson said. “Guts, man, guts. … We’re the best team in the country.”
Saban’s pregame presumptions had bothered Johnson, who ended up being the game’s MVP. “It made me angry,” he said. That anger transformed into a 27-for-41 passing performance, good for 336 yards and three touchdowns.
(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Alabama head coach Nick Saban yells at Alabama defensive back Ali Sharrief (26) after he tackled Utah wide receiver Freddie Brown (88) as the Utes face Alabama in the 4th quarter of 75th annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, January 2, 2009.
“Brian has meant everything to this football team,” said Whittingham afterward. “He has all the intangibles you look for in a quarterback.”
And many of the tangibles, too. Saban concurred.
That loss stung the coach, but it pushed him on to a remarkable run at Alabama, where he became known as college football’s undisputed top mentor. His records there teeter on the edge of ridiculous, rolling up season after season of either undefeated or one-loss marks. The Tide’s trophy case filled to the brim under Saban.
Johnson went on to a nomadic coaching career, once that became his chosen profession, and he has risen through the ranks to be Philly’s OC. The Eagles fired off to a 10-1 record early this season, but they’ve been inconsistent on attack down the stretch, losing five of their last six games. Still, at just 36, Johnson is highly regarded around the league, and is seen as a coach who could help develop last draft’s overall No. 1 pick Bryce Young, who struggled through his rookie season.
The final kicker to the Saban-Johnson swirl? Young broke records in college, and won the Heisman Trophy, as quarterback for … yeah, Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide one year ago.