By Marquavis Burnett, The Crimson White
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Alabama’s victory over Louisiana State could not have come at a better time or on a bigger stage. Pitching a shutout and getting revenge against a conference foe made the revenge that much sweeter.
 

With the Crimson Tide’s domination of the Tigers, all talk of a split national championship was put to rest. Defensively, LSU put up a great fight. They constantly held Alabama to field goals and only allowed one touchdown.
 

Offensively the Tigers were inept.  Only once did they cross the 50-yard line. They only gained 92 yards of total offense. Alabama running back Trent Richardson rushed for 96 yards by himself. The Tiger offense gave their defense no help.
 

“We knew that if we played our style of football, we could dominate these guys,” defensive lineman Josh Chapman said. “We came out and proved to the world why we are the best team.”
 

Alabama’s performance on defense was one for the ages. Through eight quarters, LSU could not score a single touchdown. LSU fans shouldn’t feel too bad because Alabama’s defense has only allowed nine, I repeat, nine touchdowns all season. In fact statistically, Alabama ranks as the No. 1 defense in nearly every major category.
 

This victory wasn’t about statistics. It was a highly emotional game for Alabama who had something to prove to the world. A lot of people felt Alabama did not belong in the title game because of their loss to the Tigers in November. A lot of people felt LSU was a much better team and Alabama had no shot at winning. Those doubters gave Alabama the motivation they needed.
 

“We felt like some people may not have realized how good we were as a defense,” safety Mark Barron said. “Some people thought LSU had the better defense, but I always felt we had the better defense and the better team, and we proved that.”
 

Alabama also won this game for the city of Tuscaloosa and the entire state of Alabama. The Tide faced a lot of adversity before the season with the death of a teammate, the loss of a teammates girlfriend, and the tornado that destroyed the city and other parts of the state. This win gives the city a sign of better things to come and the Alabama players understand that this was bigger than football.
 

“It’s not just for us, it’s for the entire state, the organization and the city of Tuscaloosa,” Chapman said. “This is something for the people in Tuscaloosa to feed off of and hang their hats on.”
 

Running back Trent Richardson said, “A lot of people were affected by the tornado and we just wanted to put the city on our back and let them know we cared.”
 

For a city and a community that has suffered so much lately, two words ring loud and bring hope; Roll Tide!