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Maybe it’s because he’s not a very likeable guy, but Nick Saban hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves. Cody Zeller Jersey . He’s the best college football coach ever. There aren’t a ton of fans and experts out there making the case for him, what with the stories of his abrasive attitude (especially towards the media) and rumours of his shady dealings. And he had that failed stint in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. Even Crimson Tide supporters won’t fight for him like they should, instead opting for the more warmly remembered Bear Bryant as best ever. But Saban has developed the best college football program in the world and is on his way to likely surpassing Bryant’s record six national championships. Since returning to college football with Alabama in 2007, the Crimson Tide have won three national championships and finished the year ranked in the Top 10 six times. That 2007 season, a year Saban was still implementing his system and recruiting his own players, is the only losing campaign the 63-year-old has ever overseen in his nearly 20 years as a college football head coach. Saban also led Toledo, Michigan State, and LSU to extreme success before his time in Tuscaloosa. He has all but guaranteed Alabama is a title contender every year. Which brings us to this year’s title contending team. Gone are the team’s stars of past years like AJ McCarron, Trent Richardson, CJ Mosley, and Dee Milliner, now scattered around the NFL; replaced by current stars that will find their way into the NFL via the early rounds of upcoming drafts. Perhaps the biggest star on this year’s edition is receiver Amari Cooper, the player with perhaps the most to gain from a strong Sugar Bowl and, hopefully, CFP National Championship Game. Cooper finished third in Heisman voting after leading the nation in receiving yards with 1,656. His 115 receptions were also first in the NCAA while his 14 touchdowns ranked him second among receivers. Cooper was spectacular all season, but his breakout performance came on rivalry weekend in the Iron Bowl, when the junior amassed 13 receptions for 224 yards and three touchdowns. While draftniks knew Cooper was for real long ago, the Miami native’s draft watch officially launched with an Adam Schefter tweet that suggested Cooper would be an ideal fit for the Oakland Raiders, who were in position to pick first overall at the time. Cooper’s draft stock is currently wavering in the Top 10. He has a strong head start to be the first receiver off the board come late April, but a strong Playoff showing could push the junior into the Top 5. With McCarron now a Cincinnati Bengal and inheritor Blake Sims having an inconsistent year at quarterback, the Crimson Tide have had to look elsewhere for offensive leaders. And along with Cooper, running back TJ Yeldon stepped up for ‘Bama this year. While he finished far from the finalists like his WR teammate, Yeldon spent some time on many a pundit’s Heisman Watch this season on route to finishing with more than 1,000 combined yards and 11 touchdowns despite missing a stat padder against Western Carolina late in the season. Yeldon is one of the top draft eligible backs this season and projects to be selected late in the second round or early in the third. And, like always, Alabama once again possesses a (future) star-studded defence. Safety Landon Collins doesn’t get the publicity of a Cooper or even a Yeldon, but it’s possible the junior could hear his name called before both his teammates in April’s NFL draft. Collins finished with 87 tackles and three interceptions and is widely considered to be the top draft eligible safety and a possible Top 10 pick. The Crimson Tide entered the season at the top of the rankings alongside Florida State and Oregon but after opening their conference schedule with a win over Florida, fell to Ole Miss during the State of Mississippi Run in early October. It took the rest of the season to climb their way back to No. 1 in the rankings, defeating ranked teams Texas A&M, LSU, and Auburn while also ultimately ending the State of Mississippi Run by beating the then No. 1 Mississippi State Bulldogs in mid-November. Alabama cemented their spot in the first ever College Football Playoff with an anti-climactic win over Missouri to claim their second SEC title in three years. Alabama will bring both a Top 20 offence and defence into the Sugar Bowl. The Tide were ranked eighth in yards gained on offence and averaged the 18th most points in the nation. They’re strong both on the ground and through the air, averaging more than 200 rushing yards and nearly 300 passing yards per game. The Tide’s defence is especially stingy against the run, ranking behind only Penn State and rushing yards against at 88.7 per game. Their pass defence is middle of the pack but Alabama finished the year ranked 11th in the NCAA, giving up only 312 yards per game. And if you believe in “bend don’t break” defences, you’ll like that Alabama is ranked fourth in the nation giving up only 16.4 points per game. The Tide enter the game as nine-point favourites and if they play a clean game – kind of a Saban staple – college football’s best coach ever will be playing for his fifth national championship 11 days later. J. R. Reid Jersey .That sight softened the blow of what ended up as a 4-3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.Knowing their teammate was fine after a scary headfirst fall in the opening minute of the game helped calm the Maple Leafs. Eddie Jones Jersey . Nainggolan scored his first Italian league goal at Bologna, in October 2010, and he also opened his Roma account there following his January move from Cagliari. The Belgium midfielder volleyed home Miralem Pjanics cross from close range eight minutes from time. https://www.cheaphornets.com/ . The Suns termed Fridays surgery by team doctor Thomas Carter a success. No timetable was given for Bledsoes return but the team said in a news release that he "will pursue a possible return to action during the second half" of the season.And former Raptor, Leandro Barbosa, with some encouraging words for his fellow countryman. Congratulations @Bruno_Caboclo you have a bright futuree in the league. Jalen McDaniels Jersey. Work hard now Bruno!! http://t.co/hi4vuyLarT — Leandro Barbosa (@TheBlurBarbosa) June 27, 2014 ' ' '