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Saban, Alabama Grab OT Victory

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 9, 2008

Updated: 11/09/2008 12:44 am

BATON ROUGE, La. - With a heavy police escort, Nick Saban returned to Tiger Stadium wearing crimson. He barely got out of town with No. 1 Alabama still unbeaten.

After the Crimson Tide had a chip-shot field goal blocked on the final play of regulation, John Parker Wilson scored on a 1-yard sneak in overtime to give Alabama a 27-21 victory over No. 15 LSU on Saturday, clinching a spot in the SEC title game.

The Tide (10-0, 6-0) have their eyes on a bigger prize and stayed on course for their first national title in 16 years. This was their toughest test yet, coming at a school Saban led to a share of the national title in 2003.

The coach is now reviled by many of the Tigers faithful, who consider him a traitor for turning up at rival Alabama just two years after he left LSU (6-3, 3-3) for the NFL. He was booed loudly when he came on the field, surrounded by a contingent of state troopers that grew to a dozen by the time the game ended.

"I know there are some people that may have a negative attitude, but I can honestly say that I really appreciate the people who spoke to me, thanked me and welcomed me back here," Saban said.

Saban walked toward the LSU end of the stadium afterward, hugging several of the Tigers he brought to Baton Rouge. Then he took off toward the Alabama locker room - with those troopers struggling to keep up - and pointed toward the Alabama contingent before going into the tunnel.

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