Alabama Claims NFF MacArthur Bowl

NEW ORLEANS, La., Jan. 10, 2012 - The National Football Foundation (NFF) today presented the MacArthur Bowl to Alabama (12-1) as their prize for defeating LSU (13-1) yesterday in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game before 78,237 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell, handed the national championship trophy to Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who accepted the prize on behalf of the Crimson Tide at today's 9 a.m. (CST) press conference at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center.

"On behalf of the National Football Foundation, our 12,000 members and our board of directors, we are really proud to present this trophy to Coach Saban and the Crimson Tide, for the school's sixth time, which is really special," said Hatchell. "This trophy was started in 1959 by General Douglas MacArthur, Grantland Rice, the great sports writer and legendary coach Red Blaik, and etched on the side of this stadium replica in all silver are all of the subsequent national champions. As the keepers of the history and the legacy of the sport of football, we are exceptionally pleased to again etch another Alabama team on its walls and are really proud to give it to Nick, who is not only a super coach and a great leader but has done such wonderful things for our sport."

With the win, Alabama becomes the first school to win six MacArthur Bowls, breaking a tie with Notre Dame. Saban becomes just the fifth coach to win three or more MacArthur Bowls, joining College Football Hall of Fame coaches Paul "Bear" Bryant, John McKay, Ara Parseghian and Darrell Royal.

The Crimson Tide won the national championship with a dominant defense, leading the country in total defense, rushing defense, passing defense, scoring defense, pass efficiency defense, as well as first downs defense, third down defense and red zone defense. In all, Alabama led the country in eight of 14 total defensive categories. Alabama posted three shutouts and held eight opponents under 10 points, including five straight from Oct. 8 to Nov. 12.

Coupled with the Crimson Tide's 2009 national championship, yesterday's title victory marks the second for Alabama during the BCS era, which began in 1998, and the third for Coach Nick Saban who led the LSU Tigers to the BCS crown in 2003. Saban is the only coach in the AP Poll era, which began in 1936, to win national titles with two different schools, and he is the first coach to win three titles during the BCS era. In addition to the 2011 and 2009 championships, Alabama claimed the MacArthur Bowl in 1961, 1978, 1979 under Hall of Fame Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and in 1992 under Hall of Fame Coach Gene Stallings. The national title represents sixth straight for the Southeastern Conference.

Representing the pinnacle of team achievement in college sports, the trophy was the gift of an anonymous donor, who commissioned Tiffany & Co. to craft it from 400 ounces of silver, in honor of NFF founder General Douglas A. MacArthur. It took eight months to make, and the trophy features MacArthur's famous quote: "There is no substitute for victory." The 2011 Alabama team will now have its name etched on the silver trophy, which will visit Tuscaloosa, Ala., until the 2012 champions claim it. Last year, more than 500,000 people saw the trophy while it was on display in Auburn, Ala., after the Auburn Tigers' victory in the title game.

With the advent of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998, the national championship game determines which team will be presented the MacArthur Bowl and have their named engraved on the sparkling archways aside the greatest teams of all time. The National Football Foundation, as an impartial arbiter, tabulates and releases the weekly BCS standings during the college football season.

First presented in 1959, previous NFF National Champions and MacArthur Bowl recipients include: Syracuse 1959, Minnesota 1960, Alabama 1961, Southern California 1962, Texas 1963, Notre Dame 1964, Michigan State 1965, Michigan State/Notre Dame 1966, Southern California 1967, Ohio State 1968, Texas 1969, Ohio State/Texas 1970, Nebraska 1971, Southern California 1972, Notre Dame 1973, Southern California 1974, Oklahoma 1975, Pittsburgh 1976, Notre Dame 1977, Alabama 1978, Alabama 1979, Georgia 1980, Clemson 1981, Penn State 1982, Miami (FL) 1983, Brigham Young 1984, Oklahoma 1985, Penn State 1986, Miami (FL) 1987, Notre Dame 1988, Miami (FL) 1989, Colorado 1990, Washington 1991, Alabama 1992, Florida State 1993, Nebraska 1994, Nebraska 1995, Florida 1996, Michigan 1997, Tennessee 1998, Florida State 1999, Oklahoma 2000, Miami (FL) 2001, Ohio State 2002, Louisiana State 2003, Vacated 2004, Texas 2005, Florida 2006, LSU 2007, Florida 2008, Alabama 2009 and Auburn in 2010.