Chương 152: Celebration Unleashed
"Roll, Crimson Tide!"
The chant started as a flicker, spreading like wildfire until it cascaded into an overwhelming wave of energy, pouring down like torrential rain. The entire Richmond-James Stadium quaked with the collective cheer.
Boom.
As Saban lifted the 2016 NCAA Championship Trophy high, the sky above the stadium exploded. Red confetti, the symbolic color of the Crimson Tide, showered down, flooding the world with radiant, blazing heat, marking a historic moment for all to witness.
Before the season began, the biggest question had been whether the Crimson Tide could defend their title. There were doubters and supporters alike, but not even the most diehard fans could have foreseen Alabama defending their crown in such a heart-stopping fashion, ending the season at the pinnacle.
"We are witnessing history!"
"This is the Crimson Tide's moment of triumph. They clawed back from a 15-point deficit in the final moments to seize victory, securing an undefeated season."
"The '52-51' final score set a new record for the highest in championship history. Both teams were in top form, but Saban's Crimson Tide proved superior, clinching the ultimate win."
"Even up to the two-minute warning, no one could predict the outcome. Even as the Crimson Tide scored back-to-back touchdowns to close in, Saban's choice to go for a two-point conversion rekindled the suspense."
"But!"
"The Crimson Tide did it."
"For the second consecutive year, on the same stage against the same opponent, with a similar narrative and the same outcome—Alabama's Crimson Tide defeated the Clemson Tigers to become champions!"
According to post-game statistics, ESPN's broadcast attracted 35 million viewers across North America, setting a record 16.2 rating. This number dwarfed all other professional sports events and even outshone the NFL's playoff games, making it the most-watched and highest-rated event of the week in North America.
The moment became the talk of the nation.
During the two-minute official timeout, ESPN held two audience polls.
The first: Who will win the championship?
Out of over 800,000 votes, 81% favored the Clemson Tigers.
Yet, the truth was in the hands of the few who believed otherwise.
The second: Was this the most thrilling championship game since the format change in 2006?
Among 1.3 million votes, this game claimed 52% of the tally, solidifying its place at the top.
More telling than the results was how, in just forty seconds during the timeout, ESPN's social media polls drew such engagement, reflecting the match's fever-pitch excitement that captivated the entire continent.
"But more importantly, this marks the first NCAA championship won by a player of Chinese descent. Lance, a young junior who was a mixed martial artist just a year ago, became the star of the Crimson Tide's championship journey, shattering Derrick Henry's records and elevating the role of running back to new heights."
"Incredible!"
"Unbelievable!"
At Richmond-James Stadium, the announcer declared the game's MVPs:
Lance secured the offensive MVP over Watson, while Alan claimed the defensive MVP, giving Alabama both awards.
As Lance and Alan lifted their MVP trophies, the crowd erupted again into ecstatic cheers.
"Roll! Roll! Roll!"
It wasn't a shout; it was a resonant bass, vibrating in the air and sending shivers up spines.
"History has been made once more."
"The first Asian MVP in NCAA Championship history! But this isn't the end—the upcoming Heisman Trophy voting will be in the spotlight."
"If—just hypothetically—Lance declared for the draft now, the NFL would shake to its core. No one should miss this moment."
"But for now, that can wait. Let's bask in this victory. How fortunate we are to witness such an epic showdown firsthand."
"Alabama Crimson Tide, the 2016 NCAA Champions!"
The noise, the heat, became indelibly imprinted in memory, a vivid frame in the corridor of time, its echoes lingering.
The next day—
After a night of celebration, waking up felt surreal. The line between reality and dream blurred, as remnants of last night's energy still buzzed in the ears. Steps felt unsteady, as if walking on clouds.
Yet Lance, driven by his internal clock, got up on time and began his morning warm-up routine.
Lance understood that moments like these were precisely when discipline was most needed—
Training pushed results to the limit when exhaustion peaked. It was during the hardest, most grueling times, when quitting seemed easiest, that true champions were made. Choosing between giving up or persevering carved two entirely different paths; perseverance was the path to victory.
Of course, after a game as intense as yesterday's, training needed moderation to avoid injury, focusing on basic recovery work. But the day after such a test was the best opportunity to challenge mental and physical boundaries.
The system's existence validated this theory—
Progress was visible as the bar inched forward.
Despite every cell in his body screaming against it, Lance gritted his teeth and kept to his schedule, resuming training.
Especially now, with a recent system reward motivating him further.
Another card flip awaited, this time not an enhancement card but a template card.
This was now his third template card, adding a unique dimension different from the styles of Peterson and McCoy—
Template: Marshawn Lynch (Grade A).
Like McCoy, an A-level card, but with a different build. Lynch was the prototypical power back.
5'9" (180 cm), 215 lbs (98 kg).
Similar in size to Lance, though a bit shorter but just as hefty, with all his weight pure muscle. Lynch had explosive power and raw strength but was far from cumbersome. Though not the fastest, speed was not his weakness.
This legendary back attended UC Berkeley and was drafted 12th overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2007.
However, it wasn't until Lynch's 2010 transfer to the Seattle Seahawks that he found his stride and became one of the most dominant running backs in the league.
Lynch had an intimidating nickname in the competitive NFL: "Beast Mode."
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