Alabama’s Saban, Milroe Explain Loss

Shortly after No. Alabama fell in overtime to No. Michigan, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban and his quarterback Jalen Milroe met the media and broke down the season-ending loss. Here's a look at what each said.

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Nick Saban

"This is one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history in terms of where this team came from and what they were able to do.

"We didn't play well in the first half. I'm proud of way the players played in the second half. Just didn't finish. i told the team this was one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama history. Really proud of this group.

"All we can do now is learn from the lessons.

"This team probably improved from South Florida and Texas games as much as any team I've ever coached. Will be one of the team's I'll be most proud of.

"I just wish that I could've done more as a coach to help them be successful and help them finish.

"We had a good look on the last play before the first time out, and Michigan called time out. We didn't have a good look on the second when we called time out. The play was a quarterback run that wasn't blocked. The fact that it didn't work made it a really bad call."

"It wasn't one thing ... There were a couple times where we could've re-directed the protection, which we put on the O-line to a large degree.

"If you really analyze it, we didn't play well enough on defense when we needed to, and we had too many drive-stopping plays on offense.

"Special teams did well tonight. Will made some huge kicks. James punted well.

" It's about what Alabama did and did not do. Too many self-inflicted things ... that's on me and the coaches."

Jalen Milroe

"I'm honored that the coaches had enough confidence in me to put the ball in my hands on the last play.

"There's a lot to be proud of.

"You win some and you lose some. We just failed on that play. That's all.

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