The End of the Road: Alabama 38, Michigan State 0

This wasn't the 2011 Capital One Bowl. But it sure looks like it on paper.

The run defense was as good as we hoped: 3.8 yards per carry for the Heisman winner.

Considering the consistent pressure he faced and the early drops in key situations, Connor Cook was pretty good (the interception at the end of the first half to the contrary, obviously).

But that's about it.  MSU made Jake Coker beat them . . . and he did.

You can question the playcalling (peak #WHYldcat early, going 5-wide despite the Bama pass rush, running into a wall on first down even when trailing by multiple scores) but playcalling doesn't make up 38 points.

The Connor Cook era (ish) ends with a record of 36-5.  The paucity of losses doesn't make the severity and finality of this one any easier to stomach.

'Tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. But that's only true in retrospect.

For now, wallow, my friends..