Breaking:Alabama head coach gives different reason

Emotion cut to the marrow on a surreal Monday night in the Rose Bowl.

The scene was something out of a Crimson Tide apocalyptic screenplay, the Michigan fight song wailing, as maize and blue confetti fell on the Alabama hero left frozen in time.

The climax of a classic yet sloppy Rose Bowl semifinal saw college football’s villain stuff this generation’s power.

Left in the wake was Jalen Milroe — the undeniable heartbeat of an Alabama team that broke the mold but not the Wolverines. The quarterback, stopped cold at the line of scrimmage on the game’s final play, spent a few seconds in stunned disbelief.

Milroe and teammates digested Michigan 27, Alabama 20 in waves.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this — not after surviving a season-long story arc in one afternoon, coming a play away from sealing another kneecapping of a No. 1 team. Ending Georgia’s barnstorm to third straight crown in the SEC championship gave this oddly upstart Alabama team the air of invincibility. Perhaps even a team of destiny, at least to get another crack at the Texas team that derailed any sensible path Alabama traditionally takes to a place like the Rose Bowl.