"3, 2, 1" on The Joe Gaither Show: Nick Saban-Era Highs and Lows

Our weekly segment goes down memory lane with college football's greatest dynasty.

"3, 2, 1" is a weekly segment on "The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral" and this week we take a look at the Nick Saban era as it was wildly successful but full of controversial moments. 

We focus on the three moments the Crimson Tide needed outside help to win a national championship. We look at the two biggest losses over the 17-year run and we single out one player as the best under Saban's tutelage, despite so many to pick from. 

There are a number of honorable mentions discussed in the show, so check it out as you open up your weekend. 

Be sure to leave your own "3, 2, 1" in the comments below. 

3. The Three biggest non-Alabama wins in the Nick Saban era. Who helped the Crimson Tide the most?

• 2011 Iowa State 37, Oklahoma State 31 (2OT)
• The Iowa State Cyclones were a 27-point underdog, facing an undefeated Oklahoma State squad that was just two wins away from a national championship game birth against LSU. The Cowboys turned the ball over five times and came up short, opening the door for Nick Saban to win his second title with the Crimson Tide. 

• 2015 Arkansas 53, Ole Miss 52 (OT)
• It wasn't just that time was running out in the season for Alabama to get help, but that the Razorbacks pulled off one of the most improbable plays to stay alive and then win the game. A 4th-and-25 conversion off a backwards toss put the Tide back into first place in the SEC West and ultimately helped secure Saban's fourth national championship. 

• TIE: 2017 Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 21 / 2017 Georgia 28, Auburn 7
• Alabama got championship upsets in both the Big 10 and SEC title games to take them from the couch into the playoffs. While neither win were as dramatic as the previous two, they still paved the way for Saban's fifth national championship and 2nd-and-26. 

2. The Two biggest losses in the Nick Saban era. 

• The 2016 National Championship Game loss to the Clemson Tigers 35-31. Nick Saban's best defense was left on the field for 99 plays in Tampa and came up short against DeShaun Watson for Alabama's most disappointing loss in the Saban era. 

• 2019 LSU 46, Alabama 41. The Crimson Tide's disastrous first half against the Bayou Bengals allowed LSU to claim victory in Bryant-Denny Stadium and go onto win a national title. The circumstances around the game and consequences that followed makes this  Saban's second-biggest loss in his tenure. 

1. The No. 1 overall player in the Nick Saban era.

Minkah Fitzpatrick was our selection for the No. 1 player in the Nick Saban era as he was a beacon of consistency and success. Fitzpatrick came to the Crimson Tide as a 5-star prospect in the 2015 class and lived up to the billing earning a starting position early in his freshman year. He was part of two national championship teams, while finding himself on the wrong end of our biggest loss that would have been a third. He's gone onto a successful NFL career as he's continued to uphold a high standard of excellence.His mental approach to the game of football has often been compared to Saban himself, making him our pick for the No. 1 player in the Saban-era. 

• 5-star prospect
• Three-year starter
• Chuck Bednarik Award 
• Jim Thorpe Award
• Two-time national champion
• First Round Draft Pick
• Alabama school record for longest interception return - 100 yards

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"3, 2, 1" begins this week at the 26:00 mark on our Wednesday Episode as seen below.

"3, 2, 1" on The Joe Gaither Show: Newness in the Alabama Football Facility