re: Has it been discussed why Saban went for 2 after going ahead 21-17?

Because he has a card that some nerd prepared, and that’s what it says to do.

Football coaches are usually not very bright. This is a great example. They are following a convention without questioning it, but it’s a stupid convention.

No one should be going for two before the fourth quarter unless their kicker sucks, and in an offensive game (and this one was going to turn into an offensive game at some point) you should not go for two before the last eight minutes. This game is a great example of why.

Saban attempted a two point conversion with 4:44 left to try to make it a six point game. He failed, so he trailed by four. When LSU scored a TD he was behind by three instead of being behind two if he had kicked the PAT. If he had kicked the PAT, then LSU would have gone for two after its last TD. If LSU failed Bama’s last FG would have been the game winner.

But none of this would have played out if Saban had kicked the PAT with 12:47 to go. Instead, he went for two. If he would have taken the automatic points he would have been up six when LSU scored their last TD. That would have removed the option of LSU going for two with 1:47 left, and Bama would have been trailing by one when Young led them to what would have been the game winning FG.

Take the easy point. Throw that stupid card away.