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 By Zach Wagner | @zachwagner22 Sports Capital Journalism Program GLENDALE, Ariz. – With 10 minutes, 34 seconds left in the College Football Playoff National Championship, Nick Saban knew his Alabama Crimson Tide needed a spark. Clemson’s Deshaun Watson was unstoppable, Alabama’s defense was approaching exhaustion, and a season was headed for its unforgettable, decisive moments. …

By Frank Gogola & Zach Wagner | @FrankGogola & @zachwagner22 Sports Capital Journalism Program Frank Gogola on Clemson… Watson’s Hot Start: Will He Fade? After a punt on the first drive, Clemson scored on back-to-back drives as Deshaun Watson heated up. Watson completed seven of 11 pass attempts for 108 yards and two touchdowns, and …

By Zach Wagner | @zachwagner22 Sports Capital Journalism Program GLENDALE, Ariz. – When Fred Huff woke up on Sunday morning he was just trying to get the motivation to get out of bed to go back to work. Employed as a police officer near the Santa Fe, New Mexico area, Huff had finished working a …

By Zach Wagner | @zachwager22 Sports Capital Journalism Program With under three hours to go until the start of the College Football Playoff National Championship, the Sports Capital Journalism Program sent graduate student Zach Wagner out to the parking lot with the hope of finding a good tailgate or two. He found one for each …

By Frank Gogola & Zach Wagner | @FrankGogola & @zachwagner22 Sports Capital Journalism Program SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sports Capital Journalism Program students Frank Gogola and Zach Wagner have spent the last several days covering the Clemson and Alabama beats, respectively. Now, the College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T is at hand and a champion — either …

By Zach Wagner | @zachwagner22 Sports Capital Journalism Program SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.– Brad Wright, Board Co-Chairman of the Arizona Organizing Committee, discussed topics ranging from the preparation for the second College Football Playoff National Championship, the role the Phoenix area plays as a host for large-scale events, and the anticipated economic impact. The game between No. …

By Zach Wagner | @zachwagner22 Sports Capital Journalism Program SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Alabama coach Nick Saban said that the January 18 deadline for college football underclassmen to declare for the National Football League draft should be adjusted to accommodate participants in the expanded four-team College Football Playoff. “I wish they would move the declare date …

For years, I’ve heard the old adage that to be truly great at sports, having a high level of self confidence was key. After today’s Media Day at the College Football Playoff National Championship, I believe the same thing to be true about being a successful sports journalist. With an event of this importance, the …

By Zach Wagner | @zachwagner22 Sports Capital Journalism Program SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said that the schedule at the end of the next two seasons will go on as planned as organizers analyze the decline in television ratings for the recent semifinal games played on New Year’s Eve. “I don’t …