20 years after Tee Martin wins title for UT Vols, son Amari Rodgers helps Clemson do same

 

SportsPulse: From Levi's Stadium, our college football insiders breakdown Clemson's demolishment of Alabama and if the title game was a passing of the baton from one dynasty to another. USA TODAY

 wenty years after quarterback Tee Martin helped Tennessee win a national championship in college football, his son is part of a title team.

Amari Rodgers, a sophomore wide receiver and graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School, helped Clemson defeat Alabama 44-16 to win the College Football Playoff championship on Monday night at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

 Martin, who grew up in Mobile, Ala., wrote on Twitter just before kickoff that "I've never been this nervous/excited before a game in my life! Let's get it! #ClemsonvsAlabama #GoTigers"

Trevor Lawrence's 26-yard pass to Rodgers positioned Clemson for a touchdown that put the Tigers ahead 28-16 in the second quarter. Rodgers finished with two catches for 30 yards.

"It means a lot," Rodgers told ESPN's Holly Rowe after the game. "It was 20 years actually. It feels great. It's great to represent my family like that and represent him."

Martin became a casualty of Southern Cal's 5-7 season. He was fired on Nov. 27 in his third season as offensive coordinator. He had his play-calling duties stripped earlier this season.

Martin had been at USC since 2012.

He coached at New Mexico and Kentucky before heading for the West Coast.

 The Vols defeated Florida State 23-16 on Jan. 4, 1999 in the Fiesta Bowl. Martin threw touchdown passes to Peerless Price and Cedrick Wilson.

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