Suspense hung in the air like a jumbo jet late Friday afternoon as Clemson and Alabama arrived for the College Football Playoff championship game.
Would Clemson's traveling party exit the tarmac before Alabama touched down and rolled in for its photo opportunity?
After a bit of a scramble, all went smoothly as the teams took the first local steps toward Monday night's game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
Clemson's charter landed first, and Tigers Coach Dabo Swinney appeared to want to take everything in, as his suit-and-tie-clad players walked the tarmac to buses.