Posted on 12/02/2018 6:17:19 AM PST by blam
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) speaks to fans after the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Georgia and Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Atlanta. Alabama won 35-28.
Jalen Hurts spent most of the season watching from the sideline, cheering on the guy who took his job and hoping for one more chance to lead the Alabama Crimson Tide.
He didn't pout. He didn't gripe. He didn't transfer.
On Saturday, with Alabamas season hanging in the balance, Hurts got the call.
The junior quarterback threw for one touchdown and ran for another with a little more than a minute left on the clock, rallying the top-ranked Tide to a 35-28 victory over No. 4 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
It was a stunning twist on the scenario that played out less than 11 months earlier on the very same field.
"I've probably never been more proud of a player than Jalen," an emotional coach Nick Saban said moments after the triumph.
If this script had been pitched in Hollywood, it would've been laughed out of the room for being too implausible.
In last season's national title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, between these same two teams, Tua Tagovailoa replaced an ineffective Hurts at the start of the second half with Alabama trailing Georgia 13-0.
The replacement threw three touchdown passes, including a 41-yarder in overtime that gave the Tide a stunning 26-23 victory.
Tagovailoa won the starting job outright heading into this season and performed brilliantly before Saturday, throwing 36 touchdown passes with only two interceptions.
The SEC title game took a different path. Georgia put a beating on Tagovailoa, who was picked off twice, spent much of his spare time in the medical tent and was largely ineffective
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
if his parents had named him Richard, would he have gotten so far?
Only if he grew up in a town called "Holden". LOL
Georgia is a great team, perhaps even in the top 4, but I don’t see the committee selecting a two loss team. And Ohio State is probably a better team than Oklahoma. But people love offense, and Oklahoma has the best offense in football. They will likely be the fourth seed.
Whether or not you’re a Bama fan, you should be happy for Jalen.
You have to respect that unlike most spoiled brats in college football that transfer because they aren’t the starter, he understood the value of staying, and knowing that he was still an important member of the team.
Great game. I think I had 3 or 4 heart attacks. Roll Tide!
Ask Auburn how that worked out for them last year. They beat Georgia in the next to last game of season, then beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl ONLY to be crushed by Georgia in the SEC Championship Game the week after. We were @ Disney World and were glad we forgot our Auburn shirts at home while wandering around the parks that day~~!!! haha
I got that impression too.
The way Alabama had shifted the momentum in the second half, they would probably have had an 80 yard winning drive after a punt, just as they had a 50 yard winning drive after the fake punt.
I like Ohio State for the 4th playoff position. They played a tougher schedule than Oklahoma.
Now Georgia had one heckuva tough schedule playing 3 teams in the top 10 (Bama, LSU, Florida) and also Kentucky #15.
The Irish played two top 25 teams (Michigan & Syracuse) and would have had a tougher schedule were Stanford and USC stronger — an off-year for them.
NOTE: The Irish play the Georgia Dawgs here in Athens in 2019. That’s gonna one to watch!
Same here ... did not care who won this one. Yes, that 4Q late hit out of bounds should have been called too.
... or, like in the pro game, Georgia’s defensive pressure kills a collegiate spread offense. Not many college defenses can do what Georgia (almost) did. Tua may very well be a great pro quarterback, but he has a lot to learn yet.
Georgia was holding our players all night long but the officials never call holding against Bama opponents.
TUA is the best QB in the country and I’m embarrassed by your immaturity. Although, I’ve noticed that the Okies are an arrogant lot.
I will take Tua over Byler any day. When Byler played for A&M, we scared him out of the game after he threw an interception. See, I can play that game too!
Gee, it would be a shame if Byler were injured.
“Next year Hurts will be a senior,”
No, Jalen is graduating in Dec. Under NCAA rules he can basically go anywhere.
“Hurts is the most logical transfer candidate, because hes slated to graduate in December and could be immediately eligible at another school.”
I have no idea how those rules work. He's listed as a junior but he's a senior and can graduate this month? It's all confusing to me.....
They cut that verse from the video...I wonder why?
Byler? If Tyler is hurt we are sunk. No doubt about it. That just adds to his leadership points. I’m not wishing ill will on your guy just because I can’t pronounce or spell his name.
Yep pretty poor execution there.
Some game outcomes are pre-ordained.
Why, 2 losses? Another 2 SEC teams in the playoff? OU won when they needed to win.
Difference being Ohio State got thumped this season, OU even with questionable defensive credentials didn’t.
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