Get off my lawn, Blake Barnett!

By David Wasson | Oct 1, 2016

Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Barnett (8) throws during the second half against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Blake Barnett is not someone worth a plug nickel for in your intercollegiate American tackle football program.

com·mit·ment
kəˈmitmənt/
noun
1. the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
“the company’s commitment to quality”
synonyms: dedication, devotion, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity
“his commitment to his team”

We suppose everybody in life experiences moments like this week, those “get off my lawn!” glimpses into the old codger you are vs. the young idealist you used to be.

In case you were under a rock, the news this week that is Alabama quarterback Blake Barnett is transferring away from Tuscaloosa likely shocked you like it shocked me. After all, Barnett actually was the STARTER for the Crimson Tide less than a month ago when Nick Saban and Co. rolled out the 2016 offense against Southern Cal.

Yes, that starting spot for the defending national champions lasted precisely one series before true freshman Jalen Hurts took over. And yes, sitting behind a true freshman isn’t exactly the most promising career trajectory.

We aren’t blind to that.

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That said, we come before you with the following premise: Blake Barnett is not someone worth a plug nickel for in your intercollegiate American tackle football program.

Why? Simply put, anyone who would bail on his teammates, Saban and the Crimson Tide that easily would most certainly pull the same stunt sometime down the road had he not been benched in the first place.

Let the self-absorbed, entitled, woke-up-on-third-base-thinking-he-hit-a-triple kid go, we say. Don’t want him, don’t need him.

What’s next? Having a bad game against a quality opponent and announcing to Erin Andrews on the field that you’re transferring? Throwing four straight incompletions and an interception in the first quarter — and stripping off your uniform to hand in on your way to the nearest exit.

For his part, and because the combined effect of negative recruiting/media backlash would be decidedly counter-productive, Saban offered the public-facing “wish you the best in your future endeavors” statement as Barnett was hitting the bricks.

But you KNOW on the inside our beloved diminutive generalissimo was fuming inside. Because like most people who are of their right mind on this issue — which includes anyone who has ever played team sports at any level.

Blake Barnett (and anyone who advised him in this foolhardy adventure) shouldn’t be included in this lot. Yes, Alabama is is one injury away from the Cooper Bateman Era. But that would still be better than having a self-absorbed, entitled, woke-up-on-third-base-thinking-you-hit-a-triple baby taking snaps under center.

Good of luck anywhere else, Blake Barnett. Get off our crimson lawn. We hear Auburn is in the market for a quarterback — you’d fit in on the Plains nicely!

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