Alabama Football: Rooting for Bama guys and super-riffic Super Bowl
By Ronald Evans
The Crimson Nation is firmly behind its former Alabama football players and the Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl.
Undoubtedly, most of the state of Alabama shares the same hope, minus however many Auburn football fans, who are unable to move beyond pettiness.
A fair question to those Auburn fans and anyone else not pulling for the Eagles is how can you not appreciate Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith and Landon Dickerson? All three exemplify the best of what almost all of us want sports to be about. The former Alabama football trio, plus former Crimson Tider and Eagles special teams player, Josh Jobe have earned all the support they will receive on one of the most special days in all of sport.
The only thing wrong with the tweet below is it only mentions Jalen Hurts.
Alabama Football Players and Super Bowls
The quartet of former Crimson Tide players (if Jobe plays) will become the 46th, 47th, 48th and 49th, former Alabama Crimson Tide players to have competed in a Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts can become the fourth former Alabama football quarterback to win a Super Bowl, adding to the Crimson Tide legacy of Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Ken Stabler. Less known is that former Alabama quarterback, Jeff Rutledge was a backup quarterback on two Super Bowl teams. Rutledge got into Super Bowl 21, as more than a holder, and ran for a New York Giants’ first down.
Nick Saban provided his appreciation of and support for his four, former players.
The four players owe much to Nick Saban and Alabama Football. Each one will gladly state playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide made them a better player and a better person. Kansas City is an outstanding team, filled with exceptional players. But, Alabama football fans wonder and even doubt if the Chiefs’ great players can match the toughness of the Crimson Tide four.
To an extent and on different levels, both Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith have always had vocal detractors. Many thought Jalen’s passing skill was not good enough to lead a winning NFL offense. DeVonta Smith has always been doubted on the basis of his thin body, as not strong enough to play against big defenders at the college and NFL level.
ICYMI: DeVonta Smith can join a small, elite group with a Super Bowl win.
To the extent there are any doubters left, Hurts, Smith and the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles can silence them Sunday night.
The Crimson Nation has one rallying cry for this Super Bowl and it is a sustained, ‘Roll Eagles Roll.’