Last year, I caught some grief following the 2020 quarterback preview for saying that I thought Young was going to come off the bench and deliver it. That he was a generational player capable of making throws that Mac Jones could not.
Well, I was half-right. Jones wound up putting it all together, and was phenomenal. I don’t think anyone saw that coming. Improvement? Absolutely. Heisman finalist? Shoe-in for NFL Rookie of the Year? Stop lying.
What was perhaps more predictable is the it that Bryce Young has — it just took a year to pay off. And Bryce Young has delivered when Alabama needed him the most, with some perfect tosses and runs and improvs.
For his season-long play (and often promiscuous stats in Alabama’s pass-first offense), Bryce Young took home Alabama’s fourth Heisman Trophy, and the first for a Crimson Tide Quarterback.
Ironic, isn’t it, that two skinny undersized kids connected last season in garbage time to begin the legacy of Bryce Young, and continue that of DeVonta Smith?
There was no way to predict in September 2020 that toss would be from one Heisman winner to another:
When it was his turn at the mic, the polished, smooth and media-savvy Young delivered an emotional, heartfelt speech, with his thanks ranging the gamut from of the expected (offensive line, receivers, God) to the less-so: his high school coaches, home town, UA’s conditioning and support staff, and even the other finalists:
Bryce is as earnest and affable a young man as you will find, and continues the long tradition of Alabama players anyone would be proud to call their son...much less their quarterback.
Congratulations to Bryce, and to everyone along the way who has helped him on this journey.
Roll Tide
Comments
proud
just so very proud of this young man.
By nobodysmom on 12.12.21 8:16am
Anyone else remember Mark Ingram being super nervous during his speech?
Mark was the last soph to win it, but BY’s entire life has prepared him for this, and Mark’s life was just the opposite.
Side note: In today’s game, who else but St. Nick could win 4 Heisman’s (and counting?) at a deep South school with players from Michigan, Florida, Louisiana, and California?
By acttom on 12.12.21 8:24am
Mea Culpa
Lamar Jackson was the last soph to win the Heisman.
Lamar and Scam are 2 of the recent reasons for the black QB stereotype that Bryce was referencing: much more valuable as runners than as the barely adequate throwers that they are, not to mention I still don’t think either one knows how to read a defense.
I honestly don’t even think about race at the QB position anymore as an issue, but obviously some still do. The last "controversy" I remember at UA was Tyler Watts and Andrew Zow. Watts was the better runner by a mile, and although his career passing efficiency numbers were better than Zow’s, Andrew had the stronger arm and was someone you wanted in the game when you absolutely had to pass. I never saw the choice having anything to do with race, but some people tried to make it so at the time.
By acttom on 12.12.21 8:53am
Eh.
I think Jackson is far better than I ever gave him credit for. In college, he seemed to be a one-trick pony, but it turns out that’s because his whole team was full of schlubs. In the NFL, surrounded by talent, he actually seems to be a better passer. But I don’t watch a lot of NFL, so maybe I’m wrong.
But fuck $cam and his stupid wardrobe too.
By Law Abiding Citizen on 12.12.21 9:03am
I agree that Lamar is better as a pro
My issue is that in the biggest Raven games I’ve watched he is so damn selfish with the ball to the detriment of the team (thinks he can always do it himself with his legs.) Of course, maybe that’s the way the coaches want him to play, but it hasn’t worked out when it really mattered.
By acttom on 12.12.21 11:41pm
Eh, Andrew Zow looked good while losing too often.
By bornbama1 on 12.12.21 4:37pm
The losing...
…had much less to do with Zow than…almost everyone else associated with the program.
Andrew Zow made us a better team in ‘98 and ’99 (when Watts was an excellent complement to him), but neither one of them could overcome the sh*t show that the coaches created during the 2000 season. That staff was pure poison, and the head coach wasn’t capable of making sound decisions to control the fires (at least a few of which he was responsible for BTW).
At any rate, one of the things I’ll always remember about Zow was the way, after he’d been benched to start the year, he saved Fran’s bacon in 2001 when Watts got hurt. The Iron Bowl that year was a thing of beauty, and I’m so glad he got to end his career with three straight winning starts to salvage the season.
He was the man.
By NiceLittleSaturday on 12.13.21 8:44pm
BY had an amazing year
He has few flaws. His decision making seems elite. His short and mid-range accuracy is elite too. He has quickly improved on long range balls the last few games. He has had a lot of practice on moving in and out of the pocket with lightening quick feet. Rarely gets rattled.
Well deserved award for him and the best part is, we have him for another year.
Lets Roll on to Cincinatti
By WingT jr on 12.12.21 10:03am
Bryce looked genuinely lost last year
Sacked a ton when he got in, offensive line seemed very different when Mac was in versus Young (and yes, Young was usually playing behind back-up OL, which probably should have been our warning sign for this season). Very different from the "jumps off the screen" intros we got with Tua.
There were all of 26 days between LSU and Georgia. 26. I remember rewatching that game with some perspective from some film guys cited around here, thinking, "That’s a steep learning curve for a guy who’s going to have to beat Auburn at their place and Georgia back to back – with a hamstrung running game – in a matter of days."
Young’s progression over those 26 days was spectacular. I remember someone saying (no clue who) that real athletic genius is the ability to adapt your game almost in real-time, your muscles and coordination finding new solutions to novel problems at an accelerated pace.
It takes some QBs seasons to adapt to new defensive looks once DCs figure out their "A game." Jalen’s effectiveness, for example, dwindled noticeably as teams with the right athletes squeezed his preferred decision tree and comfort zone. Basketball analogy: made him shoot from spots on the floor he didn’t like. And Jalen’s clearly adapted, through sheer force of determination and self-belief. Good for him. But it took seasons.
Young put it all together in 26 days. 26 freaking days.
Young’s got more learning curve ahead of him, and next year DCs will throw the kitchen sink at "let anyone other than Bryce try to beat you and live with the results." Cincy and Georgia will go that route. And some of those teams are going to find some weaknesses. The learning curve never stops.
But they’re only going to make Young better in the long run. Ton of character, determination, and athletic genius in that young man.
By Bocktean on 12.12.21 1:30pm
I really worry about Cincinatti
being able to get pressure on BY. Fickel will have some new looks for sure.
By WingT jr on 12.12.21 1:55pm
Mr. Young speaks like an angel.
I think his dad gets credit for that. The bond between father and son is the strongest I have ever seen. Also, he speaks like someone who has been processed. Coach Saban gets credit for that. His character speaks volumes for the University of Alabama.
By Theo Goodwin on 12.12.21 2:33pm
Just saw this
By Gumpy McGumperson on 12.12.21 9:14pm
Maybe we can add a linebacker next year when Will Anderson Jr. wins it.
By marti038 on 12.13.21 9:10am
Very cool
Missed it live (at work) so thanks for throwing this up here.
Sometimes the good guy wins. Congrats, Bryce – and Roll Tide!
By .Bluto on 12.13.21 8:11am