He was a critical part of two national championships and while Minkah Fitzpatrick is enjoying the professional game, he would love to be with Alabama on Saturday.
The former All-American safety penned a special message in The Players’ Tribune on Friday, as he talks about wishing that he could be with his former teammates and how he still can’t sit down when the Tide is on television.
“Dear Bama, got to be honest. Watching y’all ball out this year is a bittersweet experience for me,” Fitzpatrick wrote in starting the message. “I love watching you guys dominate week after week, but at the same time, I wish I could be out there. I’m running around the room. I’m pointing out things, making adjustments, making calls, just wishing I can be out there.”
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The 11th overall pick of this year’s NFL Draft continues his excitement in discussing the pressure that comes with playing at Alabama and how it grows one as a man.
“The pressure comes with an opportunity to show how great you are,” Fitzpatrick adds in the message.
“And no matter who goes down, who steps up, it is opportunity to show this world what it means to wear that crimson and white. With that crimson and white comes an expectation. Not just from your brothers on the field, but from friends, family, the alumni, fans, the world and that expectation is that you are going to dominate.”
Probably the best part of the message from the Miami Dolphins’ rookie safety comes near the end, when he mentions the Oklahoma Sooners.
“Oklahoma has a fast offense, the Heisman Trophy winner and they are not going to roll over for anybody, but honestly, none of that matters,” he wrote. “What they do does not matter. The result of this game is all about what we do. Just go out there and play Bama football from whistle to whistle, play like you are prepared to play and that will be enough.”
Spoken like his former head coach, Nick Saban, Fitzpatrick is an extension of “The Process” and wants the best from the guys he was once on the field with. Hopefully, this year’s group takes Fitzpatrick’s words to heart as it will need them against a very explosive program.
You can out a snippet of Fitzpatrick’s video below.
.@minkfitz_21 can’t sit still during @AlabamaFTBL games. The #CapitalOneOrangeBowl will be no different.
?: https://t.co/lLPb5RuHBI (In partnership with @CapitalOne) pic.twitter.com/xReDXqkIAY
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) December 28, 2018
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
