For other schools, an 11-2 record is something to celebrate.
However, it only causes disappointment for the University of Alabama football team and its fans.
When one has seen Nick Saban and players of recent history carry national championships back to Tuscaloosa (Ala.), an 11-win campaign means a particular team did not meet the standard or culture that had been established.
For this group, the feeling of “we let everyone down” starts taking effect.
Last season, Joshua McMillon was finally going to be a full-time starter. He arrived on campus in 2015 as a four-star from Memphis, Tenn., but he played in just 18 career games with no starts.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder earned the starting job at weakside “Will” linebacker, next to Dylan Moses, yet a serious knee injury in August camp took the opportunity from him.
Throughout surgery and rehab, McMillon kept a positive outlook things. However, he saw a defense that lacked communication, execution and respect from its opponents. He was around players such as Reggie Ragland, Reuben Foster, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Rashaan Evans, Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson and Jonathan Allen during the 2015 season.
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Those individuals took pride in not allowing the Crimson Tide to come home without a championship.
Not only did McMillon witness the 2015 leaders win, but he also saw Hamilton, Evans, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Da’Ron Payne, Levi Wallace, Anthony Averett and Tony Brown captain the 2017 team to a College Football Playoff National Championship.
In speaking with local reporters on Tuesday, McMillon said it was not a hard decision to return to Alabama.
“It was just a bad taste left in my mouth from the past season,” he said. “We went 11-2. I don’t want to end my college career on a bad note like that. I don’t think anyone who came to the University of Alabama would want to end their season like that. In just being a leader, seeing guys in the past and not living up to the standard, it did not feel right to leave.”
McMillon is not just the oldest player on defense; he is the oldest one on the team.
He has seen two national titles and a trio of Southeastern Conference championships (2015-16, 2018).
Another chance to play the game he loves and affect teammates the right way is in front of him.
This time around, McMillon is about to take full advantage.
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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.
