Within a compelling Southeastern Conference Championship Game, one negative moment brought the University of Alabama football team together on the field.
No matter if it is coaches, players or fans, Landon Dickerson is loved by all. He arrived as a graduate transfer from Florida State; however, the leadership he brought made him feel like a four-year letterman. A native of North Carolina, Dickerson instilled a toughness, dominance, strength, production and personality to an offensive line that is a finalist for the Joe Moore Award.
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During the second half versus Florida, he sustained a ‘significant’ knee injury. Upon seeing his teammates empty the bench and step on the field, Dickerson was mouthing the sentence “I’m Good.” Regardless of him assuring he was fine, the scene represents what the team captain, Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner (SEC) and Rimington Trophy finalist means to this football team.
Nick Saban knew Dickerson’s injury was serious, especially with him not putting any weight on his knee, but the MRI on Sunday confirmed everything. After playing in 11 games, the former five-star will not participate in the College Football Playoff.
According to Saban, the loss of Dickerson really hurts.
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“Landon is a hard guy to replace because of his leadership, his personality,” Saban said. “He’s very inspirational in a lot of ways to all of his teammates. I don’t know that you replace a guy like that, but we have confidence in Chris Owens.”
Along with coming to his aid on the field, a few Alabama players spoke on its goal to win the CFP National Championship to a young man that was voted “The Iron Man” by his peers. For Mac Jones, he said Dickerson will literally put his whole life one the line for Alabama football. He plays the game with a passion and joy that the Crimson Tide will carry with it into the playoff.
“That hurts really bad honestly,” Jones said of Dickerson’s injury. “Landon is one of by best friends and if Landon is going to stay on the ground, then you know something is wrong. He tried to get up. The trainers kept telling him to stay down. If he could, he would play as soon as he can. It sucks to lose him, it is a big loss … but we are going to bring the national title back for him.”
Normally he is not one for conversations, but even DeVonta Smith opened up when it came to Dickerson.
“He [Landon Dickerson] and Mac are the leaders of everything on offense,” Smith said.
Per Smith, very few players have the fire that Dickerson possesses.
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“The competitor that he is, the leader he is, everything he does makes him special. He is the ultimate hype man. He is everything you want in a center,” Smith said.
He wanted to make a different in coming over from Florida State, and Dickerson has done it.
As he works toward recovery to have a professional career, Dickerson will be supporting his team in the CFP.
Chris Owens, a redshirt senior, will fill in for him. Saban and the team have confidence in Owens, but we shall see how things shake out. Notre Dame will await Alabama in the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) on Jan. 1, 2021.
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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.
