Many, including Alabama football fans, wanted answers to why the Crimson Tide got dominated last week at Bryant-Denny Stadium in a 10-point loss to the University of Texas.
An answer was provided, but it has fans more concerned. On Tuesday, Tyler Booker, a veteran offensive lineman, appeared on The Next Round show via WJOX-FM 94.5 in Birmingham (Ala.). The sophomore guard said the team ‘did not have the best energy’ during the week of practice for the Longhorns. Alabama had several mental errors, a couple of turnovers, and Texas capitalized with a 34-24 victory. The Tide suffered an early season loss under Nick Saban for the first time since 2015.
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Tyler Booker is excited for practice today. Why?@AlabamaFTBL @iamtylerbooker #RollTide @CraneWorks1987 pic.twitter.com/RVRiHsR82j
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 12, 2023
Tyler Booker explains where Alabama’s offensive line fell short Week 2 hosting Texas. @AlabamaFTBL @iamtylerbooker @CraneWorks1987 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/Tt3KOKGNP7
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 12, 2023
“Last week, we didn’t practice the best, by any means, on either side of the ball,” Booker said. “We’re going to have a different attitude coming into practice today just because we’ve seen what happens when we don’t practice to the Bama standard. So we are very excited about practice today.”
Booker also mentioned how the Tide has taken winning for granted at times.
“I feel like we took winning for granted, like we did last year…we have to bring a different energy level and bring a different level of focus. There was energy and there was focus but it just wasn’t where it needed to be” @AlabamaFTBL @iamtylerbooker @CraneWorks1987 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/7fli3g5P57
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 12, 2023
“We beat Middle Tennessee and we just had to bring a different energy level and bring a different level of focus,” he said. “There was energy and there was focus, but it just wasn’t where it needed to be.”
Coach Saban has never had three years in a series go by without capturing a national championship for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama ran the table in 2020 to an undefeated College Football Playoff National Championship. It had a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for two seasons, but Bryce Young did not have the consistent help to push the team to a national title.
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Saban said Monday he ‘would be shocked’ if the team did not respond better this week.
Alabama faces South Florida on Saturday, and then its Southeastern Conference slate begins.
The team must establish a focus, energy, and intensity because it has no room for error.
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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.
