The quarterbacks who won championships — conference or national — at the University of Alabama had moments they leaped into the hearts of Crimson Tide fans as one who deserved to be the starter.
Jalen Milroe is writing his legend for the Tide.
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The redshirt sophomore is a first-year starting quarterback who’s had to develop into a trusted leader for the team. He earned the starting role in fall practice and earned his second career victory as a starter in Alabama’s season opener versus Middle Tennessee State. Milroe faced adversity in week two against Texas as he tossed two interceptions in a 24-34 loss. He was benched in the following week versus South Florida. The coaching staff decided to start Tyler Buchner against the Bulls. Most people would mentally check out of a situation when they were not being catered to, but Milroe created an acronym that cemented him as the signal-caller and endeared him to his teammates. He shared the moment that made him Alabama’s quarterback on SEC Nation.
F A M I L Y ❤️
Forget About Me I Love You
Jalen Milroe has brought that mentality to the @AlabamaFTBL locker room and he is universally respected among his teammates. pic.twitter.com/r8BxiLKopv
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 21, 2023
“I have a quick acronym for that moment,” Milroe said about being benched against USF. “Family. Forget about me, I love you. I think that was key. Our ultimate goal is to win, and no matter who is in, no matter what the circumstance was, my job is to be the best teammate I can be. Experience is the best teacher. I’m steadily learning and growing.”
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Milroe comes in a lineage of quarterbacks that includes Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Bryce Young.
Hurts and Tagovailoa combined for a national championship, Jones took the Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2020, and Young became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy. All four players are in the National Football League. Milroe is the next quarterback in line to lead the Tide to a championship.
He explained to Marty Smith of SEC Network what it takes to be best at Alabama.
“I need to be where my feet are,” Milroe said. “I have to seize the moment and the opportunity placed in front of me. I have to learn a lot about what it takes to be a quarterback on and off the field. I don’t think too many people understand the mental capacity of playing the position.”
Milroe showed the world against Texas A&M he can be an effective passer. He set a career-high for completions (21) and passing yards (321) with three touchdown passes. Milroe guided the Tide with his arm to a 26-20 victory over the Aggies.
He said he wanted to show people he can throw the football.
“What I try to do is throw the football,” Milroe said. “I want to be a point guard with the ball. We had a tough opponent in Texas A&M, by any means we are trying to win.”
Milroe’s FAMILY acronym came from Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas.
“It was one of our core values,” he said.
“It allowed everyone on the team to realize you can’t do it by yourself. You need the guys around you. When you see your guy on the ground, go pick him up. It acknowledges that you need a village, not just yourself. I will always lean on that.”
Miroe has learned to trust everyone around him.
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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.
