He was not the people’s choice for offensive coordinator at Alabama, but Bill O’Brien did coach Bryce Young to a Heisman Memorial Trophy and the Crimson Tide’s offense to a Southeastern Conference Championship in 2021.
However, has O’Brien served as the biggest motivating factor for Jalen Milroe?
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Milroe, a sophomore, has O’Brien as his offensive play-caller and quarterback coach for two years.
He recorded six touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in 2021 and 2022. O’Brien tried to use Milroe like Young, but the native Texan has a different skill set than the former five-star from California. O’Brien did not know how to properly use Milroe, but Tommy Rees has benefitted from learning about what makes him successful. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder has turned in an incredible season as a first-year starter for the Tide, especially during the second half of the year. Milroe was voted a permanent team captain by his peers and earned Most Valuable Player of the team. He led the Crimson Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship and has the program back in the College Football Playoff. Milroe is tied for sixth all-time in school history for single-season touchdowns (35) and seventh all-time for total yards in a single season (3,186). Milroe has come a long way since Alabama’s week three matchup versus South Florida. He spoke to reporters Thursday at the Rose Bowl press conference for the Crimson Tide’s offensive student-athletes. Milroe highlighted O’Brien as someone he wants to prove wrong as a quarterback.
Jalen Milroe on Bill O’Brien telling him he should switch positions: @abc3340
“How would you feel if I told you that you sucked?” pic.twitter.com/V3o8kTvXha
— Chris McCulley (@ChrisMcCulleyTV) December 28, 2023
“All my life, even when I was in college,” Milroe said about coaches wanting him to play a different position. “My own offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien, told me I should not play quarterback. It is a lot of things I can have motivation on, and that is something I have motivation from.”
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Milroe was candid when he was asked about how he felt when O’Brien told him he should not play quarterback.
“How would you feel if I told you that you sucked?” Milroe asked a reporter. ”
The reporter responded with “I would not like it.”
“Okay then,” Milroe said. “So, that is exactly how I felt. The biggest thing for me is to be true to myself and stay the same. Nothing has changed about me. The only thing that has changed about me is that I had an opportunity, and I seized it. I had a bigger purpose than anyone’s opinion. He (O’Brien) told me a bunch of positions I could have switched to, but look where I am now.”
Milroe ended with, “So who gets the last laugh?”
O’Brien could not get a national championship with Young, but Rees has a chance to deliver the Tide a CFP National Championship with Milroe leading the charge. Alabama takes on Michigan in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
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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.
