Former Alabama quarterback, Tyler Buchner is returning to college football as a walk-on for Notre Dame after winning a lacrosse National Championship with the Fighting Irish.
Buchner announced he was transferring to Alabama in April of 2023. He played one season with the Crimson Tide before transferring back to Notre Dame.
The California product released a detailed statement about his time in Tuscaloosa entitled “Dear Notre Dame, From Tyler Buchner,” which is posted to fightingirish.com.
“I got the green light to start in the third game of the season and had the best week of practice of my career leading up to it,” Buchner shared. “Unfortunately, I played poorly and was benched for the first time in my life by Coach Saban on ESPN. I was devastated and fell into a deep emotional hole. What I had been working so hard for all these years suddenly felt like a pipe dream. And over the following weeks, I felt hopeless and hated football. I had to dig deep to realize that I would have to seek new goals there in Tuscaloosa. I had never played scout team before, but ahead of LSU, I pulled myself out of my funk and volunteered to run scout. After the game, Coach Saban found me and thanked me for helping the team beat the Tigers. I had discovered a new role on the team and recognized that one bad game would not define my contribution. I learned to truly appreciate having shared goals in the common pursuit of excellence, even if I was not playing.
Buchner also discussed his transition to the south.
“Alabama had been an adventure, a place where I had tested my limits and discovered both my strengths and vulnerabilities,” Buchner wrote. “Nothing felt familiar when I arrived in June: from the Southern drawls to the burnt ends and sweet tea, to the “yes sirs” and addressing women as “Miss First Name,” and to a locker room with teammates whose primary aspirations were to play in the NFL. My new environment felt foreign, and the stifling summer heat was a constant reminder that I was not in South Bend anymore. Even so, I embraced my new landscape and started competing upon my arrival.”
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