He had a moment he wishes to have back versus Tennessee, but he has learned from it.
Kendrick Law, a junior wide receiver, had his emotions get the best of him in the fourth quarter last week against the Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in a 17-24 loss to Tennessee. He retaliated to a Tennessee player getting in his face by punching him and drawing a 15-yard, unsportsmanlike penalty. It was the second marquee personal foul, joining defensive back Malachi Moore from the matchup against Vanderbilt. Law, a Louisiana native, totaled four receptions for 37 yards in the loss; however, his mistake came at a moment that cost the Crimson Tide an opportunity to win the game. JaMarcus Shephard, Alabama’s wide receivers coach, praised the work ethic of Law from spring practice to fall camp and during the season before last week.
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His message to Law was he cannot be selfish when everyone wants to win.
“That is very unfortunate for our football team,” Shephard said Wednesday about Law’s personal foul call. “It put us at a true deficiency in terms of an opportunity to win the game, so in the moment I told him ‘that cannot happen.’ There are people on this staff like Dr. G (Miss Ginger), you talk about Jeff Allen, you talk about (David) Ballou, you talk about all the people pouring into you and taking time to get you back healthy and help the University of Alabama win the game. In that moment, Dr. G wants to win, Ballou wants to win too, and so Jeff Allen. In that moment, you took an opportunity for them to enjoy a win because it was something that you were worried about yourself. That was my message to him, it is not just about you.”
The biggest message from Coach Shephard is in playing for that “scripted A” on your chest, it is about playing for more than you.
Hopefully, Law takes this message and becomes a marquee leader for this team.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
