Former Alabama player feels winning National Championships is no longer important to Tide players

Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones (10) celebrates with the CFP National Championship trophy after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Former Alabama wide receiver Mike McCoy, who won a National Championship with the Crimson Tide, feels the hunger to bring another title to Tuscaloosa is not present in current Tide players.

College athletics have seen a massive shift in this new landscape. College athletes are now able to transfer at will and make money off their name, image and likeness. Both developments have had their fair share of impact on college athletics as a whole. While there are reasons to see both elements as positive, McCoy feels the combination of the two has negatively impacted the Alabama football program and programs across the country.

The former Alabama wideout feels the current landscape has lessened the importance of winning the big one.

“The Natties aren’t as important as they used to be because you don’t have kids that are really homegrown,” McCoy told Touchdown Alabama. “You got people chasing the check instead of the Natty.

McCoy now trains some of the top athletes in the state of Alabama at Maximum Performance Institute in Bessemer. He gets an opportunity to connect with many people, including some former Alabama players, in his current role as the owner and head trainer at Maximum Performance. He feels the interactions he has with his Alabama brethren further highlights what he sees as missing in Tuscaloosa.

“I got some kids in here whose dads are older than me that may have played in 1992 that walk in and say what’s up, B Psi Phi,” McCoy said. “That means something to them. The legacy days are long gone unless you start bringing back that homegrown feel. It has to be guys who had folks who were invested. I think a lot of that has changed… It’s a lot to it. People are now chasing the check.”

B Psi Phi is the unofficial name for the fraternity of men who have suited up or are currently suiting up for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama football last won a National Championship in 2020. This was before college football was shaken up by the portal and NIL.