What is Kalen DeBoer’s message to Ty Simpson ahead of SEC Championship?

© Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With the Crimson Tide winning the Iron Bowl and beating the Auburn Tigers on Saturday night, it secured its spot in the SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday.

Quarterback Ty Simpson has played an important role in the Tide’s offense this season as a first-year starter, and although he has dealt with some struggles over the past couple of weeks, he is a necessary component for Alabama’s success.

Auburn’s defense did provide Simpson with some challenges on Saturday, but he and the Tide still prevailed thanks to the three touchdown passes he tossed, even though he only managed to throw for 122 yards on 19 completions.

This was the second week in a row that the quarterback has thrown for less than 200 yards, although he only played in the first half of the game the week before in Alabama’s 56-0 win against Eastern Illinois.

Kalen DeBoer shared what his message was to Simpson ahead of the SEC Championship game.

“Just keep taking information and things that you’ve been through,” DeBoer said. “Learn from them. Every game is a new game. I would say every opponent is a new opponent, but obviously, this one isn’t. There’ll be new things in play, I’m sure they’ll give us and present different looks to us. We’ll have a game plan that probably has adjustments as well, so just the situation things that I think he’s been through. Coming through in big moments. There were times where I think we missed a few things, and we left them on the table, not necessarily just because of Ty, just misses in the passing game in particular. And so, we’ll take that and go to work, and I expect nothing less than that. But when it came down to big moments, Tu came through for us over and over. And the touchdown passes, none of those were give-me’s; he had to go make a play, and I think that’s where he gets more and more confidence, just knowing he’s got that ability, he’s got those guys around him. Just stay within yourself. I thought he started the game with the right mindset. He was excited about it, and I think he showed that at the end, just like he has many times.”

Although he may be out of the Heisman conversation at this point, he’s proven to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, he’s proven that he can be successful and show up in the big moments when it matters most.

If he can come ready for the rematch against Georgia on Saturday, then it would propel the Tide into the playoffs and give it a first-round bye, meaning Simpson would have the chance to lead Alabama to its first national championship in five years.