Even though John Parker Wilson chuckles about it now, he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of walking home from Baton Rouge in 2008.
Joining AL.com’s Beat Everybody podcast this week, the former Alabama quarterback talked about his memories of the 2008 LSU game, including his touchdown-celebrating penalty and one of Nick Saban’s most memorable remarks that resulted from seeing his old squad.
Over the past 17 years, Saban has given Alabama’s players and supporters memories that will last a lifetime. One of Coach Saban’s most memorable quotes is from his 2008 speech to his players, “Make His Ass Quit,” which was delivered against LSU.
“How important is this game to you?” Saban questioned his team members. “Because you cannot remain motionless if it holds significance for you. Do you get it? You move quickly when playing. You have a powerful game. You go beat up the guy you’re playing against and force him to give up! That is what sets us apart! That is our team’s motto! That’s how people perceive us.
It was Saban’s first journey with his Crimson Tide to LSU, his former team. The communication was dispatched. It was one of those “things you never forget” for Wilson.
RELATED: Wilson discusses how it’s okay that Kalen DeBoer isn’t Saban.
Wilson remarked, “It was different because coach Saban is going to play his old team and everyone knew what was on the line.” “He’s here with us right now. We have to go win that game for all of us, including him.
No. 1 Alabama (10-0, 6-0) defeated No. 15 LSU (6-3, 3-3) 27-21 thanks to three interceptions from Rashad Johnson and a 1-yard sneak by Wilson in overtime.
Not to mention, the victory guaranteed Alabama’s place in the 2008 SEC Championship Game and its first SEC Western Division championship since 1999.
Wilson’s sneak to start the game with a one-yard run may have been just as memorable.
Wilson’s cell phone was exposed on the Internet a week before the game. Because of the volume of texts, calls, and messages, his cell phone stopped down.
He recalls, “I had to shut down my phone.” “You have to do the ‘Call Me’ (celebration if you win),” my brother said. Tebow accomplished it.
Wilson recalls how he responded to the proposal.
He declared, “It’s never going to happen.” “It’s unlikely that I will run for a touchdown, to start with.”
And yet, there they were. The Tide in a scoreless contest at the 1-yard line.
“I had absolutely no intention of doing anything. It was not planned. The student section is just in front of me as I get to my feet. I take it out and carry it out.
On the kickoff, Wilson’s gesture cost the Tide, though, fifteen yards. “I realised my mistake. We kick off, and two plays later they score. I think that this is not good. essentially made a touchdown for them.
In retrospect, Wilson acknowledges that his celebration was executed perfectly. What got him was the duration. He acknowledges, “I drug it out too long.” I was definitely worthy of the punishment.
On the podcast, the Hoover product disclosed Saban’s response to the penalty.
Wilson remarked, “Coach Saban never said anything.” “He was not required to. He gave me a glance. I gave him a look. I thought, “I got it.” It will not occur once more.
Luckily, the game was won by us. Had we not, I think he would have forced me to walk all the way back to Tuscaloosa.”