Alabama Player Quotes
OL Tyler Booker
On playing in the elements in the first half
"Playing football, especially playing in Florida, you've got to be ready for them, but you can't use the elements as an excuse."
On how they pushed through when things weren't going their way in the first quarter
"We had too many turnovers. It was something that we prioritized before the game, we had to win the turnover-takeaway margin, and we clearly didn't, and we lost."
On being a senior leader and what he says to Jalen Milroe when he is going through the type of quarter like in the first
"Go 1-and-0. That's the message to everybody. You can't control what happened on the last play, but you can control what happens moving forward. That was my message to him (Jalen)."
On how banged up the offensive line was and how they had to power through at the end of the season
"Everyone on the offensive line is banged up. Playing offensive line in the SEC, playing offensive line in general - my little brother he got dinged up this year playing for the West Haven (Conn.) Seahawks. Football is a physical game, but being banged up isn't an excuse because everybody is banged up. You have to have guys who are plug-and-play and guys who are willing to step up and be ready."
DL Tim Keenan III
On the fact that players could have left after former head coach Nick Saban left, but having faith and staying to play for new head coach Kalen DeBoer
"I love playing for Alabama, it's my home, so why not give this guy (Coach DeBoer) a shot. I prayed about it and if God gave him the job, who am I to say no. I have full faith in God and I have full faith and trust in Coach DeBoer."
On whether Alabama changed cleats early on due to the rainy conditions
"Definitely at halftime, yes. Our cleats were too soaked so we made a change."
On Alabama struggling with consistency during the season and what may have led to that
"There's a lot of could've and what ifs. Like you said, we have been inconsistent in certain areas, and we need to do a better job with that. I'm glad that we did overcome the things we overcame, we just have to do a better job with that."
On any thoughts as to what he is going to do after the season
"Not yet. Probably soon I will make a decision, but not right now."
DT Tim Smith
On where the confidence in the program (on where it's going)
"I see how my guys work everyday and what they put into it, so even though this may be my last year, I know that they will continue on with the standard. They are still going to get their jobs done and do what they are supposed to do."
On seeing great QBs in the SEC, and what attributes he faces when going against Milroe in practice
"I see the work and effort that all of our guys put in, so he is going to continue to do his part and get better, just like I am trying to be a better defensive lineman."
On whether he changed cleats during the game
"I didn't - oh! Because of the rain? I forgot about that! I completely forgot about that! I was just trying to go on and win. I stayed in mine, I was already wet, and was not going to put on dry clothes just to get wet again. I was just trying to dominate."
QB Jalen Milroe
On what he would say about the season with ups and downs
"For all of us, we had short and long term goals, one thing that is for certain is the commitment level and that we stayed grounded throughout the whole process. That is what I take away more than anything, how much I love being around the guys that we had in the locker room and the coaching staff, everything involved with it."
On whether he has made a decision on the future
"Right now I am just going to try and focus on this moment and not any future endeavor."
On what it means to be the QB of Alabama if this is his last game
"It means a lot and I put everything on the line. A lot of hardships along the way, a lot of doubt, but one thing that is certain is that I remain faithful and that I met a lot of great people along the way. It is truly an honor to wear this every day, win or loss. I don't take it lightly at all. It's been an amazing journey. Along this journey, I have learned so much that will help me achieve anything."
On whether the rain was a factor in the early turnovers in the game
"No matter the external factors that pour into the game, we have to limit turnovers no matter what goes on during a game."
On what the future of the program is under Kalen, whether he is back or not
"It is a bright future ahead. Because people understand what needs to be done to be the best version of myself. The standard that is set. And we have a lot of great dudes in the locker room that is hungry that want to get better and looking to uphold the standard. We also have guys (coaches) in the building that have won national championships. We have guys that were under Saban, so they understand the standard."