Current:Home > FinanceJalen Milroe, Ryan Williams uncork an Alabama football party, humble Georgia, Kirby Smart -Streamline Finance
Jalen Milroe, Ryan Williams uncork an Alabama football party, humble Georgia, Kirby Smart
View
Date:2025-04-12 12:02:44
- Alabama football's next great quarterback is born. Jalen Milroe becomes a hero while Alabama humbles Georgia.
- Kalen DeBoer coached circles around Kirby Smart until Georgia's furious rally.
- Who needs Nick Saban? Not Jalen Milroe. He's perfect for Kalen DeBoer.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Pandomonium filled the air, and Bryant-Denny swelled with so much energy it's a wonder it didn't burst.
Alabama fans hugged and chest bumped and high-fived and shook pompoms and generally lost their minds.
Amid all that euphoria, Jalen Milroe stood calmly on the turf and extended two fingers in the air.
Alabama's star quarterback had just completed the biggest pass of his career. More work to do, though. The 2-point conversion awaited.
Milroe completed that, too. Is there anything he can't do? Not on this night.
Milroe completed nearly every pass he threw. He juked and sprinted and turned corners with the speed of a track sprinter and the power of a fullback. He laid waste to Kirby Smart's defense in a way few have.
On a night of celebration here, No. 4 Alabama recaptured exalted status, Milroe ascended to superhero fame, and the Crimson Tide humbled No. 1 Georgia, 41-34.
Jalen Milroe to Ryan Williams sends Alabama football into euphoria
Even a premier quarterback needs a little help from his friends. Milroe threw so many pinpoint passes that led his receivers to the perfect spot on the field and left Georgia's defenders no hope.
But, Milroe's 75-yard touchdown pass that gave Kalen DeBoer a statement victory in his first SEC game? That was a jump ball into 1-on-1 coverage.
Who better to throw it to than than 17-year-old Ryan Williams, Alabama's wunderkind wide receiver?
"I just have so much trust in him," Milroe said.
Williams outdueled Georgia defensive back Julian Humphrey to come down with the catch. Oh, but he wasn't finished.
Williams had 45 yards to go to the end zone. He spun and sprinted and stiff-armed his way across the goal line and provided Alabama with some sweet, sweet ecstasy after it frittered away every bit of its 23-point halftime lead.
Alabama makes a statement, before Georgia rallies
Who needs Nick Saban? Not Milroe. Not Alabama (4-0). Not anymore, anyway.
The GOAT passed this program into capable hands. He also left a great quarterback in the cupboard. DeBoer and Milroe are cooking. Together, they roasted Georgia.
"We had a solution to everything they were going to present to us," Milroe said.
Billed as a showdown, this became a beatdown – for three quarters, anyway.
Georgia mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally and captured the lead with less than 3 minutes remaining before Milroe responded with his final haymaker.
Milroe finished with 491 combined yards and enough highlights to fill a Heisman reel.
Milroe played like a complete package, while Georgia’s Carson Beck threw two interceptions and lost a fumble before carving up Alabama's secondary throughout a furious finish. His third interception of the game ended the Bulldogs' hopes for good.
Georgia (3-1) looked overmatched, outwitted and outmuscled from the opening drive, when Milroe steered the Crimson Tide 70 yards with such ease that you could’ve mistaken Georgia for pushovers. Never mind that Georgia had not allowed a touchdown throughout its first three games.
Smart built a fierce defense while winning consecutive national titles. That unit’s long gone.
Jalen Milroe takes flight after Nick Saban retires, hands reins to Kalen DeBoer
Jan. 10 became a mournful day for Alabama fans. They grieved Saban’s retirement and laid Coca-Colas, Little Debbie oatmeal pies and pompoms at the foot of Saban’s statue.
He’s alive, folks. Saban just hung up his whistle – and, for Milroe, how fortunate that he did.
Tommy Rees, Saban’s final offensive coordinator, proved a poor choice. Liberated from Rees and Saban, Milroe looks like a different quarterback, an elite quarterback, as he stars for DeBoer.
DMX’s “Party Up” blared on the stadium sound system after Alabama reached a crisp 30 points in the second quarter after scoring a safety. The DJ chose the right tune for the moment. The party was, indeed, on, and it stayed that way, right up until Georgia's fourth-quarter stampede nearly spoiled the moment.
Georgia's rally gave Milroe one final grand stage. He seized the moment.
While Williams celebrated his touchdown to cap a 177-yard receiving night, Milroe held those two fingers in the air.
"I think it's so important at the quarterback position to be calm, cool, collected," Milroe said.
Unflappable 'til the end.
Alabama's next star quarterback is born.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.
Subscribe to read all of his columns.
veryGood! (14)
Related
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Missouri’s GOP Gov. Parson reflects on past wins in his final State of the State address
- Daniel Will: Exploring Warren Buffett's Value Investing Philosophy
- Environmentalists Rattled by Radioactive Risks of Toxic Coal Ash
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Deputies find 5 dead people in a desert community in Southern California
- Cease-fire efforts for Israel-Hamas war gain steam. But an agreement still appears elusive
- Thousands of people are forced out of their homes after 7.1 quake in western China
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Daniel Will: Emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence in guiding the next generation of financial decision-making.
Ranking
- Kehlani Responds to Hurtful Accusation She’s in a Cult
- New Hampshire primary exit polls for 2024 elections
- 2024 McDonald's All American Games rosters: Cooper Flagg, Me'Arah O'Neal highlight list
- Georgia House speaker proposes additional child income-tax deduction atop other tax cuts
- Illinois governor calls for resignation of sheriff whose deputy fatally shot Black woman in her home
- Watch the 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' official trailer including Aang in action
- New Jersey OKs two new offshore wind farms that would be farther from shore and beachgoers’ view
- Dry January isn't just for problem drinkers. It's making me wonder why I drink at all.
Recommendation
A Georgia governor’s latest work after politics: a children’s book on his cats ‘Veto’ and ‘Bill’
Inter Miami jersey reveal: Messi models new 2024 away kit aboard cruise ship, where to buy
Heavy fighting in Gaza’s second-largest city leaves hundreds of patients stranded in main hospital
Liberal blogger granted press credentials in Iowa House days after filing lawsuit
Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
Daniel Will: How Does Stock Split Work
A Texas school’s punishment of a Black student who wears dreadlocks is going to trial
Experiencing racism may physically change your brain