It was a year ago today in which Jalen Hurts replaced Tua in the SEC Championship Game with the Tide seemingly too far behind Georgia to come back to win and advance.
Yet, with the spotlight burning brightest…Jalen Hurts brought Alabama all the way back to defeat the offensively challenged Bulldogs.
Fast forward—one year later to Championship Saturday as Jalen Hurts with the aid of a miraculous rally against Baylor and a big favor by the Oregon Ducks can more than likely get back to the Final Four as a starting quarterback.
It couldn’t be written any better albeit if Alabama’s porous defense was waiting in the Final Four bracket for Jalen Hurts. But that’s not happening because Alabama is done for this season with two losses and a defense which now has Mike Stoops as a defensive consultant.
Jalen Hurts can’t be picky. This is the moment you know he and his family have been pointing for since he was replaced by Tua as the starter at Alabama.
On the other side of the field the story for the Baylor Bears is equally compelling as National Coach of the Year probable Matt Ruhle has his Baylor Bears one win away from the Final Four if his team can defeat the Sooners.
Two years ago, Ruhle started the rebuild in Waco following the slimy reign of Art Briles and Company. Almost as corrupt as the Trump administration—the successful rebuild in Waco has to rank right there with the reset at Penn State following the Jerry Sandusky scandal with Joe Paterno.
Two years ago–Baylor went 1-11 in Rhule’s first season following the decadent wake of Art Trump in evangelical laden Waco where the Baptists preach moral guardianship. What a joke. How ironic Ken Starr’s worthless ass was intertwined with the Decadence on the Brazos. Amazingly–Lindsey Graham wasn’t Briles’ defensive coordinator.
Last year Baylor made one of those Mike Gundy signature minor level bowl games which no one in America really cares about unless you’re a wrestling and golf school.
Yet–today, Baylor rests on the cusp of historic greatness if Brewer, Mims and Co. can stop the Sooners string of four straight Big 12 championships.
Boone must be kicking himself up in oil and gas heaven for not dumping Gundy and making the Matt Rhule hire in Stillwater after the Gundy affairs with Arkansas and Tennessee.
The Big 12 stands front and center of the college football world today with by far with the most compelling storyline narratives on Championship Saturday.
Obviously–I’m an avid OU fan. But Baylor is a story which tugs at the heart for the right reasons.
But by the same token–the Hurts story is just as compelling. How ironic it would be to have Nick Saban sitting at home with his porous Alabama defense watching Jalen Hurts playing in the national semi-final game wearing the iconic interlocking O-U on his helmet.