(AP)
On Friday, Alabama coach Nick Saban told the media he believes in "gamers" when asked about the quarterback position. That shouldn't surprise anyone, considering Ohio State knocked the Crimson Tide out of the College Football Playoffs with a third-string quarterback.
Urban Meyer coached the Buckeyes to the title last season with Cardale Jones after Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett were lost to injuries. Meyer was forced to use Jones, a community college transfer with zero college experience heading into the season. As it would become known, it Jones was a “gamer” when Ohio State needed him the most.
Oh, but Meyer doesn't believe in "gamers", or so he said.
It’s understandable why Meyer said he doesn’t believe in gamers. His third-string quarterback led the Buckeyes to a national title – which included a win over Alabama in the first round of the playoffs – when Meyer had nowhere else to turn.
Saban, on the other hand, was also scrambling for a quarterback all season long. Except it was known Greg McElroy was graduating and someone new would have to step in. Blake Sims took over quarterback duties and no one knew what to think of him.
Was Alabama really going to lose to Florida?
Is Saban’s belief in “gamers” out of desperation? There’s talk of true freshman Blake Barnett winning the starting quarterback job.
Is Meyer's lack of belief in "gamers" due to the fact he has so many quarterbacks he's moving some of them to wide receiver? It's already a foregone conclusion that Miller will line up at receiver, and now it's believed that incoming Buckeye Torrance Gibson – who committed to Ohio State as a quarterback – is also lining up at receiver, paving the way for Jones to continue quarterbacking.
It's also worth noting that Jones elected to stay at Ohio State when some NFL draft experts were suggesting Jones sell his stock high and enter the draft. Instead, Jones stayed at Ohio State despite all the quarterbacks there ready to take his place.
What is a “gamer” anyway? Probably someone who wins games. Jones has already won the big game. Alabama is missing it’s game-winner and is scrambling yet again.
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