Alabama quarterback Blake Sims had a much different experience in Saturday’s SEC Championship game than from his previous football appearance at the Georgia Dome.
Sims, who is a first-year starter as a fifth-year senior, was named the game’s MVP after completing 23 of 27 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns in the 42-13 win over Missouri.
It was Sims’ first start at the Georgia Dome since 2009, when he was quarterback of Gainesville High. Sims failed to convert on a two-point conversion in the final seconds of a 13-12 loss to Peach County for the Class AAA state championship.
“It’s a great feeling,” Sims said about Saturday. “Back in high school, I played here my last game in the championship, and we lost. Pretty much I was just playing for everybody down the road in Gainesville High.
“(Now I’m) pretty much just going out playing, doing everything that coach (Nick) Saban has taught me and coach (Lane) Kiffin has taught me. (I just) trust my players that they’re going to play hearts out and leave no regrets on the field.”
Sims’ college career has taken a lot of twists and turns over the past five years. As a senior at Gainesville, he turned down a late offer from his childhood favorite, UGA, to sign with Alabama as an “athlete who would be given the opportunity to play quarterback.”
However, Sims didn’t look like he had much of a future at quarterback when he was switched between defensive back, safety and running back during his first three years at Alabama.
“It’s a testament to Blake to sticking to what he wanted — and playing quarterback at the University of Alabama was his dream,” said his former offensive coordinator at Gainesville, Todd Wofford.
“He always said he wanted to play quarterback, and he never let go of that dream. At the same time, his career shows that he is the ultimate team player and that he would do whatever it takes, even if it meant playing running back or defensive back.”
This season, Sims finally got the chance to play quarterback after AJ McCarron’s departure to the NFL. He proved his worth by leading Alabama to a comeback win over LSU, but he nearly lost the job last week after throwing three early interceptions against Auburn.
Saban stuck with Sims against Auburn, and he glowed about his quarterback after Saturday’s sizzling performance.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a player go through any more than Blake went through for four years as a player, and never once did he ever not do whatever he needed to do to help the team,” Saban said.
“As a coach, you love to see guys that go through what he’s gone through, work so hard, always persevered, and then have success. This is a phenomenal success that he’s had with the season, but it’s a credit to his character and his work ethic.”
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