Alabama center Landon Dickerson became a well-known fan favorite in the SEC Championship game when he suffered a knee injury and was carted off the field as the Alabama players poured on the field to offer well wishes.

During an interview with WJOX in Birmingham, Alabama, Dickerson deflected praise that he was the leader of the team, not just the offensive line or offense, as he said the entire leadership group deserves credit.

Dickerson received more attention in the national championship game when he got on the field again for the victory formation.

“It wasn’t about me,” he said. “It was about being out with the team one more time. I’ll admit it was a little selfish on my end, because I did want to be out there dressed up, going through pregame warmups, talking with my guys one last time. This was a special team. Just being able to be a part of that and be around those guys for that moment and that game — it’s almost like a Disney movie. It’s one of those things I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

A victory formation was the only way for him to get on the field two weeks after an ACL reconstruction, even though Dickerson lobbied to play more than that. Dickerson admitted that he “butted heads” with the medical staff.

“I told them going into the Rose Bowl, ‘You know, I can play,’ and of course they never believed me,” he said.

The first hurdle was getting coach Nick Saban to agree to let Dickerson dress, which was allowed.

Once the victory formation was set, Dickerson said he ran up to Saban and said he would go in to take these final snaps, “He said, ‘All right, go in there.”

“I ran in there, took the last couple snaps and that’s the end of it,” Dickerson said.