For Miami Dolphins DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, the 2018 season has been bittersweet watching his alma mater from afar.

It’s how Fitzpatrick opens his “Dear Bama” letter published by The Players Tribune. Fitzpatrick was a key contributor to UA’s national championship campaign in 2017.

While he is living out a dream playing in the NFL, Fitzpatrick wants to remind Crimson Tide players that there’s nothing quite like repping your school in a playoff bowl game:

Dear Bama,

I’ve got to be honest: Watching y’all ball out this year, it’s been a bittersweet experience for me.

Of course I’ve loved seeing how you guys have dominated week after week … but at the same time … maaaaan, when I watch y’all play I wish so bad I could be out there with my brothers doing what we do.

…

Don’t get me wrong, I love playing in the NFL. It’s a dream come true — and I can’t wait for a bunch of you guys to join me in the league — but there’s nothing, absolutely nothing, that compares to repping Bama in a game like the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Alabama will be playing at Fitzpatrick’s new home venue, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, but he won’t be there to check out Saturday’s game in person:

I’m excited for you to come down here and experience my new city. I know some of you are from around here so it’ll be like a homecoming. I would give anything to be on the sidelines for a game like this, but I’m going to be on the road in Buffalo handling my business. So because I can’t be there to tell you this in person, I wanted to write this note to share how I excited I am to watch this team do its thing on one of the biggest stages imaginable.

The full letter, which Alabama fans will enjoy, can be viewed here.