Tommy Rees ripped on social media following Alabama's questionable OT play call
Tommy Rees is feeling the heat from Alabama fans — and plenty of criticism from college football fans as a whole — for a puzzling play call on the final play of the Crimson Tide’s 27-20 overtime loss in the Rose Bowl.
Michigan needed just 2 plays to get it into the end zone as it received the ball 1st in the extra session. Alabama then worked it to a 4th-and-goal on the 3 yard line, but elected to call for a quarterback run up the middle that was almost immediately stopped by Michigan’s D.
JALEN MILROE IS STOPPED ON 4TH DOWN?
THE WOLVERINES ARE HEADED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ? #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/X2x3tPzwqr
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2024
For an offensive line that had been chewed apart by the Wolverines’ defensive front all night (Michigan ended the evening with 6 sacks), it was certainly a headscratcher, especially after plenty of time to think about it after a series of timeouts.
And, as a result, Alabama is headed home while Michigan is in the College Football Playoff national championship game for the first time in program history after losing back-to-back semifinals. It now awaits the winner of Texas-Washington’s Sugar Bowl semifinal.
Take a look at some of the reaction to Rees’s playcall:
Just zero chance for success on that play. Everyone knew what was coming when the back motioned to empty.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 2, 2024
Alabama play calling pic.twitter.com/reykAGibvV
— Trevor Rogers (@TrevorRogers_1) January 2, 2024
Would love to go back and chart Alabamas empty formation plays. Would bet a large amount it was darn near negative yards and that’s what they go to with their lives on the line. Tommy Rees, man…. #GoIrish
— Cole Ashby (@CoachAshby2) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees, that’s what you dialed up on 4th and goal?
That’s one of the worst play calls I’ve seen.
— Notre Dame Recruiting (@NDrecruiting01) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees trying to clock in tomorrow pic.twitter.com/AqyycjjfMe
— ????????? ? (@ClemsonPEPE) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees with a national title on the line after 17 timeouts pic.twitter.com/akMsDLXRFo
— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees’ worst game of the year.
Absolutely anemic offensively from start to finish.
— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) January 2, 2024
People were being fooled by all the miraculous plays Jalen Milroe made down the stretch. Tommy Rees was still Tommy Rees.
— Dr. SEC (@thedrsec) January 2, 2024
Aye Tommy Rees better fly commercial home he can’t get his ass on that team plane
— Free Shaad ⛓️? (@raymo100k) January 2, 2024
Good game man Tommy Rees better not be back at Bama next year
— Devin Flowers (@LemonpepperDev) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees on 4th and goal with a trip to the Natty on the line. pic.twitter.com/SRkfAVHLcv
— Jared Smith (@jarsmitty1) January 2, 2024