Mac Jones shares advice Tua Tagovailoa gave him after taking over starting QB role
By Keith Farner
Published:
Perhaps the most well-known backup quarterback in America got his second game of significant playing time this season as Alabama routed Western Carolina on Saturday. QB Mac Jones is now a key player for the Crimson Tide down the stretch after Tua Tagovailoa was lost for the season with a hip injury.
“I don’t think anything changes,” Jones said, according to video shared from Bama Insider. “… You step in there, it’s a new face at quarterback and you just try to be yourself and let the guys rally around you like they did. Take the pressure off your shoulders and let the guys make plays like they always do.”
Jones shrugged his shoulders when asked about hitting Jerry Jeudy for a long pass, because he said they often make those plays in practice.
Jones said he talked with Tagovailoa after his teammate had surgery.
“He said do what you do and be yourself, and everything will be fine and I wish him the best,” Jones said. “Obviously he’s a great leader for our team and look forward to him coming back and having a great recovery.”
He added, “It’s not easy losing a great leader like that, but we’re built for that. We’re train every day for the whole year mentally and physically. It’s really mental toughness and learning how to respond to adversity.”
Jones deflected questions about the Iron Bowl and referred to the team’s policy of having a 24-hour rule to think about a win or loss.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
