Ty Simpson was pumped about leading Alabama into the College Football Playoff quarterfinal in his first season as the Crimson Tide starting quarterback.
But in the postgame press conference, Simpson tried his best to keep his emotions in check. Sure, there was a 34-24 first-round victory over Oklahoma to celebrate on Friday night, but there was so much more to accomplish in the days and, hopefully, weeks ahead for Simpson and the Tide.
That’s the point Simpson was trying to make late Friday night when he borrowed a famous line from the late, great Kobe Bryant, who during a playoff run for the Los Angeles Lakers many years ago told reporters that the “job’s not finished” when speaking after a big win. That’s exactly where Simpson’s mind was in Norman. Yes, it was a big Playoff win, like Bryant had experienced, but the job for Alabama wasn’t close to being done.
So, Simpson let loose in front of reporters with a little assist from the NBA legend. Simpson was specifically asked how great it felt to silence the Alabama doubters after storming back from a 17-0 deficit in the victory.
“What did Kobe say? We’re not done yet. That’s all I gotta say,” said Simpson as his head coach, Kalen DeBoer, smiled widely.
No, Alabama isn’t done yet, as Simpson and the Tide advanced to play top-seeded Indiana in the quarterfinals on New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl.
That’s the Rose Bowl that’s not too far away from Los Angeles, where Bryant made his legend.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
