Why USF football trip was a turning point for Alabama Crimson Tide

DALLAS — Alabama’s 17-3 win over USF was one of the most surprising results of last season. The SEC champions struggled against a middling mid-major team led by a first-time head coach.

Ten months later, the Crimson Tide view it differently.

“That was a turning point of our season,” Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe said Wednesday during SEC media days at the Omni Dallas Hotel.

It was undoubtedly a turning point for Milroe. He started the Tide’s first two games that season but didn’t play at Raymond James Stadium. Then-coach Nick Saban told ESPN he simply wanted to give Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson their chances. But it was hard not to see the decision as a forced learning experience for Milroe who, as Saban said, needed to “eliminate the devastating play” after a pair of major mistakes the week before against Texas.

Milroe completed only 60% of his passes before he was benched against USF. He completed 67% afterward. After posting a mediocre passing efficiency of 140.8 against Texas, he exceeded that figure in each of his next 10 games.

But Milroe didn’t reflect on his personal growth from that experience Wednesday. Instead, he focused on the close call as a reset for the locker room as a whole.

“That was a chance for us to come together as a team and talk about the LANK mentality — let all naysayers know…” Milroe said. “It was all very special for our group to come together as one and try to refocus and go attack all our short-term goals and long-term goals.”

Defensive back Malachi Moore saw the change, too. Though USF had improved and inclement weather muddied performances, Alabama players still left Tampa thinking that they didn’t live up to their expectations. The Bulls and Tide were tied at 3 midway through the third quarter. USF had the ball in Alabama territory with a chance to tie or take the lead in the final seven minutes.

For the Tide, something had to change.

“We just had to lock in and really be real with ourselves about what we wanted to accomplish in the season,” said Moore, who had a game-changing interception against the Bulls. “The way we were going about our business in the Texas game and the South Florida game, that wasn’t the standard where Alabama football needed to be played at.

“We went on a little run after the South Florida game.”

Just a little one. Their victory started an 11-game winning streak that included a triumph over Georgia in the SEC championship and allowed Alabama to seize the fourth and final playoff spot from undefeated Florida State. The Crimson Tide’s 17 points in Tampa ended up as a season low.

Alabama began to look like Alabama again.

USF visits the Tide in Week 2 this season.

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