Quarterback for Alabama football Jalen Milroe refuses to opt out of the Iron Bowl.
Count Alabama football’s starting quarterback in on full participation in the next Iron Bowl. Months away from the next Alabama Crimson Tide Iron Bowl, Milroe was asked if he would ever sit out an Iron Bowl.
It is safe to assume that without the posed question, not playing in an Iron Bowl had never entered Jalen Milroe’s mind. Still, the speculation was not entirely without merit. The 12-team Playoff changes more than just adding eight teams to the Playoff field. It could make the outcome of an Iron Bowl of reduced importance.
Seeding and a possible first-round bye could add significance to the two games, especially the SEC Championship. But if Alabama goes into the Iron Bowl, already having 10 wins, any kind of win against the Aubies would be sufficient.
Milroe was asked if an Iron Bowl win was not needed to advance to Atlanta, would he and other Alabama Crimson Tide stars sit out the game. His answer was clear, “Not at all. It’s all about finishing. Finishing the season off, that’s a couple of our pillars. Our program’s all about finish. Every opportunity we get to present the Alabama football team, we’re going to do it.”
Another good assumption is not a single Alabama football fan was surprised by Milroe’s answer. Even if he was not the star of last season’s thrilling Iron Bowl victory, Jalen Milroe is a no-quit guy. Even if it might be prudent to not risk injury, the thought of an Alabama football player choosing to skip a game against the Tide’s main rival is just not conceivable.
What could happen is any Alabama player with a lingering injury, who though cleared to play, might not be used as a coaching decision. More probable is some key players might give way to backups in the second half.
Taking the already too much speculation to a wild premise; would any Auburn players purposely try to injure Alabama stars? For some Auburn fans, another Iron Bowl loss might hurt less if Alabama’s Playoff chances were diminished by an injury. The old rivalry has a deep reservoir of bitterness.
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