Alabama assistant coach JaMarcus Shephard was highly animated on Wednesday as he addressed questions regarding junior Kendrick Law’s costly penalty in the Crimson Tide’s loss to No. 11 Tennessee. In the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, the No. 5 team had possession on their own 33-yard line, facing a critical third-and-7 while trailing 21-17.
After an incomplete pass, Alabama receiver Kendrick Law committed a personal foul, shifting a manageable fourth-and-7 to a daunting fourth-and-22, ultimately resulting in a turnover on downs. Tennessee secured the game shortly after, claiming a 24-17 victory and handing first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer his second defeat—a tough blow to the team’s championship aspirations.
Shephard delivered a straightforward message to Law following the pivotal penalty. “It’s not just about you,” said the first-year co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, adding that the penalty “took an opportunity away from them (the Crimson Tide) to celebrate a win because it was something you (Law) were concerned with yourself.”
DeBoer also emphasized accountability earlier in the week, saying, “We have to make sure other people’s opinions don’t become ours. If someone’s speaking to us, we need to learn to walk away.” While this insight may guide the team moving forward, last weekend’s defeat to Tennessee was a significant setback.
Alabama’s Loss to Tennessee really hurt their College Football Playoff hopes
The Alabama football team entered the season ranked No. 5, with eyes set on a major clash against No. 2 Georgia after three decisive opening wins. Heisman Trophy candidate Jalen Milroe led Alabama to defend their home field in a thrilling 41-34 victory over the Bulldogs, propelling them to the top of the rankings at No. 1.
However, things have unraveled for head coach Kalen DeBoer’s squad, with Alabama dropping two of its last three games, including a shocking loss to unranked Vanderbilt. Following that historic upset, the Crimson Tide narrowly avoided another surprise defeat at home against South Carolina. The slide continued when Tennessee, under head coach Josh Heupel, secured their second win over Alabama in three years—a significant achievement for a team that had previously lost 15 straight games to their major rival before Heupel’s arrival.
Despite the setbacks, the expanded 12-team playoff offers No. 15 Alabama a path back into contention. DeBoer and co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard will need to rally the team for upcoming ranked challenges against No. 21 Missouri and No. 8 LSU. Another loss would mark Alabama’s first three-loss season since 2010.
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