Blake Barnett explains what went wrong at Bama (video interview)

[Swanny]

He did indeed. The Alabama wishbone was a thing of beauty, it was like watching a ballet on the football field. In most games CPB would use 6-8 different RBs and at least 2 QBs. Most of the RBs were also above average talent wise, but were tough and disciplined and they could all block. It was way more exciting than watching today's offenses.

I was to young to watch and appreciate the 1970's teams play. Can you still go and watch game film at the Bryant Museum? If so, I would like to do that one day.

 

[Revrph79]

You tube has many Alabama games going back to the sixties.

 

[jthomas666]

He was overhyped from the start. However, I always thought he would do well at lower level and had a chance to go NFL, but such is life.

He had the skills, but couldn't handle the pressure. The two games he started he struggled, but when he was put in later in the same games, when we had it in the bag, he started throwing dimes.

 

[bamamc1]

His girlfriend wasn't...

Please leave my fiancé out of this.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Never heard of her.

 

[BearFoot]

Allow me to shorten his interview. This is what happened
View attachment 30893

 

[bamagradinATL]

He had the skills, but couldn't handle the pressure. The two games he started he struggled, but when he was put in later in the same games, when we had it in the bag, he started throwing dimes.

The lights went on and he was like a deer in headlights. He was fine when the pressure was off, but it was too late Jalen had taken his job.

 

[CrimsonRuss]

Never heard of her.

I’ve been waiting all day for that! Wasn’t BB where you coined that term?

 

[crimsonaudio]

I’ve been waiting all day for that! Wasn’t BB where you coined that term?

It's the first time I recall using it.

 

[TDBama78]

If he was over hyped it seems our coaching staff bought the hype hook line and sinker instead of the evaluation cause there were tell tale signs there I'm sure.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Based on some of the comments here, I expected to get a whiny and namby-pamby "it wasn't fay-uh" ode to his greatness - but let me say it was largely pretty good. While I think he's still at a place where "well this happened and this happened" - some beyond his control - I'm hopeful his own perspective will alter more as he matures more (and in some cases as he talks about "beyond football", he has).

Folks, the guy who "replaced" Blake Barnett at QB lost his job in about the most humiliating way possible, being pulled at halftime of the most important game of his career in favor of a guy who had not really taken a meaningful snap at Alabama. That kid hung in there and kept pushing and wound up getting a Heisman invite to NYC and has put together a successful NFL season, which I'll confess shocks me to no end.

We have to remember that most of these guys were superstars on their high school campuses and unchallenged "high school royalty." Then they get to the university campus and there's four other guys at their own position who were exactly the same thing.

We can hope he takes the lessons learned to his every day life and is a success. That would be the best thing of all.

 

[bamacpa]

The first one I remember was Perry Cuda. I'm sure there were others before him, but back then recruiting didn't take place under the spotlight it does now.

Billy Ray.

 

[Tidelines]

I was so excited when we signed Billy Ray. Wasn’t he from around Atlanta. The highest rated QB in the Southeast, maybe the country. I probably still have the Forrest Davis recruiting mag. with him on the cover.

 

[GrayTide]

Vince Sutton was another can't miss QB recruit as was Danny Woodson.

 

[Con]

Y’all are bringing up some bad memories and showing your age.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

The first one I remember was Perry Cuda. I'm sure there were others before him, but back then recruiting didn't take place under the spotlight it does now.

This is true in two ways.

1) Back in the days of unlimited scholarships, it was both pretty easy to land big names AND very easy to overcome "that guy didn't work out" because you had an endless supply of players.

2) Our evaluations of players have become better and more refined over time.

Once upon a time the now "five stars" were called "blue chippers" (showing my age here) and while, yes, it was a big deal when a particular blue chipper went to a school, the reality was more "so what" than it is now. Nowadays, you have to have a top 10 recruiting class (or close to that) for a few years to contend for the national championship. For years - until recently - I always rolled my eyes because I'm old enough to remember when the Notre Dame teams of Gerry Faust would land "the best recruiting class in the country" every year he was there - and they never had more than 7 wins or fewer than 5 imperfections (including ties) during his tenure.

I read Colorado Coach Bill McCartney's autobiography ("From Ashes to Glory"), and I recall him talking about how difficult recruiting actually was - unless you were Notre Dame. The Irish - back then - could basically say "we want him and him and him" and just so long as they could meet the academic requirements, they were going to Notre Dame. He had to do the biggest selling job of all-time to help land Anthony Carter...because Bo and Michigan didn't throw the ball before Carter arrived.

My point? Misses didn't matter prior to the 80s all that much because the Blue Bloods had an endless supply of talent (Bryant used six QBs in 1981) - and the game was more of a running back's game than it is now. The first "big one" I recall was Billy Ray in the late 80s around the time I was a senior in HS. And missing him was evident when we were throwing Vince Sutton (another miss), Jeff Dunn, and David Smith (lotta heart) out there, too.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Let me add this: back then MOST recruiting was LARGELY in-state, too (Joe Namath was a rather obvious exception). I got the players in my state, you get the players in yours. Except, of course, during segregation you had USC yanking guys like Clarence Davis out of Bham because they couldn't play for us we wouldn't play them. That ended when John McKay mouthed off about John Mitchell and Bryant landed him.

 

[UAH]

Let me add this: back then MOST recruiting was LARGELY in-state, too (Joe Namath was a rather obvious exception). I got the players in my state, you get the players in yours. Except, of course, during segregation you had USC yanking guys like Clarence Davis out of Bham because they couldn't play for us we wouldn't play them. That ended when John McKay mouthed off about John Mitchell and Bryant landed him.

Obviously Bryant dominated in state, saying that Auburn should not be able to compete with the State University although they have done pretty well at competing. There were a lot of players from neighboring states. From recall Steve Sloan Cleveland, TN, John Hanna Chattanooga, Steve Bowman, Willy Shelby MS., Mike Fracchia Memphis, TN.

I always thought of Auburn heavily recruiting in Florida and Georgia with Tucker Frederickson being a notable Florida recruit. Of course Tennessee pulled Condredge Holloway Jr and Richmond Flower's Jr out of Alabama. Notably Florida managed to grab a guy named Steve Spurrier out of Johnson City, TN.

Great memory jogger this morning I am sure that the list could be endlessly added to. I also know it dates me considerably.

 

[Tenntiderman]

Billy Ray.

Yep about 15 times. What was it Homer Smith said?..."Billy Ray?? You mean the guy with million dollar legs and a 10 dollar arm?"
I hated to see Ray transfer to Duke..but he wasn't taking Jeff Dunn's job.

 

[catsbane]

Yep about 15 times. What was it Homer Smith said?..."Billy Ray?? You mean the guy with million dollar legs and a 10 dollar arm?"
I hated to see Ray transfer to Duke..but he wasn't taking Jeff Dunn's job.

But didnt' Billy Ray lead the ACC in passing under Spurrier?