Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest headliner heading into SEC media days undoubtedly was Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel after his off-the-field affairs, but today’s biggest headline is Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron effectively calling out the Heisman winner at SEC Media Days.
“I’ve never brought any type of negative spotlight on my last name or my university, my head coach, my teammates. I’ve always done the right thing. I’ve always done it how it’s supposed to be done. That’s the way I want to be remembered. I don’t want to be remembered as some off the wall type guy doing all this crazy stuff. That’s not me.”
It’s fairly straightforward here and you can read between the lines to see the player he’s referencing in his comments. He does not want to be Manziel, his roommate at the Manning camp, and for the Crimson Tide that’s a wonderful thing as his two championship rings suggest.
“I’ve never been the type of guy to ask for the spotlight. I’m a team player; my job is playing football and not be a celebrity off the field.”
That is a testament to the coaching style of Nick Saban and his prized quarterback comported himself in the manner of a man much more mature than a 22-year old.
One day after Manziel said he and McCarron have a good relationship, that notion was put to the test today as McCarron publicly stated he does not think Manziel is casting a negative spotlight on his last name, Texas A&M, Kevin Sumlin and his teammates.
McCarron made clear today that he is his own man, and even though he lost to Manziel and A&M last year in Tuscaloosa he absolutely picked up a monster win today at SEC media days and slammed the Heisman winner. McCarron has built a reputation for himself as a winner, and he sure looked like one in how he handled himself today.
Manziel should take to heart what McCarron said on Thursday if he wants to win championships and be more than a side show, but I have a feeling he may have overslept and missed these words of wisdom.
Not that Sept. 14 needed any more drama when these two titans meet in College Station, but McCarron’s words today should add another layer for the game of the year.
Patrick’s a college football writer for Rant Sports and radio host on Sportstownchicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt and add him to your Google network.
