As he prepared for his first season as a starting quarterback at Alabama, A.J. McCarron was forced to endure a barrage of mental challenges inflicted by coach Nick Saban.
Spring drills became a frustrating time amid what McCarron recalls as “mind games†played by his coach.
“I didn’t understand, and it was pissing me off, more than anything,†McCarron said. “I remember him bringing me to his office and saying, ‘If you can handle the pressure I put on you, going out in front of 102,000 people will be nothing.’ It’s something that always stuck with me and I bought into at a young age. So I don’t worry about the pressure or buildup of a game.â€
McCarron will return to the state of Alabama for a game for the first time since he played for the Crimson Tide as the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Battlehawks face undefeated Birmingham at 3 p.m. Saturday.
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The spotlight won’t be quite as prominent as the old ’Bama days, but it is a big game in the United Football League, with the conference leaders going head to head.
There will be considerable focus on McCarron’s presence, something he’s been reminded of repeatedly this week. And it’s why the story of Saban came to his mind.
McCarron has tried to distance himself from the storyline since the first questions came after the Battlehawks recorded their fifth straight win Saturday. For instance, who among his friends and family will be in attendance?
“I don’t know, just that a bunch are coming,†he said. “I don’t pay attention to it. It’s not my job, and if anybody hits me up (for tickets), they get ignored. During the season, I try to limit who I talk to so I can stay focused. If they’re coming to the game, they know how to get in touch with my mom or whoever is handling all that.â€
The game figures to be the team’s and McCarron’s biggest test. He enters No. 2 in the UFL in passing yards and first in touchdown passes.
The game will be played less than an hour’s drive from Tuscaloosa, where McCarron won two national championships. He is originally from Mobile, Alabama, which sits more inside Auburn territory.
McCarron is quite familiar with Birmingham. It’s where he goes for physician visits, to visit friends and some good restaurants.
“I’m excited for A.J.,†offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski said. “He’s been on the biggest stage his whole career. That’s when A.J. rises to the occasion most. I’d love to see the stadium packed. He’s basically going home, so it’s a cool game.â€
The game will offer a contrast of quarterbacks. Birmingham’s Adrian Martinez is as dangerous with his feet as he is with his arm. He is second in the UFL in rushing, and the Stallions have three of the top six rushing yardage leaders.
McCarron prefers to keep his running to a minimum. He has 13 TD passes with only two interceptions and is regarded as a midseason favorite for UFL Most Valuable Player.
“We selected A.J. for a reason last year. We looked at more than 100 quarterbacks,†coach Anthony Becht said. “We really like our offensive line and thought we could build something here, so let’s get a quarterback who could operate in the framework once the play comes in. There’s no one better than him in this league the last two years.â€
During his time in Tuscaloosa, McCarron appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which called him Alabama royalty. He was a big deal.
McCarron finished his college career in 2013 with 9,019 passing yards, 77 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Will his popularity in the area still hold weight among the fan base 11 years after he left?
“It’s going to be interesting to see how many Alabama fans root for ºüÀêÊÓƵ or how many root against me,†he said. “It will be a fun atmosphere either way.â€