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Freshman quarterback Ty Simpson landed in Nick Saban’s doghouse on Saturday after making a rookie mistake. While racing down the sidelines on what appeared to be a 79-yard score, Simpson had a touchdown taken off the board due to his dropping the ball before crossing the goal line.
His head coach opted to punish the signal caller by withholding a second chance at getting back into the endzone.
With Alabama absolutely crushing Chattanooga, the Crimson Tide’s reserve squad got an opportunity to take some snaps. Five-star freshman Ty Simpson was included in that, and he appeared to make the most of his brief appearance.
Taking a third-and-long snap late in the game, the quarterback scrambled for what looked to be a long touchdown run.
Unfortunately, replay review would overturn that original call.
It was determined that Simpson dropped the ball before reaching paydirt, with the refs spotting the ball down at the one-yard line. Nick Saban was not happy.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson dropped the ball before crossing the goal-line on this 79-yd TD run.
Nick Saban did not look happy. 😡 pic.twitter.com/123yIbpTXe
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) November 18, 2023
Simpson received an earful from his disappointed head coach on the sidelines. He wouldn’t be given a chance at redemption.
Instead of putting the ball back in the freshman’s hands for a second chance at a score, Saban called running back Richard Young’s number for the ensuing touchdown play.
Saban was more than likely not thrilled with Simpson. He doesn’t get the QB sneak call, haha. https://t.co/QPSJ7HgpUR
— Austin Hannon (@austinhannon_) November 18, 2023
Saban looked absolutely disgusted with the miscue, and he was clearly still frustrated with Simpson after Alabama’s 66-10 win.
“Do I have to comment?” he asked in his postgame presser. “Every coach says cross the line and hand the ball to the official.”
Ty Simpson is going to get an absolute earful from Saban about that… I do not envy him right now
— AJ Spurr (@SpurrFM) November 18, 2023
Nick Saban’s doghouse is not the best place to be, especially for a young player trying to solidify his spot on the roster.
Luckily, the fumble didn’t come back to hurt the Tide, or we might’ve seen a more animated response from the head coach. Simpson won’t make that mistake again in Tuscaloosa.