First of all, I only see Crimson and White colors when Bama is playing. The first time thinking about him being the first was when I read this.
A Jalen Hurts National Championship Win Will be First for Alabama with a Black Quarterback
CEDRIC MASON - TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA MAGAZINE
The University of Alabama and the Crimson Tide football team have shared a history of success academically as well as athletically. From a football perspective, the Tide has won 16 national championships. Within those 16, zero come from a quarterback who shares the same skin color as current starting quarterback Jalen Hurts.
The significance of this? For those who may be unaware, there was a time when people of color were prohibited from attending the University of Alabama as a part of the student body. For all of the accomplishments black players have achieved since segregation has been abolished, none of them include a national championship in which the most important position player has been black.
Jalen Hurts has the opportunity to do this Monday night.
When Blake Sims won the starting quarterback position over Jacob Coker in 2014, this and only this opened the eyes of many young black quarterbacks who too dreamed of playing for the Tide — as a quarterback — one day. While Sims fell short of a title, he paved the way for not just the young black aspiring quarterbacks, but for many fans who grew familiar (and comfortable) with the typical stigma of having a white quarterback leading the Tide.
Now, if you look at the Alabama roster, you see not just Hurts as a signal caller, but Tua Tagovailoa, who is of Samoan decent. The impact of Jalen Hurts leading the Tide to a championship is akin to when Doug Williams did the same for the Washington Redskins 30 years ago becoming the first black quarterback in the NFL to win the Super Bowl. Hurts too just missed this feeling a year ago when fellow black quarterback Deshaun Watson lead a stellar comeback win over the Tide, leaving one second on the clock.
Ask many of the older black Alabama residents if they ever thought they would see the day a black player would suit up for the Tide. Ask them again if they ever dreamed they would see a black quarterback be the face of such a storied program. Many of them will tell you no to both questions.
While it is possible this could be the last time Hurts takes the field as the unquestioned leader, no one can diminish the impact and the pride felt by the black community should he bring home the sixth ring for Nick Saban, and number 17 for the Crimson Tide.
There will be many eyes watching on Monday night, but the eyes of the elder black Alabama fans will be watching with a different vibe. They will be waiting to see Hurts hoist up a championship trophy, and they’ll be watching with pride.
A Jalen Hurts National Championship Win Will be First for Alabama with a Black Quarterback
CEDRIC MASON - TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA MAGAZINE
The University of Alabama and the Crimson Tide football team have shared a history of success academically as well as athletically. From a football perspective, the Tide has won 16 national championships. Within those 16, zero come from a quarterback who shares the same skin color as current starting quarterback Jalen Hurts.
The significance of this? For those who may be unaware, there was a time when people of color were prohibited from attending the University of Alabama as a part of the student body. For all of the accomplishments black players have achieved since segregation has been abolished, none of them include a national championship in which the most important position player has been black.
Jalen Hurts has the opportunity to do this Monday night.
When Blake Sims won the starting quarterback position over Jacob Coker in 2014, this and only this opened the eyes of many young black quarterbacks who too dreamed of playing for the Tide — as a quarterback — one day. While Sims fell short of a title, he paved the way for not just the young black aspiring quarterbacks, but for many fans who grew familiar (and comfortable) with the typical stigma of having a white quarterback leading the Tide.
Now, if you look at the Alabama roster, you see not just Hurts as a signal caller, but Tua Tagovailoa, who is of Samoan decent. The impact of Jalen Hurts leading the Tide to a championship is akin to when Doug Williams did the same for the Washington Redskins 30 years ago becoming the first black quarterback in the NFL to win the Super Bowl. Hurts too just missed this feeling a year ago when fellow black quarterback Deshaun Watson lead a stellar comeback win over the Tide, leaving one second on the clock.
Ask many of the older black Alabama residents if they ever thought they would see the day a black player would suit up for the Tide. Ask them again if they ever dreamed they would see a black quarterback be the face of such a storied program. Many of them will tell you no to both questions.
While it is possible this could be the last time Hurts takes the field as the unquestioned leader, no one can diminish the impact and the pride felt by the black community should he bring home the sixth ring for Nick Saban, and number 17 for the Crimson Tide.
There will be many eyes watching on Monday night, but the eyes of the elder black Alabama fans will be watching with a different vibe. They will be waiting to see Hurts hoist up a championship trophy, and they’ll be watching with pride.
