Alabama OG Tyler Booker on the Team's Mindset: 'We're Pissed Off'

Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said he would be "shocked" if his team didn't respond to the loss last week in a positive way.

Austin Hannon | Sep 11, 2023

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Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Losses hurt.

Without a doubt, Saturday night's loss against Texas at Bryant-Denny Stadium hurt for all of the players and coaches within the Alabama program. But in the time of the College Football Playoff, one loss doesn't kill you. Both fortunately and unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, the loss came in Week 2. That gives Alabama enough time to bounce back, but it has to be perfect the rest of the way.

The Crimson Tide found out last year that two losses eliminate you from contention — and the two losses last year were by a combined four points.

The loss against the Longhorns on Saturday night was emphatic.

Alabama has the entire season ahead beginning with a matchup against USF in Tampa on Saturday. So, after a crushing early-season loss, where's the mindset of the team at right now?

"We’re pissed off, I’m not going to lie," offensive guard Tyler Booker said. "Who wants to lose at home? There’s only been two undefeated national championship teams here at The University of Alabama. All of our goals are still attainable. We can still win the SEC West, still win the SEC, and get into the College Football Playoff. This was just a wake-up call for us. We’re all taking heed to what Coach is saying. In order to be who we are and who we need to be, to play to that Alabama standard, we have to execute."

"In our eyes, to respond is to play to the ‘Bama standard. That’s what we’re going to do. We had a lot of opportunities to capitalize off of their mistakes, and that’s what we didn’t do. That’s not playing to the ‘Bama standard. A response from us is playing to the ‘Bama standard."

Saban echoed Booker, saying that he would be very surprised if his team didn't show up in a much different manner on Saturday and moving forward.

"I would be shocked if this team doesn’t respond in a really positive way — to try and get better, to try and do the things they need to do to get fixed," Saban said. "But we have to have better execution. We gotta do simple things better — whether it’s pass protection, blocking, controlling the line of scrimmage, not giving up big plays on defense. Those are the things that are gonna change."

"This is not just about [the] attitude of players. They all wanted to win more than any fan, more than anybody in this room — and they put all the work and preparation into it. I feel badly for them that we weren’t able to do whatever we need to do as coaches to try to help them have a better chance to be successful in the game. And we’re all responsible for it and we’re all going to try to work hard to get better. So, I would be shocked if these guys don’t come in here today with the attitude that we’re going to go out there and try to improve and get better. And the future is now. We’ve got to do it now — that’s the main thing."

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