The Alabama Crimson Tide completed a memorable comeback in their College Football Playoff National Championship battle against the Georgia Bulldogs and, with that in mind, it would make sense that members of the title-winning squad would be pleased. However, quarterback Jalen Hurts was benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa to begin the second half and, with the exception of a carry late in the fourth quarter, he was invisible during the comeback.
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Most praised Hurts for supporting his true freshman teammate and putting the team before his individual situation. Still, at least one analyst... did not.
Jalen smiling. Dude you were benched. I wouldn't be smiling
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) January 9, 2018
In some ways, it would make sense that Hurts wouldn't be overly thrilled. Tagovailoa is younger, has more arm talent and likely assumed the starting job as a result of his already legendary heroics.
In the same breath, it isn't overly intuitive to criticize a 19-year-old for being joyful after the game, even if this thought process was simply viewed through the prism of how a different individual would feel. Hurts will have the chance to reclaim the job at some point in the future and, in short, there will be time for him to reflect on what transpired.
In the moment, though, celebrating a national title is probably the move and that's what Hurts did.
