AJ McCarron Shares How Nick Saban Helped Him Create His Favorite Alabama Moment
AJ McCarron left an indelible mark on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Twelve years after his collegiate career ended, McCarron remains Alabama's all-time leader in completions and passing yards while ranking third in touchdown passes. He led the Crimson Tide to national championships in 2011 and 2012 on the way to racking up a school-record 36 wins in three seasons as Nick Saban's starting quarterback.
But in a new interview, McCarron revealed that his favorite moment in Tuscaloosa had nothing to do with the national championships, or his role in the Saban era's wild success.
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Instead, McCarron revealed that his "most special moment" at Alabama occurred in his final home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 23, 2013. That was when Saban and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier put Corey McCarron, AJ's younger brother, in for a play during the second half of a 49-0 win over Chattanooga.
"For me, it's the completion I got to my brother," McCarron told "The Next Round" at the Regions Tradition golf tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. "It was my last game at Bama, and I had been telling Saban 'hey, I want him in' ... We were up (by enough points) and he said 'alright.' I can still to this day hear my mom screaming in the stands."
The play call, known as "Nashville," was a quick out-route that saw Corey McCarron -- a walk-on tight end who later played at Middle Tennessee State -- pick up a three-yard reception. More than a decade later, AJ admitted to "The Next Round" that the gesture still makes him "choke up."
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"It's such a special moment to be able to have that with my brother, and to be able to share it with our kids is pretty cool," he said.
Related: Former LSU Star Predicts Garrett Nussmeier to Follow Jayden Daniels' Footsteps
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