Chapter 84: 083 Hit someone in the face
He rattled off a barrage of bombshells, but Jackson still controlled his urge to curse and didn't fall into the reporter's trap by engaging directly—
Running back?
Honestly, he didn't want to bother, didn't want to have anything to do with that running back, and he even refused to comment on that name coming from his own mouth.
It was an outright insult.
Everybody knew there was a wall between quarterbacks and running backs, and it was a wall visible to the naked eye, as solid as the East African Rift Valley.
Unless you were blind, how could you not see it?
Even though the swear words were on the tip of his tongue, Jackson still shut his mouth; he truly didn't want to ruin his public image over a running back and affect his draft prospects.
Jackson knew the NFL didn't like loudmouthed quarterbacks.
So, Jackson restrained himself, treated that running back like filth, invisible and unheard, refusing to comment and completely ignoring him.
Having said that, Jackson didn't pay the reporters any more attention and quickly turned and left.
Watson couldn't escape unscathed either.
"Watson, the Crimson Tide Storm won again, and Li Wei scored three rushing touchdowns once more, overpowering the currently seventh-ranked University of Tennessee with an absolutely dominant performance. What are your thoughts on this?"
Watson and Jackson were in the same predicament, but unlike Jackson, Watson didn't hide his disdain and revulsion, his face full of loathing.
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"I don't think he's anything special, everyone says he's the second Derrick Henry, haha, if Derrick Henrys could be mass-produced, then he wouldn't be Derrick Henry."
"Stats?"
"Of course, the stats look great. But we all know what those NCAA stat padders are all about, they're simply to boost draft rankings, the result of the whole team's effort being directed towards one player. How much weight they truly carry will be revealed soon enough, even without waiting for Rookie Training Camp."
"So far, the Crimson Tide Storm has never faced a real defensive powerhouse. I don't think their offensive group's stats are of any reference value."
Arrogant, direct, tough.
Watson showed a completely different face, not beating around the bush because of draft positions, and didn't hide his contempt in his words.
However, the reporter immediately touched on a sore point, "But you lost to the Crimson Tide Storm in the warm-up game."
Watson's veins throbbed uncontrollably, "That was a warm-up game, a warm-up game! In the second half, I didn't play, or the result would have been different. Don't forget, we shut out the Crimson Tide in the first half, leading by three touchdowns, and that's their true level."
Reporter: …
If it was a "meaningless" warm-up game, why remember the details so clearly? What kind of blatant double standard is this?
Since Watson "remembered" so clearly, he should not have forgotten, "Li Wei didn't play in the first half either; and you played in the fourth quarter..."
Seeing that the reporter was about to expose old wounds, Watson cut him off abruptly, furiously stomping, and with an expression that could kill, he said through clenched teeth.
"We lost to Saban's Defensive group. Note, it was the Defensive group, not the Offensive group!"
"Defensive group!"
"Also, that was a warm-up game, I didn't play the whole game, victory wasn't our goal, training and tactics were, we're not as greedy as the Crimson Tide Storm, trying to win every game. We have our plan, we have our pace, and everything is on the right track."
"Wait until we meet in the nationwide championship, I will prove myself with my performance."
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"We will."
Crunch, crunch.
It wasn't entirely certain whether that was the sound of Watson's teeth breaking or not.
"Never mind us for now. We just defeated the Louisville Cardinals led by Jackson, proving that we are still the favorites for this season's championship. Unlike Crimson Tide Storm, their real test is only just beginning."
"Tennessee isn't a benchmark either. The NCAA rankings are just for reference. Next come traditional defensive powerhouses like Texas A&M and Louisiana State, which will be the real test. We'll wait and see."
Watson's remarks, forceful as a storm, couldn't be taken at face value and were only for reference. But, at least one of his points was correct:
The true test for Crimson Tide Storm was just beginning.
Texas A&M University, a traditional football powerhouse, was renowned for its defense.
In the 2012 season, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first freshman ever to win, which brought instant fame to this traditional football powerhouse. However, their real tradition was in defense.
At the beginning of the year, the 50th Super Bowl, "Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers," saw the Broncos' lineman Von Miller terrorize the entire offensive line of the Panthers and leave quarterback Cam Newton scrambling all game. His undisputed performance won him the Super Bowl MVP.
That Von Miller hailed from Texas A&M.
Moreover, in recent years, Texas A&M had consistently produced outstanding defensive players for the professional league, and this season was no exception—
Myles Garrett, a junior, played as a defensive end.
In the 2015 season, Garrett racked up 59 tackles, 19.5 effective pressures, 12.5 sacks, and one interception, displaying dominant performance on the defensive line, winning a series of awards and attracting attention from numerous professional teams as the strongest defensive lineman in the NCAA.
This season, he continued to be powerful. His exceptional talent, diligent attitude, and modest demeanor secured him as a first-round pick early on, and many professionals even believed he had the merit to be the overall top pick.
Unfortunately, he sprained his ankle in week four, missed two games, and only returned last week, still in the process of getting back into shape. However, his attitude in the game continued to be praised unanimously.
This week, the clash between the strong defensive teams of Texas A&M and Alabama was doubtlessly a highlight.
Specifically, the collision between "Alabama's offensive group vs. Texas A&M's defensive group" was to be watched even closer; in particular, potential top draft pick Garrett would be the litmus test.
Up until now, under Saban's leadership, Alabama's offensive group, historically a weak spot, had been performing almost perfectly. They had exhibited top-level capabilities in both passing and rushing. The only downside was that they hadn't faced any real powerhouses and hadn't felt the pressure of a first-rate defensive group; their victories lacked a bit of persuasive power.
Finally, finally!
Texas A&M and Garrett had arrived.
Not just the NCAA, but the NFL was also casting its gaze, with numerous focal points in this game that carried countless concerns and curiosities.
Compared to Tennessee, sixth-ranked Texas A&M had a superior combined strength in both offense and defense and was undoubtedly one of the seed teams contending for this season's nationwide championship. They would be Alabama's toughest and most troublesome opponent so far this season.
Everyone was looking forward to a clash as explosive as Mars hitting Earth, to test the mettle of Alabama's offensive group; Watson's views were those of a professional.
However.
Alabama Crimson Tide Storm made their own statement: there was no need to make such a fuss, seriously, no need.
"14:40".
The full game ended, with the visiting team in front, the home team behind.
The field in sight was the familiar Bryant Denny Stadium.
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