Texas Ties Run Deep In the Alabama Backfield

The Alabama Crimson Tide is set for a heavyweight collision with the Texas Longhorns in Tuscaloosa this weekend as the eyes of the college football world descend on Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The Longhorns enter the game with revenge on the mind after losing a hard-fought, one-point game in Austin a season ago. Head coach Steve Sarkisian is still searching for a signature win as his third year at the Texas helm kicked off last week, however, for some, the game carries even deeper significance.

"To speak about this week, it's very exciting. This is one of the reasons you come to play college football for moments like this," said Alabama starting quarterback Jalen Milroe on Monday. "We know we have a tough matchup this week. We're excited. But number one, we're gonna focus on today. Try to improve and clean up the little details we need to improve on. But to speak about this weekend, we're excited. We're ready to approach every day, try to get better. I know the offensive gameplan has a great gameplan ahead of us."

Not only is Milroe trying to "LANK" and insure he remains the Alabama starter by playing well, but the quarterback from Katy, Texas acknowledged the personal magnitude of the game due to familial fondness for the Longhorns program.

Milroe won't be alone this weekend as he lines up under-center. The 6-2 quarterback will be flanked by starting tailback Jase McClellan from Aledo, Texas, who also revealed his household is divided with Longhorn loyalty.

“My family was Texas fans and that’s where they wanted me to go coming out of high school, but I didn’t see myself going there," said McClellan on Tuesday. "My cousin actually played for them and he tried to get me to go there, but I wasn't feeling it.”

In fact, there are 10 players on the Crimson Tide roster with Texas roots. Milroe and McClellan are the most notable, but running back Jam Miller, from Tyler, Texas may also take snaps on Saturday.

The game holds obvious significance to the college football world, as evidenced by the magnitude of media invading west Alabama, including ESPN's flagship program College GameDay.

The fans will be intense as the blue-bloods collide on the gridiron on Saturday and the smack-talk will undoubtedly increase tensions, but eventually everyone goes home and new games and seasons capture the hearts and minds of college football conversationalist.

The memories and fallout from Saturday's contest is sure to last a lot longer, win or lose, for Milroe, McClellan, Miller and the other seven Alabama players from Texas

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