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Tommy Rees ripped on social media following Alabama’s questionable OT play call
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Tommy Rees is feeling the heat from Alabama fans — and plenty of criticism from college football fans as a whole — for a puzzling play call on the final play of the Crimson Tide’s 27-20 overtime loss in the Rose Bowl.
Michigan needed just 2 plays to get it into the end zone as it received the ball 1st in the extra session. Alabama then worked it to a 4th-and-goal on the 3 yard line, but elected to call for a quarterback run up the middle that was almost immediately stopped by Michigan’s D.
JALEN MILROE IS STOPPED ON 4TH DOWN?
THE WOLVERINES ARE HEADED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ? #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/X2x3tPzwqr
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2024
For an offensive line that had been chewed apart by the Wolverines’ defensive front all night (Michigan ended the evening with 6 sacks), it was certainly a headscratcher, especially after plenty of time to think about it after a series of timeouts.
And, as a result, Alabama is headed home while Michigan is in the College Football Playoff national championship game for the first time in program history after losing back-to-back semifinals. It now awaits the winner of Texas-Washington’s Sugar Bowl semifinal.
Take a look at some of the reaction to Rees’s playcall:
Just zero chance for success on that play. Everyone knew what was coming when the back motioned to empty.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 2, 2024
Alabama play calling pic.twitter.com/reykAGibvV
— Trevor Rogers (@TrevorRogers_1) January 2, 2024
Would love to go back and chart Alabamas empty formation plays. Would bet a large amount it was darn near negative yards and that’s what they go to with their lives on the line. Tommy Rees, man…. #GoIrish
— Cole Ashby (@CoachAshby2) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees, that’s what you dialed up on 4th and goal?
That’s one of the worst play calls I’ve seen.
— Notre Dame Recruiting (@NDrecruiting01) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees trying to clock in tomorrow pic.twitter.com/AqyycjjfMe
— ????????? ? (@ClemsonPEPE) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees with a national title on the line after 17 timeouts pic.twitter.com/akMsDLXRFo
— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees’ worst game of the year.
Absolutely anemic offensively from start to finish.
— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) January 2, 2024
People were being fooled by all the miraculous plays Jalen Milroe made down the stretch. Tommy Rees was still Tommy Rees.
— Dr. SEC (@thedrsec) January 2, 2024
Aye Tommy Rees better fly commercial home he can’t get his ass on that team plane
— Free Shaad ⛓️? (@raymo100k) January 2, 2024
Good game man Tommy Rees better not be back at Bama next year
— Devin Flowers (@LemonpepperDev) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees on 4th and goal with a trip to the Natty on the line. pic.twitter.com/SRkfAVHLcv
— Jared Smith (@jarsmitty1) January 2, 2024
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.