John Parker Wilson laughs about it today, but the thought of walking home from Baton Rouge back in 2008 didn’t sit well with him back then.
The former Alabama quarterback, who joined AL.com’s Beat Everybody podcast this week, shared his memories of the 2008 LSU game, including his touchdown-celebrating penalty and one of Nick Saban’s most memorable comments born out of visiting his former team.
Saban has made a lifetime of memories for Alabama players and its fans over the past 17 years. In 2008 against LSU, it was Saban’s “Make His Ass Quit” speech to his team which has become one of his all-time messages.
“How much does this game mean to you?” Saban asked his players. “Because if it means something to you, you can’t stand still. You understand? You play fast. You play strong. You go out there and dominate the guy you’re playing against, and make his ass quit! That’s our trademark! That’s our M.O. as a team! That’s what people know us as!”
It was Saban’s first trip to LSU - his former team - with his Crimson Tide. The message was sent. For Wilson, it was one of those “things you never forget.”
RELATED: Wilson talks about how Kalen DeBoer isn’t Saban and that’s OK
“It was different because everyone knew what was on the line, and coach Saban is going to play his old team,” Wilson said. “He’s with us now. We have to go win that game for him, us, everybody.”
No. 1 Alabama (10-0, 6-0) got three interceptions from Rashad Johnson, and a 1-yard sneak from Wilson in overtime to pull out a 27-21 victory over No. 15 LSU (6-3, 3-3).
Just as importantly, the win clinched Alabama’s first SEC Western Division title since 1999 and secured a spot in the 2008 SEC Championship Game.
Perhaps just as memorable was a Wilson’s sneak was his 1-yard run to open the scoring in the game.
In the week leading up the game, Wilson’s cell phone was leaked on the Internet. His cell phone shut down due to the volume of texts, calls and messages.
“I had to shut down my phone,” he recalled. “My brother was like, ‘You have to do the ‘Call Me’ (celebration if you win.’ Tebow did it.”
Wilson remembers his reaction to that suggestion.
“It’s never gonna happen,” he said. “First off, the likelihood of me running in a touchdown is pretty low.”
Yet, there they were. The Tide on the 1-yard line in a scoreless game.
“I had no intentions of doing it whatsoever. It wasn’t premeditated. I stand up, and the student section is right in front of me. I pull it out and do it.”
However, Wilson’s gesture cost the Tide 15 yards on the kickoff. “I knew I messed up. We kick off, they score two plays later. I’m like this ain’t good. Basically, gave them a touchdown.”
In hindsight, Wilson admits, the execution of his celebration was on point. The duration is what got him. “I drug it out too long,” he admits. I definitely deserved the penalty.”
The Hoover product revealed on the podcast how Saban reacted to the penalty.
“Coach Saban never said anything,” Wilson said. “He didn’t have to. He looked at me. I looked at him. I was like, ‘Got it. It won’t happen again.’
“Luckily, we won the game. Had we not, he probably would have made me walk back to Tuscaloosa.”
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.