Alabama linebacker Will Anderson's message not taken 'seriously'

Alabama linebacker Will Anderson sent a message to his teammates following the Crimson Tide’s close call against Florida. He called the game an “eye opener” at the time, stating the Crimson Tide needed to be “on the same page.”

This past weekend, the formerly top-ranked Crimson Tide fell at unranked Texas A&M, 41-38. The loss put an already chaotic day of college football on full tilt, marking the first time Alabama lost to an unranked team since 2007.

For this year’s team, it marked the first loss of the season. And Anderson knows No. 5 Alabama can still achieve all the goals it wants to accomplish. But everyone inside the locker room has to get on the same page.

He spoke to the media Monday in Tuscaloosa and made clear he does not feel his message form nearly a month ago was heard.

“I don’t think it was taken seriously,” the emotional and verbal leader of the Crimson Tide said. “After Florida which was a close game, we end up losing this game. We just really have to focus. We’re in our own way right now.”

Alabama defensive struggles

Alabama struggled in many areas in the loss. Bryce Young threw an interception inside the red zone. The offense struggled to move the ball in crucial moments. And the defense allowed the Aggies to drive twice in the final minutes of the game, the last drive resulting in the game-winning field goal.

Most concerning for the Crimson Tide defense, they allowed 41 points including a kickoff return. Texas A&M was also without its starting quarterback, rolling with backup quarterback Zack Calzada. He was name SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

“We’ve got to regain focus, pay attention to little details,” Anderson said. “We’ve all got to come together, sit down. We all have to get on the same page and realize this that is the most important thing right now.”

The linebacker understands what is at stake at Alabama, too. Although he is just a sophomore, he knows what winning looks like — he helped win a national championship last season. Nick Saban has been highly complimentary Anderson.

When asked Monday what he told his teammates following the 2019 loss against LSU, Anderson paused for 10 seconds.

“I mean, what I’ve said to you guys,” he said. “We have to do a better job. Football has to be the most important thing. That’s the biggest thing when you come to Alabama. That’s the standard. Football is the most important thing. That’s what I expressed to the team and that’s what it has to be. And it’s going to be that.”