Jalen Milroe learned to 'trust the process' under Nick Saban

It isn’t easy to find a more knowledgeable mentor than Nick Saban. In an interview with Adam Breneman, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe revealed the greatest lesson he learned from the former Crimson Tide head coach.

“As cliché as it is, trust the process. I think that’s the biggest thing that I took from Coach Saban,” Milroe said. “Everybody’s process is different. They might play their fifth year, fourth year, third year, sixth year— everybody’s process is different. It’s all about trusting in the program, as a whole.

“Trust in yourself for whenever your opportunity presents itself, maximize it. Prepare the right way. And one thing that he did was better us as men, beyond the player, building a brand for yourself on the field and then carrying it off the field.”

Milroe was forced to trust the process last season. After starting in Alabama’s Week 1 blowout win over Middle Tennessee State, the nation showered him with praise. However, just one week later, disaster struck.

In Alabama’s 34-24 loss to Texas, Milroe only completed 14-of-his-27 pass attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. In seven days, the nation turned its back on Milroe. Saban seemingly followed suit, benching the redshirt sophomore.

However, as usual, Saban had a plan. The decision to sit Milroe was a test, and the budding star passed with flying colors. Saban reinstated Milroe as the team’s starting quarterback in Week 4, and he only improved each following week.

In Alabama’s 27-24 win over Auburn in Week 13, Milroe’s improvement reached a pinnacle. Alabama was fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line. With the game on the line, Milroe threw a dart to the corner of the end zone. Bullseye.

Alabama WR Isaiah Bond came down with the pigskin, boosting Alabama to its fourth-consecutive victory in the Iron Bowl. The win began a domino effect. Next, Alabama defeated Georgia in the SEC Championship. Consequently, the Crimson Tide earned a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Jalen Milroe couldn’t be more thankful for Saban’s tough love during the trying times.

“He had a high standard for all of us,” Milroe said of Saban. “Everyone, as a whole; top down, no matter who it was. We were held to a high standard and when you have that, that’s going to get you to be better. Everybody as a whole, get you to be better.

“No matter if you’re a scholarship [player] or a walk on, you were treated the same way. He just pushed us to be successful. I learned a lot of great things from Coach Saban. I can go on and on and on, but if I had to narrow it down to one thing, I’d say trust the process.”