JaMarcus Russell weighs in on the Iron Bowl rivalry, who he preferred growing up

JaMarcus Russell tore up the SEC during his time at LSU, but was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama.

Naturally, all the rage was the Iron Bowl for a young football stud growing up. During an appearance on The Pivot Podcast with Ryan Clark and company, Russell weighed in on the rivalry between Auburn and Alabama, and revealed which program he preferred growing up.

“Growing up, Alabama and Auburn — I never really liked Alabama. I just liked some of the players,” stated Russell. “I liked Auburn over Alabama. But I never wanted to go to college there. I never did.”

There you have it — the Alabama-born Russell couldn’t be bothered by the Crimson Tide, but had a fondness for the Tigers. However, he spurned both programs and chose to play his college ball away from home, taking his talents to LSU.

While his NFL career never panned out, JaMarcus Russell showcased phenomenal talent while playing for the Tigers. However, if he chose to suit up for Auburn or Alabama, who knows how many things would’ve changed throughout the recent history of college football.

More on JaMarcus Russell, NFL Career

Selected No. 1 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft, JaMarcus Russell was expected to lead the franchise into their next era of success. Instead, the quarterback was famously out of the league by the end of the 2009 season.

Joining Ryan Clark and the guys on The Pivot Podcast, Russell gave an unusual response when asked if he’s the biggest bust in NFL history.

“When you look at it that way, I say I must have been the best to be the biggest, right? I’ll say my s— didn’t turn out how I would have wanted it to, or not how they expected it to. But if you’re going to call me a bust like they say, put the biggest on that m———–, man. If you’re going to say it, put the biggest on that m———–. But that s— don’t bother me, man,” stated Russell. “Like, that s— is not in my world. In my world, I’m a m———–, you feel me? That b——- don’t happen, it don’t apply on my s—. It don’t apply to none of my family s—. It don’t apply to nothing that we have going on.

“Man, they can bust all they want. Like I tell them, I bust out and went to college. I bust out and bust some scenes out my s—. So, like it’s cool bro. Like, I’ve never really been the guy that really talks s—, but when I do it bro. S—, my homie right there, like come on bro. You know what’s happening bro. Like, this s— go deep bro. I’m still here bro. I just ain’t in the Instagram, and all that s—. I ain’t got nothing to show and tell.”

Evidently, Russell is embracing the moniker — he doesn’t just want to be a bust, he wants to be the bust. If people are going to say it anyways, he might as well get in on the fun.