Photo courtesy of Alabama Athletics

Taking snaps under center as the starting quarterback of any football team brings a certain amount of pressure and responsibility, but being Alabama football’s quarterback and making your first start on the road in a hostile environment is a different animal.

This reality is something Ty Simpson is preparing for this Saturday when Alabama football kicks off its season against Florida State in Tallahassee. And who better to help Simpson navigate the waters in such an anxious time than College Football Hall of Famer and longtime Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

“I talked to Coach Saban here recently, and I asked him the same question,” Simpson told reporters after practice on Tuesday. “I was like, ‘What do I need to tell myself going into a game like this?’ How to not get so anxious, how to not get nervous, how to not make it bigger than what it is. He was just like, ‘Hey, just play within yourself. Make sure that you keep your team out of negative plays and negative drives.’ “He always said that if you end the drive with a kick— a PAT, a field goal or a punt— then you’re in good shape, and you’re not dead in the water. I’m taking that approach and just making sure I’m gonna march down the field and do everything I can to move the ball forward and not go backward.”

Simpson was originally recruited by Saban to Alabama as a five-star recruit in and played two seasons under the legendary head coach before he retired.

The former five-star now hopes to utilize this advice to his advantage on Saturday and the coming Saturdays as he leads Alabama football on offense in 2025.

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Trevion Ware is a contributing writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine that covers The University of Alabama Crimson Tide Football team. Ware is official credentialed media with The University of Alabama through Touchdown Alabama Magazine.