Alabama’s Wilson looks for happy ending

Ken Rogers
Media General News Service
Published: August 23, 2008

TUSCALOOSA — University of Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson either owns or will own nearly every passing record in school history by the end of this season.

More yards than Jay Barker. More completions than Andrew Zow. More touchdowns than Brodie Croyle.

He loves throwing the ball more than Scott Hunter. He looks better than Joe Namath. He’s an even bigger thrill ride than Ken Stabler.

But he hasn’t won big. He’s a .500 quarterback, 13-13 in 26 career starts. Not good enough at Alabama. Not good enough for the former Parade High School All-America honoree. And that is fueling his determination going into his senior year.

“I’ve got one year left, and I’m doing everything I can to finish out on the right note,” Wilson said during camp. “Your last year is what people are going to remember, and I’m planning on making some good memories.”

There have been many good memories in his previous three seasons. But there have been disastrous ones, too. As prolific as his numbers are, when things have gone wrong for Wilson, they’ve gone horribly wrong.

A last-minute drive to beat Arkansas is countered by a costly sack and fumble that handed Florida State a touchdown. Late-game heroics to force overtime against Georgia contrasts with another fumble that set up LSU’s clinching touchdown. A rock solid performance against Tennessee was later followed by the debacle at Mississippi State, when his ill-advised pass was intercepted and returned 100 yards for a touchdown.

He was Bruce Willis in Die Hard. He was that cow in Twister. And that was just last season. He also was the most polarizing figure on the team, as most quarterbacks are when things go bad.

As confounding as his play was how he handled questions about it. No quarterback can dwell on the negative, but it’s tough to ignore disaster when it strikes, too.

By nature, Wilson, like many quarterbacks, is looking forward, forgetting the last play — good or bad — and moving on to the next one. He never took credit for the things that went well, and didn’t take full responsibility for plays that went awry. That unnerved some players in his own locker room.

Wilson denies being the target of verbal blasts from some disgusted teammates after the Mississippi State game. Others say it happened. Either way, it was evident the team was fractured. The Tide’s rapid descent from being 6-2 and No. 17 in the nation to losing its final four regular-season games was dizzying.

Wilson may not agree, but players and coaches say he has changed since the Iron Bowl. For the better. He was the Independence Bowl’s Offensive MVP while throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns against Colorado.

“I think that having a good bowl game last year probably helped his confidence,” Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said. “Certainly, he did a great job in the offseason”

Saban brought in Jim McElwain to work with the quarterback and tweak the offense to display Wilson’s strengths.

“He and Coach Mac seemed to have worked well together,” Saban said. “I think technically he has improved, and I think his decision making and his judgment have improved. Hopefully we can continue to make the big plays and minimize that not-so-good plays that we have, especially when turning the ball over.”

McElwain said his first task was to “rip off the rear-view mirror.”

“He’s been fantastic to work with,” the offensive coordinator said. “In JP’s development, I have been very happy with the time he spent and the things he’s done in the offseason to better himself as a player. I think some of the things he’s maybe gone through are part of the position. I don’t think they are all deserving. This is a great kid. Somebody who cares about the state of Alabama. Somebody who really cares about Alabama football and a guy who is doing everything he can to help us win games this year.”

Center Antoine Caldwell said Wilson seems much more driven going into this season.

“I think he’s probably taken a lot of things personally over this past year,” Caldwell said. “Sometimes as a football player, especially the quarterback, you try to deflect everything. But sometimes you need to take some things personal. I think that’s what he’s done. More meetings, more film, more participation, more work. That’s why I really feel like he’s gonna have a breakout season this year.”

A “breakout season.” For a guy who has started 26 consecutive games and owns single-season school records in pass attempts (462), completions (255), passing yards (2,846), touchdown passes (18) and total offense (2,950). Last year he became the third Alabama quarterback ever with consecutive 2,000-yard seasons, joining Croyle and Walter Lewis.

Clearly, it’s not his arm that needs a breakout season. Alabama needs his leadership, maturity and decision-making to match his stats. Wilson seems to have gotten the message.

“He’s working a lot harder than I’ve ever seen him work,” Tide all-SEC safety Rashad Johnson said. “There’s times we’d come off the field from 7-on-7. He’d ask me, ‘Were you reading my eyes? Did you know where I was throwing that ball?’ Crisper passes, a lot more precision. He’s doing a great job of looking the safety off from where he’s going with the ball.”

Wilson said the hard work spread across the team this summer.

“Not only myself but everybody. We spent more time throwing, more time working out, more time doing everything,” he said. “I think it’s going to pay off for us because I think the whole team has brought our standards higher.“

Offensive lineman Drew Davis said Wilson seems “a little more commanding in the huddle, more of a leader-type role. Obviously, he’s more comfortable with the offense.“

Receiver Mike McCoy has noticed the difference in his quarterback, too.

“True leader,” McCoy said flatly when asked about Wilson’s development. “That’s all I can say. His numbers will show for this year. I expect him to have a great year. He’s really taken on the role and stepped into the spotlight.”

McCoy said that spotlight’s glare can be unnerving.

“I think a lot of people talk about him and a lot of people criticize him, they don’t realize the pressure.” The receiver said. “This is the University of Alabama. I feel like this is football country. There’s no other place like it. For John Parker to put up the numbers that he did, he’s so much more relaxed now. He talks to us. He knows what he wants this year.”

Saban said Wilson seems more on an even keel.

“He seemed to be a little more business-like in his approach,” the coach said. “He is a great competitor and very emotional guy. Sometimes playing quarterback, you want a guy to make business decisions and not get caught up emotionally in trying too hard and forcing things. He seems to have developed a real maturity in that area.”

Wilson bristled at being called “emotional,” but understands what Saban is saying.

“I wouldn’t say I got too emotional, but yeah, I hope so,” he said. “You gotta keep everything separate and not get too hyped up. I think I handled it a little better this spring.”

Wilson and his teammates say the quarterback has adapted quickly and well to the offensive changes McElwain introduced. McElwain is keenly aware that he is Wilson’s third offensive coordinator in four seasons. A new system wasn’t necessary.

“In his case, I’m his third voice,” the coach said. “I’ve been in this situation before. That is a hard thing for the quarterback because even though changes aren’t big, nuances are. … But at the end of the day it’s all about wins and losses and we can’t lose sight of that fact. If we have five yards of offense and win the game 3-0, it’s the greatest game in the history of football because we won. And that’s what the bottom line is, trying to win the football game.”

Wilson said the “nuances” are giving him more options on pass plays, hopefully avoiding the disastrous play.

“This offense is going to help out a lot with that,” Wilson said. “There are different things we can do. Quick game and throwing to the backs.”

Wilson said he’s got high expectations for himself, “but I think my expectations are always really high.”

“I hold myself to a pretty high standard,” he said. “I think you’ve got to.”

But he also has high expectations for this team.

“I think we’re gonna put a good product on the field,” he said. “I feel confident about what we’ve been doing. I think this team can do a lot. We’ve got great talent. We’ve got a great offensive line. I think we can go a long way. It’s just putting it together on the field that’s the big thing.”