If you’re experiencing some déjà vu, you’re not alone.
One week after Alphonzo Tuputala of Washington cost himself a pick-six by dropping the football before reaching the end zone, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson pulled off the same exact ignominious feat on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa.
With the Crimson Tide already in command with a 52-10 lead over Chattanooga, Nick Saban sent out backup quarterback Ty Simpson in what was already garbage time early in the fourth quarter.
On a third-and-9 from Alabama’s own 21, Simpson took a snap out of the shotgun and looked to pass before feeling the heat and scrambling to his left on a broken play.
Not only did Simpson pick up the first down untouched, the signal-caller had a caravan of blockers down the far sideline and easily scampered into the end zone unscathed for a 79-yard touchdown.
That was until officials gave the play a closer look.
After a couple of replays, the referees determined, much like the play in Washington a week ago, that Simpson had dropped the ball before crossing the plane, negating the touchdown and giving Simpson a 78-yard run with a fumble.
However, unlike the play where the Cougars ended up turning over the ball, the Crimson Tide kept possession of the pigskin at the 1-yard line
Alabama took advantage of the second chance, punching the ball in with running back Richard Young to keep the scoring going.
After the game, Saban was asked about the drop and seemed perturbed, despite coming away with an easy 66-10 win over the FCS opponent.
“I mean, do I have to comment on that?” Saban said, per the Associated Press. “Every coach says cross the goal line and hand the ball to the official.”
The positive that’s come out of the gaffes the last two weeks? Both Washington and Alabama ended up as victors.
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