Alabama's Greg McElroy Wins Through Effort

Sometimes Greg McElroy looks out of place on the football field. Indeed, if you saw him on the street you wouldn’t guess he was a star QB for the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. 

He is a smart student who makes good grades and received the Paul W. Bryant Award for his academic, athletic, and community achievements.  He also hasn’t lost a football game since middle school.

In Southlake Carroll High School in Texas, McElroy had to wait behind former University of Missouri star and current NFL player Chase Daniel to start at QB.  When Daniel graduated and headed to Mizzou, McElroy was a senior with big shoes to fill.

Using his arm and brains, he led Southlake Carroll to one victory after another, eventually winning the state championship.  His coach said that he would throw the football into a net two hours a day to hone his accuracy.

I n 2005, Alabama coach Mike Shula was looking for a quarterback.  His top target was Tim Tebow, a five-star, do-it-all player from Florida.  When Tebow turned 'Bama down for the Florida Gators, a disappointed Shula resorted to offering a scholarship to McElroy, a three-star recruit who was then committed to Texas Tech. 

Greg eagerly accepted the offer to play at a powerhouse like Alabama.

Once again, however, Greg found himself waiting.  This time, it was behind John Parker Wilson, who guided the Tide to a 12-2 record in 2008, his final year.  After Bama’s disappointing bowl game loss to Utah, McElroy walked over to the Alabama coaches and announced he was taking control of the team.

Expectations were fairly high for Alabama in 2009, with a very strong defense and plenty of offensive weapons like Mark Ingram; who went on to win the Heisman trophy at the end of the regular season.  Greg was one of the few question marks, but most fans had faith in him.  Faith that he proved worthy of.

As McElroy walked onto the field in Alabama’s 2009 opener against Virginia Tech, he was nervous, and it showed in his first few drives when he missed some open receivers. As the game went on however, Greg calmed down and began to move the ball with the help of Alabama’s great running backs.  He completed a game-changing deep strike to 'Bama receiver Marquis Maze to put Bama on Tech’s 4 yard line.  After that, it was Alabama’s game, who rolled to a 34-24 victory over the Hokies.

Alabama’s next big game, Arkansas, was a 35-7 beatdown, with McElroy passing for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns.  That win was followed by a another solid McElroy performance against Kentucky.

Unfortunately, Greg hit a midseason rough patch, which forced Alabama to rely on stout defense, and Mark Ingram to win games against Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Greg’s return to form began against LSU, and lasted the rest of the year.  He became a true hero after saving his team from a large deficit against Auburn.  At the end of the regular season, his undefeated streak was preserved.

Greg’s best performance came on one of college football’s biggest stages: the SEC Championship. 

In a twist of fate, on the opposite sideline was be Heisman winner Tim Tebow.  On that day, McElroy, Alabama’s plan B, jumpstarted the Tide with his effort.  On one play, he practically tiptoed along the sideline to pick up a first down. Meanwhile, Tebow struggled in the teeth of Alabama’s defense. 

Greg was named offensive MVP of the game, a 32-13 Alabama win.

On January 7, 2010, Greg was warming up for the national championship game against Texas.  Unfortunately, some of Greg’s ribs were cracked and it affected his game, but his presence and ability to read the Texas defense and find effective run plays helped win the title for Bama.

In the end, Greg McElroy proved through consistent effort, and mostly hard work, anything is possible. 

I’m sure he’s determined to keep his undefeated record intact through 2010 and beyond.