After a horrendous start that saw superstar WR Jaylen Waddle end his Alabama career with a broken ankle, the Tide forged on with a workmanlike effort to dismantle Tennessee in Knoxville. Seeing Waddle go down was heartbreaking, particularly on such an insignificant play. That was the only kick return the Tide attempted on Saturday, and oh to be able to go back in time and have him fair catch the ball.
That’s isn’t Waddle’s game, of course. Returning kicks will be a specialty in the NFL for him. He has the rare ability to take the ball to the house any time he touches it, and it would be hypocritical to have enjoyed all of the eye-popping plays, some of which seemed impossible, and then decry his decision to make something out of nothing on the opening kick.