Around Tuscaloosa, the mere mention of Steve Sarkisian elicits groans.
He called plays for 60 minutes, the Crimson Tide lost to Clemson in the final second of that term during the 2017 College Football Playoff national championship game and Sarkisian left the scene shortly thereafter.
He resurfaced in Atlanta, where he spent this past season being second-guessed and scrutinized as Atlanta's offensive coordinator.
But Sarkisian has an advocate in one of Alabama's ex-stars. Yes, Julio, Jones, the star Falcons receiver, has Sark's back.
"Sark was good," said Jones, who was in T-Town on Tuesday to announce his ownership stake in a pair of local auto dealerships.