Bo Scarbrough’s time as an Alabama running back has come and gone, but the former five-star still has plenty to offer when it comes to behind-the-scenes details of iconic moments during the Nick Saban era.
Once of those iconic moments came back in 2017 when No. 1 Alabama was set to take on No. 3 Florida State in what many labeled as the best opening-week game in the history of college football.
The Crimson Tide had other plans, however. After a battle in the first half, Alabama separated itself in the final 30 minutes to secure a 24-7 victory over the Seminoles. And speaking candidly, Florida State hasn’t been quite right since.
Scarbrough sat down with Aaron Murray as part of the CampusLore Championship Moments series presented by Amway and XS Energy Drink to discuss how that game went down in his mind.
“We wanted to come out fast and strong, and hit them in the mouth. We wanted to dominate early so when we come around after halftime that we can run the ball, control the game how we wanted to control it, and we wanted to break their will.
We wanted this team to be one of the teams that they never want to play the University of Alabama again. Because those guys play balls against the wall. They playing four quarters out. They’re physically and mentally tough, and they’re not going to break down.
That’s what we came into that game thinking. And everybody had laser focus. Like, when you looked around the locker you, you could tell everyone was locked in and ready to go.”
Needless to say, that is exactly what happened. Alabama broke Florida State’s will in the second half. The result was the Crimson Tide outscoring the Seminoles 14-0 during the last 30 minutes.
Scarbrough tied the team-lead with 15 carries, and the team rushed a total of 42 times for 173 yards and a score.
Since that game, Florida State has struggled mightily.
The team’s record in the four seasons prior to that showdown with Alabama was 47-7 (.870) with 10-plus wins every season and a national title in 2013. Since playing the Tide, the Seminoles are 19-26 and the last three seasons have been under .500.
That is what Scarbrough and the rest of the Alabama team in 2017 did to this group.
