How Jimbo Fisher tipped off Alabama on Texas A&M's call for decisive final play
Alabama was in a tough spot.
Texas A&M had the ball with three seconds remaining and a chance for a walk-off touchdown. Score and Aggies win. Don't score and the Crimson Tide preserves the victory.
What play would Jimbo Fisher call?
One that didn't work — partly because of a bad throw, partly because of poor execution by the receiver, and partly because of Terrion Arnold's coverage.
But Arnold didn't have to play as much of a guessing game. He knew where the play was going.
"I'm actually looking at Jimbo before the play, just going through," Arnold said, "and he's like, 'Evan, Evan, Evan, Evan.' I was like, 'OK, I'm ready.'"
Arnold was lined up out wide across from Texas A&M freshman Evan Stewart. Then Arnold made the play to help No. 1 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) preserve a 24-20 victory over Texas A&M (3-3, 1-2) at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
"In my head, I'm just thinking, 'Don't get beat,'" Arnold said. "I'm like, 'OK, they've been going to Evan. Evan is kind of hot.' I'm using my clues and looking at their tendencies."
That was the seventh target for Stewart on the final drive. He had caught five of them. One was a big 23-yard catch.
In total, Stewart was targeted 19 times during the course of the game. He caught eight of them for 106 yards. His longest reception went for 43 yards.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How Jimbo Fisher tipped off Alabama to Texas A&M's call on final play
