‘Bama quarterback AJ McCarron led Tide to national title despite rib injury

Tuscaloosa, AL, United States (4E Sports) – Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron played through the final five games with an injured ribs last season, the two-time national champion said Friday.

McCarron said he sustained three displaced ribs when he was sacked hard in Alabama’s game against Mississippi State on October 27.

After that devastating hit, the Crimson Tide quarterback had to tone down his activity during practice and played through the pain as the Crimson Tide tried to make their case in the BCS Champions Game.

“I couldn’t throw much during the week for a long time, really almost up to the bowl game. I was hurting really bad through the week, and it just took a long time for those ribs to heal,” McCarron told ESPN on Friday.

However, McCarron said the five-week rest Alabama had going into the BCS Championship clash against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish helped him recover just in time for the big game.

McCarron threw four touchdowns to lead Alabama to their second straight national title and third in last four years.

With a 25-2 record and two National titles around his belt, McCarron has a chance to enhance his legendary college football career next season as the Crimson Tide look to win it all for the third consecutive time.

“It’s part of being a leader,” McCarron told ESPN. “We had a lot of guys gutting it out at that point in the season. We all had our eyes on the same thing.”

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