It is hard to see who exactly has more pressure on them entering into the 2013 season. Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron is coming off winning back-to-back National Championships and being the most efficient quarterback of the 2012 season. Expectations to repeat the performance are at an all-time high. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy after a breakout season, but a slew of offseason dramatics have people wondering if he can survive a looming sophomore slump. Hard to believe these two are both good friends off the field.
While attending the Manning Passing Academy put on by Eli and Peyton, McCarron discussed his somewhat controversial friendship with Manziel. Fans might not be too happy these two are close, as Manziel provided the Crimson Tide with their only loss of the 2012 season. While it did not matter in the long haul considering Alabama went on to win their second consecutive championship, the loss still resonates in the heart's of the Tide faithful.
McCarron notes that two are very close, even going on vacation together in the offseason. They rely on each other for advice and are only enemies when on the field.
"We're friends. He knows if he ever needs anything-advice-I'm here for him and vice versa. People try to make the football thing a competition. When we're inside the white lines, yeah, we're both playing to win the game. But football's just a game. It's not life so us being friends is a lot better than us being enemies because we're not gonna get anything out of us being enemies," McCarron said to CBSSports.com.
Even though Manziel was the quarterback that gained all of the attention last season, McCarron is not worried about trying to be like his friend. McCarron notes that he never tries to one-up anybody, "I just want rings." A good thing to have an eye on.
McCarron finished last season throwing for 2,933 yards and 30 touchdowns while only giving up three interceptions. With another top recruiting class, Alabama is going to be expected to be in contention once again for a championship. It is that kind of pressure that McCarron thrives on, saying it keeps the team from getting complacent regardless of how much success they have had.
"It's a blessing. But I think it shows how great our coaches are and how great our team's been with the work ethic year-in and year-out. Nobody's really complacent about anything or pleased in any sort of way. Everybody's coming and worked hard. Hopefully we can keep that track going," McCarron said.
The next stop for both quarterbacks will be the S.E.C. Media Days in Hoover, Ala. Alabama will travel to Texas A&M in the third week of the college football season and tickets have already sold out.