Ryan Grubb Blasts ‘Boo-Birds’ as Alabama Overcomes Slow Start to Topple Florida State

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb didn't hold back during his Monday press conference, addressing the early-game frustration from the Tuscaloosa crowd during the Crimson Tide’s 50-36 victory over Florida State. Despite a rocky start that saw the underdog Seminoles take a 21-6 lead, Alabama improved to 3-0 on the season behind a high-octane offensive explosion.

“I had some boo-birds,” Grubb told reporters, reflecting on the fan reaction as the offense sputtered through its opening drives. He revealed the blunt message he gave his players in the heat of the moment: “I told the guys, I said ‘Shoot guys, if you’d have quit as fast as some of your fans, shit, we wouldn’t have won that game.’”

The victory was earned under difficult conditions, including two significant lightning delays—one prior to kickoff and another in the second quarter. Grubb expressed immense pride in how his young squad handled the adversity. “I was proud of them,” Grubb said. “For a bunch of 19-year-olds to go out there and just (be down) 21-6 and not flinch, I was fired up.”

Quarterback Keelon Russell spearheaded the turnaround, delivering what many consider his best performance yet in a Crimson Tide uniform. While the scoreboard eventually reflected Alabama’s dominance, Grubb noted that the early struggles were a matter of inches. He pointed to a missed down block on a crucial third-and-three and a route-running miscommunication between Russell and receiver Lotzeir Brooks as the primary reasons for the early punts.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer reinforced Grubb’s focus on the team’s mental toughness. “Our team’s shown that they got each other’s backs, that’s for sure,” DeBoer said. “We’ve seen that now multiple times when adversity has hit our football team. Proud of that part. Just got to go back to work and continue to improve, that’s always the focus. It’s about the next play, it’s about the next game.”

The Crimson Tide now faces the challenge of correcting a trend of slow starts that began in Week 2 against Kentucky. Alabama is set to host South Carolina this Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on ESPN.