McElroy ready to take charge at QB for Tide

TUSCALOOSA — If patience is a virtue, then Greg McElroy is a virtuous man. But even he has limits.

The rising junior has waited — patiently — for his shot to win the job as Alabama’s quarterback for three years. He has seen John Parker Wilson smash most of the school’s passing records. As the backup quarterback, he has learned the offense and waited for a chance to play.

And waited.

And waited.

So after finally taking the field for the opening of spring drills, his quest to win the job was delayed by spring break. What’s another week when you’ve waited three years?

McElroy, who spent his vacation on a cruise with his family, and the rest of the Crimson Tide return to work Monday.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback from Southlake, Texas, knew what he was getting when he signed with Alabama in 2005. And he credits Wilson for being a good friend and role model. But he knows this spring is different.

“Obviously, in past springs there was always a glass ceiling. As hard as I worked, I knew it was going to be extremely, extremely difficult to unseat a guy like John Parker with his experience and his tenacity and his leadership ability and, quite frankly, his talent,” McElroy said.

“Now, I’m ready to have my opportunity. I’m ready to leave a legacy and make a difference here.”

He hasn’t been given the job. In fact, coach Nick Saban has given every indication the competition with redshirt frehman Star Jackson may continue beyond the 15 spring practice sessions.

“If somebody here could give me a reason why it would be really important to have a starting quarterback by the end of spring practice, then I would be interested to know that,” Saban told reporters at the outset of spring practice. “I would entertain any suggestions that you all have as to why that would be important.”

Still, McElroy is the only quarterback with college experience. And he has shown a strong, accurate arm in very limited playing time.

He has played in eight games the past two seasons in a mop-up role behind Wilson. He completed 16-of-20 passes for 196 yards with an interception and a touchdown.

Saban doesn’t completely discount his performance — or his experience.

“Greg’s been in the offense the same amount of time as John Parker, he just didn’t play in the games,” the coach said. “I think his knowledge and understanding is good. Game experience is what he lacks.”

Saban said McElroy, as the backup, got just as many repetitions in the two-minute drill as Wilson in practice last year.

“Last year, we felt confident that Greg would come in the game and do a good job for us. When he did play, I felt like he did a pretty good job even though I don’t think there was a situation where the game was on the line. … Like every player on our team, I think there are things that he can improve on.”

McElroy can rattle them off, too. His self-help list starts with making quicker decisions.

“When you’re going with the ‘one’ offense and going against the ‘one’ defense, you’ve got to make quick decisions and sometimes that’s been one of the places that I’ve really needed to work on,” he said. “In order to improve, you’ve got to get the ball out faster and get the ball to the wide receivers so they can make plays for you. That’s an area I’ve struggled with in the past.”

There are others.

“Making my feet faster, making my release quicker,” McElroy said. “At this level, it’s all about speed, and it increases from the time you’re in high school to college to starting on Saturdays. Obviously, that’s an area I need to continue to improve and an area I’m going to focus on throughout the spring.”

The patience he has displayed in college was developed at Carroll High in Southlake. He started only his senior year, and he won a state championship. He had to wait his turn because Chase Daniel, who just graduated after a stellar career at Missouri, was Carroll’s starter.

“Like my parents always said, anything worth doing is worth waiting for,” McElroy said. “I could have gone to a smaller school, I could have gone to a school on the rise, one without quite the prestige that this one has. But I didn’t want that. I wanted to compete with the best players in the country, I wanted to play in the SEC, I wanted to play at the University of Alabama.

“Waiting three years is not really much of an expense to me. I’ve enjoyed every second of it. I won a lot of football games and got to experience some great moments. Waiting in high school obviously prepared me for this moment. I waited three years in high school as well. I’m ready for my opportunity and a chance to compete for the starting job.”

He doesn’t strike a stranger as in awe of this opportunity. He’s not cocky at all, but his demeanor exudes the confidence of a veteran. His teammates seem to sense it, too.

“Greg’s one of the most level-headed guys on the team,” senior lineman Mike Johnson said. “He’s one of those guys you can tell is a natural-born leader. He steps in the huddle and commands respect and nothing’s going to get to him. It’s the next play, no matter what happened before that. We all take part in that and listen to him, listen to what he’s got to say and try to do our best to protect him.”

McElroy said he’s no longer the pupil.

“I’m the oldest guy, I’m the elder. The guy that’s not necessarily being taught but is doing the teaching, that’s picking up everybody else,” he said. “So it’s kind of a transition of roles because I’m used to having John Parker over my shoulder, telling me to keep my chin up, do this, do that. Instead, I’m the guy doing that.”

He said this spring’s quarterback battle is going to be “a very friendly competition.”

“I told Star great work today. I told (Thomas) Darrah great work today. I told Morgan Ogilvie great work today,” McElroy said. “They’re going to be great players. I’ll let coach Saban do the evaluating. But as far as being a friend to those guys and a teammate, I’m going to be the very best teammate I can be.”