The great Joe Namath is ready for the Alabama-Notre Dame Rose Bowl, while New York Jets fans anticipate Clemson-Ohio State.
Perhaps Joe Namath won’t be watching his alma mater on New Year’s Day from a posh Manhattan apartment decorated to fit the climate of the late 1960s. Then again, this is Joe Namath. His current surroundings are probably better left for the imagination.
We at least know the New York Jets living legend will be watching Alabama take on Notre Dame in this year’s Rose Bowl, and we know he’s ready to roll. Or, more appropriately, he’s ready to Roll Tide.
Roll Tide! 😎🐘@UA_Athletics @AlabamaFTBL https://t.co/ina8z8FRig pic.twitter.com/DT7SSuDMof
— Joe Namath (@RealJoeNamath) January 1, 2021
Namath, 77, played three years for the Crimson Tide prior to joining the AFL’s Jets in 1965. Under Bear Bryant’s guidance, Namath led Bama to a National Championship in 1964.
This season, Bama is looking for its 18th National Championship, but it’ll first have to knock off Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals Friday afternoon (4 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Meanwhile, Jets fans will be more focused on the other semifinals matchup. Although Trevor Lawrence is now seemingly out of the Jets’ grasp, the Clemson-Ohio State game will feature another quarterback firmly entrenched at the top of the 2021 NFL draft.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields remains the No. 2 quarterback prospect behind Lawrence—despite Zach Wilson‘s rapid rise. The Sugar Bowl is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and can also be seen on ESPN.
Fields will certainly have his hands full. Clemson’s defense took care of Notre Dame the last time we saw both teams, and some of the question marks surrounding Fields deal with his play in big-time situations.
No matter any individual’s current feeling on the Jets’ quarterback situation, hoping Fields succeeds Friday night can only be viewed as a positive. Raising his stock while the Jets hold the No. 2 pick is a win-win for Joe Douglas and the fan base.
Fields has thrown for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns to five interceptions in six games this season.
