There's an old saying in sports, "You can't coach ______? Typically, ______ is a reference to something like speed because an athlete can't be taught to be fast. Sure, a coach can improve technique and that may result in a slightly faster time, but you either have world-class speed or you don't. Similar to that is game intelligence, the ability of the best players to slow the game down and react accordingly. This effort by Alabama middle linebacker, Rolando "Superman" McClain, is such a play.Early in the 3rd quarter, Kentucky has a 2nd and 9 at their own 34. Wildcat QB, Mike Hartline, fires a laser beam at a blanketed Derrick Locke and the ball ricochets off his hands. Superman sees the ball, but knows he's not in position to haul it in for the pick. So, in a move that recalls Celtics great, Bill Russell, in his prime, he intentionally keeps the ball alive by tapping it into the air. McClain knows that the Tide defense is coached to attack the ball, so if he keeps the ball alive, chances are pretty good that a Bama defender will be in position to make the catch ... which is exactly what happens when Eryk Anders comes up with the pick. You can't coach this kind of heady badassery, you can only hope to capture it on film. Thanks to 'bama7Xbox' for giving us that opportunity.
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