When Alabama wins a game at home, a celebration usually takes place in the locker room before heading back to Mal Moore Facility not too far down Paul W. Bryant Dr. You would think every single player would get back on the bus, not having to deal with the thousands of Crimson Tide fans in Tuscaloosa enjoying the win themselves. But Tyler Booker likes to make the walk back and it’s to interact with the fans.
“Whenever we’re at home, they have busses driving back here to the facility,” Booker said in an interview with Barstool’s Bussin’ With The Boys. “But I like to walk back just so all the fans that came to the game, I can interact with the fans. Some people spend their lasts to come to an Alabama football game. And I know this 30-second interaction I can have with some family is going to last them 30 years. They’re never going to forget that interaction after the game. So, I just love walking back.”
Per Google Maps, Bryant-Denny Stadium is a mile away from Mal Moore Facility, meaning Booker does not have too long of a walk. However, since he stops every once in a while to interact with people, the walk takes a little bit longer. Nothing too crazy, though.
“Because I’m stopping and signing stuff and talking to people,” Booker said. “So, I would probably say it takes 15, 20 minutes.”
Booker would be a difficult person to miss when walking around campus. Not too many 6-5, 352-pound humans are walking around. Let alone ones likely still wearing a football jersey just moments after an Alabama game. Even if they do not know exactly who Booker is, figuring out a football player is out and about cannot be too difficult.
This year’s spring game was the best example. Booker says he was the busiest he ever has been on his postgame walk. He had not taken off all of his gear and was in a hurry back to Mal Moore.
“After the spring game, it was a while because it was a free game,” Booker said. “So many people were there. It got to the point where I was like, ‘Look guys, I’ll walk and take pictures but we just got to talk because I still have my knee braces on. I got to get back.'”
If you are in Tuscaloosa this fall and you see Booker walk back after a game, go ahead and make sure to say hello. Maybe snag an autograph or picture while you’re at it.
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