Why a certain WWE-style belt means Alabama football defense is at its best
· Yahoo Sports
LEXINGTON, Ky. — After Luke Metz did his job, the Alabama football linebacker got to celebrate.
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Trailing by a touchdown in the first quarter against Kentucky, Metz was tasked with reading quarterback Kenny Minchey. Once Minchey threw, Metz stepped in front of the receiver, snagged the ball and ran it 34 yards for a touchdown.
From there, Metz got a chance to participate in a tradition Alabama has continued for years into this new Crimson Tide era: a WWE-style belt that celebrates takeaways. Once Metz got ahold of it, he called it "surreal."
"You want to get a picture with the belt," Metz said. "That's the goal."
When Alabama's defense is at its best, that "turnover belt" is being passed around. And in Saturday's 45-17 win against the Wildcats, the belt had its share of wearers with three forced turnovers: an interception and two fumble recoveries.
But Alabama doesn't need a belt or any evidence of a job well done. To linebacker Caleb Woodson, takeaways or crazy stat lines is just evidence of Kane Wommack's plan coming to fruition.
"Swarm D is going to the ball every play," Woodson said. "Whenever 11 bodies are out on the field, 11 bodies (are) getting to the ball, trying to affect the game."
Along with three turnovers, Alabama's defense allowed just 10 points and 209 yards. In the second half, Kentucky had 62 yards, three first downs and no points.
Through two games, Alabama's defense has allowed 20 points. Opposing offenses have converted one third down on 23 tries.
"Our defense did a good job of continuing to evolve throughout the game," Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said, "but I thought we had a pretty good plan, a pretty good handle on things from the get go."
To defensive lineman Devan Thompkins, that success stems from trust of Wommack's calls and trust that his teammates are all in step with one another.
"We just went out and played our brand of football," Thompkins said. "That's what got us to where we were."
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why a certain WWE-style belt means Alabama football defense is at its best