Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa: 'We'll be back'

Dabo agrees

One week after a loss in the national championship game, Tua Tagovailoa returned to social media.

Outside of a couple of tweets the day after Alabama’s 44-16 loss to Clemson, the quarterback of the Crimson Tide hasn’t posted much. Really, no player from UA’s 2018 roster has except for the handful of underclassmen declaring for the draft or departing seniors sharing the goodbyes.

But Tagovailoa had a message for Alabama fans that have been down in the dumps the last week.

“We’ll be back.”

“I know what it feels like to have plenty, and I know what it feels like to have nothing..” Tagovailoa’s Instagram caption read. “I know what it feels like to win and I know what it feels like to lose.. Grateful for the opportunity to have played with a bunch of great guys from this years 2018 team. We’ll be back. #shakeback”

Against the Tigers, Tagovailoa threw for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two costly interceptions at Levi’s Stadium. He also accounted for -9 rushing yards on four carries and was sacked twice.

The final game of the 2018-19 season was the only blemish on the Crimson Tide’s record and record-breaking season, one that saw Tagovailoa set the school record for passing touchdowns in a season at 43. He was also one score shy of tying the SEC record (44, Drew Lock).

Still, Tagovailoa and company will remember the sting from the 28-point loss for a while.

“We had a great season, but five words: Good is not good enough,” Tagovailoa said after the game in Santa Clara, Calif. “We didn't finish the way we wanted to finish. We didn't do the things we needed to do to execute and be successful in this game, and that's all it is.”

Just like Tagovailoa said, though, Alabama will likely be right in the mix once again in 2019.

The Tide returns its starting quarterback, three starting receivers and potentially three first-team offensive linemen, while it has experienced talent at running back and tight end. Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris, Jedrick Wills and Alex Leatherwood all have some first-team experience under their belts, and they will all be starters in 2019-20.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney agrees with Tagovailoa -- he thinks Alabama will be back and in what will be its sixth straight College Football Playoff next postseason. He said as much in a press conference the day after facing the Tide for a fourth consecutive postseason.

“I told Coach Saban last night -- he was very gracious after the game -- and I just told him, ‘See you next year,’ because I don't think they're going to go anywhere,” Swinney said. “They'll be back.”