Butch Thompson praises Jason Jackson for the job he has done at Alabama

Alabama was in a world of trouble three weeks ago, when they were reeling after being swept by LSU and had just lost their head coach after he got wrapped up in a cheating scandal. But up stepped Crimson Tide pitching coach Jason Jackson, who took over as the interim for the rest of the season and has since led ‘Bama to a roaring finish to the regular season. They won five of their last six and two straight series before coming to Hoover and winning two of three so far with a matchup against Vanderbilt on deck.

Given the situation just a few Friday’s ago, it’s remarkable that Jackson and this Alabama team have been able to refocus and channel some of their best play of the year. After the latest win, a 7-4 victory over rival Auburn, the Tigers’ own head coach Butch Thompson said he’s known Jackson for a long time and is proud that he’s seized this opportunity.

“I told him I’m proud of him,” said Thompson. “He’s been a good coach for a long period of time, and everybody respects JJ, and when he’s got his opportunity, I think there’s enough maturity there that he’s handled himself with. As a coach that’s been in this league a long time, we absolutely respect people that handle themselves very well, and he’s done an amazing job.”

Thompson went on to emphasize that Jackson’s expertise as a pitching coach is really making a difference down the stretch. He was very complimentary of the Tide pitching staff in the SEC Tournament.

“I haven’t watched them as much in person, of course, since we’ve played them, but I just think their pitching staff has just been that good. I think overall, I just think the quality and the depth of being able to run nine innings or an entire series, I think he’s done an amazing job with the pitching staff, and you’d probably imagine and guess that their leadership is pretty good, but JJ has done a very steady job.”

Jason Jackson has this Alabama team playing loose and having fun on the field, and the players have expressed such sentiments in their own postgame interviews. They have their mojo at the perfect time on the baseball calendar. The Tide next take the field tonight (Friday night) at 7:30 p.m. in close-by Hoover against an excellent Vanderbilt club. A win against them could really seal the deal for Alabama’s resume and hosting a regional next weekend.

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