Nobody knows whether Alabama football quarterbacks Austin Mack or Keelon Russell will bloom into college stardom, or transfer into the portal abyss this December. But at least the Crimson Tide doesn't have to worry about either of them claiming ownership of a jersey number. If you didn't take a roll through the college football news dirt Thursday, Aug. 13, you might've missed that former LSU QB Jayden Daniels is mad about LSU allowing his former jersey No. 5 to be worn by another player. To the point that his attorney issued a letter to the school demanding it no longer use Daniels' name, image or likeness. And he reportedly wants the Tigers to send him its copy of the Heisman Trophy he won in 2023. Get Daniels a pacifier, stat. Apparently, winning a Heisman Trophy that leads a team all the way to the ReliaQuest Bowl gives a player the right to tell a school to retire his jersey. VIDEO: Kane Wommack reveals advice Nick Saban gave on Alabama football defense VIDEO: Alabama football’s Xavier Griffin and Zay Hall at practice Russell might live up to his five-star billing, but he can forget all about any ownership of the Crimson Tide's No. 12. Joe Namath wore it. Ken "Snake" Stabler wore it. Paul W. "Bear" Bryant himself wore it in the 1930s. True legends who didn't whine through lawyers when it was passed down to Brodie Croyle or Greg McElroy. Russell could explode into stardom this fall — he's got that kind of ability, if his line supports him with good protection and an adequate rushing attack — but the No. 12 at Alabama holds more history than Russell could ever hope to make. Mack wears No. 10, which doesn't resonate in Alabama annals with quite the same veneration as No. 12, but it's got its history just the same. Quarterback Bart Starr donned No. 10, as did at least three national championship quarterbacks: Steadman Shealy, AJ McCarron and Mac Jones. Mack could win the job and perform well, even win a championship of his own, without making anyone forget who pulled the No. 10 over their shoulder pads before him. One hopes neither Russell nor Mack need to be told this, but Daniels' pettiness serves as a stark reminder that an inflated sense of entitlement lurks around every corner when it comes to big-dollar sports. It would be a bit of a leap to blame that on the advent of the NIL era, which was overdue as a vehicle to get players much-deserved compensation, but then again, Daniels himself made NIL a part of the story. LSU defensive back DJ Pickett is refusing to relinquish No. 5, nor should he. Meanwhile, Mack and Russell continue to wage an ongoing battle for a starting job that comes with oh so many trappings. High-profile recognition. On-campus adulation from students. Massive leverage for their next NIL deal. Television exposure, NFL draft evaluations, a shot at championship glory, and — who knows — perhaps a Heisman Trophy like Daniels won. They can have it all, along with a diploma, if they stick around long enough. But whenever they pack their bags, jersey-number rights won't be traveling with them.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football QBs won't make the Jayden Daniels mistake | Goodbread