It’s typical for athletes to express gratitude to God after a significant victory. However, it’s not as common for them to do so following a crushing defeat.
In the wake of Alabama’s disappointing 38-3 loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl, wide receiver Jamey Bernard took a moment to reflect on his faith during the postgame press conference.
The Crimson Tide had a strong start, leading 17-0 at halftime and entering the fourth quarter at 24-3, but ultimately faced a loss by 35 points—marking the school’s worst defeat since 1998.
Yet, despite the setback, Bernard was determined to express his faith. He stated, “I just want to give glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving us this opportunity and allowing this team to be together here in California and enjoy this moment.” He shared the podium with teammate Tim Keenan III and head coach Karen DeBoer.
He continued, “Even if things don’t turn out as we hoped, there’s still a lot to be grateful for. We appreciate people like TK,” referring to Keenan, who managed to play through injuries during the season. “Our players got a chance to compete in this game while finally healthy, so I have much to be thankful for. I just want to give all the glory to Jesus Christ for this opportunity.”
Keenan also added, “I always thank God.”
A clip of Bernard’s remarks quickly gained traction on social media.
Before leaving his postgame press conference, Jermie Bernard had one last thing he wanted to say. pic.twitter.com/ukk9IoDQ2Y
— Cover Crimson (@CoverCrimson) January 2, 2026
This week, Bernard announced his decision to enter the NFL Draft, concluding the season with seven touchdowns and a leading 862 receiving yards.
Throughout the season, he has been open about his Christian beliefs and played a key role in organizing a team-led night of worship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in October, which attracted around 2,000 attendees.
He expressed gratitude at that event, saying, “This has been on my mind for several weeks, and I’m thrilled God made this happen. Tonight is all about God, glorifying Him, and turning our hearts towards Him. I wanted to provide an opportunity for our campus to come together and fellowship.”
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