Sylvester Croom still has it.

The former Alabama player and assistant coach and member of the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 recently addressed the Crimson Tide and will have you running through a brick wall after you hear it.

The official Alabama football social media account posted part of the speech for a highlight reel of the Tide’s win over South Carolina last week, but Croom, who played from 1972 through 1974 and coached under Paul “Bear” Bryant and Ray Perkins from 1976-86, left the Tide with some moving words on the topics of playing at Alabama and with expectations.

“You and I, we’re the same,” he began. “We’re all in the same fraternity: The fraternity of that crimson jersey.

“I don’t know a lot of you guys, but I respect you because the minute you signed that scholarship to come to Alabama that told me something about you. That told me you weren’t ordinary. That told me you were special people because when you put that crimson jersey on, you got to be special. The expectation of wearing that jersey is like nowhere else in the country. It ain’t like nowhere else in pro football.”

In Croom’s time at Alabama, the Crimson Tide lost one regular-season game (by one point) and won three SEC championships. He understands the depth of the history.

“When you look in the mirror and you put that jersey on, you know who you represent,” he continued. “You’re representing your family. You’re representing me. You’re representing every man. You represent Joe Namath, (Johnny) Musso, Ozzie Newsome, Julio Jones. Every man who has worn that jersey is pulling for you, and he is in that locker room with you. He’s on the sideline with you.

“You play your ass off one play at a time and strive to be perfect. That’s what wearing that red jersey means.”

Croom, a Tuscaloosa native, won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 1974, when he was the American Football Coaches Association’s All-American center, but he also saw time at linebacker, tight end and offensive tackle for Alabama.

In 2004, Croom became the first African American head football coach in SEC history when he took the top post at Mississippi State, and he guided the Bulldogs for five seasons.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.