The longest rushing play of Alabama’s season spanned 78 yards.

Ty Simpson can only laugh (now) about how it should’ve been 79. Instead, he learned a valuable lesson on the right and wrong time to drop the football when crossing the goal line and a very public reprimand from Nick Saban.

Let’s start from the beginning.

Alabama was beating FCS-foe Chattanooga 52-10 early in the fourth quarter with backup QB Simpson in the game. It was third-and-nine from the Mocs’ 21 when the passer became a runner. Flushed from the pocket, Simpson sprinted to his left, used a block from Kendrick Law and dashed up the Bryant-Denny Stadium far sideline.

Simpson isn’t you’re average second-string quarterback. A former five-star recruit and son on UT-Martin head football coach Jason Simpson, the Alabama redshirt freshman aspires to join his father’s profession one day.

But on Nov. 18, he was the one doing the learning.

Because an eyelash before reaching the goal line, Simpson dropped the ball to begin a celebration that would haunt the young quarterback. It’s a scene not too unfamiliar anymore. The ball carrier approaches the goal line and causally drops the pill before crossing the plane.

A month and a half later, Simpson could crack a grin when recalling his teachable moment in Saturday morning’s Rose Bowl media day.

“At first, I was super excited, as you can tell,” Simpson said. “I got to go in there and actually play after having some momentum from the Kentucky game. Break a big run. I had talked about it with my teammates about what our celebration was going to be. Coming back to the sideline, nobody could understand why they were reviewing it. Coach (Saban) told me good job.”

Soon after, however, fellow quarterback Tyler Buchner came with the bad news.

A glance at the video board confirmed it.

And Saban wanted another word.

“By that time, Coach Saban called up and was like ‘Act like you’ve been there before dude. This is going to cost us a touchdown. In a big game, this could cost us.’ I was just taking it on the chin. ‘Yes sir, yes, sir.’ It’s a learning moment for sure. I promise I won’t do it again. I heard about it in team meetings, for sure. It was more embarrassing than anything but it was a learning moment for sure.”

SEC Network+ cameras were there to capture the moment.

“He was just like, ‘Dude, are you serious? You’re way better than this. Act like you’ve been there before. This ain’t you’re first time,’” Simpson recalls. “You just have to say ‘Yes sir’ and take it on the chin. I mean, it was embarrassing but I promise I won’t do it again. I’ll hand the ball to the referee.”

Simpson also remembers the other reason it was such a one-sided conversation while officials reviewed the play.

“That was one the things why I couldn’t talk to Coach Saban,” Simpson said. “I was so gassed. I was so embarrassed. I was like ‘Oh man.’”

When the referee returned with his verdict, the live broadcast showed Simpson dropping his head in disgust. So, he returned to the field and handed off to freshman Richard Young who ran it in for the 1-yard touchdown.

Teammates pat him on the back as he returned to the sideline, comforting the quarterback who saw his moment of glory fall half a yard short.

“It was 78 yards,” he said, “could have been 79.”

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.