Johnny Manziel used Nick Saban, Blake Sims as motivation in 2013; It didn’t work

Johnny Manziel used Nick Saban, Blake Sims as motivation in 2013; It didn’t work

There’s plenty to unpack in Netflix’s new documentary, “Untold: Johnny Football,” the look at the rollercoaster life of former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

There was, of course, Manziel predicting he would lead the Aggies to a touchdown late in the win over the then-No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in 2012.

On the other hand, not everything made the cut for the 72-minute documentary.

Billy Liucci of TexAgs, one of the focal points of the documentary, joined me Wednesday on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile and shared a story from the 2013 season involving Manziel and the Tide.

Liucci said he got a phone call from Manziel the night before No. 6 Texas A&M was to host No. 1 Alabama.

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“He somehow got himself all pissed off because (Alabama quarterback) Blake Sims simulated him in practice,” he recalled. “And Saban made the benign comment like, ‘Hey, he’s doing a good job of simulating Johnny.’”

Well, that was enough to get under Manziel’s skin.

“The night before the game he called me and guaranteed, ‘I’m going to hang 50 on them.’”

As it turned out, he almost did. Almost.

Alabama’s AJ McCarron threw four touchdown passes, Vinnie Sunseri returned an interception 73 yards for a score – sidestepping Johnny Football on the way to the end zone, too – and Alabama beat Texas A&M 49-42.

Manziel threw for a career-best 464 yards, running for 98 and throwing five TDs.

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.