Kailo Moore
Mississippi defensive back Kailo Moore, left, recovers a fumble by Alabama kick returner Christion Jones in the fourth quarter of Alabama's loss.
(Rogelio V. Solis)
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Descriptions of Alabama's postgame locker room varied.
Everyone digested the Crimson Tide's upset loss at Ole Miss a little bit differently in the immediate aftermath. Fullback Jalston Fowler spoke candidly about it Monday.
"Everybody was just mad, everybody was just saying we should have played better and worked our tail off, we shouldn't have been bull-stuffing all week like that," Fowler said.
The practice routine during the preceding bye week wasn't very good, Fowler said. It's an issue, he said, because "it happens in practice all the time."
The mental approach to the closing moments of the 23-17 loss wasn't where it needed to be either.
"It's like we were scared to lose," Fowler said. "Everybody wasn't playing their A-Game, they were just 'Oh, if we escape with a win we'll be alright.'"
Linebacker Reggie Ragland wasn't happy either.
"We're supposed to be grown men," he said. "We're supposed to be Alabama football and we didn't play like we should have."
Starting left guard Arie Kouandjio said he didn't see it that way when asked, but said coaches pointed it out after the game.
"I was focusing on winning and doing what I had to do at moment," Kouandjio said.
When it was over, Fowler said the feeling can't be compared to the 2013 Iron Bowl loss to Auburn.
"No, that game hurt worse with one second left on the clock," he said. "This game, we had a chance to win it and we just had a couple of bad breaks there at the end."
The wild postgame celebration that included to destroyed goalposts was noted by Fowler as well.
"That really doesn't get to me. Just to see them and see how big it is for them to just beat Alabama -- they make it a big deal. When we win, we just keep it simple and keep going."