Here’s an article about how the Alabama Crimson Tide used the Florida Everblades in their win over Wisconsin — a quirky but interesting wrinkle in their playcalling that caught a lot of attention.

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How Alabama Used the Florida Everblades in Their Win vs. Wisconsin

On September 13, 2025, Alabama rolled over Wisconsin in a convincing victory — but one of the more unusual highlights from the game wasn’t a run, pass, or defensive play. It was a hockey team’s name making its way onto Alabama’s football play sheet. (news-press.com)

Here’s what went on, why it happened, and what it means.

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What Exactly Happened

• During the ABC-telecast of Alabama vs. Wisconsin, fans spotted the Florida Everblades — a minor league hockey team in the ECHL — name used on Alabama’s play sheet. (Lansing State Journal)
• The Everblades name appeared as the designation for a specific offensive play call by Alabama. In other words, instead of “20-Y Shallow Cross” or “Trips Right, Go,” one of the plays was labeled with “Everblades.” (news-press.com)

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Why It Happened

Alabama (like many teams) uses themed or creative code names for plays. These names are often chosen for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Decoys or Secrecy: Using a name that isn’t obviously tied to a football concept helps keep defenses from anticipating what’s coming. If you hear “Trips Left, Four Verticals,” you have a good idea. But “Everblades” doesn’t clue you into anything obvious.
2. Internal Meaning: The name might reference something meaningful internally: perhaps a staffer’s favorite team, a recent event, a local or regional connection, or even a joke in the locker room.
3. Broadcast Fun / Fan Engagement: When unusual names get picked up on television, it creates buzz. It’s memorable. Stories get written. Fans talk. In this case, the “Everblades” name was spotted, shared, and became a talking point. (Lansing State Journal)

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Did It Make a Difference?

From all available reports, the “Everblades” play didn’t turn into a legendary moment like a game-breaking touchdown or trick play. It was more of a footnote, a novelty, rather than a defining factor in the game. Alabama’s win over Wisconsin was driven by strong fundamentals: crushing the line of scrimmage, executing in the run game, and good defensive play. (news-press.com)

However, the play does serve a few useful purposes:

• Psychological Edge: Offensive coordinators love using surprises, even small ones. If the defense is trying to decipher play-calls, naming things in unexpected ways adds noise.
• Locker Room Morale / Identity: These kinds of things can build identity or esprit de corps. If the team laughs about the Everblades name later, it becomes part of their shared stories.
• Media / Branding / Recruiting Impact: The novelty helps with media coverage. It gives Alabama something unique to talk about. It shows they have creativity. That can matter in recruiting or fan perception.

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Context & Takeaway

Alabama’s use of “Everblades” isn’t totally unprecedented — many teams across college and the NFL have used quirky or themed play names. But what made it interesting was the visibility (national TV), the unexpected crossover from hockey, and how it illustrates how even in serious, high-stakes games, coaches are willing to mix in something different.

For Alabama, it was a small detail in a dominant performance. But as anyone who follows football knows, the small details sometimes separate good teams from great teams — even if those details are small, weird, or just amusing.

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If you want, I can pull up the full list of play-call names Alabama used in that game, or find other examples where teams used non-football names in big games.