Germie Bernard was one of the brightest stars in Alabama’s 2024 A-Day Game.
The Washington transfer wide receiver caught three passes for 122 yards, averaging 40.6 yards per reception, and was responsible for the longest play of the game – a 52-yard gain.
Speaking for the first time since transferring to Alabama, Bernard recapped his performance.
“It is definitely a blessing to be out there,” said Bernard on Monday’s Hey Coach radio show. “God, He gave me the strength to be out there with the team and to have a great A-Day game. I mean, the execution, it just comes from practice, just preparing.
“I think that we had a great spring. I think the receivers had a great spring. Offensively, we definitely produced a lot from the beginning of the spring, and I felt like we showed that on A-Day.”
Bernard followed head coach Kalen DeBoer to Tuscaloosa after spending the 2023 campaign playing for him at Washington. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound junior was the Huskies’ fifth-leading receiver with 34 receptions for 419 yards and two touchdowns, which is more than any of the Crimson Tide’s returning wide receivers have produced in their careers.
On Monday at Baumhower’s Victory Grille, Bernard explained why he came to Alabama.
“It’s just the standard that they hold everybody to,” Bernard said. “I’ve seen what they did in the past years over at Indiana, over at Fresno State and then what they did at Washington. So I know they have a good formula, and the standard is to win.”
Bernard has spent the last four months in Tuscaloosa after making the move from the Pacific Northwest, and he received a warm welcome at the restaurant, as he was joined by two of his new Tide teammates – Wilkin Formby and Jam Miller. As he sat behind the desk beside host CTSN Roger Hoover, Bernard reflected on his time at Alabama thus far.
“It’s been great, man,” Bernard said. “Nothing but great people around. Obviously, great coaches. I’ve been with them for a year. It was great meeting all the new staff, the strength staff, all the players. They were really welcoming, so it’s been great.”
Below is a full transcript of the rest of Bernard’s Hey Coach interview at Baumhower’s.
Bernard on what makes this offense fun to play in…
“Just how explosive it is. Even running the ball. I mean, everybody sees how we pass the ball, but running the ball, like you guys seen Jam and Justice (Haynes) before he got hurt in the game. Just how they utilize the players and give the playmakers the ball to make plays.”
Bernard on how special of a season it was last year at Washington…
“It was great. Just being in that program, playing behind big-time guys like Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan, you learn a lot from those guys. So I just try to take in whatever I can from them and add that into my game.”
Bernard on how DeBoer motivates the team on game day…
“Man, it’s just the same thing every day. He just continues to stay consistent, continues to tell us the same things every day, remind us of the standard. He knows how to prepare for games and he makes sure, us as a team, we’re prepared for games. So going into the game, we have a lot of confidence.”
Bernard on why it is fun to play for JaMarcus Shephard…
“First of all, he’s a man of God, and that is something that I am very big on. And he has definitely pushed me toward my faith. And then just the energy that he brings to the room, how he pushes the guys, how he wants the best out of us.”
Bernard on Alabama’s receiving corps…
“We got a lot of young guys. We got people that have some experience in games. We got people that can make plays. Our room is going to be something special. We’re very underrated, but we’re going to show a lot of people what we can do.”
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