The Crimson Tide faithful are no strangers to tales of glory under the lights of Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the latest viral whisper sweeping X and shady sports blogs? It’s a flat-out fabrication. Meet “Maria Thompson,” the plucky janitor at Alabama Stadium who’s supposedly changed a flat tire for star quarterback Ty Simpson on a chilly night, only to wake up to a gleaming white SUV courtesy of her grateful gridiron hero. It’s heartwarming Hallmark bait: humble worker meets humble superstar, rags-to-riches in 24 hours. Except, like a thousand recycled clickbait clones before it, this one’s got more holes than a sieve—and zero tread in reality.
This isn’t a one-off; it’s template territory. Swap in Caitlin Clark for the WNBA , Nathan MacKinnon for the NHL , or even Barron Trump for political fairy dust , and you’ve got the same script: “Poor [janitor] helps [celeb] with flat tire, next day [fancy vehicle] shows up!” Maria Thompson? She’s the everyman placeholder—real people with that name exist (LinkedIn’s got a few in facilities), but none tied to Alabama’s custodial crew or a QB’s Good Samaritan glow-up. Searches for the combo turn up nada but these AI-spun duplicates, no local Tuscaloosa News blips, no BamaCentral forum buzz.
Now, the real MVP here: Ty Simpson, the 22-year-old redshirt junior from Martin, Tenn., who’s having a breakout 2025 under new coach Kalen DeBoer. Named starter in August after Jalen Milroe’s portal jump, Simpson’s engineered a 9-2 Tide run, capping with a gritty 27-20 Iron Bowl escape at Auburn on Nov. 29—122 yards and three TDs on a gimpy ankle, no panic in the pocket despite the hits. Overall: 66.9% completion on 2,934 yards, 22 TDs to four picks, plus 95 rushing yards and two scores—Maxwell and Walter Camp semifinalist nods, Heisman dark horse buzz, and a Regions Bank NIL deal that screams “community first.” Son of UT Martin’s head coach Jason Simpson, Ty’s no stranger to football’s grind—five-star recruit who redshirted behind Bryce Young, stuck through Saban’s exit, and now eyes the SEC title vs. Georgia on Dec. 6 and a CFP lock. Humble? Absolutely—he’s the guy who majors in ag science, hunts with his pops, and credits faith and family for the poise that turned a FSU opener flop into a 15-play game-winner vs. the Tigers.
But gifting SUVs to stadium staff? Not on his ledger. Simpson’s generosity skews real: team captain, youth camps back home, and that post-Iron Bowl vow—“I’m ready to roll” for Atlanta—without a whiff of white-SUV swagger. (Pro tip: The only “tire trouble” near Tuscaloosa lately involved a 2023 cop-tasing incident 40 miles west, but that’s grim, not generous. )
In an NIL world where boosters drop collectives like confetti, these fables erode the genuine grit—like the unsung janitors who do keep Bryant-Denny spotless, or QBs like Simpson who grind from backup shadows to spotlight saviors. Roll Tide fans: Root for the real story. Ty’s eyeing that natty, not narrative hacks. If a white SUV ever does cruise Maria’s street, it’ll be from a legit lottery win, not a Lug nut legend. RTR—authentically. 🐘🏈
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