The Outback Bowl 2010

Here we go. The Tigers get the best bowl of the SEC's 7 & 5 teams. We couldn't have done better than the New Year's Outback Bowl. I like the 10 o'clock kickoff because I hate waiting all day for kickoff. So far I think the SEC has not done so well. Tennessee lost last night to Virginia Tech. Kentucky lost. But Georgia won impressively.

It's raining and windy at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Stan White says the weather will be a factor. The rain may stop, but the wind, gusting up 30 MPH, will likely continue the entire game.

Northwestern receives, running their wide-open, pass-happy offense.

Auburn intercepts on a 3rd and 5 from the NW 25. The Tigers are on the NW 35.

The Tigers close the short drive with Kodi Burns running it in from the one after a 21 yard sprint by Ben Tate.

Auburn is up early 7 to 0.

NW starts from their 24. The Wildcats drive to the Auburn 6 when Walt McFadden intercepts in the end zone and takes it back 100 yards for a touchdown! This is an Auburn return record.

Auburn 14 Northwestern 0

NW drives for a touchdown on a 39-yd. pass capping a 6-play 67 yd. march.

With 2:04 left in the first it's Auburn 14 Northwestern 7

The Tigers are 3 and out after a big loss on a reverse to McCalebb with 52 seconds left in the quarter. This is unfortunate given NW's dominance of the clock. Our offense has got to get going.

You have to wonder how tired the Auburn defense is. Even though we lead thanks to the turnovers, our defense has been on the field almost the entire quarter. Our offense has had only 2 possessions so far.

The quarter ends with NW trying to drive again but AU leading 14 to 7 thanks to two interceptions. The Wildcats are very efficient with their short passing game. Though trailing, NW is controlling the game.

FIRST QUARTER
AU 14 NW 7

NW is driving from their 46. NW misses a 48-yd. FG attempt with 13:51 left in the second.

We lose possession on a bad 4th down call when a complete pass to Darvin Adams is ruled incomplete. Stan White says it was clearly a catch. You really have to wonder about the officiating these days.

The Wildcats are 3 and out. Auburn will start at their 21.

With 8:54 Auburn gets a 46-yd TD pass to Quindarius Carr! This is Carr's first career touchdown pass. Five plays. 79 yards.

AU 21 NW 7

NW gets a good return and starts on their 40. But the Wildcats are 3 and out again.

The Tigers start on their 20 and mount a drive with determined running from Ben Tate leading the way. The Tigers are at midfield with 3rd and 7 with 5:03 left. Todd scrambles but is short of the first and Auburn has to punt. Dur punts to the NW 3 yd. line.

After a short punt AU begins at the NW 36. NW intercepts at their 5. Good play call, but a great play by the Wildcat DB. NW moves quickly with the clock winding down to the minute mark. NW gets a long pass out to their 45. All of a sudden the Wildcats have their offensive rhythm back. NW is at the Auburn 38 with 1:04 left. The Wildcats are at the 5. AU has to call timeout. Moving from their 5, NW has moved to the Auburn 4. Walter McFadden is shown gassed on the Auburn sideline. First and goal from the 4. Second and goal from the 4. BELL intercepts in the end zone!!!

The first half clock expires. The Tiger defense comes up strong with 3 big interceptions, two of them leading to points. Our offense is sporadic, has scored only 14 points, must do better in the second half.

AT THE HALF
Auburn 21 Northwestern 7

We have to be pleased at the half, yet there can be no rest because Northwestern's fast paced offense can score quickly and often. We have to be ecstatic about the 3 turnovers. Our defense has carried us so far. NW has more yardage, more first downs, and much greater time of possession; the 3 interceptions are the equalizer.

The Tigers start from their 30 to start the second half. Auburn drives but NW intercepts at their 1. Kodi throws the pick on 3rd and 12 from FG range. Stan White wonders about this play call. Why Kodi throwing the ball? Burns has thrown two passes, both of them picked off. Very unfortunate. The offense moves the ball but yields on an interception at the one. This game has had its chills and spills, and we've just started the second half.

The Cats make one first down before punting. Auburn takes it from their 44 with good field possession. The defense does its job again.

The Tigers punt from midfield and NW starts from their 17 with 6:38 left in the quarter. Neiko Thorpe picks off another one! Auburn's FOURTH interception puts the Tigers on their 44. How about that defense!

Auburn is 3 and out and has to punt from around midfield. The Tigers have not been able to take advantage of good field position in this third quarter. I hope this doesn't come back to haunt us.

NW starts from their 20, and away they go. NW gets a 35-yd. touchdown pass over Hood. Stan White says Hood is our weak link in the secondary.

Late in the 3rd, it's AU 21 NW 14.

Auburn has not taken advantage of good field position, and NW has taken advantage.

Auburn is 3 and out as Todd goes down on 3rd with all the time in the world to throw the ball. Todd holds the ball and gets sacked. NW will get the ball back on their 33. The momentum is all Northwestern.

FIRST PLAY a short pass is turned into a 67-yd TD pass as the receiver runs hard and Auburn is vicimized by POOR tackling.

AU 21 NW 21 late in the third quarter---about 20 seconds left.

Auburn will be on their 38 as the final period starts.

END OF THREE
Auburn 21 Northwestern 21

The 4th quarter should be something. Our offense couldn't take advantage in the 3rd. Our defense is weakening. Big Mo is all purple.

The Tigers are 3 and out. It's a mystery why we cannot run the football in this game. Auburn has to punt. This game could get out of hand. The punt is good. NW starts from their own 11.

NW gets a first down on a pass and 15 yards is tacked on with a late hit on the quarterback. Auburn is falling apart Stan White says.

BUT THEN Auburn gets another interception, T'Sharvin Bell, which includes another personal foul penalty against us. These penalities are mystifying. The Tigers have around a hundred yards in penalities while NW has maybe 15 or so. That's an amazing discrepancy. Makes you wonder.

Auburn starts on their 40 with no offensive momentum. After a first down, Todd is sacked. Second and long. Third and long from the NW 44. Darvin Adams makes another catch and AU is at the NW 28. A completion to the 6 and Tate runs it in from there! This time AU takes advantage of the interception and good field position.

With 10:10 left Auburn takes the momentum back and leads 28 to 21.

The Northwestern offense is fun to watch as long as we win the game. I've never seen a faster offense.

AFter a couple of first downs, NW punts from their 42.

It's a bad punt and AU will start at their 35 with 8:11 to go.

A big reverse by Zachary for 50 yards takes the ball down to the 7. What a play call! Tate runs it in but gets a celebration penalty.

With 7:32 left Auburn leads 35 to 21. The Auburn offense has its momentum back and is starting to dominate the line of scrimmage. The 15 yd. penalty on the kickoff will hurt. Ben Tate will get a talking to.

Going into the last half of the 4th quarter we lead by 2 touchdowns but NW can score quickly.

NW drives a touchdown with 3:20 left. They do use up some clock.

AUBURN BLOCKS THE POINT ATTEMPT!! This is huge.

Auburn 35 Northwestern 27

Auburn recovers the onside kick at the NW 44. We need at least one first down.

Ben Tate fumbles!!! Auburn is on their way to icing the game, and our senior RB fumbles. NW is at their 31. Quckly they are at midfield. NW is a the AU 39 with less than 2 minutes left. This is a nail-biter like I thought it would be. NW drives for the TD. WE get a big 4th down sack but get called for a facemask penalty.

NW makes the 2-point conversion on a great reverse and pass and Northwestern has tied this football game with 1:15 left.

Auburn was on their way to winning this game when Tate fumbles, we get a facemask call on a 4th down sack as Nick Fairly barely touched the QB's facemask, NW scores and makes the 2-point conversion, and NOW on the kickoff we fumble again. Auburn has literally fallen apart at the very end of this game.

NW starts at midfield. They start moving the ball withk ease.

In a tie game, it comes down to a last second FG attempt by Northwestern from 44 yards out. The kick is no good and we are going to overtime. Auburn still has a chance for redemption, but I would say the overtime favors NW.

In the overtime Auburn goes first and gets a FG. NW gets to the Auburn 5 and on 4th fakes a FG and we stuff it. The Tigers win 38 to 35. Whew!!! What a game.

I'm just glad we won. The game goes like our whole year went. Lots of penalities, questionable officiating, lots of ups and downs, big plays, and poor plays. Somehow we give up huge yardage but win the game. The 6 turnovers are the big thing.

So Auburn concludes the year 8 & 5. With the great recruiting year we're having, we hope once again that the future is bright for Auburn football.