The game each year has its own unique feel. First of all, this is not the biggest Alabama game. The 1989 game was bigger. The 2010 game was bigger. Of course, this one is still one of the biggest. Mainly I'm curious. How well will the Tigers compete with the Tide? I type these words just before kickoff. We will soon find out.
FIRST QUARTER
Alabama receives and from their 24 march right down the field, but on 3rd and 2 we hold and they miss a 44-yd. FG wide left! Once again our defense gives up yards but holds. Yeldon did gain some big yards rushing on that drive and we have to stop that.
Corey Grant sweeps for 15 yards from the 28 on the first play but we are punting after one first down. On third down Marshall misses a wide-open Louis which would have been an easy touchdown. Louis got his hands on the ball but couldn't bring it in. Should have been 6.
The Tide goes 3 and out as we hold on 3rd and 3 from the 27.
Their punter drops the snap but gets the kick off. AU starts on their 34.
There's a holding call on us on the first play after a good gain my Nick Marshall. First and 20. On this possession we have to use 2 timeouts as Alabama changes their defense continually. We are slow getting our plays in to Marshall. A penalty started this drive on what would have been a first down. On 3rd and 19 there's a pass to Coates to the 47. On 3rd and short Marshall runs 45 yards for the touchdown untouched after the fake. Wild!!! Wow!!! 7 plays. 66 yards. This is Auburn offense.
Auburn 7 Alabama 0
The Tide is 3 and out and after a good punt AU starts on their 16.
After one first down we are pushed back on a QB sack and we are punting from the 24.
Alabama fair catches on their 33 as the quarter winds down. The game seems to be settling down. There's a first down run to the UA 44 on second and 10. There's a 9 yard run as the quarter ends. But UA moving the ball on the ground. Gotta stop this running.
SECOND QUARTER
The quarter begins with UA second and one at the Auburn 47. First down to the 41. There's a big sack on McCarron and a loss of 6. We move to 4th and 7 after an incomplete pass. Auburn jumps offsides. Oh, no. Can't have that. Now it's only 4th and 2. Dee Ford jumped. Auburn makes some defensive changes and it's Alabama's turn to take their second timeout. There's a real chess match going on out there. There's a first down pass to the 22. We go after McCarron but not good enough. First down pass again to the 10. There's a run to the 3. Come on guys! There's a pass to the end zone for the score. This game is tied.
Auburn 7 Alabama 7
Can our offense respond?
The Tigers start at the 21. After one first down Mason fumbles and they give the ball to Alabama on a close play. Alabama is on the AU 36. The first big turnover goes to the Tide. There is a 9 yard pass as Alabama holds all over the field. Malzahan is yelling at the officials. Yelden runs to the 20 on 3rd and 2. The Mason fumble is haunting. TD pass to Norwood in the end zone. Chris Davis can't cover.
Auburn 7 Alabama 14
With 7:12 to go in the half a big possession is coming up for the Tigers after UA takes advantage of the turnover. We can't get too far behind.
Alas, we are three and out and after a soft punt UA starts on their 44. The Tide drives to the AU 29 the last play being a lucky catch on a tipped bll. There's a 29 yard TD pass to Amari Cooper. This game is getting out of hand. Alabama has all of the momentum. It will take an incredible turnaround for Auburn to come back and win this game. Alabama has completly dominated the game after Auburn took the initial 7 to 0 lead. The review overturns the touchdown but it doesn't matter as the ball is an inch outside the line and the score comes on the next play.
Auburn 7 Alabama 21
We need to do something before the half but our offense is comatose. We are getting stopped on offense. We have nothing going on offense. What's to say? We are getting beat. We have only 110 yards of offense so far.
3:48 to go in the half. Stan White says we are playing with house money. We've heard that this week. I disagree. You never play with house money in this rivalry game.
We start on the 19. Away we go! We run the ball right down the field with Tre Mason carrying the load. Marshall scores from the 16 but the officials take it away from us at the 2 but not to fear as Mason runs it in on the next play. Wow oh wow! We are able to move the ball Nascar as UA cannot adjust their defense.
Auburn 14 Alabama 21
The clock expires as Alabama runs the clock out. The crowd cheers for Auburn leaving the field. We get the ball coming out in the second half. We have a game. If we win this game, it started with that awesome uptempo drive at the end of the half closing the gap to 7.
THIRD QUARTER
Coming out of the gate to start the half the Tigers drive for the touchdown! 9 plays 69 yards the score coming on a 16-yd scoring pass from Marshall to Uzomah in the right corner of the end zone. Wow!
Auburn 21 Alabama 21
Alabama goes 3 and out as we get big pressure on 3rd down.
Auburn starts on their 22 after a big 52 yard punt. Let's go again!
A promising drives stops at the UA 43. The punt is downed at the Alabama one! Great punt and coverage.
On third down they get a long pass to Amari Cooper to the AU 44. Gotta stop this. We miss a big chance to keep them bottled up inside their 5. There is a first down to the 34. Gotta stop them here with a tie game at 21 the third quarter clock winding down. First down to the 22. We need a turnover. That third down conversion on their goal line looms big. First down to the 11 on a third and 4. The quarter ends with Alabama 2nd and 10 on the Auburn 11.
FOURTH QUARTER
Well, if Alabama wins this game we will look back to that long pass on third down from inside their 5 to the Auburn 44.
3rd and 10 from the 11. 4th and 11 as our Red Zone defense holds when it has to. We force the FG attempt. After a 5 yard penalty against the Tide the 33 yarder is NO GOOD! Their kicker misses another one! Amazing!!! He shanked it bigtime left.
What a great job our defense has done in the Red Zone this year! That was a terrible kick. Our guys call it a "duck hook."
Here goes our offense. We are out to our 47. But that's as far as we can do as the clock hits 10:52. Still lots of time time left in this game. Again the punt dies at the one! Wow! Let's hold them this time.
Alabama is at their one yard line. We need to take advantage.
Alas, alas, on the first play the pass goes to Cooper down the sideline into 2-deep coverage. Oh, my. They did it again and this time the receiver is not tackled. Oh, my. You can't allow this. You simply cannot allow this. Alabama makes the big play. How can this happen???
Auburn 21 Alabama 28
How can we give up a 99 yard TD pass??? This should not happen. That's all I can say. Cooper catches the ball at midfield but our two defenders cannot corral him. But it's not over yet.
The Tigers start at the 26. We gotta go with 10:21 to go.
Game of 6 yards on two plays and we're at 3rd and 4. On 4th and a length of the football short we go for it at our 35. Marshall keeps the ball and is short. That may be the game. A stop by Alabama and a first down at the Auburn 35.
8:28 to go. If Marshall had handed the ball off we might have made it but it makes no difference now.
We really need a Georgia type miracle again.
On 4th down with the length of the football to go we stuff Yeldon! Saban forsakes the FG attempt and loses the gamble on 4th down as Auburn stuffs the 4th down attempt.
There is still life left in the Auburn football team.
5:34 to go and we start at our 14. It's uphill but it's not over yet.
Marshall is sacked back to the 5 on first down. Alabama sells out to stop us on first down all game long. The key to stopping our offense is to stop us on first down. There is a long pass to Ricardo Louis that is JUST beyond his fingertips. We have to punt from the 5.
They get a good punt return thanks to a blatant block in the back that is not called. Unbelievable.
UA tries a 44-yrd. and the kick is blocked!!!
Auburn starts at their 35.
We move to a third and 2 with 1:43 as Alabama calls timeout.
WE GET THAT GEORGIA MIRACLE!
I'm watching the game and not noting every play. Suffice it to say that Marshall hits Uzomah on an incredible pass completion. Uzomah is wide-open. We tie the game with 32 seconds to go.
Auburn 28 Alabama 28
ALABAMA ATTEMPS A 56 YARD FG. CHRIS DAVIS FIELD THE KICK 9 YARDS DEEP IN THE END ZONE AND RUNS IT THE LENGTH OF THE FIELD FOR THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN!
I am speechless. I am ecstatic!
More later.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
Alabama Preface
Here we go again. I do not know what will happen tomorrow, but I do believe it will be a competitive game that will go down to the wire. If so, like most other people, I think it will be a high-scoring game.
At 11 and 0 Alabama is favored by 10 at Jordan-Hare. At 10 and 1 Auburn seems to be getting no respect. Everyone thinks Alabama will win. Do they not realize that the Tigers are 10 and 1. You'd think we were 1 and 10.
Is Auburn a team of destiny? Is there "something" about this team. We will find out tomorrow.
At 11 and 0 Alabama is favored by 10 at Jordan-Hare. At 10 and 1 Auburn seems to be getting no respect. Everyone thinks Alabama will win. Do they not realize that the Tigers are 10 and 1. You'd think we were 1 and 10.
Is Auburn a team of destiny? Is there "something" about this team. We will find out tomorrow.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Cooling It
I am trying not to read about or think about the game. Saturday is going to come eventually and we will see what happens. This is as much an anticipated Alabama game as I can remember. I wonder what surprises Malzahn has in store for Saban. I do wonder about that.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
'Rammer Jammer' and 'Bodda Getta': Origins of the Beloved-but-odd cheers at Alabama and Auburn
BY Kelly Kazek
20 November 2013
The most popular cheers at the state's rival universities – "Rammer Jammer" at Alabama and "Bodda Getta" at Auburn – have stirred controversy over the years and largely remain a mystery to opponents.
20 November 2013
The most popular cheers at the state's rival universities – "Rammer Jammer" at Alabama and "Bodda Getta" at Auburn – have stirred controversy over the years and largely remain a mystery to opponents.
Each is beloved by its fans. Each is filled with nonsense words. Each taunts opponents. Each has a word that requires "bleeping" around young children.
And, as you can tell by their titles, they are anything but standard cheers.
As an epic Iron Bowl approaches Nov. 30 between unbeaten Alabama and one-loss Auburn, here's a look at the origins of these odd chants.
Bodda Getta
When I was writing my 2010 book "Hidden History of Auburn," I could find no university record or any other history of the "Bodda Getta" cheer. So I started making phone calls and gathered some history.
The words to the chant are:
Bodda getta, bodda getta, bodda getta, bah,
Rah, rah, rah,
Sis boom bah,
Weagle, weagle,
War Damn Eagle!
Kick 'em in the butt, Big Blue,
Hey!
And, as you can tell by their titles, they are anything but standard cheers.
As an epic Iron Bowl approaches Nov. 30 between unbeaten Alabama and one-loss Auburn, here's a look at the origins of these odd chants.
Bodda Getta
When I was writing my 2010 book "Hidden History of Auburn," I could find no university record or any other history of the "Bodda Getta" cheer. So I started making phone calls and gathered some history.
The words to the chant are:
Bodda getta, bodda getta, bodda getta, bah,
Rah, rah, rah,
Sis boom bah,
Weagle, weagle,
War Damn Eagle!
Kick 'em in the butt, Big Blue,
Hey!
No one seemed to remember the original spelling of the words—some say "bod" instead of "bah," some write "wegl" instead of "weagle." The spelling above became "official" when it was printed on T-shirts licensed by Auburn University and sold at local bookstores. Trey Johnston, a J&M owner, said in 2010 he devised the spelling of the chant because he had no written record on which to base it.
Eventually, I settled on the most plausible version of the chant's origins.
The year was 1965. The Auburn University Marching Band was welcoming its incoming freshmen members in the usual way. Each frosh was given a hat marked "RAT." Freshmen had long been nicknamed "rats" on many college campuses, and numerous colleges distributed rat caps, but at Auburn, RAT stood for "Rookie Auburn Tiger."
When rats joined the Auburn Marching Band, they were required to make up a cheer for the band to chant during football games that fall.
John Penick, class of 1969, and Mike Watson, who was a band "rat" in 1965, remember that "Bodda Getta" was created by a group of "rats" their freshman year.
"I recall that 'Body Getta' sort of developed as a chant, and it grew into a rhyming cheer with southern 'get 'er done' kind of language," Watson said. As Watson's pronunciation suggests, several people recall thinking the chant had to do with "body," as in getting a body up to cheer, and that it may have been initially pronounced "Body Get A."
Watson also said the reference to "Big Blue" came during a time when blue was Auburn's dominant color.
"Those were the days when Auburn fans cherished our 'blue heritage.' Tommy Tuberville switched us to orange in the 2000s," he said.
The chant may stem from a tradition in Auburn that goes back at least as far as 1897, when the school was Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Each class would have a "yell" to chant at functions or games, many including rhyming, nonsensical words.
In 1897, when the university's first edition of the "Glomerata" was published, it included senior class yells. The class of 1898 wrote this yell:
Sis—boom—ah!
'98, '98
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Hullabaloo—baloo—baloo
How d'ye do? How d'ye do?
Senior!
Forty-five years later, "Bodda Getta" has become part of Auburn's fabric. Many traditionalists don't like the cheer but admit that it has taken on a life of its own. A fundraising barbecue event in Auburn has been named the Bodda Getta BBQ and a book published by the Opelika-Auburn News to commemorate the 2010 national championship is called "Bodda Getta: Auburn's Remarkable Run."
Rammer Jammer
The "Rammer Jammer" cheer was created nearly two decades after "Bodda Getta," according to an account by cheerleaders in an article in The Tuscaloosa News.
The cheer has been banned at periods since its inception in about 1982 because of its taunting nature and use of the word "hell."
The words to Rammer Jammer, when Alabama is playing Auburn:
Hey Auburn!
Hey Auburn!
Hey Auburn!
We're gonna beat the hell outta' you!
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Give 'em hell, Alabama!
When played after the game, "we just" is substituted for "we're gonna."
The words "rammer jammer" were derived from the name of a defunct student magazine that was published for several decades beginning the 1920s.
The Tuscaloosa News quoted Kathleen Cramer, retired from UA's office of student affairs, stating the chant was created by cheerleaders on a bus ride back from the Mississippi State game in about 1982. She didn't remember the exact year, but if it was written in 1982, it would have been created during Bear Bryant's last year as coach.
Cramer, who was the cheerleading sponsor at the time, said the cadence for the chant was based on the infamous "Hotty Toddy" cheer at Ole Miss.
"It was patterned after that," Cramer said. "We wanted to incorporate old cheers, as well as things particular to this state. And it was immediately popular."
Here are the words to "Hotty Toddy:"
Are you ready?
Hell, yeah! Damn right!
Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty
Who the hell are we, Hey!
Flim Flam, Bim Bam
Ole Miss, by damn!
In thinking of symbols unique to the state, the Alabama cheerleaders settled on yellowhammer, the state bird, because it rhymed with Rammer Jammer.
In the 1990s, the university banned the cheer because of its taunting nature and inclusion of the word "hell," according to The Bleacher Report. When the issue was put to students for a vote at Homecoming 2005, 98 percent voted to keep the cheer. However, it is now only chanted following a Crimson Tide victory.
Today, Rammer Jammer is the name of a locally made light beer, as well as the title of a 2004 book about obsessive sports fans "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Journey into the Heart of Fan Mania."
Eventually, I settled on the most plausible version of the chant's origins.
The year was 1965. The Auburn University Marching Band was welcoming its incoming freshmen members in the usual way. Each frosh was given a hat marked "RAT." Freshmen had long been nicknamed "rats" on many college campuses, and numerous colleges distributed rat caps, but at Auburn, RAT stood for "Rookie Auburn Tiger."
When rats joined the Auburn Marching Band, they were required to make up a cheer for the band to chant during football games that fall.
John Penick, class of 1969, and Mike Watson, who was a band "rat" in 1965, remember that "Bodda Getta" was created by a group of "rats" their freshman year.
"I recall that 'Body Getta' sort of developed as a chant, and it grew into a rhyming cheer with southern 'get 'er done' kind of language," Watson said. As Watson's pronunciation suggests, several people recall thinking the chant had to do with "body," as in getting a body up to cheer, and that it may have been initially pronounced "Body Get A."
Watson also said the reference to "Big Blue" came during a time when blue was Auburn's dominant color.
"Those were the days when Auburn fans cherished our 'blue heritage.' Tommy Tuberville switched us to orange in the 2000s," he said.
The chant may stem from a tradition in Auburn that goes back at least as far as 1897, when the school was Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Each class would have a "yell" to chant at functions or games, many including rhyming, nonsensical words.
In 1897, when the university's first edition of the "Glomerata" was published, it included senior class yells. The class of 1898 wrote this yell:
Sis—boom—ah!
'98, '98
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Hullabaloo—baloo—baloo
How d'ye do? How d'ye do?
Senior!
Forty-five years later, "Bodda Getta" has become part of Auburn's fabric. Many traditionalists don't like the cheer but admit that it has taken on a life of its own. A fundraising barbecue event in Auburn has been named the Bodda Getta BBQ and a book published by the Opelika-Auburn News to commemorate the 2010 national championship is called "Bodda Getta: Auburn's Remarkable Run."
Rammer Jammer
The "Rammer Jammer" cheer was created nearly two decades after "Bodda Getta," according to an account by cheerleaders in an article in The Tuscaloosa News.
The cheer has been banned at periods since its inception in about 1982 because of its taunting nature and use of the word "hell."
The words to Rammer Jammer, when Alabama is playing Auburn:
Hey Auburn!
Hey Auburn!
Hey Auburn!
We're gonna beat the hell outta' you!
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Give 'em hell, Alabama!
When played after the game, "we just" is substituted for "we're gonna."
The words "rammer jammer" were derived from the name of a defunct student magazine that was published for several decades beginning the 1920s.
The Tuscaloosa News quoted Kathleen Cramer, retired from UA's office of student affairs, stating the chant was created by cheerleaders on a bus ride back from the Mississippi State game in about 1982. She didn't remember the exact year, but if it was written in 1982, it would have been created during Bear Bryant's last year as coach.
Cramer, who was the cheerleading sponsor at the time, said the cadence for the chant was based on the infamous "Hotty Toddy" cheer at Ole Miss.
"It was patterned after that," Cramer said. "We wanted to incorporate old cheers, as well as things particular to this state. And it was immediately popular."
Here are the words to "Hotty Toddy:"
Are you ready?
Hell, yeah! Damn right!
Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty
Who the hell are we, Hey!
Flim Flam, Bim Bam
Ole Miss, by damn!
In thinking of symbols unique to the state, the Alabama cheerleaders settled on yellowhammer, the state bird, because it rhymed with Rammer Jammer.
In the 1990s, the university banned the cheer because of its taunting nature and inclusion of the word "hell," according to The Bleacher Report. When the issue was put to students for a vote at Homecoming 2005, 98 percent voted to keep the cheer. However, it is now only chanted following a Crimson Tide victory.
Today, Rammer Jammer is the name of a locally made light beer, as well as the title of a 2004 book about obsessive sports fans "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Journey into the Heart of Fan Mania."
Monday, November 18, 2013
Reactions to the Play
The Auburn Athlethics department compiled this video of reactions to the Georgia touchdown pass.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Georgia Postmortem
The Prayer in Jordan-Hare sets up the Mother of All Iron Bowls (Kevin Scarbinsky)
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn congratulates quarterback Nick Marshall after their 43-38 victory over Georgia on Nov. 16, 2013, in Auburn, Alabama. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) Print By Kevin Scarbinsky
kscarbinsky@al.com AL.com
on November 16, 2013 at 8:58 PM, updated November 16, 2013 at 9:00 PM
AUBURN, Alabama - Yes. Believe it. It’s finally, miraculously true. The Auburn Tigers are living on a prayer. The prayer. The Prayer in Jordan-Hare.
That old Bon Jovi hit used to be a nice sing-along around here. Now it’ll be an anthem, the soundtrack to one of the most important and improbable moments and victories in school history.
The last two years, the Tigers didn’t have a prayer at either end of Amen Corner. Now after Auburn 43, Georgia 38, their hopes of winning the division, conference and national championships - yes, I said national championship - are still alive.
All because of a prayer. The prayer. The Prayer in Jordan-Hare.
Nick Marshall threw it on fourth-and-18 from his own 27-yard line with half-a-minute left. He was the perfect triggerman with that cannon for a right arm and two game-winning drives already in his pocket.
Two Georgia defenders converged on it about 60 yards downfield. One of them redirected it toward the goal line as the perfect middleman in an unintended and unfathomable tip drill.
Ricardo Louis caught it in full stride and full stretch and carried it home for the game-winning, logic-defying, memory-making touchdown.
And still the game wasn’t won.
Georgia senior Aaron Murray, who’s thrown for more yards and more touchdowns than any quarterback in SEC history, had one last shot, but he didn’t deliver it. He absorbed it, Auburn senior Dee Ford slamming him to the turf and sending his pass fluttering to earth.
After three quarters of Auburn domination and one quarter of Georgia rejuvenation, after the Tigers led by 20 then surrendered three straight touchdowns, after a journey for the home team and the home crowd from daylight to dark and back, that settled the final score and more. It also started the countdown toward the Mother of All Iron Bowls.
As the Jordan-Hare scoreboard flashed in the mother of all understatements, “One more to go.”
As the Auburn students chanted, “We Want Bama!”
They’ll be the first ambitious bunch to get their wish. Barring some shocking misfortune for Alabama, the Crimson Tide will arrive here Nov. 30 with an 11-0 record and a No. 1 ranking. The Tigers will be waiting with a 10-1 record and a chance to win every championship available to them.
When will Gus Malzahn, the author of Auburn’s miraculous turnaround, start thinking about the Crimson Tide? The uber-serious football professor listened to the question, then actually smiled and broke up the room.
“I’m gonna enjoy this,” he said. “That one aged me now. I lost some years off my life. I’m gonna go to church in the morning. After church, I’ll flip the switch.”
He’s already flipped the script, taking the Tigers from 3-9 to 10-1, lifting them from a broken and splintered bunch into a team that believes to the last drop of the last jaw.
Did Malzahn ever imagine, from the moment he returned to Auburn to the instant Marshall took that fourth-down snap, that his team would get to the Iron Bowl with every possible prize still in sight?
“I never let my mind go there,” he said.
It’s time. They’re here. Living on a prayer. The Prayer in Jordan-Hare.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn congratulates quarterback Nick Marshall after their 43-38 victory over Georgia on Nov. 16, 2013, in Auburn, Alabama. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) Print By Kevin Scarbinsky
kscarbinsky@al.com AL.com
on November 16, 2013 at 8:58 PM, updated November 16, 2013 at 9:00 PM
AUBURN, Alabama - Yes. Believe it. It’s finally, miraculously true. The Auburn Tigers are living on a prayer. The prayer. The Prayer in Jordan-Hare.
That old Bon Jovi hit used to be a nice sing-along around here. Now it’ll be an anthem, the soundtrack to one of the most important and improbable moments and victories in school history.
The last two years, the Tigers didn’t have a prayer at either end of Amen Corner. Now after Auburn 43, Georgia 38, their hopes of winning the division, conference and national championships - yes, I said national championship - are still alive.
All because of a prayer. The prayer. The Prayer in Jordan-Hare.
Nick Marshall threw it on fourth-and-18 from his own 27-yard line with half-a-minute left. He was the perfect triggerman with that cannon for a right arm and two game-winning drives already in his pocket.
Two Georgia defenders converged on it about 60 yards downfield. One of them redirected it toward the goal line as the perfect middleman in an unintended and unfathomable tip drill.
Ricardo Louis caught it in full stride and full stretch and carried it home for the game-winning, logic-defying, memory-making touchdown.
And still the game wasn’t won.
Georgia senior Aaron Murray, who’s thrown for more yards and more touchdowns than any quarterback in SEC history, had one last shot, but he didn’t deliver it. He absorbed it, Auburn senior Dee Ford slamming him to the turf and sending his pass fluttering to earth.
After three quarters of Auburn domination and one quarter of Georgia rejuvenation, after the Tigers led by 20 then surrendered three straight touchdowns, after a journey for the home team and the home crowd from daylight to dark and back, that settled the final score and more. It also started the countdown toward the Mother of All Iron Bowls.
As the Jordan-Hare scoreboard flashed in the mother of all understatements, “One more to go.”
As the Auburn students chanted, “We Want Bama!”
They’ll be the first ambitious bunch to get their wish. Barring some shocking misfortune for Alabama, the Crimson Tide will arrive here Nov. 30 with an 11-0 record and a No. 1 ranking. The Tigers will be waiting with a 10-1 record and a chance to win every championship available to them.
When will Gus Malzahn, the author of Auburn’s miraculous turnaround, start thinking about the Crimson Tide? The uber-serious football professor listened to the question, then actually smiled and broke up the room.
“I’m gonna enjoy this,” he said. “That one aged me now. I lost some years off my life. I’m gonna go to church in the morning. After church, I’ll flip the switch.”
He’s already flipped the script, taking the Tigers from 3-9 to 10-1, lifting them from a broken and splintered bunch into a team that believes to the last drop of the last jaw.
Did Malzahn ever imagine, from the moment he returned to Auburn to the instant Marshall took that fourth-down snap, that his team would get to the Iron Bowl with every possible prize still in sight?
“I never let my mind go there,” he said.
It’s time. They’re here. Living on a prayer. The Prayer in Jordan-Hare.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
The 2013 Georgia Game
We are home for the Georgia game. WHAT A FOOTBALL GAME!
The Tigers win 43 to 38 in what will become one of the most hallowed and talked about games in the history of this incredible series.
We are elated.
Now there is one more to go.
Final
(25) Georgia 38
(6-4, 4-3 SEC)
(7) Auburn 43
(10-1, 6-1 SEC)
Alerts
Coverage: CBS
3:30 PM ET, November 16, 2013
Jordan-Hare Stadium, AUBURN, AL
1 2 3 4 T
#25 UGA 0 10 7 21 38
#7 AUB 10 17 7 9 43
Recap Box Score Play-By-Play Drives Photos75 Conversation1704 Desperation 73-yard TD pass lifts Auburn over Georgia in last minuteRecommend597Tweet325Associated PressGus Malzahn: 'Special Night'
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn talks about his team's stunning win against Georgia on a desperation heave.
Tags: Gus Malzahn, Auburn, GeorgiaGus Malzahn: 'Special Night'
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Gus Malzahn: 'Special Night'
Gus Malzahn: 'Special Night'Auburn coach Gus Malzahn talks about his team's stunning win against Georgia on a desperation heave.Tags: Gus Malzahn, Auburn, GeorgiaFlorida State Crushes Syracuse
Florida State Crushes SyracuseJameis Winston threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in Florida State's 59-3 win over Syracuse.Tags: Jameis WinstonDuke Topples Miami
Duke Topples MiamiBrandon Connette rushed for four touchdowns and passed for another to help Duke upend No. 23 Miami 48-30 and take control of the ACC Coastal division.Tags: Duke, Miami, Brandon Connette, Stephen MorrisCollege Football Top Plays
College Football Top PlaysCheck out the top plays from Week 12 in college football.Tags: USC, Stanford, Georgia, Auburn
AUBURN, Ala. -- With Auburn's title hopes hanging in the balance, the ball deflected into the air and into Ricardo Louis' hands.
The result was a stunningly improbable touchdown that rescued the seventh-ranked Tigers' equally unlikely championship chances.
More on Georgia-Auburn
The Auburn Tigers held out hope that their dream season would continue against Georgia, even when the chips were stacked against them, writes Greg Ostendorf. Blog
• Auburn blog
• SEC blog
Louis scored on a deflected 73-yard pass from Nick Marshall on fourth and 18 with 25 seconds left to give Auburn a 43-38 victory over No. 25 Georgia on Saturday night.
"I couldn't believe it," Louis said. "It just landed right into my hands. I saw it once it got over my shoulder. It got tipped, I lost track of it ... but when I looked over my shoulders, it was right there."
The Tigers (10-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) had blown a 27-7 lead but pulled out one more huge play to continue the biggest turnaround in major college football. From 3-9 last year, they can win the SEC West with a victory in two weeks against No. 1 Alabama.
Marshall heaved the ball downfield with two defenders around Louis. It bounced off safety Josh Harvey-Clemons' hand and Louis reached out his left hand to corral it. Marshall said he stiff armed a defender before letting the ball fly.
All he could do then was watch and hope.
"When I saw it get tipped around, I knew we still had a chance," Marshall said. "It was a live ball. I saw that Ricardo still had his eyes on the ball. That's something we work on at practice: keep your eyes on the ball."
Aaron Murray, who had engineered the comeback with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, could only stare helplessly from the bench. A win could have kept the Bulldogs alive in the SEC East.
"That's a freak play," Murray said. "It's like a nightmare. You try to wake up, and we are celebrating victory. It's tough. This is going to be a tough one to get over."
Murray led Georgia (6-4, 4-3) all the way to Auburn's 20 but his final two passes fell incomplete as time ran out. Dee Ford hit him on the last pass as Murray ran toward the line before trying to throw.
Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said he couldn't remember being on the sidelines for a similar loss since his Florida State days.
"When you lose, you tend to think about the things you should have done," Richt said. "When you win, you just think about how great it is.
SN: Hail mary leads Auburn past UGA
Is Auburn's Hail Mary TD the play of the year? Will a two-week layoff help or hurt the Tigers in their Nov. 30 game against Alabama? Vote! »
"Let's face it, as good as Auburn is and has been playing, they've got all the momentum going."
Some Auburn players climbed into the stands to celebrate with students, and most fans stayed put to celebrate the victory.
It only came after Murray gave the Tigers a big scare. He had plowed into Ryan Smith at the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:49 left.
Auburn challenged the final TD, but replay officials upheld the call on the field.
That left the Tigers starting at their own 22 with 1:45 left. They managed one first down but Jordan Jenkins sacked Marshall to set up fourth and 18.
Marshall then produced the biggest play of his career against the Bulldogs, where he played as a freshman defensive back. He was dismissed from the team in February 2012 for violating team rules and returned to the SEC after a season in junior college.
He finished 15-of-26 passing for 229 yards after attempting only 15 passes combined in the past two games thanks to a steamrolling running game. Marshall also ran 19 times for 89 yards.
He also threw a game-winning TD pass with 10 seconds left against Mississippi State, but there was much more on the line this time. The 2010 national champions are potential contenders again.
"They find a way to win," said Gus Malzahn, Auburn's first-year coach. "This team has the 'it' factor. That's just the bottom line."
He had simple plans for celebration.
"This is definitely a Waffle House night," Malzahn said.
More on Georgia
For full coverage of the Dawgs, check out the Georgia blog, part of ESPN's College Football Nation. Blog
More:
• Georgia's clubhouse page
• ESPN.com's SEC blog
Tre Mason ran 27 times for 115 yards, and Louis had his career game.
He caught four passes for 131 yards -- nearly doubling the 160 yards he had entering the game -- and gained 66 yards on five rushes.
Louis had said he wanted the ball during the timeout before the fourth-down play.
"I told them to get me the ball, and that I was going to make a play," he said, "but I didn't expect that."
It was just enough to survive Murray's furious onslaught.
The prolific Georgia passer completed 33 of 49 passes for 415 yards and two touchdowns in the final 9:35, with an earlier interception.
Murray also ran for two scores and had 160 yards passing in the fourth quarter.
Todd Gurley ran 15 times for 79 yards and a touchdown and caught 10 passes for 77 yards. Auburn gained 566 yards, Georgia 532.
The Tigers ran for 323 yards against a defense that came in giving up 126 yards a game on the ground, 20th nationally.
They had lost the last two meetings in the Deep South's oldest rivalry by 38 points apiece. Now, the Tigers hold a razor-thin 55-54-8 edge.
Auburn rode that punishing running game and Georgia mistakes to a 27-10 halftime lead, at one point outgaining the Bulldogs 170-4 before the comeback began.
"It was just a whale of a game, I guess," Richt said.
The Tigers win 43 to 38 in what will become one of the most hallowed and talked about games in the history of this incredible series.
We are elated.
Now there is one more to go.
Final
(25) Georgia 38
(6-4, 4-3 SEC)
(7) Auburn 43
(10-1, 6-1 SEC)
Alerts
Coverage: CBS
3:30 PM ET, November 16, 2013
Jordan-Hare Stadium, AUBURN, AL
1 2 3 4 T
#25 UGA 0 10 7 21 38
#7 AUB 10 17 7 9 43
Recap Box Score Play-By-Play Drives Photos75 Conversation1704 Desperation 73-yard TD pass lifts Auburn over Georgia in last minuteRecommend597Tweet325Associated PressGus Malzahn: 'Special Night'
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn talks about his team's stunning win against Georgia on a desperation heave.
Tags: Gus Malzahn, Auburn, GeorgiaGus Malzahn: 'Special Night'
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Gus Malzahn: 'Special Night'
Gus Malzahn: 'Special Night'Auburn coach Gus Malzahn talks about his team's stunning win against Georgia on a desperation heave.Tags: Gus Malzahn, Auburn, GeorgiaFlorida State Crushes Syracuse
Florida State Crushes SyracuseJameis Winston threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in Florida State's 59-3 win over Syracuse.Tags: Jameis WinstonDuke Topples Miami
Duke Topples MiamiBrandon Connette rushed for four touchdowns and passed for another to help Duke upend No. 23 Miami 48-30 and take control of the ACC Coastal division.Tags: Duke, Miami, Brandon Connette, Stephen MorrisCollege Football Top Plays
College Football Top PlaysCheck out the top plays from Week 12 in college football.Tags: USC, Stanford, Georgia, Auburn
AUBURN, Ala. -- With Auburn's title hopes hanging in the balance, the ball deflected into the air and into Ricardo Louis' hands.
The result was a stunningly improbable touchdown that rescued the seventh-ranked Tigers' equally unlikely championship chances.
More on Georgia-Auburn
The Auburn Tigers held out hope that their dream season would continue against Georgia, even when the chips were stacked against them, writes Greg Ostendorf. Blog
• Auburn blog
• SEC blog
Louis scored on a deflected 73-yard pass from Nick Marshall on fourth and 18 with 25 seconds left to give Auburn a 43-38 victory over No. 25 Georgia on Saturday night.
"I couldn't believe it," Louis said. "It just landed right into my hands. I saw it once it got over my shoulder. It got tipped, I lost track of it ... but when I looked over my shoulders, it was right there."
The Tigers (10-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) had blown a 27-7 lead but pulled out one more huge play to continue the biggest turnaround in major college football. From 3-9 last year, they can win the SEC West with a victory in two weeks against No. 1 Alabama.
Marshall heaved the ball downfield with two defenders around Louis. It bounced off safety Josh Harvey-Clemons' hand and Louis reached out his left hand to corral it. Marshall said he stiff armed a defender before letting the ball fly.
All he could do then was watch and hope.
"When I saw it get tipped around, I knew we still had a chance," Marshall said. "It was a live ball. I saw that Ricardo still had his eyes on the ball. That's something we work on at practice: keep your eyes on the ball."
Aaron Murray, who had engineered the comeback with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, could only stare helplessly from the bench. A win could have kept the Bulldogs alive in the SEC East.
"That's a freak play," Murray said. "It's like a nightmare. You try to wake up, and we are celebrating victory. It's tough. This is going to be a tough one to get over."
Murray led Georgia (6-4, 4-3) all the way to Auburn's 20 but his final two passes fell incomplete as time ran out. Dee Ford hit him on the last pass as Murray ran toward the line before trying to throw.
Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said he couldn't remember being on the sidelines for a similar loss since his Florida State days.
"When you lose, you tend to think about the things you should have done," Richt said. "When you win, you just think about how great it is.
SN: Hail mary leads Auburn past UGA
Is Auburn's Hail Mary TD the play of the year? Will a two-week layoff help or hurt the Tigers in their Nov. 30 game against Alabama? Vote! »
"Let's face it, as good as Auburn is and has been playing, they've got all the momentum going."
Some Auburn players climbed into the stands to celebrate with students, and most fans stayed put to celebrate the victory.
It only came after Murray gave the Tigers a big scare. He had plowed into Ryan Smith at the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:49 left.
Auburn challenged the final TD, but replay officials upheld the call on the field.
That left the Tigers starting at their own 22 with 1:45 left. They managed one first down but Jordan Jenkins sacked Marshall to set up fourth and 18.
Marshall then produced the biggest play of his career against the Bulldogs, where he played as a freshman defensive back. He was dismissed from the team in February 2012 for violating team rules and returned to the SEC after a season in junior college.
He finished 15-of-26 passing for 229 yards after attempting only 15 passes combined in the past two games thanks to a steamrolling running game. Marshall also ran 19 times for 89 yards.
He also threw a game-winning TD pass with 10 seconds left against Mississippi State, but there was much more on the line this time. The 2010 national champions are potential contenders again.
"They find a way to win," said Gus Malzahn, Auburn's first-year coach. "This team has the 'it' factor. That's just the bottom line."
He had simple plans for celebration.
"This is definitely a Waffle House night," Malzahn said.
More on Georgia
For full coverage of the Dawgs, check out the Georgia blog, part of ESPN's College Football Nation. Blog
More:
• Georgia's clubhouse page
• ESPN.com's SEC blog
Tre Mason ran 27 times for 115 yards, and Louis had his career game.
He caught four passes for 131 yards -- nearly doubling the 160 yards he had entering the game -- and gained 66 yards on five rushes.
Louis had said he wanted the ball during the timeout before the fourth-down play.
"I told them to get me the ball, and that I was going to make a play," he said, "but I didn't expect that."
It was just enough to survive Murray's furious onslaught.
The prolific Georgia passer completed 33 of 49 passes for 415 yards and two touchdowns in the final 9:35, with an earlier interception.
Murray also ran for two scores and had 160 yards passing in the fourth quarter.
Todd Gurley ran 15 times for 79 yards and a touchdown and caught 10 passes for 77 yards. Auburn gained 566 yards, Georgia 532.
The Tigers ran for 323 yards against a defense that came in giving up 126 yards a game on the ground, 20th nationally.
They had lost the last two meetings in the Deep South's oldest rivalry by 38 points apiece. Now, the Tigers hold a razor-thin 55-54-8 edge.
Auburn rode that punishing running game and Georgia mistakes to a 27-10 halftime lead, at one point outgaining the Bulldogs 170-4 before the comeback began.
"It was just a whale of a game, I guess," Richt said.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Georgia Preface
I think I'm finally excited about this football season. It's Georgia time. Next to Alabama, this is the big one.
Auburn comes into Jordan Hare after two road games sporting an amazing 9 and 1 record after going 3 & 9 last year. Coach Malzahn has done amazing things with this team.
Auburn is a slight favorite but I see it as as tossup. This game really could go either way. No reason to think it won't go down the last minute with both teams scoring some big points.
We have going for us the leading rushing team in the SEC. The Bulldogs and 4th in rushing defense. We have a defense that gives up yards but has been great in the red zone. More often than not opponents come away with field goals rather than touchdowns. How many passes will Auburn attempt in this game? We only to throw 7 times against Tennessee and 9 times against Arkansas. Can our passing game with Nick Marshall and Sammie Coates pick it up in this game? I can't imagine not having to throw more in this game. Georgia's defensive weakness is supposed to be in the secondary.
Georgia has QB Murray, an experienced game manager. Their bruising running back Gurley is back. I can't imagine they won't score on us. I can't imagine that this will be anything less than a shootout.
We have JH on our side. I hope this is big.
Auburn comes into Jordan Hare after two road games sporting an amazing 9 and 1 record after going 3 & 9 last year. Coach Malzahn has done amazing things with this team.
Auburn is a slight favorite but I see it as as tossup. This game really could go either way. No reason to think it won't go down the last minute with both teams scoring some big points.
We have going for us the leading rushing team in the SEC. The Bulldogs and 4th in rushing defense. We have a defense that gives up yards but has been great in the red zone. More often than not opponents come away with field goals rather than touchdowns. How many passes will Auburn attempt in this game? We only to throw 7 times against Tennessee and 9 times against Arkansas. Can our passing game with Nick Marshall and Sammie Coates pick it up in this game? I can't imagine not having to throw more in this game. Georgia's defensive weakness is supposed to be in the secondary.
Georgia has QB Murray, an experienced game manager. Their bruising running back Gurley is back. I can't imagine they won't score on us. I can't imagine that this will be anything less than a shootout.
We have JH on our side. I hope this is big.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tennessee Postmorten
Beating Tennessee used to be a big deal. With that program down it hasn't been such a big deal lately. This time it pushes Auburn's record to 9 and 1. That's big regardless of the opponent.
It is amazing how easily we beat UT with record return yardage and such success running the football. Nick Marshall showed out as he gets more and more confortable running the Gus Malzahn offense.
Now it's on to bigger things.
It is amazing how easily we beat UT with record return yardage and such success running the football. Nick Marshall showed out as he gets more and more confortable running the Gus Malzahn offense.
Now it's on to bigger things.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
The 2013 Tennessee Game
Finally we have an early start. The game is at 11 on ESPN. I think the Vols are 3 and 5. They are supposed to be last in the conference in rushing defense and Auburn is first in rushing offense. Maybe this favors the Tigers. Tennesse has lost on the road but they are 4 and 1 at home. This bodes well for them. We shall what transpires at Neyland Stadium.
FIRST QUARTER
The Tigers win the toss and defer.
The Vols drive for a 39-yard FG.
The key play was a 31-yard floating pass that Davis didn't get his head around on. The pass should have at least have been batted away.
Auburn 0 Tennessee 3
Mason returns the KO to the 27.
After one first down Auburn is pushed back and we are punting from the 30
Stevens dropped a perfect pass at midfield on second down.
The punt is downed at the Vol 13. So in our first possession we come out throwing an a sack on third ends the possession.
Stevens should have a first down catch.
Who would have thought we would come out throwing?
UT is three and out.
Chris Davis returns the punt to the Vol 22.
Mason loses 3 but on the next play Marshall hits Uzomah in stride for the touchdown.
The PAT is blocked!
Auburn 6 Tennessee 3
Again the Vols drive for a FG this time a 42-yarder.
As we have seen all year a team drives the ball on us but we stop them this time short of the Red Zone.
Tennessee shows that they can move the ball.
Auburn 6 Tennessee 6
Tennessee is really stacking the line of scrimmage which leads to passing on almost every down.
The KO stays inbounds and we start on the 13.
The drives begin but Mason fumbles and Tennessee recovers on the Vol 43.
There's a big play on a QB draw and Tennessee is on our 26.
The quarter ends with UT threatening.
Tennessee has dominated the first quarter. We are fortunate it's only 6-6.
We had a dropped pass on our first possession and a lost fumble on the third possession.
The Tigers are sluggish.
SECOND QUARTER
Tennessee begins the quarter 2nd and 2 on the 18.
Wow! The runner goes for the score from the 18 when at least 5 or 6 Tigers miss tackles.
I can't believe such poor tackling. We haven't seen this all year.
Unbelievably poor tackling.
Can our offense respond? Will our defense show up?
Auburn 6 Tennessee 13
Tennessee has scored on all three possessions.
First play Marshall goes 62 yards from the 25.
Next play Mason runs around left end for the TD!
Two plays. Less than a minute.
The offense responds!
Wow.
Auburn 13 Tennessee 13
After one first down our defense pushes back, dropping their freshman QB on a third and long for a huge loss.
THEN Chris Davis drops the punt at the 15, and THEN runs 85 yards down the left sideline for the touchdown. By the time he hit the AU 30 he had a caravan of Tigers escorting him to the end zone.
Punt return for the touchdown! Let's get it rolling guys!
Auburn 20 Tennessee 13
After one first down UT is punting from their 35.
The idea is to get UT on 2nd and 3rd down and long to make them throw the ball.
The punt goes out of bounds at the AU 15.
6:31 left in the half.
Grant runs to the 35.
Marshall runs to the UT 43.
Marshall to the 31.
Mason to the 15.
Mason to the 8.
Marshall runs it in easily from there.
Now that was a DOMINATING drive.
UT focuses on Mason which leaves Marshall free to run wild.
NM is averaging 20 yards a carry.
And our wide receivers are blocking downfield.
Auburn 27 Tennessee 13
The read option is working like magic in the second quarter leaving Marshall free to run as UT collapses on Mason most of the time.
UT is quickly out to their 48.
But that's it and UT punts from midfield.
Bray fair-catches at the 17 with 2:12 to go.
On third and four Marshall attempts a short pass to Mason but the UT guy steps in front and gets a Pick 6. We didn't need this
Auburn 27 Tennessee 20
But not to fear!
UT kicks off at the 20 beccause of penalty on the score.
Mason returns to the Vol 45.
The Tigers are quickly into the end zone Marshall running it in.
Auburn's scoring drives are averaging 50 seconds!
The Vols are leaving NM uncovered a they converge on Mason on every play.
It's amazing to see how Tennessee is not accounting for Marshall.
If they do so in the second half maybe Mason will have a big half.
Auburn 34 Tennessee 20
THIRD QUARTER
The Tigers get the ball to start the second half.
Guess what! Corey Grant runs the kickoff back 90 yards for the touchdown!
This is the first time in Auburn history that we've had both a punt and KO returned for a touchdown.
Our return yardage in this game is amazing.
Auburn 41 Tennessee 20
The Vols drive for a 40-yd. FG.
Auburn 41 Tennessee 23
The Tigers drive 55 yards in 8 plays for a touchdown.
Mason from 4 for the score. No passing needed. UT simply cannot stop our running game.
Auburn 48 Tennessee 23
Tennessee is three and out.
Davis fair-catches at the AU 16.
Auburn goes 3 and out with 4:42 to go. Two CAP runs up the middle and incomplete pass.
UT fair catches at the 43.
Since trailing 13 to 6 Auburn has outscored UT 42 to 10.
Therezie intercepts at the AU 27 on the first play.
The quarter ends with the Tigers driving with a first down at the UT 28.
Auburn is in complete control of this football game.
FOURTH QUARTER
Grant speeds around down the left side to the 13.
Mason to the 8.
Mason to the 2 for a first down.
Mason easily pushes in from the 2.
Our offense makes it look so easy today.
All running. No need to pass.
Auburn 54 Tennessee 23
Most of the 4th quarter yet to come.
Is this a dominating performance by the Auburn Tigers or what?
Our defense has given up yards like it has all year but has only given up 16 points with 7 coming off of the offense.
UT simply cannot stop our running game.
12 plays. 73 yards on the last scoring drive.
377 rushing yards with most of the last quarter left.
UT drives but our defense holds on 4th and 2. Great play on 4th down by our defense.
AU takes on over on our 28.
The game ends with Auburn on the Tennessee 5 yard line.
756 total yards counting return yards.
We only threw the ball 7 times.
Auburn thrashes Tennessee. Our offense dominates their defense. Our defense give up only 16 points.
DOMINATION!
Auburn is 9 and 1. The stage is set for Georgia and Alabama.
Nobody thought Auburn would be at this position before the season started.
How great it is to be an Auburn Tiger!
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 54 Tennessee 23
FIRST QUARTER
The Tigers win the toss and defer.
The Vols drive for a 39-yard FG.
The key play was a 31-yard floating pass that Davis didn't get his head around on. The pass should have at least have been batted away.
Auburn 0 Tennessee 3
Mason returns the KO to the 27.
After one first down Auburn is pushed back and we are punting from the 30
Stevens dropped a perfect pass at midfield on second down.
The punt is downed at the Vol 13. So in our first possession we come out throwing an a sack on third ends the possession.
Stevens should have a first down catch.
Who would have thought we would come out throwing?
UT is three and out.
Chris Davis returns the punt to the Vol 22.
Mason loses 3 but on the next play Marshall hits Uzomah in stride for the touchdown.
The PAT is blocked!
Auburn 6 Tennessee 3
Again the Vols drive for a FG this time a 42-yarder.
As we have seen all year a team drives the ball on us but we stop them this time short of the Red Zone.
Tennessee shows that they can move the ball.
Auburn 6 Tennessee 6
Tennessee is really stacking the line of scrimmage which leads to passing on almost every down.
The KO stays inbounds and we start on the 13.
The drives begin but Mason fumbles and Tennessee recovers on the Vol 43.
There's a big play on a QB draw and Tennessee is on our 26.
The quarter ends with UT threatening.
Tennessee has dominated the first quarter. We are fortunate it's only 6-6.
We had a dropped pass on our first possession and a lost fumble on the third possession.
The Tigers are sluggish.
SECOND QUARTER
Tennessee begins the quarter 2nd and 2 on the 18.
Wow! The runner goes for the score from the 18 when at least 5 or 6 Tigers miss tackles.
I can't believe such poor tackling. We haven't seen this all year.
Unbelievably poor tackling.
Can our offense respond? Will our defense show up?
Auburn 6 Tennessee 13
Tennessee has scored on all three possessions.
First play Marshall goes 62 yards from the 25.
Next play Mason runs around left end for the TD!
Two plays. Less than a minute.
The offense responds!
Wow.
Auburn 13 Tennessee 13
After one first down our defense pushes back, dropping their freshman QB on a third and long for a huge loss.
THEN Chris Davis drops the punt at the 15, and THEN runs 85 yards down the left sideline for the touchdown. By the time he hit the AU 30 he had a caravan of Tigers escorting him to the end zone.
Punt return for the touchdown! Let's get it rolling guys!
Auburn 20 Tennessee 13
After one first down UT is punting from their 35.
The idea is to get UT on 2nd and 3rd down and long to make them throw the ball.
The punt goes out of bounds at the AU 15.
6:31 left in the half.
Grant runs to the 35.
Marshall runs to the UT 43.
Marshall to the 31.
Mason to the 15.
Mason to the 8.
Marshall runs it in easily from there.
Now that was a DOMINATING drive.
UT focuses on Mason which leaves Marshall free to run wild.
NM is averaging 20 yards a carry.
And our wide receivers are blocking downfield.
Auburn 27 Tennessee 13
The read option is working like magic in the second quarter leaving Marshall free to run as UT collapses on Mason most of the time.
UT is quickly out to their 48.
But that's it and UT punts from midfield.
Bray fair-catches at the 17 with 2:12 to go.
On third and four Marshall attempts a short pass to Mason but the UT guy steps in front and gets a Pick 6. We didn't need this
Auburn 27 Tennessee 20
But not to fear!
UT kicks off at the 20 beccause of penalty on the score.
Mason returns to the Vol 45.
The Tigers are quickly into the end zone Marshall running it in.
Auburn's scoring drives are averaging 50 seconds!
The Vols are leaving NM uncovered a they converge on Mason on every play.
It's amazing to see how Tennessee is not accounting for Marshall.
If they do so in the second half maybe Mason will have a big half.
Auburn 34 Tennessee 20
THIRD QUARTER
The Tigers get the ball to start the second half.
Guess what! Corey Grant runs the kickoff back 90 yards for the touchdown!
This is the first time in Auburn history that we've had both a punt and KO returned for a touchdown.
Our return yardage in this game is amazing.
Auburn 41 Tennessee 20
The Vols drive for a 40-yd. FG.
Auburn 41 Tennessee 23
The Tigers drive 55 yards in 8 plays for a touchdown.
Mason from 4 for the score. No passing needed. UT simply cannot stop our running game.
Auburn 48 Tennessee 23
Tennessee is three and out.
Davis fair-catches at the AU 16.
Auburn goes 3 and out with 4:42 to go. Two CAP runs up the middle and incomplete pass.
UT fair catches at the 43.
Since trailing 13 to 6 Auburn has outscored UT 42 to 10.
Therezie intercepts at the AU 27 on the first play.
The quarter ends with the Tigers driving with a first down at the UT 28.
Auburn is in complete control of this football game.
FOURTH QUARTER
Grant speeds around down the left side to the 13.
Mason to the 8.
Mason to the 2 for a first down.
Mason easily pushes in from the 2.
Our offense makes it look so easy today.
All running. No need to pass.
Auburn 54 Tennessee 23
Most of the 4th quarter yet to come.
Is this a dominating performance by the Auburn Tigers or what?
Our defense has given up yards like it has all year but has only given up 16 points with 7 coming off of the offense.
UT simply cannot stop our running game.
12 plays. 73 yards on the last scoring drive.
377 rushing yards with most of the last quarter left.
UT drives but our defense holds on 4th and 2. Great play on 4th down by our defense.
AU takes on over on our 28.
The game ends with Auburn on the Tennessee 5 yard line.
756 total yards counting return yards.
We only threw the ball 7 times.
Auburn thrashes Tennessee. Our offense dominates their defense. Our defense give up only 16 points.
DOMINATION!
Auburn is 9 and 1. The stage is set for Georgia and Alabama.
Nobody thought Auburn would be at this position before the season started.
How great it is to be an Auburn Tiger!
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 54 Tennessee 23
Tennessee Preface
Auburn vs. Tennessee at Neyland Stadium 11 a.m. kickoff on ESPN. Finally an early game. I like it and hope the players like it. The Tigers are 8 and 1 with the Vols, Georgia, and Alabama coming up. To say the least it will be interesting to see how this season plays out.
I have such memories of this series. It used to be that this was our first big early test of the season. Now they are just an SEC East rotating team.
Auburn has beaten Tennessee the last five times. When was the last time we lost to Tennessee?
It's all in front of the Tigers. Let's see what happens.
I have such memories of this series. It used to be that this was our first big early test of the season. Now they are just an SEC East rotating team.
Auburn has beaten Tennessee the last five times. When was the last time we lost to Tennessee?
It's all in front of the Tigers. Let's see what happens.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
After Beating Arkansas
We enjoy the morning after beating Arkansas here in Little Rock. It's a beautiful sunny Sunday morning in Arkansas. 35 to 17. How sweet it is to beat those Razorbacks and give Coach Malzahn a victory on his first visit back to his native state as a head coach.
It was sort of an ugly game, but no matter. We didn't give their pompous coach the beatdown that some wanted, but no matter. Arky had closed to 28 to 17 early in the fourth quarter, but our offense mounted a TD drive that iced the game. Tre Mason runs 12 yards right in front us around left end to the end zone.
This 2013 Auburn football team is now 8 and 1. Tennessee us up next in Rocky Top. We take 'em one at a time.
It was sort of an ugly game, but no matter. We didn't give their pompous coach the beatdown that some wanted, but no matter. Arky had closed to 28 to 17 early in the fourth quarter, but our offense mounted a TD drive that iced the game. Tre Mason runs 12 yards right in front us around left end to the end zone.
This 2013 Auburn football team is now 8 and 1. Tennessee us up next in Rocky Top. We take 'em one at a time.
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