Game Review: Alabama

Knee-Jerk Reaction
Sweet eight pound six ounce new born baby Jesus! Why this team insists on playing with my emotions I will never know but, one thing is for sure, I have yet to have a reason to complain about the outcome. Giving credit where it is due, Saban and his gang came out with an amazing game plan on both sides of the ball and their team executed it to perfection for about a quarter and a half. When Trent Richardson dropped an easy touchdown pass that resulted in them settling for a field goal seemed insignificant when it extended their lead to 24-0, little did they know it was the beginning of the end. Coach Chizik and the leaders on this team deserve indescribable credit for being able to keep their cool and never lose faith in the face of adversity and a deficit no Auburn team in their great football history had ever been able to overcome. Knowing we would get the ball first out of the half was critical for me continuing to believe there was hope. Hitting the long touchdown before the half was affirmation that this game was far from over. Most teams down 24-7 at the half would come out of the locker room hoping to play for pride though few usually do. This Auburn team is different if you hadn't noticed yet. Trailing by 17 at the break is nothing to fear. I said at halftime if we come out and get a score than it is a 10 point game and Alabama will tighten up. They know we have been coming back all year and as soon as we are within striking distance they will be playing not to lose which usually results in a loss ironically. Not only did Auburn overcome the early deficit but they did so in a flash. Auburn scored their third touchdown of the night with over four minutes left in the third quarter. What was thought by many to be an insurmountable deficit was brought to a three point game less than eight minutes out of the break. The only gaff of the second half was Quindarious Carr's fumble on an ill advised no fair catch decision. The previous punt he fair caught was well blocked and he had room to run and clearly that was in his mind. Alabama's gunners were running free right at him and he was hit in succession by two players moments after he fielded the punt. The second hit jarred the ball loose which led directly to the only points Alabama would score in the second half. A defense that had been shredded in the first half was lights out in the second half. Nick Fairley did his thing along the line, Eltoro Freeman had his best game as an Auburn Tiger and T'Sharvan Bell was the best defensive back on either team Friday afternoon. The game winning drive had a little bit of everything from this offense. There was balance in the running game with Cam, Dyer and McCalebb all getting carries. There were creative play calls hitting McCalebb in the flats after the fake to the jet sweep. There were gutsy play calls with the decision to go for it on fourth and three from mid-field. Best of all, it culminated with the best touchdown dance of the 2010 season when Philip Lutzenkirchen jigged his way into the end zone with the game winning score.

Positives
T'Sharvan Bell - No player on defense stood out to me as much as Bell did on Friday. With all the struggles we have had in the secondary it was nice to finally see a corner who can come up and lay a lick on a wide receiver (or quarterback) and even break up a couple passes along the way.

Nick Fairley - Another great game from possibly the best defensive player in the country. His poise to overcome the worst unsportsman like celebration penalty I've ever seen was as impressive as the two sacks he had on the afternoon. On the second sack he drove their guard four yards deep into the pocket and bulldozing McElroy, forcing a fumble and having the awareness to realize no one was there to recover it, crawling around the pile of crimson he created and jumping on the loose ball.

Cam Newton - With all of the hype about Cam's scrambling ability it is hard to fathom that in the same season that he set the SEC rushing record for quarterbacks he also broke Auburn's single season passing touchdown record. Never in our lifetime will we again see a player who breaks the single season rushing touchdown record and passing touchdown record in the same game. Remarkable statistic. Anytime you break a record currently held by Bo Jackson and Cadillac Williams you know you've done something special. Four total touchdowns while leading your team to a come from behind win in the 75th Iron Bowl on enemy turf just made it all the sweeter.

The team - Congratulations. You've just completed an undefeated regular season in the SEC. You are the #1 ranked team in the BCS. You have earned your spot among all the great teams in Auburn history. This is a special group of individuals who appear to trust and love each other as much if not more than the 2004 team which is saying A LOT. War Eagle!