Alabama fans eager to celebrate '2nd & 26 Day' three years after incredible walk-off touchdown
Look away Georgia fans. In case you were unaware, it’s a holiday for Crimson Tide fans.
If you check the calendar, today is February 26. Otherwise known as “2nd & 26 day” by Alabama fans.
It’s a date that will be memorable to Crimson Tide supporters for years to come as Tua Tagovailoa famously connected with DeVonta Smith for the game-winning touchdown pass in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game to conclude the 2017 season.
The touchdown play happened on 2nd and 26 after Tagovailoa took a big sack and Alabama was pushed back and out of field goal range in overtime of the title game.
Georgia had to feel confident about its chance to snap its title drought leading up to the play but it was all for naught in a matter of a few seconds.
Even the SEC Network was eager to remind fans of today’s significance.
*checks calendar* pic.twitter.com/IHi1eLwsvf
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 26, 2021
“Normal person: “What’s your favorite holiday?”
Me: “2nd & 26 day!”
Normal Person: “What…?”#Happy2ndand26Day pic.twitter.com/yHthNQpEKG
— Cruz Oxenreider (@TheRealCruzOx) February 26, 2021
*Wakes up* 😐
*Checks the date* 🥰Happy 2nd and 26!pic.twitter.com/LZxXvuzNy4
— Jayde Saylor (@JaydeSaylor) February 26, 2021
Happy 2nd & 26 Day!!!
Thanks @BC_Abrams32 for making my favorite version of this, y’all go follow the man!pic.twitter.com/VTixE7NWn8
— KD ➐ (@notkdk3) February 26, 2021
Happy 2nd & 26 Day @UGAVoice!!! https://t.co/8eRgbmeskn
— KD ➐ (@notkdk3) February 26, 2021
Happy 2nd and 26 day y’all pic.twitter.com/37SFm5q4nT
— AC (@a_coleman25) February 26, 2021
Happy 2nd & 26 day Bama fans… pic.twitter.com/yZBO6TgbGg
— Roll Tide #18™ (@jerrysandersRTR) February 26, 2021
@KirbySmartUGA Happy 2nd & 26 day!!! pic.twitter.com/66OHzbf40L
— Cody Kirk (@codykirk22) February 26, 2021
I’ll be the first to admit that I totally was preparing myself for defeat, and had moved off of the couch away from the television prior to the fateful plan. I didn’t want to see us lose and knew we were done for if we’d needed to kick a field goal to send the game into a second overtime.
And the next words out of my mouth were, verbatim, “Oh my God. We just won!”
(sigh)
I’ll never forget that moment. Never, ever.
Like the Wright and Jones song “Oh, Alabama” says:
“Glad the season’s here again
Lord, I love the fall
I’ll still be a loyal fan
If you don’t win ‘em all
It’s a thrill
when you march down the field
Against the Orange and Blue
And when the clock runs out
And your luck’s run cold
Or you pull one when there was no hope
Bama, it’s great just being there with you!”
Happy 2/26!
I have watched this play 1,000 times. I remember Chris Fowler saying on 1st & 10. “Tua sacked, waaaay back, what a disastrous play. Now on 2nd &26, Tua trying to make up for the loss. TOUCHDOWN! Alabama wins. The Crimson Tide will not be denied. True freshman to true freshman Tua Tagovailoa to Devonta Smith and Alabama breaks Georgia’s hearts”.
I have Eli’s play call memorized: Here’s Tua stepping back, loads up, looks long, throws. [Touchdown! (I think that might have been John Parker Wilson.)] End zone. Touchdown! Alabama! Devonta Smith! Touchdown, Alabama! And the Crimson Tide has once again ascended to the top of the college football mountain. Their fifth NC in nine years, their 17th overall, and for Coach Nick Saban, a career 6 NCs, a number matched only by the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. Alabama is back as the champion of college football! How about that?
Saban: knock knock
Kirby: who’s there?
Saban: Owen
Kirby: Owen who?
Saban: 0-3 against me!
Hard to believe it has been 3 years since the last college football game I was suppose to see was played. Time passes quickly, I guess, when you have so much to recover from.
Glad you were able to see another NC win this year, too.
I always think about my Daddy…he goes to at least one game a year with me. Usually the Tennessee game, but this year Georgia. I always pray, Lord, don’t let this be the last game we watch here together here at BDS. He’ll be 70 this year. Time flies! We have to enjoy every moment we can.