Column: Auburn has derailed Alabama's hopes for a national title before
There have been some colossal upsets in the storied rivalry between Auburn and Alabama, but if the 6-5 Tigers find a way to knock off the 10-1 Crimson Tide at home Saturday, it may be the biggest stunner in Iron Bowl history.
War Eagle is currently the cellar dweller in the cutthroat SEC West, as its five conference losses — to LSU, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Georgia — are two more than anybody else in the division. FCS foe Jacksonville State took coach Gus Malzahn and Co. to overtime back on Sept. 12, which was the first indication that Auburn’s preseason No. 6 ranking would soon go up in flames.
‘Bama, on the other hand, has rattled off eight straight victories after losing to Ole Miss on Sept. 20. Even if the Tide’s wins over Georgia, Texas A&M and LSU don’t look as good now as they did then — the Bulldogs, Aggies and Tigers have fallen from the top 10 to unranked — the College Football Playoff committee has them No. 2 in the country behind top-ranked Clemson.
I won’t bore you with any “you can throw out the records when these two get together” nonsense, although there is plenty of evidence to suggest just that a day before kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Three reasons why Auburn could upset Alabama A LONG SHOT I KNOW!! https://t.co/1LwHIHHSST
— April Staton (@AGStaton) November 20, 2015
“I don’t think I have to tell anybody anything that they don’t already know about this game,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said at his Monday press conference. “The Iron Bowl is one of the great rivalries in college football. It means a lot to a lot of people in this state, as well as around the country. It’s certainly an opportunity that you appreciate as a competitor.”
A win for the Crimson Tide means a date with Florida the following week in the SEC title game, where another win there all but guarantees them a spot in the Final Four.
“Our team has created an opportunity for themselves,” Saban said. “I think it’s all about staying focused on what you need to do to play your best football on the road and not letting outside noise affect your ability to focus on what you need to do to play well against a very, very good team.”
Another maxim from some of the premier college football feuds goes like this: “I don’t care if we lose every other game, just so long as we beat (insert rival here).”
Even if Auburn pulls another rabbit out of its hat and shocks Alabama, a 7-5 campaign for a program with such high expectations will be considered an abject failure.
From Malzahn’s inconsistent offense to Will Muschamp’s growing pains returning to defensive coordinator, the Camping World Independence Bowl or the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl isn’t what any Tigers fan envisioned during fall camp.
Malzahn had an interesting exchange with the media at his Tuesday press conference, as a reporter asked if Auburn needed to dig into its bag of tricks in order to level the playing field against almighty Alabama.
“You guys are trying to give all my secrets away,” he joked. “What else we want to tell them? Y’all want some reverses? We’ll run some reverses. Y’all want some trick plays? We’ll run some trick plays. Y’all want to know what they’re called? Just ask me.”
Living up to his reputation as being a bit paranoid from time to time, Malzahn has been as tight-lipped as ever this week, including not yet naming a starting quarterback.
“You worry about everything in a week like this,” he admitted. “In our state, both groups keep a close eye on each other and you worry about confidentiality. You worry about all that this week, but that’s the way it is every year. That’s part of what makes this rivalry special, though. You got to think ahead and protect what you’re doing.”
Too bad Auburn’s honorary coach for the game, former Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Cam Newton, doesn’t have any eligibility left.
Crazier things have happened
Everybody remembers the Kick Six from two seasons ago, when Auburn turned Alabama’s potential game-winning 57-yard field goal on the last play of regulation into a coast-to-coast touchdown return the other direction.
However, that’s not the only time an underdog Tigers ballcub tripped up a Tide squad supposedly on its way to another national championship.
From 1948 to 1988, the Iron Bowl was played in neutral-site Birmingham. But in 1989, Auburn had the luxury of hosting Alabama at Jordan-Hare for the first time.
While the 8-2 Tigers were ranked 11th, the unbeaten Crimson Tide were No. 2. However, a frenzied home crowd wouldn’t be denied, as War Eagle got two TDs from running back James Joseph and came out on top 30-20.
‘Bama tumbled to seventh in the polls and out of national-title contention, ultimately losing to Miami in the Sugar Bowl.
In 1972, No. 9 Auburn locked horns with another undefeated Alabama troop ranked second in the nation. The Tigers were a complete mess offensively, as they trailed 16-0 through three periods and ended the contest with only 80 total yards.
Punt ‘Bama Punt.
See more coverage of Punt Bama Punt, including interviews and the play call in the #auburnvault pic.twitter.com/iy3CbcFOJg
— The Auburn Vault (@AuburnVault) November 19, 2015
In one of the most improbable finishes the sport has ever seen, Tigers defensive back David Langner returned two blocked punts for touchdowns — teammate Bill Newton was credited with both blocks — in the fourth quarter. Langner later sealed the result with an interception, as Auburn snatched a 17-16 victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Crimson Tide fell to No. 4 and eventually lost to Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
Insert cliché here
The numbers suggest that the Tigers are the inferior team on both sides of the football. They are 86th in total offense and 84th in total defense. Alabama is 54th and third, respectively.
Auburn’s lone advantage may be kicker Daniel Carlson, who is 20-of-23 on field goals and a finalist for the Lou Groza Award. The Tide’s Adam Griffith — the Kick Six victim, by the way — is a pedestrian 14-of-21.
But you can throw out the … well, you know.