A play that will live forever in Auburn lore.
Bo over the top.
Nix to Sanders.
Cam’s run against LSU.
Carnell Williams’ 80-yard touchdown run on the first play of the 2003 Iron Bowl.
Now, Ricardo Louis’ tip-drill touchdown.
Rod Bramblett’s call ringing out.
Go crazy Jordan-Hare. Go crazy.
Have you ever seen anything like that? Unbelievable.
They’ll be talking about the play that lifted Auburn to a 43-38 win over Georgia on Saturday night for 50 years. Maybe longer. Maybe forever.
Fourth down. Hail Mary. Tip. Flip. Catch. Touchdown.
Auburn wins.
Go crazy.
With everything that Auburn had riding on the 117th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, that play carried the hopes and dreams of an entire program and fan base clinging to the belief that this year — this team — could once and for all erase the disappointment of 2012. That they could do something never before seen on the Plains, or in college football.
That, some way, despite the depths of 3-9, Auburn could climb out of the pit and be relevant again. From despair to dominance. From punch line to heavyweight contender.
All that spinning right into the awaiting hands of two Georgia defenders. Then …
Go crazy.
“I don’t know what could top this one,” said senior defensive end Dee Ford, who was part of the 2010 BCS championship team. “I really don’t.”
Neither do we.
“This team, they’re special,” coach Gus Malzahn said after the game. “This is a special group. They’ve been through a lot. They rallied. They came together. They believed in each other.”
The season that everyone dreamed about but never believed could happen … is happening.
Auburn beat Georgia in a game they were supposed to win, but a game that had every Tigers fan holding their collective breaths.
Especially on that fourth down.
Who knew 11 seconds could make you turn blue?
Exhale.
Auburn’s 10-1.
“I told them before the game, I said, ‘We’ve been building up to this moment,’” Malzahn said. “Our moment was to be able to play with these guys. And they did that tonight.”
Indeed.
It was said after the Texas A&M game, where the Tigers knocked off the then-No. 7 Aggies and Johnny Football in College Station, now it’s confirmed: Auburn’s back. With a vengeance.
Even if they weren’t able to nail it shut in the fourth quarter Saturday against Georgia, the Tigers stayed alive long enough to make a play.
Just one play. One legendary play.
“This team has the ‘it’ factor,” Malzahn said, adding later, “I told our team just a minute ago, I think we’re in the midst of something special here.”
No doubt.
Now, it’s onto the Iron Bowl and No. 1 Alabama in perhaps the biggest game in history of the rivalry.
Why?
Because for the first time, this one’s for the SEC West and a berth in the conference title game. Never before have the Tigers and Tide played for a trip to Atlanta (or Birmingham, before that).
Oh, the Plains will be rocking two weeks from now.
Thanksgiving. Black Friday. Championship Saturday.
Oh, boy.
Talk about going crazy.
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