SEC: Tide-Tigers 112709
'Playing in the moment' is good enough
November, 27, 2009
Nov 27
10:18
PM ET
AUBURN, Ala. -- As Alabama coach Nick Saban was dissecting his team’s heart-stopping 26-21 win over Auburn Friday night, he made reference to something great teams do.
He quickly stopped himself and made it clear that he wasn’t calling Alabama a great team.
Not yet, anyway.
The Crimson Tide will get their chance to prove next weekend in the SEC championship game, and potentially on Jan. 7 in the BCS National Championship Game, just what kind of team they truly are.
It remains to be seen if there are any great teams in college football this season.
Then again, here’s betting that Alabama would gladly settle for the “championship team” moniker after all of the BCS dust settles in January and let everybody else debate who’s great and who’s not.
But one thing that’s not debatable about this Alabama team is its ability to deliver when it absolutely has to.
Against Virginia Tech, it was a dominant fourth quarter after trailing 17-16 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Against Tennessee, it was a blocked field goal by Terrence Cody on the final play of the game.
Against LSU, it was a 73-yard touchdown by Julio Jones on a screen pass after the Crimson Tide entered the fourth quarter trailing 15-13.
And against Auburn, it was a 79-yard, 15-play touchdown drive that turned a shaky performance by the Crimson Tide into one they’ll remember for a long time in this rivalry on the Alabama side of things.
Saban calls it “playing in the moment,” and Alabama has turned it into an art form this season.
“I know with fans and other people, everything’s based on results,” Saban said. “But great competitors can play in that moment and that time, and great teams can play in that moment and that time.
“I’m not saying we have a great team. I’m just saying that our team was able to do that tonight, and that was important in us finishing this game like we needed to to get the win.”
Not only did Alabama fall behind 14-0 on Friday before a lot of fans had taken their seats at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but the Crimson Tide found themselves in a position they hadn’t been in all season in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.
They needed to drive the length of the field to win the game.
“You just play the next play. That’s what we tell our players all the time,” Saban said. “That’s probably why they didn’t lose their poise when they got behind in the game, and it’s probably why they didn’t lose their poise at the end of the game when they had to make plays to win the game.”
And now, with Florida waiting next Saturday in the SEC championship game, the Crimson Tide get a chance to take that step they couldn’t navigate a year ago.
Cody said he was thinking about the Gators before he ever left the field Friday night.
“It’s time to get ready for Florida,” Cody said. “We played them real tough last year. But this team is more disciplined, and we’ve got a lot more players and a lot more athletes.”
The other thing Alabama has is a certain resourcefulness about it, that no matter what the situation, the Crimson Tide are going to get it done.
“We’ll have to play Alabama football for the whole 60 minutes [against Florida],” senior linebacker Cory Reamer said. “Today was not Alabama football, but we got out of here with a win.”
Alabama also made a little history, although nobody really seemed too interested in going there considering what comes next.
This is the first time in 35 years that an SEC team has put together back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons. The last team to do it was Alabama in 1973 and 1974 when Bear Bryant was dominating the league.
Of course, as far as this Alabama team is concerned, there’s only one game now that means anything this season.
The one next Saturday in the Georgia Dome.
“It’s all about Florida now,” Cody said, “and it’s finally here.”
He quickly stopped himself and made it clear that he wasn’t calling Alabama a great team.
Not yet, anyway.
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesIt wasn't pretty, but Nick Saban and the Tide did what they had to do to get the win on Friday.
It remains to be seen if there are any great teams in college football this season.
Then again, here’s betting that Alabama would gladly settle for the “championship team” moniker after all of the BCS dust settles in January and let everybody else debate who’s great and who’s not.
But one thing that’s not debatable about this Alabama team is its ability to deliver when it absolutely has to.
Against Virginia Tech, it was a dominant fourth quarter after trailing 17-16 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Against Tennessee, it was a blocked field goal by Terrence Cody on the final play of the game.
Against LSU, it was a 73-yard touchdown by Julio Jones on a screen pass after the Crimson Tide entered the fourth quarter trailing 15-13.
And against Auburn, it was a 79-yard, 15-play touchdown drive that turned a shaky performance by the Crimson Tide into one they’ll remember for a long time in this rivalry on the Alabama side of things.
Saban calls it “playing in the moment,” and Alabama has turned it into an art form this season.
“I know with fans and other people, everything’s based on results,” Saban said. “But great competitors can play in that moment and that time, and great teams can play in that moment and that time.
“I’m not saying we have a great team. I’m just saying that our team was able to do that tonight, and that was important in us finishing this game like we needed to to get the win.”
Not only did Alabama fall behind 14-0 on Friday before a lot of fans had taken their seats at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but the Crimson Tide found themselves in a position they hadn’t been in all season in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.
They needed to drive the length of the field to win the game.
“You just play the next play. That’s what we tell our players all the time,” Saban said. “That’s probably why they didn’t lose their poise when they got behind in the game, and it’s probably why they didn’t lose their poise at the end of the game when they had to make plays to win the game.”
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Marvin Gentry/US PresswireTrent Richardson put Alabama on the board with a 2-yard run in the second quarter.
Cody said he was thinking about the Gators before he ever left the field Friday night.
“It’s time to get ready for Florida,” Cody said. “We played them real tough last year. But this team is more disciplined, and we’ve got a lot more players and a lot more athletes.”
The other thing Alabama has is a certain resourcefulness about it, that no matter what the situation, the Crimson Tide are going to get it done.
“We’ll have to play Alabama football for the whole 60 minutes [against Florida],” senior linebacker Cory Reamer said. “Today was not Alabama football, but we got out of here with a win.”
Alabama also made a little history, although nobody really seemed too interested in going there considering what comes next.
This is the first time in 35 years that an SEC team has put together back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons. The last team to do it was Alabama in 1973 and 1974 when Bear Bryant was dominating the league.
Of course, as far as this Alabama team is concerned, there’s only one game now that means anything this season.
The one next Saturday in the Georgia Dome.
“It’s all about Florida now,” Cody said, “and it’s finally here.”
McElroy, Alabama offense calmly deliver
November, 27, 2009
Nov 27
9:09
PM ET
AUBURN, Ala. – He was one of Alabama’s biggest question marks coming into the season.
And then a month into the season, Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy was one of the SEC’s biggest and most pleasant surprises.
By the middle of October, he’d hit a lull – triggering all the same questions about his ability to throw the football all over again.
But on Friday, with Alabama’s dream season teetering ever so precariously on the Plains, McElroy was exactly what Alabama needed him to be.
He was clutch.
For that matter, so was the entire Alabama offense.
“We didn’t protect (McElroy) real well at times,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “We didn’t get open like we needed to, and there were a couple of times when he could have made better decisions.
“But he made all the right decisions in the critical time of the game. That’s what great competitors do, and Greg’s been a great competitor for us all year long.”
McElroy’s poise on the Crimson Tide’s game-winning 79-yard drive in their 26-21 victory over Auburn was infectious.
He was 7-of-8 passing and hit all three of his third-down throws, including the 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Roy Upchurch with 1:24 to play that gave Alabama its only lead of the game.
“As you looked in the huddle, from a quarterback’s perspective, I’m always looking and everyone is looking at me,” McElroy said. “There was no sense of worry. There was no sense of panic. We were able to take care of business, and everyone knew we were going to (score).”
The Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0) hadn’t done much of anything right offensively all day, as the Tigers stacked the box with eight defenders and dared McElroy to beat them throwing the football.
McElroy’s 33-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colin Peek in the second quarter tied the game at 14-14, but Alabama’s offense in the second half had consisted of a couple of Leigh Tiffin field goals.
And that was it.
With a little more than 10 minutes to play and needing to go 79 yards for the touchdown, senior offensive guard Mike Johnson said there was never any doubt that the Crimson Tide were going to put together their best drive of the game.
Maybe their best drive of the year.
“Everybody was looking at each other and saying we had to dig a little deeper,” Johnson said. “There was nowhere to go. We either had to put points up or lose the game. We knew what we had to do and were able to dig deep and get it done.”
Four times in the 15-play drive, McElroy found Julio Jones. The first two came on third-down plays.
“We were able to get in third-and-manageable, which was probably the best thing about the entire drive,” said McElroy, who has now thrown 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions this season. “We weren’t facing any third-and-10 or 12 or anything like that.”
The touchdown play to Upchurch came after Alabama called timeout. Saban wanted to throw the ball and not settle for the field goal.
The Crimson Tide, facing third-and-goal from the 4, called a play they hadn’t run all season from that formation. Upchurch lined up at running back with 360-pound Terrence Cody as an offset fullback.
“They were expecting run,” Upchurch said. “We hadn’t thrown out of that formation all year. We run it all the time in practice, but hadn’t run it in a game.”
McElroy was a little surprised that Saban wanted to throw the ball in that situation.
“I thought we were just going to grind it out and take the three,” McElroy said. “It just gave me confidence in the fact they believed in me enough to make a play, and it was a great play call. We caught them off balance. We were able to get them outflanked and score an easy touchdown.
“So however many touchdown passes we have this year, it was probably the easiest … but it was also probably the biggest.”
And then a month into the season, Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy was one of the SEC’s biggest and most pleasant surprises.
By the middle of October, he’d hit a lull – triggering all the same questions about his ability to throw the football all over again.
But on Friday, with Alabama’s dream season teetering ever so precariously on the Plains, McElroy was exactly what Alabama needed him to be.
John Reed/US PRESSWIREAlabama quarterback Greg McElroy completed 21 of 31 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns.
He was clutch.
For that matter, so was the entire Alabama offense.
“We didn’t protect (McElroy) real well at times,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “We didn’t get open like we needed to, and there were a couple of times when he could have made better decisions.
“But he made all the right decisions in the critical time of the game. That’s what great competitors do, and Greg’s been a great competitor for us all year long.”
McElroy’s poise on the Crimson Tide’s game-winning 79-yard drive in their 26-21 victory over Auburn was infectious.
He was 7-of-8 passing and hit all three of his third-down throws, including the 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Roy Upchurch with 1:24 to play that gave Alabama its only lead of the game.
“As you looked in the huddle, from a quarterback’s perspective, I’m always looking and everyone is looking at me,” McElroy said. “There was no sense of worry. There was no sense of panic. We were able to take care of business, and everyone knew we were going to (score).”
The Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0) hadn’t done much of anything right offensively all day, as the Tigers stacked the box with eight defenders and dared McElroy to beat them throwing the football.
McElroy’s 33-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colin Peek in the second quarter tied the game at 14-14, but Alabama’s offense in the second half had consisted of a couple of Leigh Tiffin field goals.
And that was it.
With a little more than 10 minutes to play and needing to go 79 yards for the touchdown, senior offensive guard Mike Johnson said there was never any doubt that the Crimson Tide were going to put together their best drive of the game.
Maybe their best drive of the year.
“Everybody was looking at each other and saying we had to dig a little deeper,” Johnson said. “There was nowhere to go. We either had to put points up or lose the game. We knew what we had to do and were able to dig deep and get it done.”
Four times in the 15-play drive, McElroy found Julio Jones. The first two came on third-down plays.
“We were able to get in third-and-manageable, which was probably the best thing about the entire drive,” said McElroy, who has now thrown 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions this season. “We weren’t facing any third-and-10 or 12 or anything like that.”
The touchdown play to Upchurch came after Alabama called timeout. Saban wanted to throw the ball and not settle for the field goal.
The Crimson Tide, facing third-and-goal from the 4, called a play they hadn’t run all season from that formation. Upchurch lined up at running back with 360-pound Terrence Cody as an offset fullback.
“They were expecting run,” Upchurch said. “We hadn’t thrown out of that formation all year. We run it all the time in practice, but hadn’t run it in a game.”
McElroy was a little surprised that Saban wanted to throw the ball in that situation.
“I thought we were just going to grind it out and take the three,” McElroy said. “It just gave me confidence in the fact they believed in me enough to make a play, and it was a great play call. We caught them off balance. We were able to get them outflanked and score an easy touchdown.
“So however many touchdown passes we have this year, it was probably the easiest … but it was also probably the biggest.”
SEC blogger Chris Low breaks down Alabama’s win over Auburn.
Instant analysis: Alabama 26, Auburn 21
November, 27, 2009
Nov 27
6:02
PM ET
AUBURN, Ala. -- No. 2 Alabama survived an early 14-0 deficit to come back and beat in-state rival Auburn, 26-21, on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Here’s an instant analysis from the game:
How the game was won: After struggling on offense all game, Alabama drove 79 yards in 15 plays for Greg McElroy’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 to play to take its first lead of the game.
Turning point: Auburn, leading by one, had a great chance to add to its lead with 10:37 left. The Tigers took over on the Alabama 44 after a punt, but couldn’t budge the Alabama defense. Rolando McClain’s sack of Chris Todd on third down punctuated the Crimson Tide’s stand, forcing a punt. Alabama scored the winning touchdown on its ensuing possession.
Stat of the game: Alabama was held to a total of 207 yards in the first three quarters, but put together a 79-yard drive to win the game.
Unsung hero: When Alabama needed a spark on its game-winning drive, the Crimson Tide turned to Julio Jones, who came up big with four clutch catches.
What it means: The Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0) completed their second consecutive unbeaten regular season and will face Florida next Saturday in the SEC championship game for the right to play in the BCS National Championship Game.
Here’s an instant analysis from the game:
How the game was won: After struggling on offense all game, Alabama drove 79 yards in 15 plays for Greg McElroy’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 to play to take its first lead of the game.
Turning point: Auburn, leading by one, had a great chance to add to its lead with 10:37 left. The Tigers took over on the Alabama 44 after a punt, but couldn’t budge the Alabama defense. Rolando McClain’s sack of Chris Todd on third down punctuated the Crimson Tide’s stand, forcing a punt. Alabama scored the winning touchdown on its ensuing possession.
Stat of the game: Alabama was held to a total of 207 yards in the first three quarters, but put together a 79-yard drive to win the game.
Unsung hero: When Alabama needed a spark on its game-winning drive, the Crimson Tide turned to Julio Jones, who came up big with four clutch catches.
What it means: The Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0) completed their second consecutive unbeaten regular season and will face Florida next Saturday in the SEC championship game for the right to play in the BCS National Championship Game.
AUBURN, Ala. -- Alabama's running game has been non-existent today, which makes you wonder if we see even more of freshman running back Trent Richardson in the fourth quarter.
Richardson has been more effective than Mark Ingram to this point, although Auburn has done a nice job of shutting down the Crimson Tide on the ground -- period.
Alabama had just 58 rushing yards on 27 carries through the first three quarters.
Richardson has been more effective than Mark Ingram to this point, although Auburn has done a nice job of shutting down the Crimson Tide on the ground -- period.
Alabama had just 58 rushing yards on 27 carries through the first three quarters.
Another long one against Alabama's defense
November, 27, 2009
Nov 27
4:59
PM ET
AUBURN, Ala. -- How's this for perspective?
Alabama's defense hadn't given up two passing touchdowns in the same game all season ... until today.
Chris Todd's 72-yard touchdown pass to Darvin Adams in the third quarter put Auburn ahead 21-14. In the first half, Todd threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Eric Smith.
The Tigers also scored on a 67-yard run by Terrell Zachery to open the game.
The three touchdowns against the Alabama defense today matches the total scored against the Tide in the previous five games.
Alabama's defense hadn't given up two passing touchdowns in the same game all season ... until today.
Chris Todd's 72-yard touchdown pass to Darvin Adams in the third quarter put Auburn ahead 21-14. In the first half, Todd threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Eric Smith.
The Tigers also scored on a 67-yard run by Terrell Zachery to open the game.
The three touchdowns against the Alabama defense today matches the total scored against the Tide in the previous five games.
AUBURN, Ala. -- What was Nick Saban's assessment of the first half Saturday in the Alabama-Auburn game?
As he was leaving the field, Saban said on the Alabama radio network that the Crimson Tide knew they would have to "survive the (bleep) storm."
As he was leaving the field, Saban said on the Alabama radio network that the Crimson Tide knew they would have to "survive the (bleep) storm."
Halftime analysis: Alabama 14, Auburn 14
November, 27, 2009
Nov 27
4:18
PM ET
AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn built an early 14-0 lead, but No. 2 Alabama came charging back to forge a 14-14 tie Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Here’s a quick halftime analysis:
Turning point: Having done nothing offensively on its first two possessions and falling behind 14-0, Alabama drove 58 yards for a touchdown, finally taking advantage of good field position when Auburn punted the ball out of bounds away from Javier Arenas. The Crimson Tide leaned heavily on freshman Trent Richardson in the drive, and he scored the touchdown from 2 yards out.
Stat of the half: After taking an early 14-0 lead, helped in part by a recovered onsides kick, Auburn had minus-1 yard and no first downs on its next three offensive possessions.
Best call: On a third-and-9 play in the second quarter, Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy found tight end Colin Peek wide open over the middle for a 33-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14. McElroy stood in on the play and delivered the throw despite taking a hit.
Here’s a quick halftime analysis:
Turning point: Having done nothing offensively on its first two possessions and falling behind 14-0, Alabama drove 58 yards for a touchdown, finally taking advantage of good field position when Auburn punted the ball out of bounds away from Javier Arenas. The Crimson Tide leaned heavily on freshman Trent Richardson in the drive, and he scored the touchdown from 2 yards out.
Stat of the half: After taking an early 14-0 lead, helped in part by a recovered onsides kick, Auburn had minus-1 yard and no first downs on its next three offensive possessions.
Best call: On a third-and-9 play in the second quarter, Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy found tight end Colin Peek wide open over the middle for a 33-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14. McElroy stood in on the play and delivered the throw despite taking a hit.
AUBURN, Ala. -- As quickly as Auburn jumped on Alabama from the outset of this game, Alabama has jumped right back into the game.
The Crimson Tide have all the momentum now after tying the game, 14-14, on Greg McElroy's 33-yard touchdown pass to Colin Peek. At this point, you wonder if Auburn will be able to stop Alabama defensively the rest of the way.
The Crimson Tide have all the momentum now after tying the game, 14-14, on Greg McElroy's 33-yard touchdown pass to Colin Peek. At this point, you wonder if Auburn will be able to stop Alabama defensively the rest of the way.
AUBURN, Ala. -- Just when you thought Alabama's defense might be showing a few cracks, senior cornerback Javier Arenas comes to the rescue.
Arenas recorded his fifth sack of the season and his 12th tackle for loss on a perfectly executed corner blitz, highlighting a key stop for the Alabama defense.
Arenas leads all SEC defensive backs in tackles for loss this season and has been masterful at coming on the blitz and getting to the quarterback.
Arenas recorded his fifth sack of the season and his 12th tackle for loss on a perfectly executed corner blitz, highlighting a key stop for the Alabama defense.
Arenas leads all SEC defensive backs in tackles for loss this season and has been masterful at coming on the blitz and getting to the quarterback.
AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn quarterback Chris Todd tied the single-season school record in the first quarter with his 20th touchdown pass.
He joins Jason Campbell (2004) and Pat Sullivan (1971) as Auburn quarterbacks who've thrown 20 touchdown passes in a season.
He joins Jason Campbell (2004) and Pat Sullivan (1971) as Auburn quarterbacks who've thrown 20 touchdown passes in a season.
AUBURN, Ala. -- Usually when Alabama gets a short field, it's bad news for the Crimson Tide's opponent.
But the Tide just took over for the third time in the first quarter at their own 40 or better and they're trailing 14-0.
They started their first two possessions at their 40 and went nowhere. This third possession started at their own 42 after Auburn punted away from Javier Arenas out of bounds.
But the Tide just took over for the third time in the first quarter at their own 40 or better and they're trailing 14-0.
They started their first two possessions at their 40 and went nowhere. This third possession started at their own 42 after Auburn punted away from Javier Arenas out of bounds.
Malzahn doesn't wait long for his wrinkles
November, 27, 2009
Nov 27
3:08
PM ET
AUBURN, Ala. -- You knew Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn would have a few tricks up his sleeve for the Alabama defense, especially with an extra week to prepare.
But this looks like something you'd see in your back yard. Malzahn's drawing them up, and the Tigers are shredding Alabama's vaunted defense right now to the tune of a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
Auburn scored its first touchdown on 67-yard run by Terrell Zachery, who took a pitch on a reverse and weaved his way through the Alabama defense, which was uncharacteristically out of position.
But just about everything Auburn has tried to this point has included some kind of pitch back, quarterback draw, Wildcat formation, even a throw-back pass.
You name it, and the Tigers have tried it.
Their second touchdown came on a play-action pass from the 1 on third down with Chris Todd hitting Eric Smith in the end zone.
It's safe to say that Malzahn is winning his battle at this point.
But this looks like something you'd see in your back yard. Malzahn's drawing them up, and the Tigers are shredding Alabama's vaunted defense right now to the tune of a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
Auburn scored its first touchdown on 67-yard run by Terrell Zachery, who took a pitch on a reverse and weaved his way through the Alabama defense, which was uncharacteristically out of position.
But just about everything Auburn has tried to this point has included some kind of pitch back, quarterback draw, Wildcat formation, even a throw-back pass.
You name it, and the Tigers have tried it.
Their second touchdown came on a play-action pass from the 1 on third down with Chris Todd hitting Eric Smith in the end zone.
It's safe to say that Malzahn is winning his battle at this point.
Ingram gets his turn to make statement
November, 27, 2009
Nov 27
2:42
PM ET
AUBURN, Ala. -- Texas quarterback Colt McCoy made his Heisman Trophy statement on Thursday night, the kind of statement that may have pushed him past Mark Ingram to the front of the race.
Now, it's Ingram's turn.
McCoy had more than 300 yards passing and nearly 200 yards rushing in a nationally televised game a lot of people were watching on Thanksgiving night.
The same goes for today's nationally televised game at Auburn. Ingram takes his shot against an Auburn defense ranked 10th in the SEC against the run.
A big game by Ingram today could make it a McCoy vs. Ingram duel on championship game Saturday next week for the Heisman Trophy.
Now, it's Ingram's turn.
McCoy had more than 300 yards passing and nearly 200 yards rushing in a nationally televised game a lot of people were watching on Thanksgiving night.
The same goes for today's nationally televised game at Auburn. Ingram takes his shot against an Auburn defense ranked 10th in the SEC against the run.
A big game by Ingram today could make it a McCoy vs. Ingram duel on championship game Saturday next week for the Heisman Trophy.
AUBURN, Ala. -- Jonathan Evans will start at right linebacker in place of Eltoro Freeman for Auburn.
Alabama doesn't have any lineup changes, but running back Terry Grant didn't make the trip.
The 1989 Auburn team was introduced before the game, and many of the players from that SEC championship team were in attendance. But it was former Auburn coach Pat Dye who received the loudest ovation -- by far.
Alabama doesn't have any lineup changes, but running back Terry Grant didn't make the trip.
The 1989 Auburn team was introduced before the game, and many of the players from that SEC championship team were in attendance. But it was former Auburn coach Pat Dye who received the loudest ovation -- by far.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
