Looking back on Alabama's 'emotional rollercoaster' after miracle play vs. Auburn
As time ticked away, and mistake after mistake was made, Alabama fans saw their team’s backs firmly against the wall in last week’s Iron Bowl against Auburn. Considering the Crimson Tide was on the road at Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 0.1% chance of winning the game, according to ESPN analytics, disappointment was setting in.
It only took nine seconds for that disappointment to turn into pure joy. That’s when Jalen Milroe found Bond — Isaiah Bond. He brought a license to kill Auburn’s hopes of pulling off an upset, hauling in the game-winning touchdown catch with 34 seconds to play.
Just like that, the Crimson Tide improved to 11-1. And fans had to go through it all, as BOL’s Tim Watts said.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster,” Watts told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3.
Alabama had been on the other side of the Jordan-Hare Stadium magic before. In fact, it’s been nearly 10 years since the “Kick Six” sent Crimson Tide fans home wondering what they had just witnessed. Considering the situation this time around for Alabama — needing a win to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt with the SEC Championship looming — the game had the ingredients to be a classic in all the wrong ways for the Crimson Tide.
Watts pointed out how things were starting to mount against Alabama, which can’t happen at Jordan-Hare. Nick Saban didn’t necessarily believe “weird stuff” happens on The Plains, but he started to notice it a little more Saturday night.
“The setup was terrible for Alabama, if you think,” Watts said. “Auburn loses and gets routed by New Mexico State. The visual was terrible walking in there, and then, you come out, you’re 7-0. Offense looked great. You’re 14-0, you get a hold, you get a shaky punt and then, it’s 7-7. And momentum is everything — on the road, especially. That’s like at Kentucky, you remember, they went down and took control. But when they had that turnover, gave them a little life, it was more of a game.
“Because those fans, you know, if you’re Auburn fans, it’s a great crowd. I mean, that’s a great environment. It’s always been that way. You leave them in that game, they’re gonna fight. They’re gonna be there till the end.”
That victory was Alabama’s 10th consecutive after a Week 2 loss to Texas. The Crimson Tide will need to find a way to keep the momentum going in Atlanta as tough matchup against No.1 Georgia awaits. It’s worth wondering if Milroe has more magic left in the tank.