With the Alabama Crimson Tide set to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in just a few days, we’ve been handing out our year-end awards for the best players of 2012. We’re down to the final two awards, and want you to help us select the one given out for the play of the year.
The Tide had numerous highlight-reel plays in 2012 on both sides of the ball, and we’ve sorted through them to choose the nominees. You’ve got until midnight Friday to vote, so spread the word and let’s decide the top Crimson Tide football moment of 2012.
Now, on to the nominees for BamaHammer 2012 Alabama Football Play of the Year:
Eddie Lacy takes the opening handoff 73 yards against Missouri
In the first meeting as SEC rivals between Alabama and Missouri, junior running back Eddie Lacy didn’t take long to make an impression on the Tigers. Taking the first handoff of the game from AJ McCarron, Lacy rumbled 73 yards for the touchdown. Alabama won the game – which was delayed a half hour due to storms – by a count of 42-10, due in part to Lacy’s three-touchdown performance.
McCarron to Yeldon in last-minute win over LSU
In a rematch of 2011 BCS Championship contenders, Alabama struggled against the LSU Tigers, needing a miracle drive to keep their undefeated season alive. Alabama’s passing had been lackluster for most of the game, but with 1:34 to play AJ McCarron came to life, hitting receiver Kevin Norwood with three consecutive passes. Alabama then dialed up a screen pass to T.J. Yeldon to beat a blitzing LSU, and Yeldon took it to the house on an electrifying 28-yard scamper for the game-winning score.
T.J. Yeldon dives for a touchdown against Missouri
Alabama’s freshman sensation turned in another spectacular performance against the Missouri Tigers, rushing for 144 yards and and two touchdowns. Starting running back Eddie Lacy’s stats were even better, but nothing in this game equaled the amazing leap Yeldon made in the second quarter. Breaking tackles along the way, Yeldon capped a 20-yard run by diving the last 15 feet, extending the ball past the pylon for the score as the Superman theme played in Tide fans’ heads.
AJ McCarron to Amari Cooper in the SEC Championship
In one of the best SEC title games in recent memory, The Crimson Tide held off a very game Bulldogs team to secure a shot at the BCS Championship against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Alabama fought off early mistakes to take control of the game with a dominating rushing attack, but it was a 45-yard strike from AJ McCarron to Amari Cooper that put the Tide up for good.
Alabama defense stops Georgia’s final drive
In the 2012 SEC Championship game, the Georgia Bulldogs had one final chance at a game-winning score, and a fade route to the back corner of the end zone would have put the Dawgs up for good. But blitzing defender C.J. Moseley tipped quarterback Aaron Murray’s pass, which was intended for Malcolm Mitchell. It fell into the hands of receiver Chris Conley, who fell to the ground, and time expired on the Bulldogs championship hopes.