Alabama Football: 30 Greatest Games in Crimson Tide History
By Ronald Evans
Alabama Football Greatest Game
November 24, 2012 – Bryant-Denny vs. Auburn
Two weeks earlier, with the Tide seemingly on its way to another undefeated season, Texas A&M shocked the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 after the loss. Nick Saban’s team had to do more than win out, it had to do so convincingly. There was no opportunity to do that on November 17, playing Western Carolina.
A win over Auburn would help, but only if it was a decisive victory. In Gene Chizik’s last season as the Auburn Head Coach, the Tigers collapsed. Their three wins in the 2012 season had been over Louisiana-Monroe, New Mexico State and Alabama A&M. Beating such a downtrodden team, even in an Iron Bowl, would not be momentous, but in the 10 most recent Iron Bowls, Auburn had been 7-3 against the Tide.
A basic rule for some Alabama Football fans had long been, ‘when Aubie’s down, kick him.’ The 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide delivered. The game-winner came after less than four minutes of play, with two-yard touchdown run by Eddie Lacy. About 22 minutes into the game the score was 28-0 with T.J. Yeldon, Amari Cooper and Kevin Norwood adding three more Tide touchdowns. Another Lacy touchdown and another touchdown reception by Cooper made the score 42-0 at the half.
After the Tide made the score 49-0, six minutes into the second half, Nick Saban pumped the Tide’s offensive brakes hard. Had he not done so, the Tide might have scored 70 points, while keeping the shutout.