Thanks for the props.
For what it's worth, the 1st half was shaping up to be the most dominating performance I've ever seen in a meaningful football game.
I honestly thought it would be 45-0 mid 3rd quarter and Saban would just let the clock run out.
Come on now. You knew it would happen. Just like all 9 of the Bama fans I was watching the game with knew Auburn would fight back. It's Auburn's MO. They've owned the 3rd quarter this year.
I don't think it's fair to define a game by a handful of plays, but 4 really stick out to tonight. 4 plays that I think would have changed the face of the game for Bama.
1. The hustle play by one of Auburn's players to force the Ingram fumble through the endzone. I knew then, it was going to be one of those game. How that ball bounced 20 fucking yards down the sideline without going out of bounds defies the boundaries of the universe. I was waiting for the Earth to collide with Mars after that play.
2. Trent Richardson dropping a touchdown pass in the endzone that would have made it 28-0. Having to settle for 3 with a 1st and goal describes Alabama's offense in 2010.
3. McElroy turning the ball over inside the 10 just before the half. Yeah, the score was 24-7, but any points before the half would have been huge. Losing by 1 point magnifies that turnover. Not to take anything away from Fairly, it was a hell of a play on his part, but McElroy wasn't blind sided. For him to be such a smart QB, his unwillingness to throw the ball away in some spots really makes my blood boil. We were beat on that play. Throw it 30 rows up and kick the FG.
4. Barron doing the impossible and NOT making a play on the long touchdown pass to start the second half. What the fuck was he doing? I don't know. I don't think I've ever seen a player be in the position that he was in and 1) not intercept it 2) not break the pass up 3) not make the tackle. I mean, seriously. He was in perfect position to do all 3, and he did none of them.
Also, the 3rd down penalty on Fairly was complete bullshit. The only reason I can think that he was flagged was because he put a target on his back with some of his plays against Georgia. No way should that have been a penalty.