With the 85th matchup of the Iron Bowl scheduled for Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the staff at Touchdown Alabama Magazine has compiled a series of 10 stories on the best games from the rivalry.
The series will break down the lead up to each game, the significance of the matchup, and the game itself as we go down memory lane of Alabama versus Auburn. We will provide two to three stories per day, until kickoff this weekend.
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In continuing this impressive top-10 series, we look back at the 2010 Iron Bowl at No. 6.
Lead up to the Game
Nick Saban was in his fourth season at head coach for Alabama football.
He lost his first Iron Bowl in 2007, but bounced back to win the next two — including a 26-21 victory in 2009 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, to punch the Crimson Tide’s ticket into the SEC Championship Game. In defeating Auburn that year, Saban and Alabama went on to capture it first national championship together. After a perfect campaign, the 2010 season became a reality check for the Tide. While it had the talent, complacency set in and it lost two road games to South Carolina and LSU.
At 9-2, Alabama’s goal shifted to preventing the Tigers from having a perfect year.
Before the 2010 season started, Auburn landed a quarterback in its signing class from Blinn College.
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Cameron Newton originally went to the University of Florida and was Tim Tebow’s backup. Off-field issues led to him transferring and taking the junior college route. When he arrived at Auburn, Newton brought a swagger to him that Tiger fans had not seen since Bo Jackson. Gene Chizik and Gus Malzahn handed its offense over to the 6-foot-5 specimen, and the talented signal caller put the program on his shoulders. He powered the Tigers to 11 straight wins, including victories over three top-25 opponents. Not even an investigation about his recruitment could stop the surge Newton was on at the time.
He led the undefeated Tigers, who were No. 2 in the nation, into Bryant-Denny Stadium to face 11th-ranked Alabama.
Auburn had a miracle season on the line. It was ready to kick the door in against the Tide.
Significance of the Game
Auburn had not achieved an SEC title, a national championship and a perfect season in 53 years.
The last time it earned the trifecta was in 1957 under Ralph “Shug” Jordan as head coach. Cam Newton delivered Tiger fans something it had always wanted. Along with defeating the Tide and having an undefeated year, Newton’s performance in the 2010 Iron Bowl locked up his bid to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy.
He became the second Auburn player since Jackson (1985) to take home the coveted bronze award.
The Tigers would defeat Oregon, 22-19, in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game to capture a title.
The 2012 Iron Bowl Game
One would have never thought this game would be referred to as “The Cam-back,” especially with how Alabama dominated the first half.
Defensively, the Tide controlled Newton and Auburn had no momentum.
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Alabama’s offense, on the other hand, exploded for 21 points in the first quarter. After a rushing touchdown from Mark Ingram, Greg McElroy connected with Julio Jones and Darius Hanks for scores. The Tide was threatening to score again, until Auburn received a very fortunate break. Ingram, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2009, broke loose on a run and was headed for the end zone. It appeared that nothing would prevent him from scoring, but Antoine Carter had other plans in mind.
The Auburn defender punched the ball from Ingram’s arms, and it rolled down the field into the end zone.
Demond Washington of the Tigers recovered the ball for a touchback, and that started Alabama’s downward spiral.
Prior to the meltdown, the Tide would add in a 20-yard field goal from Jeremy Shelley.
Newton and Tigers put together a scoring drive before halftime, as he found Emory Blake for a 36-yard touchdown.
People still felt like Alabama would win, but its 24-7 lead was not safe. Auburn came out blazing in the third quarter and its second play of the period was a 70-yard touchdown strike from Newton to Terrell Zachery. The wide receiver burned the Tide’s defense on a trick play for a score in 2009, and he got open against Mark Barron and DeMarcus “Dee” Milliner.
Alabama’s final score of the day was a 32-yard kick from Shelley, to give it a 27-14 lead.
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Some remained confident in the Tide, but Auburn’s was gaining confidence and fear settled in. On the Tigers’ next drive, Newton guided it into the red zone and finished with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. Alabama held a 27-21 edge and all it needed was one good, time-consuming drive with points. Unfortunately, it did not happen and Auburn got the ball back.
Newton led one final drive, which ended on a touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen.
Alabama, who once led by 24, found itself trailing by one and absolutely stunned. Auburn had never come back from a 24-point deficit to win and the Tide had never lost a 24-point advantage. It was a second half of epic proportions, and the Tigers pushed itself to a 28-27 victory. Alabama ended up dominating Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl, but the loss to Auburn hurt.
Saban used the moment as a teachable lesson. The Tide would hand Auburn a 42-12 loss in 2011 and win a national title.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
