Alright, let me set the scene.
It's the last week of 2013-2014 college football regular season, and
Alabama has their eyes set on the national championship. The Alabama Crimson Tide are
undefeated (11-0), ranked #1 in the country, and have their sights on their 3rd straight national championship and their 4th title in the last 5 years. They have crushed every single opponent that has stood in their way.
Winning is just what they do, and they have been nigh unstoppable for the last several years. The only thing standing in their way this time is this last game of the season against their in-state rivals, Auburn.
Auburn, meanwhile, is having one of the biggest turnaround seasons we have ever seen. The year before, they were 3-9, including going 0-8 in SEC conference play. This year, though, they are playing hot, reaching an
11-1 record and #4 rank in the nation. The Auburn Tigers are also coming into this matchup against Alabama coming off of a miracle win the week before over Georgia. With 36 seconds left in the game and down 1 point on a 4th and 18, Auburn goes for a Hail Mary. The ball flies through the air, tips off of the Georgia defense's hands, and is
caught by an Auburn receiver who can barely even see the ball. He sprints into the endzone, scoring the game-winning touchdown to
secure the win.
Luck is already on Auburns side it seems. Though, they will need more than just luck to beat this Alabama team.
This Alabama vs. Auburn game has big implications. Not only does the winner advance to the SEC title game, but also likely the national championship as well. And of course, being in-state rivals, winning this game means even more than just a shot at the title.
So, let's talk about this game. Or more specifically, how it
ended.
Now, the game was back and forth, with both teams showing their absolute best. Near the end of the 4th quarter, Auburn scores a touchdown with only 38 seconds left, tying the game at 28-28. Alabama, on their last drive of the 4th quarter, proceed to run to Auburns 38-yard line as time expires. However, Alabama coach Nick Saban argues that their running back stepped out of bounds with 1 second left, which the referees confirm after a review. With
one second on the clock, Alabama can just take a knee to go to Overtime. However, Nick Saban elects to attempt a
57-yard field goal to win the game even though the Alabama kicker had missed 3 field goals within 45 yard this game.
Before the snap, Auburn puts a receiver in the endzone just in case the kick is short. I mean, he probably won't get the opportunity to catch it, but who knows. Anything can happen.
So, with 1 second left on the clock, Alabama attempts a 57-yard field goal. And the rest, well, is
history.
The receiver in the endzone
catches the ball and returns it 109 yards for a touchdown, winning the game and sending Auburn to the SEC title.
This unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime play will go down in history as the
Kick Six, a moment enshrined as one of the craziest, most exciting moments in college football history.
Well, this is where I would stop if this story if the story was actually about the Kick Six.
But it's not. While it may be one of my favorite sports memories, personally, it takes a
#2 spot to this next one.
So, after this game, Alabama is pissed. Not only did they lose in humiliating fashion, not ONLY do they get to watch Auburn beat Missouri for the SEC title and a ticket to national championship, NOT ONLY are they ranked #3 in the country...they have to play in the Sugar Bowl against
#11 Oklahoma.
Really? Oklahoma? I know they won the Big 12, but seriously? They're 12-2, and not nearly on the same level as Alabama. To them, this is an insult. They're supposed to be national title contenders after all.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, is ecstatic. Not only did they finish 12-2 with a
win over their in-state rival, Oklahoma State, for the
Big 12 title, but they get to prove themselves on the big stage against the most dominant college football team in recent memory. They are 17.5 point underdogs, which,
ouch, that's kinda rude for a ranked conference winner. But, at least they've got nothing to lose - it's Alabama, after all. No one will bat an eye if Oklahoma get just absolutely crushed by Alabama.
Winning is just what they do.
So let's talk about this game. Or, more specifically,
me.
See, I grew up an
Oklahoma Sooners fan. Every Saturday, the family would gather around to cheer our favorite team on. In fact, most of my extended family - uncles, cousins, grandparents - are all Oklahoma Sooners fans too.
It's New Years 2014, and the entire family is in town to celebrate. New Years is fun and all, but there is another day circled on the calendar for all of us -
January 2nd, the day of the Sugar Bowl.
Come time for the game, we are all crammed into the living room, ready to cheer our #11 Oklahoma Sooners against the high and mighty #3 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alright, let's talk about the game.
Throughout a back and forth game, Oklahoma has surprisingly kept up with the juggernaut Crimson Tide, even leading
31-17 going into halftime. However, Alabama is Alabama, and you can't keep them on the back foot for too long. They start to bring it back, making it a 7 point game in the 3rd quarter. Oklahoma scores early in the 4th to bring the lead to 14 again, but Alabama is relentless, scoring with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter to make it a
one score game again (38-31).
Oklahoma has a slow drive, attempting to run out the clock. However, they are forced to punt it back to Alabama, who now has
56 seconds left to tie the game.
My family is huddled together around the TV, and we are all on pins and needles.
Are we really about to do this? Alabama is still Alabama, and they have plenty of time left to make something happen. It's Alabama, after all.
My mom, coming in from the kitchen, stands under the doorframe as we all sit in tense silence.
Alabama has the ball. 1st and 10.
Then, this happens.
We jump out of our seats. "YES!" "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!" "WE'VE SEALED THE GAME!" "WE'RE GONNA BEAT BAMA!!!!"
Amidst the chaos, my mom
jumps for joy in the air, raising her arms above her head in celebration...and hitting her hand
HARD on the doorframe.
She
breaks her thumb. Though, we didn't realize this until she went to the doctor the next day.
After some celebration, we retake our seats, and the game continues, 45-31, though the outcome is already determined. To seal the deal, Oklahoma kicks an onside kick and
recovers it before taking a knee to run out the clock.
They've done it. They actually
beat Bama.
They beat a 17.5 favorite, two-time champion Alabama.
It didn't matter that it wasn't the national title. It didn't matter that this was just the Sugar Bowl. Oklahoma had proven themselves on the national stage, and they had embarrassed one of the best teams in the country.
It was
glorious.
Oh, and Alabama? They later got to see their in-state rival Auburn
win the National Championship. It just doesn't get any better for them, huh.
Anyway, that was
my favorite sports memory. Not just because of Oklahoma winning that game, not just because of how Alabama' season had ended. Because
I got to share that special memory with my family.
Oh, and because my mom
broke her thumb cheering during that play. Kinda hard to forget about the play when
something like that happens.
Hope you all enjoyed my little (not little) writeup of this wonderful moment. Props to any of you who
read all the way through. Oh, and apologies to any Alabama fans who had to relive the trauma of this season.
Boomer Sooner!
