By
Jeff Sallas
I was there to see it and
still had a hard time believing it. It
was just a football game but it was a special one. It may have not been the greatest win in Auburn history but I think
it was the greatest upset in Auburn history.
Statistically at least there is no debate. I don't remember Auburn ever being a 21-point underdog at home. I don't think Auburn has ever played a team
with better offensive stats, that scored more points a game. Combine that with a good defense and there
seemed to be no hope.
I was with everybody else, I
never believed this Auburn team could beat Florida. It was a strange atmosphere before the game. Usually the Florida game is the second
biggest game at Auburn behind Alabama.
Even though Auburn, like everybody else, has been an underdog to Florida
for virtually a decade people always showed up thinking there could be an
upset. There was always a big game
atmosphere. This Saturday was
different. The people were there, it
was a sell out, but it was very subdued.
I know I was. Nobody could
envision a way to win. Nobody but a
bunch of Auburn players with more heart than anybody thought.
It was one of the greatest
single game defensive performances in Auburn history. First, you have to give credit to Tommy Tuberville and his staff
for recruiting players good enough to go head to head with Florida. Next you have to give credit to Tuberville
and defensive coordinator John Lovett was coming with an incredible game plan
to combat the greatest offensive mind in the country. Finally you have to give the most credit to the defensive players
with so much heart that they would not quit.
I knew Auburn had good talent on defense but thought they were too young
to take on Florida. The young guy's
disagreed. Auburn's freshman and
sophomore defensive players Marcus White, Mayo Sowell, Carlos Rodgers, Junior
Rosegreen and the rest played the games of their young lives. Meanwhile the older guys like James Callier,
Rashaud Walker, Stanford Simmons, Reggie Torbor and the rest led the way. These guys stepped up and played one of the
greatest defensive games I have ever seen.
They took on Florida toe to
toe for the first half, Spurrier usually knocks you out in the first half. They pressured and confused Rex
Grossman. They tackled and let the
great Florida receivers get next to no "yards after contact". They forced Florida into making
mistakes. However, nobody thought they
could do it the whole game, I sure didn't.
Everybody waited for Florida to ramp it up. However the Auburn defense was not going to go willingly into
that good night...
When Florida scored go up
13-10, I thought here we go. However
the defense caused more Florida mistakes and the offense took advantage and
Auburn struck back to tie it up and then take a 20-13 lead. Of course then Florida hits their only home
run of the night to tie it up at 20. I
then think we are fixing to break.
Auburn then forces another Florida turnover and has it first and
goal. I start to believe. Auburn then gives up a TD on a penalty and
then fumbles it back to Florida. I was
thinking we were so close but you can't make mistakes like that and then expect
to hold Florida. The Auburn defense
refuses to budge. Auburn gets the ball
back in good field position. I think we
have a chance to win again. Auburn then
fumbles it back to Florida.
The big bad #1 Florida
Gators now had it 1st and 10 at midfield late in the 4th quarter with the score
tied 20-all. They have the best offense
in the country and a great kicker as well.
I think IT IS OVER. I thought
our defense played great but our offense made too many mistakes. There was just NO WAY we could hold them or
force them to make another mistake.
There just seemed to be no way.
However the magnificent Auburn defense saved their best for last this
night. They forced the QB out of the
pocket and he threw another INT. The
Auburn offense then did their part and got it into field goal position...
Damon Duval has quickly
become an Auburn legend and the best kicker I have ever seen. No matter what he does the rest of the year,
he has put together the 3 most incredible games I have ever seen. Three weeks ago he had to kick a long field
goal to beat Vandy. Last week he had to
kick a long field goal against a stiff wind to beat Miss St and then this week
he had to hit a long field goal against a stiff wind AND in the rain to win the
game!!! He
calmly kicked it through and
sweet rain continued to fall on the "loveliest village on the
plains". The students then tore
down the goal posts for the second time I have seen in 20 years of Auburn
football.
Damon Duval's story is one
of the great ones. This was the kid
that got thrown off the field by Tub against Tennessee in 1999. This was the kid who could not make an extra
point length field goal against Bama in 1999.
This was the kid who Tuberville publicly ripped in 1999. Tub and everybody else never thought this
kid would be a great kicker. I sure
didn't. After Auburn recruited Parade
All-American kicker Philip Yost I didn't expect to see Duval kicking again
after his disastrous 1999 season.
However he came back the next year and reclaimed the job and got better
and better as the year went on. He
kicked crucial field goals against Georgia and won the game against Bama and
this year has become one of the greatest kickers in Auburn history.
While Auburn's offense
didn't put on a performance like the defense they did do the job when it
counted. Duval's story was a common one
of the offensive side of the football.
It was a night of redemption and finally getting a chance to contribute
for several guys who had waited so long.
First there was Daniel Cobb. A
top recruit in 1997 he signed with Georgia only to run into career-threatening
health problems. He fought back only to
find himself marooned behind Quincy Carter.
He then went to junior college for a couple of years and played in the
shadow of Rudi Johnson. He then came to
Auburn and didn't even get the backup role last year. He then worked hard and finally got to #1 on the depth chart for
Auburn coming out the spring. He then
lost his spot to Campbell in the fall.
It almost looked like the guy should just quit. To his credit he didn't and he finally got
his chance this weekend. The guy has
been through so much and waited for so long and then he leads Auburn to one of
it's greatest victories.
The story was similar for
Chris Butler. Stuck low on the depth
chart at Nebraska even after a stellar spring and far away from home, he came
back to Alabama. He then signed with
Auburn and sat out last year. He was
ready to go and battled well for the tailback spot in the spring only to find
himself 4th string and behind a true freshman in the fall. It was too much and for a short time he
walked away from the team. He came back
but has played little. However there he
was, in the game with Auburn 3rd and goal and needing a touchdown playing the
best team in the land. Butler got the
carry, broke a tackle and scored one of Auburn's biggest touchdowns this
season.
There is also Cas
Moore. Labeled by most including me as
a nice third down back, he has battled back from serious knee problems to be
Auburn's horse on offense. He lead the
way on Saturday night on the ground and had 2 crucial big-time catches as
well. It really gets you kind of
emotional when you think about the adversity these kids battled through. It was team effort and everybody deserves
equal credit but you know the people that have faced alot of adversity and
waited so long appreciate games like Saturday more than most. It was simply, as the cheer goes,
"great to be an Auburn Tiger" on Saturday night.
Now there will most likely be losses and low points to the season upcoming for Auburn. A team this young can reach heights on both ends of the spectrum. Auburn is still by no means a great team and Florida could still be. Auburn will most certainly be upset just as painfully as every other team in the SEC has to this point. If Auburn was upset at home by Alabama in a month, it could really take alot from this season. However no matter what happens, nothing can take away from this win. It will be like in 1994 when Auburn beat #1 Florida in the Swamp. That season ended badly but that win will always be remembered. This win will be remembered as one of thegreatest upsets in Auburn history regardless of the rest of the season. Auburn 23 Florida 20. David beats Goliath again...