The Barn Vs The Capstone
Auburn Hoping To Pull Off A Miracle At Bryant-Denny
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| Auburn's Gus Malzahn & Alabama's Nick Saban Iron Bowl Today Photo Credit: Bing |
The best chance the Auburn Tigers have to upsetting the No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide would have to be slowing down Bama's true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts, something that has been quite difficult for teams to do this season. Rarely has the youngster played like a true freshman, displaying maturity beyond his years week-in and week-out.
On his weekly radio show, Auburn Tiger football head coach Gus Malzahn said that Alabama is "deserving of their ranking right now." He had praise, in fact, for both teams saying that this year's Iron Bowl features "two of the best teams in our league."
Malzahn continued, "On paper, it's a good matchup. our defense has played outstanding all year, our offense has grown up. Our special teams has been solid, too."
Turning to the subject of Alabama's quarterback, Malzahn offered up praise for Hurts only recently, saying that he has been "very impressed" with the play of of the youngster. "He is like a running back playing the quarterback position," Malzahn commented. "What stands out to me is that when things break down, he makes good decisions and he protects the football. He can throw the football vertically down field very well and he has really had good command of his offense."
Thus far on the season, the 6' 2", 210-pound youngster hailing from Channelview, Texas has connected on 181 of 280 pass attempts for 2,139 total yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. That's a 64.6 percent passing efficiency. Additionally, he has picked up 803 yards on 142 rushing attempts, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He has 11 rushing touchdowns to his credit.
That's a lot for the Tigers to deal with, but Malzahn appears optimistic, saying, "We've got one of the better defenses in college football this year, and that will definitely help trying to contain the guy." Malzahn believes that the Tiger defense has to keep Hurts off-balance, put pressure on him. "Our defensive front has done an excellent job all year, and that will be one of the keys from us defensively, just containing him, Malzahn said."
Alabama has, of course, already clinched the SEC West and will be facing the winner of the SEC East, the Florida Gators. But that game in no way overshadows this year's Iron Bowl. Even Alabama head football coach Nick Saban has said this will be the best defense that the Crimson Tide has faced this season. Saban had this to say concerning the Tigers, "This is going to be the most challenging group that we've faced, probably, in terms of the multiples of things that they do, and how we need to adjust and how people need to be responsible and doing their job. That'll be a real key to it."
This is the in-state rival Auburn Tigers. This one is always for pride, for bragging rights for the next 365 days. This one either gives you a big toothy smile every time you see an Auburn fan this next year or it makes you look the other direction and hope they don't see you coming.
The last time Alabama faced Auburn as the number one team in the nation you know what happened. Yep, the infamous pick six. But, the Crimson Tide has gone 32-2 all-time at home as the Associated Press' top-ranked team. That includes a 6-0 home record this year.
Alabama has won the last two consecutive contests with Auburn. However, the Crimson Tide hasn't won three-in-a-row against the Tigers since 1992.
Today, this afternoon, in fact. This is THE game. This is the Iron Bowl. The talk stops and the play on the field will do the talking. Kickoff is set for approximately 2:30 p.m. CT, and will air live on CBS.
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23 Bama Seniors To Play Last Game At Bryant-Denny Today
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The number is 23. A total of 23 seniors playing for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team will suit up for the last time in front of the home-town, home-state Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd today. This talented group has compiled an impressive 48-5 overall, 28-3 SEC record since first (most) stepping on the field back in 2013.
These seniors have been a part of two consecutive Southeastern Conference Championships, participated in the first-ever college football playoff game, then repeated in the college football playoffs and this time added the national championship game and the College Football Playoff National Championship to its impressive resume in 2015.
These young men will be honored today, along with their families, prior to the Iron Bowl matchup between the Number One ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the 13th-ranked Auburn Tigers today at Bryant-Denny Stadium. These men leave knowing that, whatever they do in life, they were a part of dynasty, a lasting-legacy that will live in their hearts and memories the remainder of their lives.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban said, "We have 23 seniors who have done a
fantastic job here. 48-5 record is pretty admirable. We’re
looking forward to being able to honor them in their last home game at
Bryant-Denny Stadium."
Senior defensive end Jonathan Allen said, "I really haven’t been thinking about it too much. It'll
probably suck after it’s over, but until then I’m not even worrying about it. I’m just worried about getting this win."
probably suck after it’s over, but until then I’m not even worrying about it. I’m just worried about getting this win."
Jonathan Allen
Blaine Anderson
Ryan Anderson
Dakota Ball
Will Davis
Gehrig Dieter
Lawrence Erekosmia
Reuben Foster
Derrick Garnett
Bo Grant
Brandon Greene
Adam Griffith
Truett Harris
O.J. Howard
Eddie Jackson
Korren Kirven
Jake Long
Cole Mazza
Brandon Moore
Nate Staskelunas
Alphonse Taylor
Dalvin Tomlinson
Tim Williams
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Airbus To Perform Flyover At Bryant-Denny Today
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| Airbus 321 Photo provided by Airbus Manufacturing |
As if the Iron Bowl itself won't provide enough excitement for today, the University of Alabama welcomes an Airbus A321 commercial airliner to their friendly skies for a pregame flyover prior to the start of today's Iron Bowl game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
What helps to make this so special is the fact that this aircraft is the first A321 that is being produced for Delta Airlines in the Airbus Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama. It will be the 15th airbus total delivered from the facility since it opened in September of 2015.
The Airbus A321 flyover is scheduled today for approximately 2:16 p.m. CT.
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What Nick Saban Said...On College GameDay
Rece Davis of ESPN's CollegeDay spoke with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban this morning live.
Davis asked Saban, "What's it like to have to manage the emotion, not only leading up to a rivalry game like this, but also in the early stages of that game."
Saban said, "Well, I think in my experience in games like this...I think there's a lot of passion in this state for this game because everybody has great enthusiasm for their team, but in my experience it's been how much emotion versus how much anxiety you create, you know, with the participants in terms of how they perform. I think getting the right balance in that is really a key to having your players to be able to get out there and execute in games like this."
Davis then asked about offensive linemen Cam Robinson and Korren Kirven. He asked, "What do you expect from them against Auburn today?"
Saban said, "Well, those guys were able to practice...I think efficiently and effectively all week long. They improved as the week went along, so we expect them to be able to go out and perform today and hopefully they'll be able to last through the game and their injuries won't be a problem for them."
