ICYMI: Auburn Shocks Alabama With 0:00 on the Clock

All football watchers have seen this six thousand times by now, but maybe some non-football watchers haven't. And it's the kind of play where even non-football watchers will enjoy some football.

The game was tied at 28-28 with a single second on the clock. Alabama attempted a would-be game-winning field goal.

If you don't know the rules of football, it's important to know that a failed field goal kick which remains on the field of play is a live ball, and can be advanced like a fumble or interception.

[Update JohnE.] To add some context: It helps to understand that this game is also one of the biggest rivalry games in the country (if not #1) and Alabama was undefeated, was the #1 ranked team in the country and cruising towards yet another National Championship. The last 4 BCS Champions look like this:

2009: Alabama
2010: Auburn
2011: Alabama
2012: Alabama

So, y'know.... sort of a big game anyway. Auburn is now ranked #3 and has an outside shot at the National Championship Game.

[Update Andy] Even moar context:

First, Bama's starting placekicker had failed to connect on 3 FG attempts in the game, all from 40-some-odd yards (missed 2, had 1 blocked). This kicker was their second attempt at one ... a freshman backup with only two previous attempts all season.

Second, time had expired in this game and it was going to overtime, then a review ... after some urging by Bama ... put one second on the clock after replay showed that a runner got his foot down out of bounds with fractions of a second to spare.

Given the ineptness in the kicking game to this point and the fact that they didn't seem to really be pushing to hard to score at the end of regulation, I expected Bama to just heave it once for the end zone and then take it to overtime.

But they didn't. And the rest is history.

Oh, and since I'm posting stuff you've already seen: Did you hear? There was some sort of airship mishap in Lakehurst, NJ.

posted by Ace at 05:28 PM

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