Iron Bowl win gives Tigers boost
Monday November 25, 2002By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Auburn found the surest way to rescue a faltering season.
The No. 20 Tigers upset 14th-ranked Alabama 17-7 on Saturday in the Iron Bowl, outshining the nation's top defense and one of the Southeastern Conference's most prolific offenses.
``This game is what it all boils down to at the end of the season,'' linebacker Dontarrious Thomas said. ``This is what you dream about playing at the end of the season. You pray that you don't get injured so you can play in this game.''
The only healthy tailback with any experience, freshman Tre Smith, rushed for 126 yards on 25 carries in his first start for Auburn (8-4, 5-3 SEC). He was a fourth-teamer before injuries to Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown and Chris Butler.
The Tide (9-3, 6-2) was a heavy favorite to extend their five-game winning streak, but the Tigers scored touchdowns on their first two possessions.
It was a nice cure-all for Auburn players who had lost for the third time this season in the closing minutes in their last game, falling 24-21 to Georgia on a late touchdown pass on fourth-and-15.
``We knew this was the medicine for it,'' defensive end Reggie Torbor said. ``We knew if we came out and won this week, it would be the healer and fix all our wounds.''
The loss might have reopened some of Alabama's old wounds. With a win, the Tide could have clinched an NCAA record 27th 10-win season and claimed outright the best record in the West Division.
The loss takes some of the luster out of a season-ending trip to Hawaii, with no bowl game awaiting due to probation.
``This is a redemption game,'' tailback Shaud Williams said of the finale. ``We need to go there to try and get our confidence back and end our season on a good note.
``We've got to go there and take care of business and get this team back on the right track heading into next season.''
Alabama coach Dennis Franchione wasn't all that surprised at Auburn's solid performance.
``I don't think we were surprised about anything,'' said Franchione, keeping to his policy of not mentioning Auburn by name. ``I said all week they were two plays away from being a 9-2 football team. They just played better than we did and won the football game.''
Auburn's hopes of representing the West in the SEC championship game ended when LSU and Arkansas both won Saturday. They meet for the berth Friday, while Auburn awaits its bowl destination.
Coach Tommy Tuberville was more concerned with savoring the state championship than which bowl game his team was headed to.
``We got the championship we wanted,'' Tuberville said. ``We won the Iron bowl.''
Quarterback Jason Campbell said the players got together Friday night for an intrasquad pep talk.
``We had a big talk and spoke about how we were going to have to pull together to win the game,'' Campbell said.
The Tigers fell to Alabama 31-7 last year, helping to spoil their SEC title hopes. The year before, they shut out the Tide 9-0 in Tuscaloosa, where they're now 4-0.
Auburn tight end Robert Johnson caught two first-quarter touchdown passes from Campbell.
``We've won two out of three of these since I've been here, but this is the sweetest one ever,'' Johnson said.
(