Quarterback Greg McElroy Grows Up in the Iron Bowl

Before the game, the Auburn fans were pretty vocal for an underdog. They had pestered Alabama fans all week, “We are going to shut Ingram down.” “Y'all haven't seen an offense like this.” For me, I let it roll in one ear and out the other. Lots of teams have talked smack before the game. They were all quiet by the end.

I never would have believed it, but Auburn did all of that and more.

The first quarter felt like Pearl Harbor. Auburn bombed Alabama's secondary with misdirection plays and plain old perfect execution.

Offensively, Alabama was stymied by a determined Auburn defense that was quite different from what we saw from them the first 11 weeks of the season. It seems the two week break offered them an opportunity to go the extra mile.

Auburn stacked the box, yet managed to keep the safeties in place to prevent the long play. Auburn used a spy to mirror Ingram's every move effectively taking him out of the game.

Auburn's two quick strikes got the crowd into it, they shut Ingram down, possibly derailed his Heisman Trophy bid, they got reasonable pressure on McElroy and had the lead at the half.

The second half started with yet another long strike by Auburn quarterback Chris Todd, whipping the Auburn home crowd into a frenzy.

Alabama did not panic. Instead they turned to freshman running back Trent Richardson who is a little quicker and quarterback Greg McElroy. The stop-Ingram-at-all-costs defense left gaping holes in the middle of the field and McElroy started firing strikes into Auburn's secondary.  

Even with the adjustments by the middle of the fourth quarter Auburn held the lead and field position when Greg McElroy started what is already being referred to as “The Drive.” On that series of plays, with everything on the line, Greg McElroy grew up as a quarterback.

All year long, when Alabama was in trouble they turned to Ingram only asking McElroy to run the offense and not screw up. This time Ingram was down for the count. This time it was his game to win or lose.  Safety was not an option, Alabama had to score.

On the drive, McElroy carved up the Auburn defense completing eight out of eight for 63 yards and a touchdown. Four of the throws went to all star receiver Julio Jones who had nine catches on the night.

But the one catch that will go down on canvas was the third-down touchdown pass to embattled senior running back Roy Upchurch playing in his final Iron bowl. The gutsy call was completely out of character, but it was brilliantly executed.

For Roy, it may be his defining moment as a player. Often injured, and known mostly for potential unrealized, this was his moment, and it will most certainly become one of those plays referred to as "A Daniel Moore Moment."

For Greg McElroy, no longer is he just a nanny for the offense. He stepped up and won a game in which Alabama had been mostly outplayed.  He answered a lot of questions about what kind of player and man he is.  He now stands as a weapon other teams must account for.

One more player made a huge difference, freshman Trent Richardson. While the fans debated all week if Mark Ingram or Ben Tate was the best running back in the state, it's Richardson who was the games leading rusher.

The Iron bowl marked the first time the Freshman had to play without a net, he provided a desperately needed spark when his team needed him most. 

It was Richardson's 17-yard catch and run that put Alabama in scoring position, so that his teammate Roy Upchurch could step into history.

The season is done, Alabama is 12-0, and ready for the championship game.