Imagine a rivalry as intense as Game of Thrones. The 2013 Iron Bowl was a drama with football players. It was a moment that changed iconic Crimson Tide moments forever. How did a dynasty fall so fast? Let’s go back in time.
Alabama was unstoppable, aiming for a third national title. Their defense was strong and confident. But Chris Davis of Auburn had other plans. When Alabama’s field goal attempt missed, Davis returned it 109 yards. This stunned the internet and Alabama’s fans.
This play was like a mix of O.J.’s Bronco chase and Friday Night Lights. It was a moment that changed everything. Nick Saban’s gamble turned into a disaster, showing even the strongest can fall.
Why does this moment hurt so much? It’s not just a game. It’s a story about pride, luck, and the edge between success and failure. Get ready to relive the play that made “Roll Tide” a shocking moment in sports.
The Setting: 2013 Iron Bowl
Imagine Alabama’s 2013 team as the Death Star mid-orbit – ready to destroy any doubt about their three-peat dreams. Nick Saban’s dynasty was already known for its dominance, crushing opponents by 27 points on average. But Auburn was not just any opponent; they were a force to be reckoned with, having beaten Alabama nine times in the past decade.
The Tigers were known as the “Cardiac Cats” for their ability to pull off incredible comebacks. But Auburn faced a huge challenge: beating the Death Star in just 60 minutes with backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
Let’s look at Saban’s trophy case:
- Back-to-back national championships
- 11 future NFL starters on defense
- A 28-game home win streak
Gus Malzahn’s offense was a collection of trick plays, making defensive coordinators lose sleep. Chris Davis, Auburn’s versatile defensive back, was about to make history with the Kick Six.
This game was more than just a SEC rivalry – it was epic drama. The winner would get bragging rights and a spot in the SEC Championship. For Alabama, winning meant joining the list of greatest Alabama football games. For Auburn, it was a chance to show that miracles can happen twice and that even Death Stars have weaknesses.
The Final Seconds
Nick Saban’s call to kick a 57-yard field goal with one second left was a bold move. It was like Icarus flying too close to the sun. Alabama’s kicker, Cade Foster, had already missed three field goals. He was batting .167 from beyond 40 yards.
Why take such a risk? It was like playing a game of chance. The odds were against them, just like finding a sober fan at Toomer’s Corner.
This wasn’t just about managing the clock. It was more like playing a game of chance. Advanced analytics showed Alabama had a 55% chance of winning if they’d just kneeled and gone to overtime.
But Saban chose a long shot instead. It was like choosing a low-percentage kick over trusting his defense. This move was more surprising than Belichick’s famous 4th-down gamble against Peyton Manning.
| Coach | Situation | Win Probability Pre-Decision | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saban (2013) | 57-yard FG attempt | 55% (OT) | 0% |
| Belichick (2009) | 4th & 2 vs Colts | 79% (if converted) | Failed attempt |
Foster’s kick needed a 20 mph tailwind, but it never came. Chris Davis was waiting in the end zone, ready to return the kick. The result was a 109-yard return that turned Alabama’s clutch performances into a lesson about overconfidence.
Could this have been avoided? Yes. Kneeling down would have forced overtime, where Alabama’s strong defense could have stopped Auburn. Instead, Saban’s choice was like steering the Titanic towards a volcano. It showed that sometimes, the safest choice is the riskiest.
Play Breakdown
Looking at the Kick Six is like studying a famous event. It’s like the Zapruder film, but with football. We’ll explore it through three angles, even Oliver Stone would find interesting.
The Setup: Alabama’s special teams were like Leeroy Jenkins meets 300. They charged in bravely but lacked discipline. Chris Davis, on the other hand, was calm and ready, like a coiled panther.
The Execution: Auburn’s plan was like a D-Day playbook:
- 0:07 – Adam Griffith’s 57-yard attempt falls short like Bitcoin in 2022
- 0:06 – Davis catches at the 1-yard line with 5 blockers forming a human zamboni
- 0:04 – Alabama’s gunners overrun the play like bulls at Pamplona
- 0:02 – The “Auburn Overdrive” return path carves through Bama’s defense like a hot knife through SEC regulations
| Element | Auburn Strategy | Alabama Miscue |
|---|---|---|
| Return Alignment | 2-man “security blanket” wedge | No contain defender |
| Blocking Scheme | Cross-field convoy blocking | Overpursuit left edge exposed |
| Special Teams Execution | Davis’ 109-yard GPS tracking | 11 players within 5 yards of kicker |
Auburn’s coaches were like the Ocean’s 11 team. They turned a simple play into a game-changer. Nick Saban’s reaction was priceless, perfect for a Veep GIF.
This six-second play revealed many things. It showed the importance of special teams and defensive strategy. It’s a story that keeps football historians busy. It’s more dramatic than any famous LSU Alabama game.
Coaches’ Decisions
Nick Saban’s 2013 field goal call was like the Titanic of coaching mistakes. It was well-planned but ended in disaster. Saban’s plan seemed perfect until reality hit hard. But why do championship coaches sometimes take big risks?
Look at Saban’s 2015 gamble against Georgia. Down 3 with 10 seconds left, he went for a 45-yard field goal. It paid off. But in 2013, he didn’t count on Auburn’s underdog team. In 2015, he trusted his kicker. The key is knowing when to trust your players.
Gus Malzahn, Auburn’s coach, took a huge risk in 2013. He put Chris Davis deep for a return. It was a bold move, like something from the Wolf of Wall Street. The result was huge, changing the SEC’s playoff picture.
| Coach | Decision | Outcome | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saban (2013) | 57-yard FG attempt | Kick Six | Don’t test gravity with freshman kickers |
| Saban (2015) | 45-yard OT FG | Georgia win | Trust proven specialists |
| Malzahn (2013) | Davis return setup | Auburn upset | Embrace calculated chaos |
| Bear Bryant (1967) | “Wrong Way” play | Alabama loss | Verify your playcall signals |
Bear Bryant’s 1967 “Wrong Way” play was a big mistake. But it made him more relatable. Saban’s Kick Six, on the other hand, made him a meme. Is that progress?
SEC football shows coaches are not always right. They’re like blackjack players in a storm. Sometimes they win big, sometimes they lose. And sometimes, Chris Davis tackles the house.
Player and Fan Reaction
The Kick Six was more than a football play—it shook Alabama’s world. It was like a quiet library suddenly turned into Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Crimson Tide fans were stunned, while Auburn’s students were in a frenzy.
Players talked about the play as if it was a life-changing event. “I kept blinking, waiting to wake up,” said an Alabama linebacker. Chris Davis, Auburn’s star, became a hero, known for his incredible return.
His interview was simple yet powerful: “Just did my job, sir.”
The internet went wild after the game. Sad Saban, a photo of the coach’s shocked face, became a meme sensation. Today, TikTok users recreate the play, showing how lasting the impact is.
Here’s how fans reacted:
- Alabama fans: Cubs supporters after Bartman’s foul ball
- Auburn faithful: Beatles fans at Shea Stadium 1965
- Neutral observers: People who understand why their spouses yell at TVs
This event started new traditions. Auburn fans now throw toilet paper like it’s going out of style. Alabama fans have learned to laugh at their misfortunes, saying “At least we’re not Michigan.”
SEC and National Impact
The Kick Six changed college football forever. It didn’t just rewrite the Iron Bowl script. It sent shockwaves through the sport’s foundations.
Alabama’s failed bid for a three-peat became a turning point. It reshaped conference dynamics and national title races. This was like a rogue meteor in a dinosaur documentary.
Nick Saban’s postgame words were more than drama. The Crimson Tide’s collapse opened a power vacuum. Florida State seized this opportunity like a Jedi.
While Alabama was licking its wounds, Jameis Winston’s Seminoles claimed their first alabama national championship wins-adjacent title. The SEC’s grip on the BCS was broken faster than a Mississippi State cowbell at a silent retreat.
Missouri’s Cinderella story showed the real impact of conference realignment. The Tigers won their first SEC East crown. This turned Gary Pinkel into Missouri’s Mark Twain.
This was a cultural shock. A program known for basketball (NCAA SEC basketball titles alabama fans might note) now dominated football’s toughest division.
| Team | Pre-Kick Six | Post-Kick Six | Legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 11-0, #1 ranking | Lost SEC title shot | Special teams overhaul |
| Florida State | #2 in BCS | National champions | Jameis Winston Heisman |
| Missouri | Unranked in preseason | SEC East champions | Realignment validation |
Saban’s post-disaster reforms were like the Hindenburg’s silver lining. After the 1937 inferno, airships used helium. Alabama rebooted its special teams, making Navy SEAL training look like a spa day.
This single play didn’t just change 2013’s standings. It sped up conference realignment strategies. The Kick Six was more than an ending. It was college football’s awkward pivot into its Marvel Cinematic Universe phase.
How It Changed the Rivalry
The Kick Six changed college football’s Alabama-Auburn rivalry forever. It was like a Red Wedding moment, where fans’ loyalties became stronger and enjoying the other team’s misfortune became common. Before November 30, 2013, the rivalry was already intense. After, Nick Saban started carefully choosing his kickers, like they were Supreme Court nominees.
Auburn’s approach after the Kick Six was bold and unpredictable. They followed a “Get the Ball to the Dudes” strategy, focusing on excitement over strategy. In 2014, their team turned receivers into stars, while Alabama fans got anxious during field goal attempts. The Tigers’ 55-44 win over Alabama that year was more like a performance art than football.
In Tuscaloosa, Saban started looking for kickers who could do more. He found players like Joseph Bulovas and Will Reichard, who were not just kickers but also sleeper agents ready to tackle returners. The Kick Six made Alabama’s special teams training into a superhero origin story: “What if we made a kicker… but he could also body-slam a running back?”
Generational Trauma Index: Rivalry-Defining Plays
| Year | Play Name | Psychological Impact | Rivalry Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Punt Bama Punt | Auburn’s original trauma | +15% Auburn hubris |
| 2009 | Rocky Block | Bama’s redemption arc | -20% Kick-six probability |
| 2013 | Kick Six | Existential crisis for both fanbases | +300% Meme production |
The Kick Six didn’t just change a rivalry; it created new realities. Auburn fans now measure time in BS (Before Stidham) and AS (After Smoke Monday’s 2021 pick-six). Alabama fans, on the other hand, see Jordan-Hare as Voldemort—”the stadium which shall not be named.” The Kick Six made rivalry psychology a must-study subject in both schools.
When Tennessee fans talk about their legendary games against Alabama, they’re overshadowed by the Kick Six. The truth is, every “tennessee vs alabama legendary games” highlight after 2013 feels like a cover band trying to match Queen at Live Aid. The Kick Six remains the ultimate moment of schadenfreude, turning regional rivalry into national entertainment.
Where Are They Now
Let’s jump to the post-credits scene of this Alabama football tragedy. Every modern epic needs a “where are they now” montage. The Kick Six didn’t just rewrite rivalry lore; it launched careers into hyperspeed and left others drifting like asteroids.
Nick Saban entered his “Vader in the meditation chamber” era post-2013, only to emerge with six more national titles. The man turned defeat into a championship coaches Alabama blueprint, proving even Jedi masters need a good lightsaber humbling. Gus Malzahn’s post-Auburn journey reads like a ride-share odyssey – from calling plays to driving Ubers, with occasional analyst pit stops.
Chris Davis, our 109-yard sprinting hero, now sells insurance in Birmingham. His pitch? “I’ll cover your assets faster than I outran Bama’s coverage.” Rumor has it he offers a “100-yard dash discount” for Iron Bowl alumni. Talk about turning player legacies into premium rates.
The real glow-up belongs to analysts like C.J. Mosley and T.J. Yeldon. They’ve become ESPN’s resident forgotten Crimson Tide classics commentators, using the play as career motivation: “If Chris Davis can go from DB to CEO of Chaos, why can’t I pivot?”
Even the kickers got character arcs. Adam Griffith (yes, that kicker) now coaches high school football in Georgia, teaching teens how to handle internet hate – a skill he mastered after 2013. The Kick Six’s shadow looms large, but its players? They’re writing sequels even Marvel wouldn’t greenlight.
Conclusion
Alabama’s 2013 Iron Bowl loss didn’t ruin the program. It became a key part of Saban’s masterpiece. The iconic Crimson Tide moments that followed, like five national titles in nine years, were made better by this rare weakness.
Greatness often shows itself in unexpected ways. Boise State’s Statue Left and Miami’s Wide Right are famous because they were imperfect. They dared to be different.
This greatest Alabama football game they never won changed the rivalry. Auburn’s miracle helped Alabama become stronger. Saban’s team got better, even in the fourth quarter.
The loss didn’t break the dynasty. It made it stronger. Saban’s team became more perfect.
In sports history, few losses are as memorable as the Kick Six. It’s because Alabama usually wins. But their occasional loss makes them more relatable.
It’s like seeing Superman trip over his cape. Can any other team grow from a walk-off field goal return?
The answer is in the trophies. And in the beauty of things made stronger by breaking.
