So, for those of you who aren’t aware, there happen to be two writers on this site who are diehard Alabama fans. At the time of the 2013 Iron Bowl, your boy Big Natural had just started a new gig after getting fired from his last one and barely making his final paycheck stretch through November. It also happens to be the year that the SoBros Network was born. It was a tumultuous time met with support from friends and family alike.
On this day, however, it was SoBro Poppa Bear who was there to comfort me. It was the 78th installment of the Iron Bowl (that means it’s a big game if you’re an Alabama fan, FYI). We decided we were going to witness our Tide ragdoll those foolish Tigers all over the football field in the vacuum of intelligence that is Jordan-Hare Stadium together.
But, the fine source of journalism that is Wikipedia can set the stage for this game better than I can…
Wikipedia – “The Kick Six refers to the final play of the 78th Iron Bowl college football game played on November 30, 2013 at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. The game featured No. 1-ranked and two-time defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide (11–0, 7–0 in the SEC) as a 10-point favorite over the No. 4-ranked Auburn Tigers(10–1, 6–1 in the SEC). At stake was the outright SEC West title and a berth in the 2013 SEC Championship Game.”
SPOILER ALERT: shit went sideways. Here’s a live look-in as the game went to 28-28:
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. And yes, that’s a copy of Elf on my TV stand.
By now, if you’re reading us and not Saturday Down South, you’re a moron. They do great work there and continue to be one of my inspirations. Props to them for this gem:
Saturday Down South – “It was Chris Davis who raced 100-plus yards for a shocking game-winning touchdown after the Tide missed a field goal attempt on the final play to lift Auburn to a 34-28 victory in one of the most memorable moments in college football history.”
I haven’t figured out how to embed videos from sources other than YouTube, so you’re going to have to click the link to watch the blind bat that is Uncle Verne recounting this amazing play from his vantage point.
The point is, I’ve never been so stunned watching a football game in my life. I just didn’t have the words to describe what was happening to my body. It felt like about an hour of nothingness. I was numb to everything. Then, as reality sank in, it was pain, anger, depression, and somewhere along the way, I had vacated my bowels, too. It got kind of crazy. Just look at my face mere hours after the game:
There’s no soul in that body, folks. The lights are on, but nobody’s home. Just completely void of emotion. I can only imagine this is what paralysis feels and looks like.
The pain of that play still lingers, but let’s not forget how that season ended for Auburn:
How about that? Your Iron Bowl hero getting dunked on by Kelvin Benjamin. I’ll admit – hearing the Auburn call gave me a bit of the chills. It stings, but when you hear this kind of joy in someone’s voice, it’s hard to hate as deeply:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKmkD1pUG0]
But, still. Fuck those guys. Fuck Reddit for reminding me about this, and most of all, Fuck Auburn. All of this bullshit had me and Poppa Bear like:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jXrmAKBBTU]
Stoney Keeley is the editor of the SoBros Network, Tennessee Titans Featured Analyst for Pro Football Spot, Contributor to FanSided’s Bama Hammer, and covers the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @PFSpot, @WrestlingNewsCo, @Bama_Hammer
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