Boxing: Deontay Wilder wins with first-round knockout. 12C
Sports
S U N D A Y , N O V E M B E R 27 , 2011
SECTION C
WWW.TUSCALOOSANEWS.COM
42
IRON MAN
14
INSIDE
Richardson runs for a career-high 203 yards as No. 2 Crimson Tide routs Auburn By Cecil Hurt Sports Editor
AUBURN | “Never again” might be an overly optimistic assertion about anything to do with the Alabama-Auburn series. “Not this year,” though, wasn’t much of a problem for the Crimson Tide. No. 2 Alabama rolled over Auburn 42-14 — the most one-sided victory ever for either team in UA-AU games played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game stayed competitive into the third quarter thanks to nonoffensive touchdowns scored by Auburn. One score came when Auburn recovered an AJ McCarron fumble in the Crimson Tide end zone, the other when Onterio McCalebb opened the second half with an 83-yard kickoff return that trimmed Alabama’s lead to 24-14.
STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON
Alabama notebook Freshman Vinnie Sunseri fills in nicely for injured Will Lowery | 4C
Quarter glance Breakdown of each quarter and complete game statistics | 4C
“I think they deserve it.” Alabama coach Nick Saban on whether his team should play for the BCS Championship in New Orleans on Jan. 9
STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON
Turned back Alabama defense holds Michael Dyer to 48 yards and Auburn to 78 total rushing yards | 5C
Human highlight reel Richardson puts up big numbers, impressive runs and has ninth 100-yard game of the season | 5C
STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON
University of Alabama running back Trent Richardson (3) scores a second-quarter touchdown on a 5-yard reception during Saturday’s game against Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Richardson rushed for a career-high 203 yards on 27 carries to lead No. 2 Alabama to a 42-14 victory.
But the Crimson Tide defense squeezed the life out of Auburn all afternoon, limiting the Tigers’ offense to just 140 total yards — 68 less than Trent Richardson’s all-purpose total — and no points. Meanwhile, the UA offense controlled the clock most of the game, thanks largely to the expected heroics of Richardson and also to the less likely play of senior tight end Brad Smelley. Richardson rushed for a career-high 203 yards and caught one touchdown pass for 5 more, while Smelley had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown in the fi rst half. “Our goal today was to play our best football game,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. “It wasn’t perfect, but it was one of the better games we have played on offense and defense, and it was really OK on special teams except for kickoff returns. “I don’t think there are words to describe how proud I am of our players.” Saban did a bit of postgame lobbying, both for Richardson (“Trent is the best football player in the country,” he said) and for his team, when asked about potentially playing LSU for the BCS Championship. “I think they deserve it,” Saban said. Alabama (11-1, 7-1 in the SEC) started quickly, scoring twice on deep SEE T IDE | 5C
There will be plenty of debate, but Alabama is clearly one of the nation’s top two teams STAFF PHOTO | MICHELLE LEPIANKA CARTER
Getting involved Tight ends Smelley, Williams play big part of offensive plan | 6C
3rd-and-nowhere Auburn converts just 3 of 15 on third down | 6C
Frustrated Auburn players disappointed after lopsided loss on home turf | 6C
For video and a photo gallery of Saturday’s game go to www.tidesports.com
AUBURN he fiercest, most-heated and most hyped rivalry in America didn’t live up to its billing Saturday — at least not if you hadn’t watched the entire season. If you had, the decisive Alabama win over Auburn — the most one-sided UA-AU game ever in Jordan-Hare Stadium — came as no surprise. It wasn’t close, cer t a inly not close enough to argue about. Do not despair, though, if you are a fan of full-throated, fightto-the-death, over-the-top radio talk show-fueled histrionics. The Alabama-Auburn game might have disappointed you, but the debate between the “rematch”/“no rematch” factions of the college football
T
world will be right up your alley. Insults will be hurled. C omp et enc y will be questioned. Hopefully, no plant CECIL or animal life HURT will be harmed along the way, but the arguments will be bitter. Before the bloodletting begins, let’s clearly defi ne the two combatants. One side can fairly be called the “Two Best Teams” camp. The other can be called the “Every Other Agenda Imaginable” camp. They shall not be reconciled, rest assured. The Every Other Agenda
camp has two hurdles to overcome. First, the fact is the purpose of the BCS, since its inception, has been to match the two best teams in college football in a one-game championship. Second, the two best teams in America are clearly LSU and Alabama. We could compare resumes between Alabama and every other one-loss contender out there, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s take Oklahoma State. Does anyone really think the Crimson Tide would lose at Ames, Iowa, or anywhere else on the Cowboys’ schedule? Do they really think the ‘Pokes would push LSU into overtime in Stillwater? It’s hard to imagine. People can make all sorts of SEE HURT | 6C
STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron celebrates after the Crimson Tide’s 42-14 win against Auburn. McCarron was 18 of 23 passing for 184 yards with three touchdowns.