Crimson Chapters: Chapter 8

An oral history of the University of Alabama’s football season, as told by the people who lived it

50 seconds and change

By Aaron Suttles Sports Writer

The University of Alabama entered its Nov. 8 date with LSU fresh off a bye week and prepared to enter the gauntlet that was the final third of its regular-season schedule, which included three key SEC West showdowns. First up was LSU in Tiger Stadium.

Things looked dire when Alabama fumbled inside its own 10-yard line with 1:13 remaining in the game. Instead of allowing a touchdown, the UA defense held LSU to a field goal.

T.J. Yeldon, junior running back: My teammates picked me up a lot. I didn't expect to fumble the ball, but it happened. I just had to move on from that.

Brian Vogler, senior tight end: A lot of us thought just for a second there right when we fumbled the ball that it might be over.

Jalston Fowler, senior fullback: At the moment that T.J. fumbled, I was like, "Oh man."

For a video look back at the stretch run of Alabama’s 2014 football season, go to www. tuscaloosanews. com or www. tidesports. com

Blake Sims, senior quarterback: I went up to him and told him to keep his head up and that we're going to win this game.

staff photo | Erin Nelson

Alabama wide receiver DeAndrew White (2) holds onto a catch as he’s tackled by LSU safety Jalen Mills (28) in the end zone during overtime against LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Nov. 8, 2014.

Alabama beat LSU, 20-13 in overtime.

Xzavier Dickson, senior outside linebacker: We have a saying that we say on defense and the whole team says it. We're going to die about it. It means every time we step out on the field we're going to give it our all and leave everything on the field.

Continued

staff photo | Robert Sutton

Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon (4) carries the ball in the fourth quarter while trailing the tigers. Yeldon had 15 carries for 68 yards in the Tide’s win.

Vogler: Vogler: The first thing that came to my mind We could've gone out there with our was what if we block this kick and run it heads down, but people on the sideline back. It never even crossed our mind that were saying we could actually do this. we could get the ball back with no timeouts and potentially pull it off.

Sims: There was no doubt at all.

Trailing 13-10 with no timeouts left and 50 seconds remaining and starting at its own 35, Geno Smith, the Alabama offense set out on a drive to rejunior defensive back: member.

I was on the sideline with Jonathan Cook, and we watched the whole drive.

Austin Shepherd, senior offensive lineman: Trey DePriest, We practiced that situation literally evsenior middle linebacker: ery week. So I think we had a good deal I definitely watched. Coach (Kirby) of confidence.

Smart wasn't going over any adjustments then because it wasn't guaranteed that we Vogler: were going to see the field again. I was We actually work that exact situation standing there watching. every week during the season.

Bill Napier, Fowler: wide receivers coach: I was on the sideline thinking, "I can't It was a testament to the type of team believe they're doing this right now." that we have. Staying in the moment. Keep competing. Keep chopping wood.

Leon Brown, senior right guard: Shepherd: Every Thursday we practice our twoI don't think anybody was really sure minute drill. If we can score a touchdown what was going to happen. in two minutes against our defense, we could score a touchdown against any deFowler: fense in the country.

I was like, What's going on? I can't take

this. This is heartache. This is scary right here. I'm about to catch a heart attack up there.'

DePriest: I was anxious to see if they were going to do it.

Napier: Our critical players made critical plays.

Shepherd: You don't really think about much when you're out there. You just kind of get up to the ball because you're in such a rush because you have no timeouts. You've got to get up there and do your thing.

DePriest: It sucks. It's terrible. When you can't do anything about it and it's up to somebody else it does suck. At the same time, though, I really wasn't worried about it. Be cool, they're going to handle it.

Alabama drove 55 yards in nine plays, with Sims twice hitting tight end O.J. Howard for completions and UA moving into field goal range on passes to Christion Jones and DeAndrew White. Adam Griffith kicked a 27-yard field goal with 3 seconds to go to tie the game, Continued

staff photos | robert Sutton

Above: Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster (10) celebrates a hit. Foster’s tackle on a kickoff gave Alabama much needed momentum.

Below: Alabama offensive lineman Arie Kouandjio (77) and Alabama kicker Adam Griffith (99) celebrate a late fourth quarter field goal to send the game into overtime.

sending it into overtime.

Shepherd: It's just you come down to the end Shepherd: of it and once you finish and you reYou kind of look up after D-White alize you just did it. or Christion Jones or whoever it was caught that pass and you're like, A big hit on the kickoff to end regula"Dang, we just did this." tion gave Alabama further momentum.

Fowler: Fowler: We got it back and drove it down Then the next thing you know the field, kicked the field goal. I was Reuben (Foster) goes down and happy. I even started yelling, "This knocks the guy out on the kickoff. I is why you come to Bama." think the momentum shifted right there.

Smith: That was amazing. There was 50 Reuben Foster, seconds. That was the greatest game sophomore linebacker: I've been apart of.

The coaches were telling me, "Reuben, we need another one."

Shepherd: I'm always confident in (Adam Shepherd: Griffith). I knew he'd make it, so I told him I think that's why we when he did, I was just ecstatic. won, for real. I feel like that really was the reason because it brought DePriest: energy. We really didn't have energy They got it done and gave us an- all game. I feel like that's what other shot to go out there and hold it brought the energy and we kind of down. finished the game with that.

Napier: I think it's a testament to the kind of character our players have.

Foster: I just lined up on the kickoff ready Continued

for the kick, heart racing, and I'm like, I'm about to sell out. I went full throttle. Once I hit him it was amazing. I said I was going to do it, and I did it.

In overtime, Alabama took the ball first and scored, led by a pass to tight end Brandon Greene, a converted offensive lineman who usually only enters the game to block. Then the defense held on four straight plays for the victory.

Shepherd: We didn't even know we were going to run it for real. We practiced it all year. I figured it was to just have fun in practice, but he called it and we ran it and executed like we wanted.

Brown: We practiced that play. When Coach Kiffin called the play we knew we had a big play. I was kind of sad because they called a (personal foul) penalty on me.

Shepherd: They were in the coverage we wanted. We were just trying to finish the play.

Brown: I didn't hear the whistle. I was just blessed that we still won.

The touchdown came on a 6-yard Sims-to-White pass.

staff photos | Robert Sutton

Above: Defensive back Landon Collins celebrates a win over LSU. Collins

turned down LSU to attend Alabama.

Below: Alabama linebacker Trey DePriest (33)and defensive back Landon Collins (26) tackle LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings (10).

Sims: We ran that play over and over in practice.

(White) jumped very high. It surprised me how high he jumped.

Napier: That play, there's no telling how many reps we dedicated to getting it exactly right.

Sims: When the ball was in the air my heart stopped beating. He caught the ball and we won the game.

Napier: Those are the ones you'll always remember.

Amari Cooper, junior wide receiver: We believed. That's what our program is all about.

Landon Collins, junior safety: I always say that's my Super Bowl. Not to lose to them was fantastic. Always beat your home team and they can never say any mess to you.

Shepherd: I think I was with Ryan and I was like, Wow, we just did that. That's unreal. That place is probably the hardest place I've ever played. It was just so loud you can't hear anything.

Sims: When Coach (Nick) Saban's smiling, you know we did a good job.