Alabama Thrilling Win Over Auburn Sparks Controversy: It might be that one of the plays setting up Alabama’s game-winning touchdown against Auburn should’ve drawn a penalty. We’ve all witnessed the play – Jalen Milroe connecting with Isaiah Bond for an incredible score on fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line.
The Crimson Tide found themselves in this predicament after a mistimed snap from center Seth McLaughlin two plays earlier on second down. Milroe wasn’t prepared for the ball, leading to a loss of 18 yards.
Upon reviewing the film, it appears that Tigers safety Zion Puckett was clapping just before the snap. According to the rules, defensive players can’t simulate the snap, and clapping falls into that category. Alabama coach Nick Saban addressed the play in a Sunday teleconference.
“Well, first of all, the defense is not allowed to clap if thats what youre using as a cadence,” Saban stated. “If what you say actually occurred and I did see the film then, Im not criticizing the officiating, but Im saying thats supposed to be a penalty.”
From this response, it seems Saban believes a penalty should have been called. However, he has to be cautious with his words to avoid a fine from the SEC.
In a follow-up question, Saban was asked if he had considered using a silent count instead of claps to avoid such situations in the future.
“Look, weve gone to the silent count before, and that has its issues, too,” he replied. “Look, youre not allowed to clap on defense. So if youre using a clap as your cadence, why would you change your cadence so that somebody does something theyre not supposed to do on the other side of the ball? It doesnt make any sense to me. We went silent at Texas A&M, we had nine false starts. So it didnt work too well.”
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Despite the potential missed call, it didn’t stop Alabama from securing the win against Auburn, thanks to the remarkable touchdown. If anything, it added to the memorable nature of the game. Nonetheless, Saban likely wants the officials to make accurate calls, considering it put his team in a tricky spot.
Now, the Crimson Tide shift their focus to the SEC Championship Game against Georgia this weekend, where a College Football Playoff berth is on the line. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday in Atlanta.
Our Reader’s Queries
What was the bad call in the Auburn Alabama game?
Alabama scored a touchdown on their first drive. When Brian Battie returned the kickoff, a Crimson Tide defender clearly grabbed his facemask. But the refs missed it and penalized Auburn for a block in the back instead.
How did Alabama win against Auburn?
Down by four points, Alabama faced a critical 4th and goal on the 31 yard line. Quarterback Jalen Milroe led the Tide to a thrilling victory with a game-winning touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond, sealing the win with just 32 seconds remaining. This victory marked Alabama’s longest winning streak against Auburn since their nine consecutive victories from 1973 to 1982.
Who was the Alabama freshman kicker against Auburn?
Redshirt freshman Adam Griffith was about to take his third-ever field goal shot when the iconic Kick Six happened. As he lined up his kick, Chris Davis positioned himself beneath the goal posts with just one second left on the clock.
How much was Alabama favored over Auburn?
The latest odds for the Alabama vs. Auburn game have the Crimson Tide as the 13.5-point favorites according to the SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points scored is set at 47.5. Before deciding on any picks for the Auburn vs. Alabama game, it’s crucial to consider the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.