"Ever To Conquer - Never To Yield"

College football is almost here. Today begins the official start of fall football practice on the Plains and 'Fan Day' will be August 14th in the Auburn Arena.  As the 2011 season is fast approaching, I have found myself not only looking forward with great anticipation but reflecting back a little on what Chizik's Tigers accomplished in 2010.

It was the most exciting season of Auburn Football that I have ever witnessed. The Auburn Tigers had to come from behind in nine of their 14 games on their way to winning the National Championship.

Of those nine come back victories, none were more sweeter than the 75th Iron Bowl. Since I've found myself on the road this week with no time to do a column, I thought I would share my tribute to those Fighting Tigers from the article that ran on December,1st 2010. Here is ...

"Ever To Conquer - Never To Yield"      

     by aubtigerman on Dec 1, 2010 12:00 AM CST in Football

Auburn defensive end Antoine Carter (45)makes "the play" causing Alabama running back Mark Ingram (22) to fumble the ball during the 2010 Iron Bowl Nov. 26, 2010. The Tigers went on to defeat the Tide 28-27.

After watching this year's Iron Bowl, my first thought was, 'I don't think I have ever seen a team that more epitomizes the Auburn Fight Song than the 2010 Tigers. I have been fortunate enough to witness some of the all time great ones in the past 52 years. Teams like the undefeated 1958 squad, the great ‘63 team led by Jimmy Sidle and Tucker Frederickson, the Sullivan and Beasley teams, the '72 Amazin's, the four SEC Championship Teams of the 80's, and the '93 and 2004 undefeateds. All great teams, but none of them came as close as this year's squad in personifying the phrase "Ever to Conquer, Never to Yield."

To say this team has no quit in them does not adequately describe the bunch. They have had to come from behind in eight of their twelve games and yet none of the comebacks were as dramatic or had as much on the line as this year's 75^th Iron Bowl. The event, only four days old is already one of the all time legendary games of the Iron Bowl series. Historic is what it was; Bama has never lost a game where they led by 24 points and Auburn has never overcome a 24 point deficit to win. Jay Coulter says it may be the best Iron Bowl ever and after further review, I am inclined to agree with him.

No play in this year's Iron Bowl better typifies the spirit of "Ever to Conquer, Never to Yield", than Antoine Carter's not quitting when the big man ran after Mark Ingram and punched the ball out and into the end zone for a touchback.

The Iron Bowl usually produces a play that will go down in the annals of Iron Bowl lore as one of 'the' plays. They are the plays that will be remembered by a single phrase for generations to come. Phrases like "Punt Bama Punt", "Bo Over the Top", "The Kick", or "The Reverse to Victory".

This year's "the play" by Carter not only ended another Alabama drive but many, including Coach Chizik, believe it was the turning point of the game. Some have labeled it the defining play of the 75^th Iron Bowl. I'm not sure that it will get that type of celebrated title. But I am sure that the play defines the very spirit of this very special Auburn Team. No single play in that historic game better exemplifies the "Never to Yield" line in the Auburn fight song.

Back in September I wrote the following statement about Auburn's comeback ways and it was even more applicable to the Iron Bowl as it was in the earlier games :

"Ah, the great American comeback. The great story about being down and almost out only to get back up off the mat and score a knockout blow; it's the thing legends are made of. I'm not saying this team will be legendary, but if they keep getting knocked down several times only to get back up and pummel their opponents in to submission ... then that label may be fairly attached."

With last Friday's historic win the team has now earned  that legendary label - no matter what happens in the next two games. Any team that could play through all the adversity they have had to endure the last few weeks, mount eight comeback wins (including going in to a rival's hostile stadium of 101,000 fans), spot the defending national champions 24 points in the nation's greatest rivalry game, shut that opponent down in the second half, and outscore them 28-3 to earn a come from behind victory is already ... yes legendary.

Now the Tigers are right where no one expected them to be before the season started; right in the middle of the SEC Championship week and one game away from the National Championship in Glendale, Arizona. This Saturday Auburn will have a rematch with South Carolina, one of the teams they had to come from behind to defeat earlier in the year.

After that game I wrote a piece calling them "Auburn's Cardiac Tigers."  In it I said that comebacks appeared to be the team's modus operandi. I was wrong. These Tigers m.o. is their determination to ...

"Ever to Conquer - Never to Yield."

  War Eagle!  Beat South Carolina!