The Kick Six Resonates Deeper for Some Alabama Players Than Other Iron Bowls
One of the most memorable plays in college football history happened ten years ago. Some members of the Crimson Tide recall it vividly.
ALTA CUSCALOOSA, AL Alabama will have ten years since the Kick Six when it visits Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.
It will be the first time the Crimson Tide (10-1, 7-0 SEC) has defeated its bitter in-state rival in four straight games since winning nine in a row from 1973 to 1981.
Naturally, a large number of Alabama’s players watched the Iron Bowl as children. Still, it’s not a Crimson Tide triumph that they will never forget. It’s actually the exact opposite.
The Kick Six, according to running back Roydell Williams. It was almost like, ‘Well, we’re going to score this field goal.'” I won. All of the Auburn supporters had left, and everyone was getting up. I thought, “Yeah, we got this.” He then kicked it, and I was like, “Hold on now,” because it was kind of brief. When he gave it back, I said, “Nah, ain’t no way.” At that moment, everyone returned inside, and the Alabama supporters simply left the venue. “Man, no way,” we exclaimed.
It’s not just him.
Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry said, “I probably shouldn’t say this, but the game I remember the most is the Kick Six.” “And I remember it the most because Chris Davis was actually my high school coach, so just knowing that that was actually him and him being my high school coach was very exciting to me, knowing how he did that.”
Consider that adverse? Tim Keenan III recalls a distinct Tigers triumph.
“I’d probably have to say when Cam Newton played, and I really wanted [Alabama] to win that one,” Keenan stated. “At the time, I was trying to have some bragging rights, being a kid, and I was kind of disappointed.”
However, God offered me another opportunity to make amends.
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Nick Saban was not questioned about Alabama’s preparations for LSU during Tennessee Week. There was no question about the following game against Kentucky when the Tide took on the Tigers. However, as Alabama prepared for and defeated Chattanooga, questions about not only the Iron Bowl but also the SEC Championship matchup against Georgia on December 2 began to be directed towards players and coaches.
That hasn’t, however, ever been Saban’s method of game planning, at least not in college. On Monday, he gave an explanation for this and noted a distinction between his current coaching style and that of his NFL days:
Because it’s so damn hard, sometimes in professional football you have to put in a little bit of work on the next team, according to Saban. “That doesn’t work well for me because I like to mix different things before that game is over and I’m focused on what I have to do in that specific game.”
Among other places, Saban coached for 14 years, starting at Kent State and ending at Navy. Before rejoining the league in 1991, he spent a time coaching defensive backs for the Houston Oilers. At the time, Bill Belichick was his close friend and the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. 2006 was Saban’s final season as an NFL coach, having led the Miami Dolphins in his second year.
Saban has preached a “one-game-at-a-time mentality” since joining the Tide and winning six national titles. This has resulted in extensively-clipped social media tirades whenever a reporter asks him a question that even suggests that UA is ignoring the next game. Rather, a college program’s structured timetable enables frequent check-ins and meetings to prepare the team.
We’re spending a lot of time with the players here. We practice on Thursdays. We have walk-through on Friday. We meet on Friday, have dinner with them, and then meet again that evening. “There’s a little window of opportunity to try and get ahead because pro ball doesn’t have all those things,” Saban continued, “but it was never something that worked very well for me.”
Whether the program wins or loses, there is a 24-hour rule that allows for introspection before continuing. But sometimes, the nature of humans gets in the way. After the Tide defeated Auburn 66-10 on senior day last weekend, senior defensive back Malachi Moore put on a bit of Auburn tape.
In Jordan-Hare Stadium, Alabama will conclude the regular season on November 25 at 2:30 CT.
