The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 39

ID) SECTION NOVEMBER 28, 1982 7 i 5s. 'Dogs rout Ga. Tech page 8D JLfl V) "in Jja rC TX Phillip ifpljj MAKSIIMJ. tl Advertiser Sports Editor Ifl) V)' "''J sr5 Jf- wKms 'I mr-J '-LJ i lr t- 2 lf A- i -r" l-'Tt; I 1 Cftolo bt ill Uirkfi Aiilmrn nffpneivo linpman Ranrlv Stokes 64) of Tallassee celebrates winning touchdown against Alabama end Jeff Park9 (82) charges joyfully off the field as Alabama players look on dejeeledly Aofomra feels liope then joy For AU's Dye, win sweet, sad BIRMINGHAM Auburn head coach Pat. Dye's eyes were damp.

He seemed to choke back tears. On this, the biggest day of his coaching career, he felt more for the loser than perhaps ever before. Dye could probably be elected mayor of Auburn today. A contract extension and a raise would likely be no problem. Dye and his football team sent Auburn people into their own special heaven Saturday afternoon.

They defeated Alabama 23-22, something that hasn't happened since 1972. It was a victory that could shoot Auburn's program skyrocketing toward the top quicker than anyone believed possible. It was, simply, the biggest victory since the last time Auburn beat Alabama. Dye has never won one so big, so meaningful. He outdueled the man who gave him his first coaching job and was his boss for eight years.

One to remember For Auburn's faithful, it was oh so sweet. The stories will be told and retold, getting better with the passing of time. There will be other Auburn victories, but Saturday's will live in the hearts of those who were there. But for Dye, there was a little sadness mixed with the joy. He was, perhaps, not quite prepared for the surging emotion that went with defeating one for whom he feels so much.

Dye had congratulated his football team and sent them onto the field to join the celebration. But he was subdued, almost sad, as he talked about what had just transpired. "This is true, so help me God," Dye said. "I'd rather beat anybody than Coach Bryant. I owe him so much that there is no way I'll ever be able to repay him." The Alabama team Auburn defeated, Dye said, bore little resemblence to the one that flopped around in losses to LSU and Southern Mississippi.

"If you saw the same game I did, there is no question Alabama did a tremendous job," he said. "They have some unbelievable athletes out there. "I still haven't figured out how we won the football game. I thought Alabama played as well today or better than they have all year, at least in any games that I saw on film. "I'm- mighty proud of our team and our coaches.

We won the fourth quarter today, and that didn't happen last year." Dye has led Auburn's program on a remarkable journey in two seasons. A year ago, the Tigers had to fight and scratch for a 5-6 record. Today, they are 8-3 and headed for their first bowl since 1974. "I'd have to think we've made progress," Dye said. "We're seven points (19-17 loss to Florida and 19-14 loss to Georgia) from being in the Sugar Bowl.

I'd like to go down there." When Dye was gone, it was Bryant's turn. He came as always, with style and class. He praised the winners and took the blame for his own team's failures. It was a typical Bryant performance. "I want to congratulate Coach Dye and his team," Bryant said.

"I thought they did an excellent job. They've done an excellent job since they've been there. "I'm real happy for Pat. I'm not glad for him, but I'm happy for him. They won and they deserved to win." The team that looked at one time like Bryant's best ever, had finished a disastrous season by Alabama standards.

Gone are streaks of 11 straight victories over Tennessee and LSU and 57 straight victories in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Before Saturday, two were left, Alabama had beaten Auburn nine straight times and Bryar' had won 30 straight games from former assistant coaches or players. Those, too, are no more. But Bryant was proud of the fight his players gave on Saturday. "I thought we played with great effort," he said.

"From where I stood, it was an excellent football game. I hope all of you enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy it that much. "It looked to me like we played as well as we have in any game this year." No taik of future Bryant's calm exterior almost cracked when the subject of his retirement came up. All last week, rumors swirled that he was prepared to step down.

He reaches the mandatory state retirement age next September. "I'm not going to talk about my future plans," he said, his voice rising. "I'm damned tired of talking about that. "I don't mean to be ugly, but I haven't even thought about it. I don't know what the university might have in mind for my future.

"Maybe I'll think about it going home." Alabama brought dedication and heart to Legion Field. This was to be the day the Crimson Tide redeemed itself for the sins of this eason. But Auburn brought dedication and heart, too. Alabama ran up and down the field, piling up yards. It was an impressive performance.

But when the game was on the line, Auburn was better. iiPEPSI I iii i ii 1 1 I -Wit II.J.uilUL.,.... I t. -vpsm a (I HiJJiliilf F'RITO LAY I mimsrn WA3hf II 1 m( m0Mmj a IT a'j, I i Jt I II 1 1 By BOB MAYES Advertiser Sports Writer BIRMINGHAM It was almost as if some greater being was painting an abstract with emotions colored orange and blue. The picture, painted in strong, bold strokes, was set against a backdrop of gray, rainy afternoon skies, and mockingly toyed with the feelings of every Auburn football player and every Tiger fan.

As the final minutes ticked off the Legion Field clock, and then in the immediate aftermath of the Tigers' 23-22 victory over Alabama here Saturday afternoon, Auburn emotions ran the gamut. When the Tigers trailed 22-14 at the end of three quarters, there was resignation along the east sidelines that they were destined to lose for the 10th straight time to their most bitter rival. After Al Del Greco kicked a 23-yard field goal with 9:06 remaining to pull Auburn within a touchdown, it changed to hope. That hope was nurtured as the Tigers marched goalward on their next possession, and turned to anxiety as they faced a third-and-goal at the Alabama 9 with just under three minutes remaining. It turned to unbridled joy after freshman Bo Jackson caught an 8-yard pass from Randy Campbell, then dived over for the touchdown on the next play to give Auburn a 23-22 lead with 2:26 remaining.

The unbridled joy turned to sheer ecstasy as Bob Harris intercepted his second pass of the day at the Tide 31 four plays later to seemingly ensure the victory. Tears of joy streamed down the faces of coaches and players along the sidelines. Players slapped each other on shoulder pads and rear ends. Victory seemed near. Two plays later it turned to fear almost horror as Jackson fumbled and lost the ball on third-and-1 at the 22, leaving Alabama with 1:09 to pluck the victory.

Jackson walked off the field alone, head hanging, the weight of the world on his 18-year-old shoulders. David Jordan embraced him along the sidelines, and Jackson's head remained buried in the junior offensive tackle's shoulder pads for half a minute. Offensive players and reserves turned toward the crowd and exhorted it to join with them in urging the defense on. Blank or bewildered stares had replaced the smiles. The fear and aniexty grew as Alabama quarterback Walter Lewis completed a pass to Jesse Bendross to the Tide 47, leaving it only one completion away from a possible game-winning field goal.

As quickly as that fear and anxiety had 1 cfrv i fill, m-yzz 1 UL.i- Mill l.b Ph.b, ill .1 1 1 Celebrating Auourn lan riaes ine goai posi aown in posi-game ceieuruuun oaiuruay supporters completely tore down goal post in south end zone at Legion Field after victory over Alabama appeared, it disappeared when sophomore back into a pass which would fatally be along the east sidelines and in the grant-defensive tackle Ben Thomas chased Lewis ruled intentional grounding. stands when Lewis overshot Joe Carter on a back to the 30 and forced the Tide quarter- Two plays later bedlam broke loose See AUBURN, page 3D.