In 1972, the Auburn Tigers had an incredible football season. Actually, they are forever remembered as "The Amazin's". Expected to finish with a 2-8 record, the team fought their way to an 8-1 record and were ready to end the season facing their arch-rival Alamaba -- the #2 ranked team in the country and coached by the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant.
During the week before the game, Bryant was quoted in many newspapers as saying, "I'd rather beat that Cow College [Auburn] than beat Texas 10 times" (Near the end of the season, Alabama had already accepted a Cotton Bowl invitation to play Texas).
Henley, the featured tailback in a "3 yards and a cloud of dust" running game, was fired up by those comments and railed back to his team. He spoke out as often as he could that Auburn would "show Alabama that cows can kick!"
It was Auburn's defense, however, that made the difference. They held the Crimson Tide wishbone offense as tight as they could to a seemingly insurmountable 16-3 lead in the 4th quarter. But, linebacker Bill Newton blocked 2 punts that were both returned for touchdowns by David Langner and the Auburn Tigers beat Alabama 17-16 in a fantastic finish that is still referred to as the "Punt Bama Punt" game.
paul "bear" Bryant
Bear Bryant
Bear bryant
bear bryant
Paul "Bear" Bryant was an American college footballplayer and coach.
Yes ... Bum was a defensive coach for Bear on the 1957 Texas A&M team.
Never
The legendary Bear Bryant.
Paul Bear Bryant
WINNER
Bear Bryant, Alabama
Bear Bryant.