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{{short description|American college football game}}
'''Punt Bama Punt''' is the nickname given to one of the most famous<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/endofcentury/s/other/bestrivalries.html |title=The 10 greatest rivalries |publisher=ESPN |date=1999-12-21 |accessdate=2007-07-17}}</ref> games of the [[college football]] rivalry between the [[Auburn Tigers]] and the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]] known as the [[Iron Bowl]].
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox college football game
| name = Punt Bama Punt
| subheader =
| football_season = 1972
| visitor_name_short = Auburn
| visitor_nickname = Tigers
| visitor_school = Auburn University
| home_name_short = Alabama
| home_nickname = Crimson Tide
| home_school = University of Alabama
| visitor_record = 8–1
| home_record = 10–0
| visitor_coach = [[Ralph Jordan]]
| home_coach = [[Bear Bryant|Paul Bryant]]
| visitor_rank_AP = 9
| visitor_rank_coaches = 9
| home_rank_AP = 2
| home_rank_coaches = 2
| visitor_1q = 0
| visitor_2q = 0
| visitor_3q = 0
| visitor_4q = 17
| home_1q = 0
| home_2q = 9
| home_3q = 7
| home_4q = 0
| date = December 2, 1972
| stadium = [[Legion Field]]
| city = [[Birmingham, Alabama]]
| MVP =
| odds = Alabama by 14<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=1926783 |title=Iron Bowl turns mortals into heroes |website=ESPN.go.com |date=November 19, 2004 |access-date=August 15, 2012}}</ref>
}}


'''Punt Bama Punt''' is the nickname given to the 1972 [[Iron Bowl]] [[American football|football]] game between the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]] and [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]], in which Auburn blocked two Alabama punts and ran them back for touchdowns to win the game.
The game was played on [[December 2]], 1972 at [[Legion Field]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. The #2-ranked and undefeated (10-0) Alabama team led by head coach [[Bear Bryant]] came into the game as a 16-point favorite over the [[Shug Jordan]]-coached Tigers, who entered the game with a record of 8-1. For the first three and a half quarters the Tide seemed to have the game well in hand.


The game was played on December 2, 1972, at [[Legion Field]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. The 2nd-ranked and undefeated (10–0) Alabama team led by head coach [[Bear Bryant|Paul Bryant]] came into the game as a 14-point favorite<ref name="ESPN"/> over the [[Ralph Jordan|Ralph "Shug" Jordan]]-coached Tigers, 8–1. An Alabama win meant the Tide would earn a chance to play for the national championship against Texas in the upcoming Cotton Bowl. For the first three and a half quarters, the Tide seemed to have the game well in hand.
Alabama led 16-0 with ten minutes left in the game. With less than 10 minutes remaining, an Auburn drive stalled and managed only a field goal, which made the score 16-3. Reportedly, Jordan's decision resulted in boos from both sides of the crowd: Auburn fans for the appearance of giving up, and Alabama fans because it ruined the [[point spread]]. On the ensuing possession Alabama was forced to punt. Auburn's Bill Newton blocked Greg Gantt's punt and his teammate David Langner ran the ball back 25 yards for an Auburn touchdown, narrowing the score to 16-10. Several minutes later, Alabama was forced to punt again and once again Newton blocked the punt and Langner again returned it for a touchdown. Gardner Jett kicked the extra point and Auburn won the game 17-16.


Alabama led 16–0 with ten minutes left in the game. With less than 10 minutes left, an Auburn drive stalled and managed only a field goal, which made it 16–3.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2007/aug/25/Ready-set-celebrate-SECs-75th-Todays-No-1/?print |title=Ready, set, celebrate SEC's 75th: Today's No. 1 |publisher=The Times Free Press |date=August 25, 2007 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116045843/http://timesfreepress.com/news/2007/aug/25/Ready-set-celebrate-SECs-75th-Todays-No-1/?print |archive-date=January 16, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the ensuing possession, Alabama was forced to punt. Auburn's Bill Newton blocked Greg Gantt's punt and his teammate [[David Langner]] ran the ball back 25 yards for an Auburn touchdown, narrowing the score to 16–10. Several minutes later, Alabama was forced to punt again. Like the previous time, Newton blocked the punt and Langner returned it for a touchdown. Gardner Jett kicked the extra point to give Auburn a 17–16 lead. With the clock winding down, Langner intercepted an Alabama pass to stop their attempted comeback.
With a few minutes to play in the game, Auburn's David Langner intercepted an Alabama pass to stop a come back. As he went over to the sideline, Coach Shug Jordan was upset with him. Langner said, "But, coach, I intercepted the pass," to which Coach Jordan said, "Yeah, but our plan was to make them punt."


In June 2007, Punt Bama Punt was ranked #55 by ESPN.com in its list of the 100 defining moments of college football.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2915514#http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2915514# |title=Iconic moments for college football's time capsule |author=Maisel, Ivan |publisher=ESPN.com |date=2007-06-25 |accessdate=2007-07-02}}</ref> In July 2007, CollegeFootballNews.com ranked the game #85 on its list of the 100 Greatest Finishes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/654773.html |title=100 Greatest Finishes - No. 81 to 90 |author=Fiutak, Pete |publisher=CollegeFootballNews.com |date=2007-07-09 |accessdate=2007-07-17}}</ref>
In June 2007, Punt Bama Punt was ranked #55 by [[ESPN.com]] in its list of the 100 defining moments of college football.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2915514 |title=Iconic moments for college football's time capsule |author=Maisel, Ivan |website=ESPN.com |date=June 25, 2007 |access-date=July 2, 2007}}</ref> In July 2007, CollegeFootballNews.com ranked the game #85 on its list of the 100 Greatest Finishes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/654773.html |title=100 Greatest Finishes - No. 81 to 90 |author=Fiutak, Pete |website=CollegeFootballNews.com |date=July 9, 2007 |access-date=July 17, 2007}}</ref> In August 2010, ESPN.com ranked the game as the 8th most painful outcome in college history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/features/houseofpain|title=College Football: House of Pain|website=ESPN.com|access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref>


==Radio Broadcast==
==Radio broadcast==
Gary Sanders was the radio play-by-play announcer for Auburn football in the early 1970's, and his call of the blocked punts, particularly the last one, is familiar to many Auburn fans and has been available on several audio tapes and CD's sold in Auburn University bookstores through the years. The call of the first blocked punt was rather subdued, possibly due to the fact that Alabama had dominated the game to that point. The call went as follows:
Gary Sanders was the radio play-by-play announcer for Auburn football in the early 1970s, and his call of the blocked punts, particularly the last one, is familiar to many Auburn fans and has been available on vinyl records, cassette tapes and CDs sold in Auburn University bookstores through the years. The call of the first blocked punt was rather subdued, possibly because Alabama had dominated the game to that point. The call went as follows:


{{cquote|''Greg Gantt is in to punt, Johnny Simmons is going back as a single safety, Mitchell and Langner on the...uh...line of scrimmage coming from either side to try to block the kick. Auburn trying to go after it, here's the snap, they got it! Blocked kick! Ball's back to the 25, picked up on the bounce at the 25-yard-line, and in for a touchdown is David Langner!''}}
{{cquote|''Greg Gantt is in to punt, Johnny Simmons is going back as a single safety, Mitchell and Langner on the...uh...line of scrimmage coming from either side to try to block the kick. Auburn trying to go after it, here's the snap, they got it! Blocked kick! Ball's back to the 25, picked up on the bounce at the 25-yard-line, and in for a touchdown is David Langner!''}}


The call of the second blocked punt is heard more often, and was delivered with much more enthusiasm from Sanders. Additionally, others in the broadcast booth and press box can be heard screaming and yelling over Sanders call. It should be noted that Sanders, possibly due to being caught up in the moment, identified Roger Mitchell as the player who blocked the kick, when Bill Newton (who had blocked the first one) actually blocked it:
The call of the second blocked punt is heard more often, and was delivered with much more enthusiasm from Sanders. Additionally, others in the broadcast booth and press box can be heard screaming and yelling over Sanders call. Sanders, possibly due to being caught up in the moment, misidentified Roger Mitchell as the player who blocked the kick, when it was Bill Newton (who had also blocked the first one):


{{cquote|''Greg Gantt standing on his own 30, Auburn will try to block it. Auburn going after it, here's the good snap...it is blocked!!! It is blocked!!! It's caught on the run!!! It's caught on the run and he's gonna score!!! David Langner!!! David Langner has scored and Auburn has tied the game!!! Roger Mitchell blocked the kick! And it's 16 to 16!''
{{cquote|''Greg Gantt standing on his own 30, Auburn will try to block it. Auburn going after it, here's the good snap...it is blocked!!! It is blocked!!! It's caught on the run!!! It's caught on the run and he's gonna score!!! David Langner!!! David Langner has scored and Auburn has tied the game!!! Roger Mitchell blocked the kick! Roger Mitchell blocked the kick! And it's 16 to 16!''
}}
}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
''War Eagle:A Story of Auburn Football,'' by Clyde Bolton; copyright 1973 by Clyde Bolton and published by the The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama
<references />


==Additional sources==
* ''War Eagle: A Story of Auburn Football'', by Clyde Bolton; copyright 1973 by Clyde Bolton and published by The Strode Publishers, [[Huntsville, Alabama]]


{{Auburn Tigers football navbox}}
{{collegefootball-stub}}
{{Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}


[[Category:Auburn Tigers football]]
[[Category:1972 Southeastern Conference football season]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football]]
[[Category:Iron Bowl]]
[[Category:College football games]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football games]]
[[Category:Auburn Tigers football games]]
[[Category:December 1972 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:1972 in sports in Alabama]]
[[Category:Nicknamed sporting events]]

Latest revision as of 15:36, 13 December 2024

Punt Bama Punt
1234 Total
Auburn 00017 17
Alabama 0970 16
DateDecember 2, 1972
Season1972
StadiumLegion Field
LocationBirmingham, Alabama
FavoriteAlabama by 14[1]

Punt Bama Punt is the nickname given to the 1972 Iron Bowl football game between the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide, in which Auburn blocked two Alabama punts and ran them back for touchdowns to win the game.

The game was played on December 2, 1972, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The 2nd-ranked and undefeated (10–0) Alabama team led by head coach Paul Bryant came into the game as a 14-point favorite[1] over the Ralph "Shug" Jordan-coached Tigers, 8–1. An Alabama win meant the Tide would earn a chance to play for the national championship against Texas in the upcoming Cotton Bowl. For the first three and a half quarters, the Tide seemed to have the game well in hand.

Alabama led 16–0 with ten minutes left in the game. With less than 10 minutes left, an Auburn drive stalled and managed only a field goal, which made it 16–3.[2] On the ensuing possession, Alabama was forced to punt. Auburn's Bill Newton blocked Greg Gantt's punt and his teammate David Langner ran the ball back 25 yards for an Auburn touchdown, narrowing the score to 16–10. Several minutes later, Alabama was forced to punt again. Like the previous time, Newton blocked the punt and Langner returned it for a touchdown. Gardner Jett kicked the extra point to give Auburn a 17–16 lead. With the clock winding down, Langner intercepted an Alabama pass to stop their attempted comeback.

In June 2007, Punt Bama Punt was ranked #55 by ESPN.com in its list of the 100 defining moments of college football.[3] In July 2007, CollegeFootballNews.com ranked the game #85 on its list of the 100 Greatest Finishes.[4] In August 2010, ESPN.com ranked the game as the 8th most painful outcome in college history.[5]

Radio broadcast

[edit]

Gary Sanders was the radio play-by-play announcer for Auburn football in the early 1970s, and his call of the blocked punts, particularly the last one, is familiar to many Auburn fans and has been available on vinyl records, cassette tapes and CDs sold in Auburn University bookstores through the years. The call of the first blocked punt was rather subdued, possibly because Alabama had dominated the game to that point. The call went as follows:

Greg Gantt is in to punt, Johnny Simmons is going back as a single safety, Mitchell and Langner on the...uh...line of scrimmage coming from either side to try to block the kick. Auburn trying to go after it, here's the snap, they got it! Blocked kick! Ball's back to the 25, picked up on the bounce at the 25-yard-line, and in for a touchdown is David Langner!

The call of the second blocked punt is heard more often, and was delivered with much more enthusiasm from Sanders. Additionally, others in the broadcast booth and press box can be heard screaming and yelling over Sanders call. Sanders, possibly due to being caught up in the moment, misidentified Roger Mitchell as the player who blocked the kick, when it was Bill Newton (who had also blocked the first one):

Greg Gantt standing on his own 30, Auburn will try to block it. Auburn going after it, here's the good snap...it is blocked!!! It is blocked!!! It's caught on the run!!! It's caught on the run and he's gonna score!!! David Langner!!! David Langner has scored and Auburn has tied the game!!! Roger Mitchell blocked the kick! Roger Mitchell blocked the kick! And it's 16 to 16!

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Iron Bowl turns mortals into heroes". ESPN.go.com. November 19, 2004. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  2. ^ "Ready, set, celebrate SEC's 75th: Today's No. 1". The Times Free Press. August 25, 2007. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  3. ^ Maisel, Ivan (June 25, 2007). "Iconic moments for college football's time capsule". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 2, 2007.
  4. ^ Fiutak, Pete (July 9, 2007). "100 Greatest Finishes - No. 81 to 90". CollegeFootballNews.com. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
  5. ^ "College Football: House of Pain". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 26, 2021.

Additional sources

[edit]
  • War Eagle: A Story of Auburn Football, by Clyde Bolton; copyright 1973 by Clyde Bolton and published by The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama