Greg McElroy messed up. Years later, he freely admits it might be the best mistake of his life. Leading 29–0 over Auburn in the 2008 Iron Bowl, McElroy and the rest of the Crimson Tide’s reserves were milking way the clock. On a third-and-six, with three minutes left in the game, offensive coordinator Jim McElwain called a play designed for McElroy to throw to tight end Brad Smelley on a short pass that would extend the drive and basically end the game. That’s not what happened.
McElroy threw deep in a blowout, finding receiver Marquis Maze for a 34-yard touchdown to pile on the Crimson Tide’s in-state rivals.