Column: Difference between teams boils down to leadership

AUBURN — It was fitting that Brandon Cox got to punch it into the end zone for Auburn’s final points in a 17-10 win over Alabama on Saturday night.

The gutsy Auburn quarterback deserved it.

He held six fingers high as well during the final seconds of the game with the victory secured.
Classy?

Maybe not, but you can’t blame the senior for having a little fun.

He’s 3-0 as a starter against Alabama, and Auburn has now won a school best six in a row against its arch rival.

Certainly a happy ending for Cox, who lost his starting job three games into the season after a disastrous start.

Of course you know the story by now.

Cox kept his head up when others thought he was through. He regained his starting job when true freshman Kodi Burns showed he wasn’t ready and led the Tigers to impressive road wins against Arkansas and Florida.

Two weeks ago, he took a gigantic step backwards in a loss to Georgia. Nobody really knew what to expect from him, or Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson, when the two stepped on the Jordan-Hare Stadium turf on Saturday night.

As it turns out, they both played just so-so.

But what Cox showed is what we’ve seen so many times before from No. 12. He made good decisions in the clutch when the game was on the line. He was calm and cool under center. He was a leader.

Because of a reversed call after what was first ruled a touchdown by Brad Lester, it was Cox who would get to score a final touchdown on his home field.

He lined up behind his rugged center, Jason Bosley, and pushed his way up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown with 3:58 to play in the game to give Auburn a 10-point lead.

Cox and Auburn got the opportunity to put the game away because of a senseless play by Alabama senior linebacker Keith Saunders, who pushed Cox to the turf after an incomplete pass on second down.

The 15-yard roughing penalty gave Auburn new life, and the Tigers took advantage.

The play I believe is a significant sign of the difference on the football field right now between Alabama and Auburn.

It’s called quality senior leadership — something Auburn has developed with Tommy Tuberville at the helm, and something Alabama coach Nick Saban will strive to develop in the coming years.

A senior like Saunders making a foolish play in the most crucial of times. A potential pro player like DJ Hall being suspended for the first half of last week’s game. Senior Simeon Castille being arrested before the season ever began.

That’s not what you expect from a senior.

Then you look at Auburn seniors like Cox, Quentin Groves, Cole Bennett, Josh Thompson, Carl Stewart — guys who made big plays on Saturday night and showed true leadership on and off the field throughout the season.

With a timeout called and Auburn facing a 4th-and-1 and just over a minute left, Groves, the huge defensive end, made his way from the sideline onto the field to encourage the offensive linemen.

That’s leadership.

As Saban builds his program with quality recruits — and there’s no reason to believe he won’t do such — Alabama will develop the same type players.

Tuberville has certainly found the right recipe to success. He’s a tremendous recruiter who has a knack for finding talented players with solid character. For those who don’t follow the guidelines, he weeds them out.

Which is exactly what I believe Saban is trying to do in his camp.

Assuming Tuberville remains at Auburn and Saban decides to stick around for a while, we should have some exciting times in the coming years.

As for Saturday night, chalk another one up for Cox and Auburn.

The quarterback was featured on the game program, shown getting ready to throw a pass.
He’ll most be remembered by Auburn folks for walking off the field with three Iron Bowl victories under his belt.

That’s the stuff legends in this state are made from.