But it wasn’t exactly the way we expected. Not that Auburn (their Cinderella story now complete) cares

SCOTT JACOBS

It wasn’t the offensive shootout we expected. Nor did it come down to Cam Newton. Instead, the much bally-hooed BCS National Championship Game that we had nearly 5 weeks to analyze, was decided by a runner who never quite touched down and a relentless defensive front four that never let Oregon’s potent offense get going.

“We bent a lot and we never broke,” said Auburn lineman Nick Fairley, who had the game of a lifetime under the light of all lights. Fairley recorded 5 tackles for a loss, practically spending half the game wrecking havoc in Oregon’s backfield, keeping the Ducks out of rythm nearly all night long, and recording a huge 4th down stop to boot.

For all the hype that surrounded what could be Cam Newton’s final game, it was another stud recruit, Michael Dyer, who made the play of the game. What a strange play it was. The Tigers had 1st and 10 at their own 40 yard line under two and a half minutes to play, when Dyer took the snap and appeared to be tackled for a nice, but not game changing kind of gain. But the refs never blew their whistle and after a moment of hesitation, Dyer took off, rumbling all the way to Oregon’s 23, as a stunned Oregon defense looked on. Replays took another look, and it was clear that through a fluke of pure luck, Dyer never was down, instead laying on the body of an Oregon defender. He bounced up, just like Auburn has all season, and took off, running for all intensive purposes to a storybook Auburn finish.

Auburn, the team that wasn’t even in your top 20 poll to start the season is National Champions.

It wasn’t easy. But Auburn’s used to tough. Their coach was the big fat joke of a hire when Auburn made him their main man. Their star quarterback was the transfer who starting make all the wrong headlines, right after he started lighting up the sport like no one else this year. Alabama was supposed to repeat. Who was Auburn? They were that cute 8-5 team from a year ago with hopes of being something more.

Well, tonight they’re champions.

“53 years baby. This is for you,” said Gene Chizic, the once embattled coach, now college football royalty. “War Eagle!”

War Eagle indeed. Four double digit comebacks, one Heisman Trophy, and a big crystal ball later, Auburn is in the shadows of no one. 14-0. A perfect season. TCU will cry foul, but that’s life in college football. Auburn met every challenge. Score 60+ to take out Arkansas? No problem. Survive Clemson and South Carolina on back to back weeks by a combined 2 field goals? You got it. Overcome a 24-0 rout on the road in Tuscaloosa to beat the defending champions? Is that the best you got?

And tonight it was the Ducks. The Tigers latest win. Their final conquest. Their national championship to culminate one wild road to a national championship.

It wasn’t the score anyone could have forseen. 22-19? The two teams combined for 41 points. I predicted Oregon alone to score 41 points tonight. Obviously I was wrong.

And though the game didn’t live up to the offensive hype that many, including myself had built up for it, it was a great game. With a crazy finish. When Oregon tied it on a fantastic two point conversion call which had Darron Thomas rolling to his right to then throw across his body to his left, it looked like the Ducks would maybe get their Disney happy ever after, after all. But with over two and a half minutes to play Oregon could not get that final stop.

Rightfully so. Auburn looked ready. Oregon looked sluggish. Their fast paced, edge of your seat offense never got off the ground. Thomas was relegated to a passer, because Oregon could not find success running the ball. Oregon couldn’t take the ball right up the gut. Auburn answered the call every time. They deserve to be champions.

And for the 2010 season they are. Another BCS National Championship for the SEC. Five in a row. Gag if you feel the need to. It’s okay, I’ll look away.

“Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” Fairley screamed on the championship podium as they announced him as the defensive MVP.

Newton got all the press leading up to this final game. But it was Fairley and that Auburn defense that stole the show.

That and Dyer’s classic Antonio Freeman impersonation on that final pivotal play.

Photo: Getty

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