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NOTES: Erekosima's Senior Day about more than Alabama-Auburn
Aaron Suttles | Beat Writer
Alabama running back Lawrence Erekosima (43) hugs his mom after she surprised her son during the senior day recognition at the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016.
Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News
Nick Saban isnāt an overly emotional person, but one moment just prior to kickoff nearly brought a tear to the veteran coachās eyes.
Lawrence Erekosima was one of several University of Alabama football players honored prior to the game for Senior Day. But Erekosima, a walk-on, scout-team running back, had one of the most special moments.
The announcements for the seniors went in alphabetical order, so something was amiss when Erekosima was at the end of the line. In a feel-good moment that made the entire stadium stand and cheer, Erekosimaās mother, who had been away from the family serving in the military, surprised him on the field in her fatigues with a big hug.
Asked about the moment after the game, Saban nearly choked up.
āHeās a fine young man. Heās been in the program for a long time,ā Saban said. āI have a special place in my heart for all the guysā¦all the star guys get the ovations, they get to play, they get accolades, they get nominated for awards.
āA lot of (the walk ons), they play their game on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday helping the rest of the players get ready for the game. Lawrence is one of those guys whoās done a phenomenal job.
āBut for his mother to be able to come today almost made me cry.ā
0-for-November
The Alabama defense pulled a remarkable feat Saturday night, again holding another opponent out of the end zone. By not allowing a touchdown, the defense went the entire month of November, a span of four games, without allowing an opposing offense into the end zone.
That span encompasses 267 minutes and 54 seconds. The last time an opposing team scored a touchdown came in the third quarter of the Texas A&M game Oct. 22.
The Crimson Tide entered the game as the No. 2 scoring defense in the country. For the season, the defense allowed a total of 14 touchdowns in 12 games.
Brown ejected
Junior defensive back and special teams contributor Tony Brown was flagged for a personal foul and was ejected from the game in the first quarter after a hit on special teams.
Brown sat out the second half but will be eligible against Florida next week.
Iron Bowl records
True freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 75 percent of his passes, which became a series record for a quarterback attempting at least 30 passes.
Hurts also posted numbers that ranked in the top 10 of the series, including total plays (48, ranking third), total offense (323 yards, fourth), pass attempts (36, seventh), pass completions (27, tied for second) and passing yards (286, seventh)
Junior wide receiver ArDarius Stewart hauled in 10 passes, which ranked tied for second for a player in series history. Former UA All-American Julio Jones holds the record with 13 set in 2014.
Kicking prowess
Adam Griffith, who has made eight-straight field goals in the last two Iron Bowls, has now scored 105 points this seasons, giving him 333 career points, which ranks third on the programās career scoring list.
Former UA kicker Leigh Tiffin (2006-09) holds the record with 385 points.
Griffith also became the schoolās PAT record holder with 174 PATs in his career.
Passing fancy
ArDarius Stewart, who played multiple positions in high school including quarterback, completed a pass to tight end O.J. Howard after he caught a lateral from Jalen Hurts.
The play went for 12 yards.
Uncle Verne
CBS play-by-play announcer Verne Lundquist was honored during the game with a video presentation.
During the week, Saban and UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle presented the broadcast legend with framed picture and a game ball for his soon-to-be retirement.
Lundquist will broadcast Alabamaās game against Florida in the SEC Championship Game next Saturday.
Injuries
Starting sophomore cornerback Marlon Humphrey left the game in the second half and didnāt return.
Saban said the injury wasnāt serious and that Humphrey was āOK.ā
12-win seasons
With the win over Auburn, Alabama has reached the 12-win mark for the 10th time in school history (1979, 1992, 1994, 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-16) and the seventh time under Nick Saban.
Senior Day
Alabama scholarships seniors were honored before the game including: Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, Gehrig Dieter, Reuben Foster, Brandon Greene, Adam Griffith, O.J. Howard, Eddie Jackson, Korren Kirven, Cole Mazza, Alphonse āShankā Taylor, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Tim Williams.
Captains
Senior linebacker Reuben Foster, senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and junior left tackle Cam Robinson served as game captains.
TideSports.com - NOTES: Erekosima's Senior Day about more than Alabama-Auburn
Aaron Suttles | Beat Writer
Alabama running back Lawrence Erekosima (43) hugs his mom after she surprised her son during the senior day recognition at the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016.
Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News
Nick Saban isnāt an overly emotional person, but one moment just prior to kickoff nearly brought a tear to the veteran coachās eyes.
Lawrence Erekosima was one of several University of Alabama football players honored prior to the game for Senior Day. But Erekosima, a walk-on, scout-team running back, had one of the most special moments.
The announcements for the seniors went in alphabetical order, so something was amiss when Erekosima was at the end of the line. In a feel-good moment that made the entire stadium stand and cheer, Erekosimaās mother, who had been away from the family serving in the military, surprised him on the field in her fatigues with a big hug.
Asked about the moment after the game, Saban nearly choked up.
āHeās a fine young man. Heās been in the program for a long time,ā Saban said. āI have a special place in my heart for all the guysā¦all the star guys get the ovations, they get to play, they get accolades, they get nominated for awards.
āA lot of (the walk ons), they play their game on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday helping the rest of the players get ready for the game. Lawrence is one of those guys whoās done a phenomenal job.
āBut for his mother to be able to come today almost made me cry.ā
0-for-November
The Alabama defense pulled a remarkable feat Saturday night, again holding another opponent out of the end zone. By not allowing a touchdown, the defense went the entire month of November, a span of four games, without allowing an opposing offense into the end zone.
That span encompasses 267 minutes and 54 seconds. The last time an opposing team scored a touchdown came in the third quarter of the Texas A&M game Oct. 22.
The Crimson Tide entered the game as the No. 2 scoring defense in the country. For the season, the defense allowed a total of 14 touchdowns in 12 games.
Brown ejected
Junior defensive back and special teams contributor Tony Brown was flagged for a personal foul and was ejected from the game in the first quarter after a hit on special teams.
Brown sat out the second half but will be eligible against Florida next week.
Iron Bowl records
True freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 75 percent of his passes, which became a series record for a quarterback attempting at least 30 passes.
Hurts also posted numbers that ranked in the top 10 of the series, including total plays (48, ranking third), total offense (323 yards, fourth), pass attempts (36, seventh), pass completions (27, tied for second) and passing yards (286, seventh)
Junior wide receiver ArDarius Stewart hauled in 10 passes, which ranked tied for second for a player in series history. Former UA All-American Julio Jones holds the record with 13 set in 2014.
Kicking prowess
Adam Griffith, who has made eight-straight field goals in the last two Iron Bowls, has now scored 105 points this seasons, giving him 333 career points, which ranks third on the programās career scoring list.
Former UA kicker Leigh Tiffin (2006-09) holds the record with 385 points.
Griffith also became the schoolās PAT record holder with 174 PATs in his career.
Passing fancy
ArDarius Stewart, who played multiple positions in high school including quarterback, completed a pass to tight end O.J. Howard after he caught a lateral from Jalen Hurts.
The play went for 12 yards.
Uncle Verne
CBS play-by-play announcer Verne Lundquist was honored during the game with a video presentation.
During the week, Saban and UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle presented the broadcast legend with framed picture and a game ball for his soon-to-be retirement.
Lundquist will broadcast Alabamaās game against Florida in the SEC Championship Game next Saturday.
Injuries
Starting sophomore cornerback Marlon Humphrey left the game in the second half and didnāt return.
Saban said the injury wasnāt serious and that Humphrey was āOK.ā
12-win seasons
With the win over Auburn, Alabama has reached the 12-win mark for the 10th time in school history (1979, 1992, 1994, 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-16) and the seventh time under Nick Saban.
Senior Day
Alabama scholarships seniors were honored before the game including: Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, Gehrig Dieter, Reuben Foster, Brandon Greene, Adam Griffith, O.J. Howard, Eddie Jackson, Korren Kirven, Cole Mazza, Alphonse āShankā Taylor, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Tim Williams.
Captains
Senior linebacker Reuben Foster, senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and junior left tackle Cam Robinson served as game captains.
TideSports.com - NOTES: Erekosima's Senior Day about more than Alabama-Auburn
