Healthy Cox awaits Tide

AUBURN | Brandon Cox limped into last year’s Iron Bowl, but walked out a winner.

Auburn University’s senior quarterback was nowhere near full strength when he led the Tigers to victory over arch-rival Alabama last season, but he made the play that decided the game when he threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Rodgeriqus Smith in the third quarter to give Auburn a come-from-behind victory.

“I was struggling last year at this time,” Cox said. “I was pretty banged up. I had a strained left knee, busted bursa sac in the right knee, a sprained ankle.

“It was one of the highlights of my careeer. Throwing the touchdown pass in Bryant-Denny [Stadium] to win the game is something I’ll always remember.”

The fifth-year senior from Trussville has persevered through adversity for his entire career. He threw four interceptions against Georgia Tech in his first collegiate start, but was picked off just four more times the rest of his sophomore season. He lost his starting job early this season after starting 24 consecutive games, but bounced back to start a week later to lead the Tigers to a major upset at Florida to fully entrench himself as Auburn’s quarterback.

“I just refocused,” he said, “made sure I didn’t make the same mistakes. I had a lot of support on and off the field.”

Fullback Carl Stewart has been impressed with how Cox has bounced back.

“Brandon’s the type of person regardless of what’s going on around he keeps his head up,” Stewart said. “He’s the same guy. Brandon’s very calm, very level-headed. Even when he was down he kept his head and kept his confidence.”

Cox has quietly accomplished a lot in his Auburn career. He enters Saturday’s game against Alabama one victory shy of tying Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan for third on the school’s career victory list by a starting quarterback, leading the Tigers to 25 wins so far. Most importantly, he has a chance to beat the Crimson Tide for the third time this weekend.

While Cox’s numbers against Alabama haven’t been particularly impressive, he has done just enough to win while never giving the Tide any help. Cox has thrown for 255 yards with two touchdowns in two career victories over the Alabama, and none of his 30 career interceptions has come in the Iron Bowl.

“He’s a good quarterback and he understands our offense,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. “He’s made some big-time plays sin ce he’s been here. He understands how to prepare for a game like this one coming up. He’s played in this game before and he likes this game in terms of knowing the meaning of it for everybody involved.

“I like a quarterback like Brandon going into this game. He doesn’t get rattled, doesn’t get shook. He can take a lick and get back up and make a big play the next play.”

Cox’s success against Alabama may have been fueled by the fact that he grew up rooting for the Tide.

“In high school I was an Alabama fan,” he said. “It was definitely different, especially being involved in it, being out there on the field actually playing in it, it’s that much more exciting.

“It was fun being in the stands watching the game, but now being part of it, it’s a great experience and it’s definitely one of the biggest rivalries.”

Cox knows from experience what’s at stake for Auburn in this game. He’s been the starting quarterback twice during Auburn’s five-game winning streak over its chief nemesis and has a rare chance to add a third win over the Tide to his resume. A victory this weekend would extend the streak over Alabama to the longest in AU history.

“Us seniors want to go out winning against Alabama,” he said. “To go out never losing to Alabama would be pretty special.”

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.