The Tide overcame a late third-and-20 with a narrow fourth-down conversion after Milroe scrambled for 19 yards. It then rallied from a mistimed snap, and a penalty made it fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line. With the game in the balance, they called it “gravedigger” a route that, to a layman, looked like backyard football with players trying to get open in the endzone. Milroe picked up Bond and let it rip.
Bond tapped his toe in bounds, jumped up, and held his hands together as if they were a pistol. The sophomore from Buford, Ga., earned his ‘007′ nickname, based on Ian Fleming’s character, in high school, he said. Bond wanted to make sure his soon-to-be iconic celebration was on the record when cameras rolled in case the next generation wanted to copy him.
This is a surreal moment for me,” Milroe said. “I never had a play like that. That’s one to remember for sure.”
Near the huddles and a few feet away from where Milroe bear-hugged his dad, Quentin, UA offensive coordinator Tommy Rees walked by wearing sweatpants and a wide smile.
A police officer stopped Milroe and Arnold for a selfie after his interview. While parents of current Auburn players tried to recruit in the stands postgame, 2024 four-star and Alabama commit Caleb Odom fought his way to the fence. He wanted to say hi to Miss Terry, who obliged.
Will Reichard huddled near his parents after tying the all-time NCAA scoring record. Meanwhile, the Tide staffer in charge of expediting media interviews took breaks from smoking his cigar to blow a whistle. It was time to go home.
