Started By
Message
To the older Auburn fans: tell me about Thom Gossom Jr. and the 1974 Iron Bowl...
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:54 am
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:54 am
As we get closer to the big game in Auburn, I've just been utilizing AI to write-up game summaries of past Iron Bowls. I came across the 1974 game where #2 Alabama and #7 Auburn squared off at Legion Field. The final was 17-13 Alabama but there was a controversial play involving Gossom and a 41-yard reception TD that was called back because the refs ruled that he stepped out of bounds prior to catching the pass. Turns out that was the play of the game as Auburn trailed 17-7 at that point and scored their last TD in the closing seconds of the game.
5
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:59 am to RollTide1987
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:00 am to RollTide1987
Not an Auburn fan, but he was pushed out of bounds by an Alabama cornerback and came back in and caught the ball on Thanksgiving Friday that year. I believe at the time if you were pushed out by an opponent and came back in you could catch in legally. This is getting in the weeds but at the time Legion Field had a really sizeable 'crown' in midfield. The official who threw the flag was on the 'other side' of the crown.
But,like you said. Auburn was trailing by 10 at the time. Had the touchdown been allowed Auburn would have still trailed.
But,like you said. Auburn was trailing by 10 at the time. Had the touchdown been allowed Auburn would have still trailed.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:06 am to RollTide1987
I was a child when he graduated from Auburn so I can't add anything that AI or wiki can't. He has certainty lived a full life - first black athlete to graduate from Auburn, news anchor, business owner, actor.
pretty good summary
pretty good summary
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:13 am to I-59 Tiger
quote:
I believe at the time if you were pushed out by an opponent and came back in you could catch in legally.
I don't think that was the case. It is now but only because of penalties like this that ended up deciding high profile games. The way the Auburn radio callers described it: if you stepped out of bounds, even if you were forced out, you couldn't touch the ball. Nowadays you can if you reestablish yourself prior to catching a pass.
The controversy is the fact that the ref didn't throw a flag and the play was called back post-touchdown.
This post was edited on 11/19/25 at 9:14 am
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:13 am to RollTide1987
You fishing a stocked lake, Buddy?
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:35 am to RollTide1987
Can't tell you a lot about Gossom play, but had Secdrick McIntyre scored again and AU wins the '74 IB, I would have been name Secdrick Fredrick by my Dad on Dec 2nd. 
Mom said she wasn't allowing it, but the old man is crazy enough to have done it.
Mom said she wasn't allowing it, but the old man is crazy enough to have done it.Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:56 am to EagleEye99
Back in those days the refs were all Bama fans and unless something was blatantly in our favor those dirtbags would call it against us. We got hosed in that call but there were several calls over the years that went against us that shouldn’t have. It’s one of the reasons that Dye was so adamant about moving the game to JHS years later.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News