Super Moose

I can still remember the first Iron Bowl I ever went to. The year was 1971. The undefeated Auburn Tigers and the Undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide would meet each other on the green rug of Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, with the watchful eye of Vulcan staring down at them. It was supposed to be a nationally televised showdown (before the days of ESPN1, 2, U, Classic, U2, etc...where EVERY school is on TV every week) between Auburn's great passing attack, led by quarterback Pat Sullivan, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy, verses the rushing wishbone attack of Alabama, led by first team all-american running back Johnny Musso.

The running game ruled the day. Alabama ran all over Auburn, humiliating them on national TV. Keith Jackson called Johnny Musso the “Super Moose”, and on that day he looked every bit super.

We've heard a lot about Moose, Mooses, Moosi, Moosers.....whatever the plural of “Moose” is....lately. Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin made the headlines because she hunted Moose. In fact, during one interview, she told how you kill a big bull moose. She said that you have to look at him right in his chest....right between the shoulders. She went on to say, “and don't blink. Look right into his chest, because that part doesn't really move. And if you squeeze the trigger, and hit him there, you'll bring him down every time.

One of my favorite cartoon characters when I was growing up was a Moose. His name was Bullwinkle. You might remember his flying squirrel sidekick Rocky. Bullwinkle was a goofy sort of Moose. Rocky always kept him out of trouble. I miss those early Saturday mornings with a big bowl of Frosted Flakes watching the Roadrunner and Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd and Rocky and Bullwinkle the moose.

They say that Alabama's current running back Glenn Coffee reminds the Tide faithful of the Super Moose. The way he breaks through holes and scratches for every yard brings back memories of 1971, according to followers of the Capstone. In fact, some call him “the NEW Super Moose”.

As this year's Iron Bowl approaches, my suggestion to Auburn Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhoads is this: follow Sarah Palin's advice. Tell the linebackers to look straight at his chest. His neck and arms and legs and head and hips may twist and move...but the numbers on his jersey right in the middle of his chest will not. Tell the linebackers to focus on them. Don't blink. And if they will hit him there, right in the chest...right between the shoulders....they will bring him down every time. It's how you bring down a big bull moose.

War Eagle
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