Cornelius Bennett
Biography
Cornelius Bennett was a three-time All-American and the Lombardi Award winner in 1986. A fierce linebacker, "Biscuit" was the heart of the Alabama defense in the mid-80s and is widely considered one of the greatest defensive players in SEC history.
Achievements
- Lombardi Award (1986)
- SEC Player of the Year (1986)
- 3x All-American
- College Football Hall of Fame
Notable Iron Bowl Games
The 1985 Iron Bowl is widely considered the greatest game in the history of the rivalry. In a contest that featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, Alabama defeated Auburn 25-23 on a 52-yard field goal by Van Tiffin as time expired. The final period was breathless. Auburn took a 23-22 lead with 57 seconds left on a Reggie Ware touchdown run. It seemed like Bo Jackson (who rushed for 142 yards) had done enough to win. But Alabama quarterback Mike Shula engineered a masterful two-minute drill, moving the Tide into field goal range. With three seconds on the clock, Van Tiffin lined up for a 52-yard attempt. The kick was perfect, clearing the crossbar with room to spare. Legion Field exploded.
The 1986 Iron Bowl produced one of the most famous plays in Auburn history. Trailing 17-14 with under a minute to play, the Tigers faced a desperate situation. What followed—"The Rover"—stunned Legion Field and gave Auburn a 21-17 victory. Alabama had controlled the game, leading 17-7 in the fourth quarter. But Auburn clawed back with a Brent Fullwood touchdown run. With 32 seconds left, Auburn faced 2nd down from the 7-yard line. Quarterback Jeff Burger pitched the ball to running back Brent Fullwood, who then handed it to wide receiver Lawyer Tillman on a reverse. Tillman raced untouched into the corner of the end zone. The stadium erupted. The win denied Alabama a 10-win season and proved that under Pat Dye, Auburn was never out of a fight.