Newton then cocked his frame back and launched the real goods -- a deep pass down the left sideline to Emory Blake, who had slipped behind Alabama's secondary. He raced down the sideline and turned back for the catch, then turned toward the end zone.
As he did, Crimson Tide safety Mark Barron took a big cat swipe with his right arm, hoping to hammer the ball away to stop the touchdown.
That primal instinct led Barron down a road no one could anticipate.
Barron (6-2, 218 pounds) returned to Alabama this year for his senior season when he was likely headed for an early jump to the NFL.
That play delayed those plans thanks to a torn pectoral muscle on his right side that required surgery and months of recovery.
"I knew I was hurt, but I didn't know what was wrong," Barron said. "I just knew I was hurt."
What people need to know about Barron was that he kept playing.
He couldn't lift his right arm, essentially making it impossible for him to make a textbook tackle. Instead, he would launch his body at guys hoping to knock them down.
"The guy keeps playing," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "Even at halftime, he said, 'Put a patch on it, I'm OK' and continued to play in the second half and actually had the opportunity to make a play that he'd have probably made nine out of 10 times if he wasn't hurt, but he couldn't make. That's when we realized maybe something more was wrong with him."
Barron was asked if the past year had gone by quickly. He acknowledged it had now that life has come almost full circle from his injury.
Barron was asked if he thought a little more about Auburn throughout the year because of what happened?
"Yes, I did, somewhat," Barron said. "You try to keep your focus on who you are playing this week, but it's always in my head."
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