Former Alabama QB Spencer Pennington Previews Alabama vs. Auburn [Audio]

One of the biggest rivalry games on the football calendar is days away as top ranked Alabama hosts No. 15 Auburn.

Former Alabama quarterback Spencer Pennington discussed Saturday’s game and reflected on his experience as the Crimson Tide starter against the Tigers in 2004 on The Gary Harris Show.

During the 2004 season, Pennington started seven of the final nine games after Brodie Croyle tore an ACL against Western Carolina. His team entered the regular season finale against Auburn as a heavy underdog. Alabama led 6-0 at half time but Auburn stormed back for a 21-13 win en route to a 13-0 season. Peninngton recalled the mindset that he and his teammates took coming into the game.

“We said in the locker room. We were just going to throw it all out the window, and we were going for broke and we were going to let it all hang out and give them everything we possibly had.” Pennington said.

Although the Crimson Tide fell to defeat in that game, the former signal caller finds gratitude in being a part of one of college football’s greatest rivalries.

“It was a lot of fun. You can’t beat that atmosphere. I mean, my goodness, every little boy growing up in the south dreams of playing in that game, and for me to be a part of it, I was very thankful and blessed to play in that game.” Pennington reflected.

Just as Alabama looked to spoil a perfect regular season for Auburn in 2004, Pennington reminded listeners that this is one of Auburn’s goals coming into Saturday.

“Auburn is playing great football. There’s nothing that they would love to do more than to disrupt a great season that we’re having. So it’s going to be a lot of fun on Saturday.” Pennington said.

A primary reason for the Crimson Tide’s 11-0 start in 2016 has been the emergence of true freshman Jalen Hurts at quarterback. As a quarterback who played in the SEC, Pennington noted a unique quality to Hurts that he wishes he had over a decade ago as Alabama’s starter.

“It’s unbelievable. He does something that I always wish I could do and that is he is always very cool, calm and collected. I always wore my emotions on my sleeves. This guy never gets too high, too low.” Pennington said.

Alabama’s starting quarterback in 2004 offered his keys to victory for the Crimson Tide on Saturday.

“We (Alabama) need to establish the run early. Just go out and pound the football physically, dominate their defense, get them tired and with the depth that we have on defense, if we can establish a run game and then open it up for Jalen (Hurts) maybe a little bit more in the second half, I think that our defense should be able to hold them off.” Pennington said.

Catch The Gary Harris Show every weekday form 9-11 AM on Tide 102.9/100.9 and the radioPup app.