The Backup Kicker: Bert Auburn’s Moment in the Spotlight
The Texas Longhorns had made it. After years of rebuilding, recruiting, and perseverance, they had finally clawed their way back to the College Football Playoff. The game was set. The eyes of the college football world were fixed on the Rose Bowl, where Texas would face Ohio State in the national semifinals. The air was crisp, the stadium packed, and the atmosphere electric. This wasn’t just any game—this was a moment that would define careers.
The crowd roared as the teams took the field, and the pregame festivities gave way to the first whistle. Texas was hungry, determined, and ready to prove that the Longhorns were back among the elite.
But the game had not unfolded as expected.
From the opening kickoff, the match had been a back-and-forth battle. Both teams were playing with intensity, and every inch of field was contested. Texas had come out strong, with their defense stifling Ohio State’s potent offense, but the Buckeyes were no slouches either. With every big play, the game seemed to shift in momentum. Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs were all playing at an elite level, and the game had the feel of a heavyweight championship match.
By the fourth quarter, the score was tied. Texas had fought valiantly, but with just under two minutes left in regulation, Ohio State had managed to drive into field goal range. A kick from their reliable kicker, Blake Johnson, gave them a slim 3-point lead, and Texas had one final chance to respond. The Longhorns, with their back against the wall, had no choice but to go for the win.
It was a scenario that would test the mettle of every player on the team, but the most pressure now rested on one young man—Bert Auburn.
Auburn wasn’t a name that fans across the country recognized like he hoped. A backup kicker, he had spent most of the season on the sidelines, watching as the team’s starter, Matt Simmons, took all the big kicks. Simmons had been automatic for Texas all season, hitting clutch field goals in key moments, and the Longhorns had placed their trust in him. But Simmons had injured his leg in the first quarter against Ohio State. It had been a non-contact injury, a freak accident, and Simmons was now on crutches, watching from the sideline, helpless.
In the locker room earlier that week, Auburn had done his best to stay focused, knowing he was one injury away from being thrust into the spotlight. He had worked tirelessly during practices, kicking as many field goals as possible in every situation, preparing for the moment he never thought would come. But now, here he was, with the game on the line and his team looking to him for a miracle.
The Longhorns had moved the ball into Ohio State territory. The clock was winding down. Auburn’s heart raced in his chest as the crowd around him grew louder. Head coach Steve Sarkisian called a timeout, trying to calm the nerves of his players. Everyone knew the stakes were high. If Auburn missed, the game would be over, and Texas would fall short of their championship dreams.
“Alright, Bert,” Coach Sarkisian said, walking up to him. “I know it’s a lot, but you’ve been ready for this. You’ve kicked in practice, you’ve got the leg, and this team believes in you. Just take a deep breath, focus on the fundamentals, and let it rip. We’ve got your back.”
Auburn nodded. The weight of the world felt like it was on his shoulders, but he had no choice but to push through. He had always dreamed of moments like these, but he hadn’t imagined it would come this soon or this way. He quickly turned to the holder, backup quarterback Hudson Card, who flashed him a reassuring smile. They had practiced countless kicks together, their bond growing during those long, quiet hours on the practice field.
As the offense lined up, Auburn took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. This was it—his moment.
The clock ticked down, and the ball was snapped. Card placed it perfectly, and Auburn’s right foot connected with the ball cleanly. The ball sailed into the air, its trajectory true as it soared towards the uprights. Ohio State’s defensive line lunged, trying to block the kick, but it was too late. The crowd held its collective breath as the ball reached its apex, then began to fall.
“Is it good?” the announcer’s voice crackled through the stadium speakers.
The ball cleared the crossbar by inches.
“Good! Texas wins! Bert Auburn, the backup kicker, has just sent the Longhorns to the National Championship!”
The stadium erupted in a frenzy of noise, and Auburn’s teammates rushed the field to congratulate him. The pressure that had been on his shoulders moments before was now replaced with an overwhelming sense of joy. Auburn had done it. He had hit the game-winning field goal, and the Texas Longhorns were headed to the national title game.
The Aftermath: Reflection and Redemption
The days that followed were a blur for Bert Auburn. As soon as the game ended, reporters swarmed around him, their cameras flashing and microphones shoved into his face. The kicker, who had never been the center of attention before, was now the most talked-about player in college football.
“How did you handle the pressure?” one reporter asked, her voice full of wonder. “What was going through your mind when you took that kick?”
Auburn smiled, his eyes still wide from the excitement of the moment. “I just focused on the process. I’ve been kicking since I was a kid. I knew what I had to do. When Coach Sark told me to stay calm, I took a deep breath and trusted the work we’ve put in. I couldn’t let the moment overwhelm me.”
Another reporter pressed, “What did it feel like to make that kick in front of 100,000 fans, with everything on the line?”
“It was surreal,” Auburn admitted. “But in the end, it’s just a game. And I was just doing my job.”
While his humility was admirable, the truth was, Auburn had just become a hero in the eyes of every Texas fan. He had stepped into the pressure cooker and come out on top, making the kick that would be remembered for decades to come. The long road to the College Football Playoff had culminated in this one moment, and Bert Auburn had proven that he was ready for the challenge.
As Auburn stood in front of his locker, the noise of the reporters fading into the background, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Simmons, the starter, who had been watching from the sidelines as the drama unfolded.
“You did it, Bert. Proud of you, man. You’ve earned it.”
Auburn’s chest swelled with pride. He had done it for his team, for his coaches, and for the thousands of fans who had supported him through thick and thin. It was a moment he would never forget, and as the Longhorns prepared for their upcoming national championship game, Auburn knew that his journey was far from over.
The Championship Game: Full Circle
The national championship game was set. Texas would face a juggernaut of a team, but now the Longhorns had the confidence that comes with a clutch performance. Bert Auburn had earned his place among the heroes of college football, and as the team arrived at the stadium for the final showdown, there was a sense of unity and belief.
In the locker room before the game, Coach Sarkisian gathered the team one final time.
“Everyone talks about legends being made in these games,” he said, looking around the room. “Well, today we get to make our own legend. And I’m proud to say that each one of you has earned the right to be here.”
Auburn’s heart raced once again, but this time, there was no fear. He had already proven to himself and his teammates that he could handle the pressure. And as the game unfolded, it was clear that Texas was playing with a new level of confidence. Every player on the field was locked in, each man feeding off the energy of the moment.
The game was tight, but in the final seconds, Texas found themselves trailing by two points. There was no time left on the clock, and once again, it came down to Auburn. His teammates huddled around him, offering words of encouragement.
“One more time, Bert. You’ve got this.”
And so, Bert Auburn took the field once more.
This time, with the ball placed at the 30-yard line, Auburn had the chance to make history. He took a deep breath, just like before, and focused on the fundamentals. The snap came, the hold was perfect, and once again, his right foot connected with the ball. As the ball soared through the air, Auburn watched it with intense focus.
It was good.
The Texas Longhorns were national champions.
Legacy
Bert Auburn’s name would forever be etched in Texas football lore. He had come from the shadows of a backup to become the hero who delivered the Longhorns a national championship. And in the years that followed, whenever someone mentioned that historic College Football Playoff game, the name Bert Auburn would always be associated with greatness.
For Auburn, it wasn’t just about the kick. It was about the journey—the countless hours of practice, the belief in himself, and the support of his teammates. He had stepped up when his team needed him the most, and in doing so, he had secured his place in the history books.
