Michael Dyer Turns in Biggest, and Most Unlikely Play, in BCS Championship

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Auburn running back Michael Dyer was down. Oregon defenders stopped running. A couple of Tigers headed back to the huddle. Then -- just like Auburn has done all season, in eight come-from-behind victories, through the Cecil Newton mess, through everything -- Dyer was back up.

And running Running across the 50, down the Auburn sideline, for a 37-yard run that was part Barry Sanders and part Tasmanian devil. Five plays later, Wes Byrum kicked a 19-yard field goal with no time remaining and Dyer was running again -- onto the field to celebrate the Tigers' 22-19 victory in Monday night's BCS Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Tied at 19 after Darron Thomas' two-yard touchdown pass to LaMichael James and Thomas' 2-point conversion pass to Jeff Maehl, the Tigers got the ball at their 25 with 2:27 remaining. Quarterback Cam Newton hit Emory Blake for 15 yards, giving the Tigers a first down at the 40.

So what happened next?

Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn: "He heard us screaming on the sideline. We were yelling 'go!' There wasn't a whistle. They stopped, we stopped. And then he went!"

Auburn offensive tackle Brandon Mosley: "That was amazing. That was a God thing right there. No doubt about that."

Auburn wide receiver Terrell Zachery: "After the play, I was looking to coach Malzahn to get the next play. Next thing we know, we look up and we see him take off running. That was a real heads up play for him being a freshman. That was real smart."

Auburn linebacker Craig Stevens: "I was looking at the Jumbotron, so I missed it. Then I heard the crowd screaming. I was trying to see what happened. And then I say the replay and I was like 'run.' "

Here's what happened: Dyer ran around right end and was grabbed by Oregon's Eddie Pleasant, who wrestled him to the ground. However, as they spun toward the slippery turf, Dyer landed on Pleasant and his knees, shins or elbows never hit the ground. Dyer than rolled off Pleasant -- in what will be known forever as the Tigers' most famous roll west of Toomers Corner -- and darted down the sideline.

"At the time I wasn't really sure (if I was down)," said Dyer, who finished with 143 yards on 22 carries. "All I knew was the whistle wasn't blowing and my coach was saying 'go' and I just continued to get some more yards and keep the play going and keep the ball in the offense's hands."

The last hands to touch the football belonged to senior quarterback Neil Caudle. He caught a perfect center snap from Josh Harris, set the ball down inside the 10 as Byrum kicked the football through the uprights that, ironically, were the same color as Oregon's fluorescent neon yellow socks.

"I wasn't nervous," Caudle said. "I was just doing my job. I've been thinking about this for a long time -- winning a national championship with a field goal."

Meanwhile over in the east stands, Newton waved up into the stands. He then climbed over the short wall and headed into the stands. He went past the "Eat More Duck" sign and continued a few rows until he found his father, Cecil. Cam -- the Heisman Trophy winner -- then celebrated with the man who the NCAA determined had shopped his son to Mississippi State for $180,000.

Auburn center Ryan Pugh, who was down on the field conducting interviews, glanced over and saw the Newton's exchanging a bear hug.

"I wish I was up there with Cam and his dad," Pugh said.
 Newton, who suffered a back injury when he was hit by Oregon's Casey Matthews in the fourth quarter, returned to the field and minutes later underwent X-rays for his back. The result of those X-rays was unknown.

"Cam got dinged up there," Malzahn said. "He said he was all right, but I knew he wasn't. He's a tough, tough guy."

Newton, who likely played his final game at Auburn, finished with 265 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 64 yards on 22 carries.

Inside Auburn's locker room, the celebration carried on. Players posed for pictures, music pounded off the walls. Former Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson sat in a chair looking on in approval.

"This is for the players," Jackson told FanHouse. "I'm just here to provide moral support."

A few feet away, former Auburn coach Pat Dye talked about Auburn's current coach Gene Chizik.

"We got a coach here that's out of this world," Dye said. "He did a masterful job." The victory gave the Tigers (14-0) their first national title since 1957 and a fifth consecutive BCS title for the SEC. It was Auburn's first perfect season since 2004 when the Tigers had to watch USC and Oklahoma play for the national championship.

"There's been some great teams that kind of got left out," Dye said. "This is a glorious day for all us ex-players and ex-coaches and fans -- they've been left hanging ,too. We've had this coming for a long time."