Top Moments of the 2009 Season: Round One - Maze vs Upchurch

by Todd on Jan 28, 2010 7:00 AM CST

Another tight finish yesterday with McElroy's bunny hop 1st down narrowly edging Trent Richardson's TD run against Arkansas. Up today, two plays from the season opener against Virginia Tech: Roy Upchurch levels a Hokie defender foolish enough to stand between him and the goal line, and the emergence of Marquis Maze as a dependable deep threat (and, credit where credit is due, the emergence of Greg McElroy as more than a game manager QB). Vote away.

Upchurch Trucks a Hokie

The Bomb to Maze

Updated bracket after the jump.

click to enlarge

Poll

Which play made you happier?

Upchurch TD

623 votes

Maze Reception

204 votes

827 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I was cheering so hard for Upchurch this year.

He has a ton of talent, and injuries have taken their toll on him.

That he started the season with a run like that makes it real easy for me.

by BoylenOver on Jan 28, 2010 7:10 AM CST reply actions

Easy

When Roy turned up and nailed that CB at the goal line, I mean, WIN!

You play fast, you play strong, you go out there and dominate the guy you play against, and make his ass quit! That's our trademark, that's our MO as a team, aight, that's what people know us as! - Nick Saban, 2008

by BamaReturns07 on Jan 28, 2010 7:11 AM CST reply actions

This one probably isn't even going to be close...

Roy’s run was just a thing of beauty, and served notice to everyone else that despite losing Coffee and three OLs, that we were still going to smack you in the face…

"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"

by Stuck in the Plains on Jan 28, 2010 7:24 AM CST reply actions

He took it to their best LB, too

I cannot quite place in which quarter of the game it occurred, but there was one play where Upchurch just ran over their “Grim Reaper” and knocked him senseless. This particular play tickled me to death because:
a) Upchurch had the speed and moves to juke the guy, and if he had he might have even scored, but he led his momentum straight into the guy and just leveled him.
b) Prior to the season all the VTech fans were talking about how awesome of a LB Grim was and how our running game was going to stagnate against him.

That played showed the world that we were still going to play smash-mouth football, and that we aren’t going to go over or around the mountain, we are going to go THROUGH the mountain.

by JdoubleE5000 on Jan 28, 2010 8:44 AM CST up reply actions

Cody Grimm went out for a series after that play

and it’s funny, he was listed at 6’0 202lbs as a lb. Upchurch was listed at 6’0 210lbs, that’s why the ACC is for little bitches

"Yeah, it's Tennessee, that's the way it is sometimes." - Corey Zickefoose, Pulitzer Prize winner and robbery victim

"This is not the end. This is the beginning." - The Great and Powerful Saban

by Thomas Walker Esq on Jan 28, 2010 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

UPCHURCH!!!!!!!

by JR01 on Jan 28, 2010 7:46 AM CST reply actions

Without a doubt Upchurch

That run ignited the whole team.

by tc16cav on Jan 28, 2010 7:53 AM CST reply actions

That Upchurch run set the tone for the whole season!

by monjardin on Jan 28, 2010 8:28 AM CST reply actions

Upchurch for sure.

The Maze catch was a sigh of relief but Upchurch lowering the boom just because, was awesome!

Lane Kiffin took the meaning of "Volunteer" WAY too seriously....

by bammer on Jan 28, 2010 8:36 AM CST reply actions

Was it Hanks...

…that had the diving grab in this game? I would’ve rather seen that than this reception by Maze.

RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World

by Nico2.0 on Jan 28, 2010 10:01 AM CST reply actions

yes, it was Hanks with the diving catch

"Yeah, it's Tennessee, that's the way it is sometimes." - Corey Zickefoose, Pulitzer Prize winner and robbery victim

"This is not the end. This is the beginning." - The Great and Powerful Saban

by Thomas Walker Esq on Jan 28, 2010 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

What

~~fear and loathing~~ TW, Esq. said

"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"

by Stuck in the Plains on Jan 28, 2010 6:09 PM CST up reply actions

That was my gf's first college football game.

That was the play that got her into the game.

RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World

by Nico2.0 on Jan 29, 2010 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

Upchurch!

I knew after watching that run that this team was going to be a tough one. He could have easily avoided the contact, but instead seeked out and leveled the Va Tech CB. That run and hit at the end made me feel all warm and fuzzy. He did the same thing on another run where he could have avoided contact all together but instead went after one of their players and lowered the boom on him too. I’m really going to miss Upchurch.

by sixfoot7 on Jan 28, 2010 10:04 AM CST reply actions

It's a great catch

but that demo job by Upchurch set the tone all year long.

I love that Bama has RBs that don’t decelerate out of bounds on their runs, but turn it back into the field and go down putting a blow on people.

by 13thieves on Jan 28, 2010 10:22 AM CST reply actions

These are both nice plays.....

…..but the winner will clearly be one and done.

by Paranormal on Jan 28, 2010 10:46 AM CST reply actions

I had to vote for the Upchurch run...

i just can’t get enough of that play. Every time i watch it, i end up replaying it at least 10 times. Did you notice at the end of the run that the db seems to be trying to hug on Upchruch as if to say…please don’t hurt me anymore mister!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!

by alanbama14 on Jan 28, 2010 10:50 AM CST reply actions