Nov. 19, 2013
Jake Holland will play his final Iron Bowl on Nov. 30 at Jordan-Hare Stadium (Todd Van Emst photo)
By Phillip Marshall
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Senior middle linebacker Jake Holland has played through injuries that made it difficult to even walk. He's been part of a national championship and part of a 3-9 season. He's played for three defensive coordinators and four linebackers coaches. He's been booed by some fans in his home stadium.
Through it all, he's been a three-year starter as essentially the quarterback of the defense. And now the end is near.
Coming off perhaps his best game of the season, Holland looks now to his final Iron Bowl. Growing up in Pelham, he was like other little boys across the state. He dreamed of playing in the game that means so much to so many. He'll play in it on Nov. 30 at Jordan-Hare Stadium for the fourth and final time.
Some are calling this one the biggest ever. In head coach Gus Malzahn's first season, No. 6 Auburn (10-1, 6-1) and No. 1 Alabama (10-0, 7-0) will play for the right to advance to the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.
"We have an opportunity to do great things," Holland said. "Growing up in this state, you dream about playing in this game. A lot of kids dream about even coming to watch this game. Being in this position is definitely a great thing."
Twenty-eight scholarship Auburn players call Alabama home. For them, being outscored by Alabama 93-14 over the past two seasons was particularly distasteful. Holland and other veterans will do their best to make young players understand what it's all about.
"We are going to harp on that all week," Holland said. "But, honestly, for somebody who has never experienced this, there is no way to explain it. You really have to go through it to know what it's about."
Auburn almost went down last Saturday. The Tigers, after dominating for three quarters, gave up a 20-point fourth-quarter lead to Georgia before winning it on the now-famous tipped pass from Nick Marshall to Ricardo Louis.
Holland was convinced that he, with help from Ryan Smith and Dee Ford, stopped quarterback Aaron Murray short of the goal line on fourth down in the final minutes, but Murray was awarded the touchdown that put Georgia ahead.
"I still think we won the game on their last drive, but the calls don't always go your way," Holland said. "But our offense went and won it for us."
In the end, the defense did its part, too. On the final play of the game from Auburn's 20-yard line, Ford put a withering hit on Murray and Auburn could finally celebrate.
"He sure did," Holland said. "You heard it. When we watch film we don't use volume, but I still heard it."
It has been a dream season for Holland and his teammates. Since a disappointing loss at LSU, they've won seven straight games. Holland has started all but one, coming off the bench at Texas A&M after missing the previous week's practice with a concussion.
But, for reasons neither Holland nor his coaches nor his teammates understand, he has been a lightning rod for criticism. He has been frequently booed by some in the student section at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"He's a very tough kid," Malzahn said. "He has a lot of experience and gets us lined up right. He does a lot of good things."
Auburn defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ellis Johnson agrees.
"I don't know where we would have been without him," Johnson said.
Holland shrugs off the critics as uninformed and unimportant.
"I've got enough people around me - my family and friends - that I don't really have time for any of them," Holland said. "The Auburn family still cares about me. Honestly, I don't really play for someone else."
The Tigers, with an open date Saturday, were to return to the practice field Tuesday afternoon. There is no doubt in their minds, Holland says, that they can win the biggest Auburn game since the BCS National Championship Game in January 2011.
"The Iron Bowl is always a special game for everyone, fans and players included," Holland said. "This is definitely going to be one to remember. We've put ourselves in a situation where it's going to mean a lot. We have to put a lot of work in this week and go win this thing.
"There is no doubt in my mind, and I can see there is no doubt in any of my teammates' minds. We know we have the talent. As long as we play to our scheme, we can win this game."
Phillip Marshall is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow Marshall on Twitter: