Fred Beasley, seen scoring here against Mississippi State, was easily one of the most talented and underutilized players of his era.
He joined Auburn as a halfback out of high school in Montgomery and was told to gain weight to play fullback. Then he was told to lose weight to play halfback again. And so his entire career at Auburn would go.
Auburn would go 8-3 on the year, dropping a close one to LSU, losing to Florida and enduring a heartbreaker at Arkansas before neatly wrapping up Amen Corner with a victory over Georgia and the Iron Bowl. Beasley would score the winning touchdown in that game. Alabama had one last chance, but the receiver was out of bounds in what remains a controversial call.
Terry Bowden's Tigers would finally return to postseason play, after a five year drought brought on by poor performance and NCAA probation. facing Penn State in the Outback Bowl. Auburn was handily defeated on a miserable day. The Glom noted the "field resembled a swimming pool more than a football gridiron."
Auburn had a Heisman hopeful this year, running back Stephen Davis, who went on to a nice NFL career. He got a concussion in the bowl game, came back and still rushed for 119 yards. You won't ever see that again.
Beasely would go on to a well-regarded nine-year NFL career with the 49ers, Redskins and Dolphins.
Several other players from this team would find a home in the NFL, with Beasely and Davis having the most success. Auburn's quarterback, Damyeune Craig, was the mobile, agile, playmaking QB before that was in fashion. He's gone on to a fine career in coaching.
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