Roy Upchurch gets his chance to make the play

AUBURN — With less than 90 seconds left in the game, there were 87,451 people screaming at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Make that 87,452. Alabama backup running back Roy Upchurch was screaming to get into the game.

“I didn’t think anybody heard me,” Upchurch said in the cramped visitors’ interview room at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Somebody did. His 4-yard touchdown reception from Greg McElroy came after Alabama called timeout as it faced a third-and-3 with 1:29 left.

“They were in a goal-line defense, and it’s hard to gain four yards on one play,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “It’s the easiest coverage to throw in because they are all coming to get the run.”

But while Alabama discussed its options, Upchurch had been watching the entire 15-play, 79-yard march toward the winning touchdown from the sidelines. He was screaming for the personnel group called Cody 5 that would get him on the field.

“I was yelling at everybody, ‘Put me in, put me in,’ ” the senior said.

But if anyone in the entire Alabama football program understands patience, it’s Upchurch.

The senior from Tallahassee, Fla., has come back more times than Dracula. Ankle surgery ended his freshman season in 2006. He was a backup throughout his sophomore season.

As a junior last season, he had a tremendous game against Tennessee, but back spasms sidelined him for the LSU game. Those spasms never let up. He had neck surgery after the SEC Championship Game. He was withheld from contact throughout spring practice.

Upchurch got his first career start against Florida International in the second game of the season — and sprained his ankle after four carries.

By the time he returned, Mark Ingram was crushing SEC defenses and freshman Trent Richardson was entrenched as his backup.

Upchurch did find a role as a third-down back and is one of McElroy’s favorite targets as a “hot” receiver when pressure is coming.

But Upchurch never stopped saying his time was coming for something big this season.

“I didn’t know it’d be this big,” he admitted after the game. “You’ve just got to wait ’til your number’s called. I’ve learned that this whole year, last year, that patience pays off. As you see, I was patient tonight and got my plays in. Hey, I’ve got a story to tell.”

Two catches for 15 yards. Sometimes, it’s not how many, it’s when.

1:24 remaining.

Alabama 26, Auburn 21.

Iron Bowl hero.

“You get a thrill. Just chills everywhere. It’s a good feeling,” said Upchurch, who knew that play would work.

“I just had that feeling. I had a feeling that I’d be wide open in the end zone,” he said.

“I don’t want to say I was going to win the Iron Bowl. I just had a feeling I’d be open and that play would work.”

He was. McElroy made a hard play fake to Trent Richardson off right guard and took a step or two to his right. Upchurch, lined up in front of Richardson and to his right, raced across the goal line and into the right flat. He was wide open.

Upchurch was elated, of course. But no one was happier than his teammates.

Left guard Mike Johnson was one of the first to greet him in the end zone.

“Coming from where all of us fifth-year guys came from, I’m just so happy for him,” Johnson said. “To get this win to end our career in the Iron Bowl, it’s just huge for all of us, especially Roy.”

Linebacker Cory Reamer understood the journey took much longer than four yards.

“To see him bounce back the way he has, through all the injuries and all the problems he has had, it’s exciting to see guys I came in with go out and be successful like he has,” linebacker Cory Reamer said.

“I’m proud of Roy. He’s one of my favorite guys on the team, and I can’t tell you how excited I was to see him get in the end zone.”

Defensive end Brandon Deaderick summed it up nicely.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than scoring the winning touchdown in the Iron Bowl,” Deaderick said. “He did a great job. When he got his opportunity, he really shined.”

It was opportunity Upchurch had to scream for, but he proved that patience really does pay off.