This is an opinion column.

Johni Broome came to a halt on the sideline, inches from the Tide Pride seats, as the final seconds of this unprecedented occasion melted into memory. The toughest player in the building stood tall on his freshly tweaked ankle and stared straight at the departing students, their hard hats no defense against him, their hard “F… Auburn” hearts broken, and he waved them all good-bye.

Good-bye to the first 1 vs. 2 matchup in SEC history. Good-bye to what may have been the loudest crowd in the building since the doors opened 57 years before. Good-bye to the hope turned delusion that the best team in the house, the state, the conference and the country wasn’t Auburn.