Caddell's Catch Pays Off Big

The University of Alabama’s 41-38 win was decided by a touchdown drive in the final two minutes, culminated by junior quarterback John Parker Wilson’s 4-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Matt Caddell with eight seconds left on the clock.

This week, ESPN announced that senior Alabama wide receiver Matt Caddell’s game-winning touchdown reception was the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” for the week of Sept. 15. The Crimson Tide’s game-winning play will net the school $5,000 for the general scholarship fund and will make Alabama eligible for the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year” and an additional $100,000 scholarship.

I’m certainly proud of the way our players played the game,” Alabama head Coach Nick Saban said following last week’s game. “We always talk about playing for 60 minutes in the game and when you score a touchdown with eight seconds to go in the game, it’s an easy way to reinforce a point. This is a tremendous victory for the University of Alabama, a tremendous victory for our players and our fans.”

Alabama is now 6-for-6 all-time in “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” nominees; winning all five times it was nominated during the 2005 season, including the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year.” In all, Alabama’s football team has earned $130,000 for the school’s general scholarship fund over the last three seasons for its play on the field.

The Crimson Tide’s five award winners during the 2005 season included Tyrone Prothro’s spectacular catch against Southern Mississippi, Brodie Croyle’s 46-yard pass to Keith Brown at South Carolina, Croyle’s 87-yard TD pass to Prothro vs. Florida, Roman Harper’s caused fumble vs. Tennessee and Matt Miller’s fumble return of the second half kickoff at Mississippi State during the 2005 season.

Prothro’s spectacular catch against Southern Miss was the “Pontiac Game-Changing Performance of the Year. Pontiac made a $100,000 donation to Alabama’s general scholarship fund on behalf of his catch.