ESPN's 'Roll Tide War Eagle' film: Cam Newton heard the music at Alabama, then wrote own finish

Cam-Newton-Auburn-Alabama-Couch.JPGCam Newton celebrates with Auburn fans in Tuscaloosa last season (Birmingham News / Frank Couch)

AUBURN, Alabama -- Cam Newton heard the music and didn't like it. So as Alabama took a shot at him and played "Take the Money and Run" before the Iron Bowl last year, the Auburn quarterback considered the possibilities.

"I felt as if I had the whole crowd in my hands and my performance can either crush it, or my performance can give them what they want," Newton says.

Newton takes us through that day on the way to a victory  and on to the national championship in ESPN's "Roll Tide-War Eagle" film about the heated rivalry that will air Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Central Time. It was no ordinary trip in this extraordinary rivalry, as this well-done age-old story of the two teams unfolds with lots of history and interviews from both sides of great coaches, great players, colorful fans and interesting characters. There's plenty to like for both camps, like the personable Newton and Greg McElroy of Alabama. Alas, ESPN uses over-the-top fan Harvey Updyke most of the way to demonstrate what the rivalry has become to some. Newton is just one of the chapters in the film.

ESPN gave a sneak preview of the show at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham on Tuesday night.

Newton showed up in Tuscaloosa trying to do what Alabama had done the Iron Bowl before -- win the game, go on to the national championship and produce a Heisman Trophy winner. Newton matched it. The NCAA would later say he and Auburn were on the up and up.

Cue the music in Bryant-Denny. Was Newton listening?

"It was different for me because of all the scrutiny that I went under through the NCAA investigation," Newton said. "I felt as if the whole crowd was out to get me. And what was most disrespectful, I felt, was when over at the whole arena, they played 'Take the Money and Run.'"

That's when Newton said he could either "crush it" or "give them what they want."

Auburn won 28-27.

Bo Jackson, Charles Barkley, Gene Chizik and Pat Dye are entertaining among Auburn's former players and current and past coaches interviewed. Alabama players and coaches balance the film.

Jackson, at one point, says of the big and athletic Newton: "It was like he dropped in to Auburn from outer space" and "when I met him for the first time, it was like, 'Wow, this kid needs to lay off the caffeine.'"

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