Departing Auburn senior consoled for role in 4th and 31 play

AL.com’s Matt Cohen consoled Auburn football DJ James for being part of the now-infamous (and laughably embroidered on T-shirts) 4th and 31 conversion, an Isaiah Bond touchdown catch on 4th and goal with 32 seconds left on the clock of the eventual heartbreaking 27-24 Iron Bowl loss for the Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium; claiming that the play won’t be what defines James, but will ultimately live on.

“Hugh Freeze said DJ James’ words at his locker were ‘Coach, I let you down, I let you down,'” Cohen prefaced before saying, “It’s heartbreaking for a player who had played so well for Auburn over two years, who played his last game at Jordan-Hare Stadium and is now likely bound for the NFL. It’s not what he should be ultimately remembered for, but he’ll be in that photo with Isaiah Bond forever.”

James won’t get a chance to replace that memory since he is departing for the NFL, with a pit stop in Mobile this February for the Senior Bowl, and is out of eligibility.

How Hugh Freeze consoled departing Auburn football senior DJ James

Freeze tried to make James feel better after the Iron Bowl by doling out unconditional love to the NFL-bound ex-Oregon transfer.

“He felt that because of not only (4th and 31), but the one right before half when we were up 14-10,” Freeze said of James’ guilt (h/t AL.com). “He didn’t get the call and gave them a long TD pass there. He felt the weight of the world on him. I just told him we’d get through it: ‘We love you. We’ll get through it together. And somehow in time, if handled right, it makes us stronger.’”

James’ presence on the Plains will always be remembered as a positive one; one freak play that’s not even fully his fault be damned.