Teenager Grabs Auburn Head Coach Gus Malzahn's Visor After Iron Bowl; Wants To Give It Back
ByFifteen year old high school freshman Hayden Hart from Georgia made the grab of a lifetime when he nabbed Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn's trademark visor during the pandemonium following the craziest ending to a college football game ever.
"It was a spur of the moment thing," Hart told ESPN. "It was a pretty epic item to get from the game. He was wearing that when the 109-yard return was made."
Hart snatched the visor over a state trooper's head because he'd figured the head coach would eventually throw it in the stands, as he did two weeks ago in the Tigers' win over Georgia, ESPN reported.
Despite the numerous pieces of memorabilia Hart has acquired over the years in his customary seats behind the Auburn end zone -- right by where Chris Davis fielded the missed field goal that ended Alabama's undefeated season -- Hart felt some remorse from his latest game day material. This one wasn't explicitly given to him like the wrist band he has from quarterback, Nick Marshall, or the glove flipped to him by former national championship running back, Michael Dwyer.
"I was thinking I shouldn't have done it," Hart said.
A day later, video of Hart's coup made its way onto the internet, but not his identity. Auburn fan page, The Ware Eagle, uploaded the video and wondered who made the grab. Hart's mom saw the posting and told her son.
The fifteen year-old reached out to the site and Malzahn, but hasn't yet heard back from the head coach or the school's athletic office.
"Taking it right off your head was unbelievably rude," Hart wrote. "I should have asked for your visor or at least stayed a moment to see if it was OK. Anyway, I'm sorry for abducting your lucky visor and would like to return it."
If Hart makes it to the SEC title game (he says he might), Halzahn will likely gladly sacrifice his next visor for another huge victory.