10/22 at 04:14 AM

Every football player dreams about it.

It’s part of their DNA.

Heck, every boy who’s ever held a football on the laces, pulled on a pair of shoulder pads and chomped on a mouthpiece has done the same thing.

You know it by heart.

Fourth quarter. Your team’s down by 4. Three seconds left. Fourth-and-goal at the 1.

Who has the ball? You do. Of course.

And you score. Touchdown. The crowd goes wild.

Tell me you haven’t dreamed about that.

Clint Moseley has. A bunch of times, I’m sure. And he’s lived it a few times, too. After all, the “gunslinger” from Leroy has three state championship rings, leading his 2A squad to the Promised Land in his sophomore, junior and senior years. He also has two baseball state championship titles from his high school days.

Moseley has a VIP pass to that dream sequence.

Or, at least he did in high school. The three years since, however, have been more like a bad dream for the 6-foot-4, 213-pound signal-caller.

The rollercoaster he’s been riding since he arrived at Auburn is no secret. First, it was the redshirt year. Moseley never sat in his life prior to that season. Then, he lost two quarterback races, coming in fourth last year. The last time he finished fourth, he might have been 4.

This season, he lost out to Barrett Trotter for the QB1 spot. And it hurt. We know that. We read that. Heck, we watched it. Brutal.

But dreams have a funny way of coming true for those who keep the faith. Moseley, as much as he probably didn’t want to, kept working. He kept showing up. He kept holding the signs on the sidelines, relaying the calls to Trotter, who was on the field. Assuming the backup role, while also watching a true freshman get snaps.

Then, it happened. He got the call during halftime of the Florida game, started the second half and sparked the Tigers to a much-needed win over the Gators at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The crowd went wild.

It gets better. Moseley will get to start his first collegiate game Saturday.

The crowd continues to cheer. Touchdown.

Oh, but it’s against the No. 1 team in the nation, at its place, which just happens to be one of the toughest, most hostile stadiums to play in all of the world.

No pressure.

No problem.

Remember that dream sequence? The one Moseley knew so well in high school? The one he could direct, produce and star in?

Well, it’s about to be released again at Tiger Stadium. In Death Valley.

Underdog enters the No. 1 team’s house … with an inexperienced quarterback making his first-ever start.

Cue the music.

What could be better?

“That’s why you come to Auburn,” Moseley said earlier this week. “That’s why you play in the SEC. That’s why you have the big dreams.

“What bigger stage could I possibly play on?”

None. None at all. This is what dreams are made of. The biggest of dreams.

Now, of course, there’s the matter of facing a defense that hurts people. Badly. A defense that is fierce, fast and fatal.

But, again, what better stage? What better situation?

If you’re a competitor, you want to face the best. You want to give the best your best shot. And Moseley isn’t going to get cheated, even if LSU is without the Honey Badger himself, Tyrann Mathieu, and fellow defensive back Tharold Simon, who have reportedly been suspended for Saturday’s game.

Regardless, LSU’s defense is still good. Really good. And Auburn is still playing in Death Valley. Might as well be Broadway.

The biggest stage. The biggest opportunity.

A dreamer’s dream. A competitor’s paradise.

Does it get any better?

MIKE SZVETITZ is sports editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He may be reached at or 737-2513.