Memories and Thoughts of the Iron Bowl:
I'm not sure that I can remember a year in my life without the acknowledgment of the biggest rivalry in college football - Auburn vs. Alabama, also known as the Iron Bowl. It has been such a constant. Like cereal for breakfast, church on Sunday's, the beach in the summer, and the perfect taste of my mom's layered yellow cake with homemade chocolate fudge icing. The game arrives each year with a promise of intensity and drama regardless of the previous 11 games. As Desmond declared to Penny (his wife) in the recent hit tv series LOST, as "his constant", the Iron Bowl has remained likewise a cherished tradition to Auburn and Alabama fans throughout the decades. It is what we both LOVE and HATE...depending on what numbers are higher on the scoreboard when the clock strikes 00:00 at the end of the game. However, no matter the outcome of the game itself, or what happens the next 364 days, we always come back to it each year because... it is our constant.
I'm not sure that I can remember a year in my life without the acknowledgment of the biggest rivalry in college football - Auburn vs. Alabama, also known as the Iron Bowl. It has been such a constant. Like cereal for breakfast, church on Sunday's, the beach in the summer, and the perfect taste of my mom's layered yellow cake with homemade chocolate fudge icing. The game arrives each year with a promise of intensity and drama regardless of the previous 11 games. As Desmond declared to Penny (his wife) in the recent hit tv series LOST, as "his constant", the Iron Bowl has remained likewise a cherished tradition to Auburn and Alabama fans throughout the decades. It is what we both LOVE and HATE...depending on what numbers are higher on the scoreboard when the clock strikes 00:00 at the end of the game. However, no matter the outcome of the game itself, or what happens the next 364 days, we always come back to it each year because... it is our constant.
Perhaps I feel an extra amount of enthusiasm toward this particular game due to the fact of some early childhood experiences that brought both the highs and the lows. While I attended games prior to the '85 season Iron Bowl, it is that year that I really place my finger on as my first significant memory of this revered classic. The game was played at the legendary Legion Field in Birmingham, AL. My young heart was leaping as Auburn led with only 37 seconds left and Alabama had the ball on their own 12 yard line. My first thought of course was -I can't wait to get back to school and wear my Auburn t-shirt on Monday after the win. I could hardly contain the thought of seeing all of my friends who were Alabama fans. It was going to be great. Dad and I were sitting on about the 30 yard line opposite of where Alabama had the ball just having the time of our lives. Good father daughter moment, living it up...until heartbreak hotel happened. QB Mike Shula and the Alabama offense drove to the Auburn 35 yard line (almost right in front of us) and set up a 52 yard field goal attempt by Van Tiffin. As soon as the ball was snapped, I started waving my orange and blue shaker ,jumping up and down because I just knew that he missed it. Nope. Right down the middle. Alabama won 25-23 as time expired and the '85 game then became known as "The Kick".
*Important note to insert here: Great Iron Bowl games with big plays, outcomes, meaning, etc...are given "names" and references. Per Wikipedia, I have listed the highlighted games below with their year and "names".
Thank goodness though for 1986! As with this back and forth series, Auburn was able to bounce back and pull out a dramatic finish due to WR Lawyer Tillman's reverse with 32 seconds left (known as "The Tillman Reverse"). And yes, all of the post Iron Bowl t-shirts that year had that phrase written on it. I most definitely wore my long sleeve version to school on that following Monday with much glee.
Click here to watch "The Tillman Reverse" play...Keith Jackson doing the play by play (even though he has always been a secret Bama fan I think)
Skipping on to 1989, Alabama AT Auburn for the first time ever on the Plains at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Oh my goodness, was this a big game! I have both incredible, fond memories from this game, but horrible guilt to this day as my dad and I left out early Saturday morning, but had to leave my younger brother Zach behind only with a $20 dollar bill under his pillow. A year hasn't gone by where that misdeed hasn't been mentioned I am afraid to say. I am still looking for ways to make it up to little brother. The game itself though was a lifetime memory. The Tigers (#11) beat undefeated Alabama (#2) 30-20. Never have I seen more people at Tiger Walk, nor heard the loudness I did that day in Jordan-Hare. (another note: I'm just going to ignore the similarities of this years Iron Bowl and '89).
In 1993 I was in Henderson, TN dying to be at the game, but instead, my mom and I huddled together closely and got reports from afar of the score (the year that Auburn was not on TV). The Tigers prevailed and capped off an undefeated season thanks to backup QB Patrick Nix lofiting a TD pass to WR Frank Sanders and RB James Bostic having a huge day. Again, triumph ruled in our hearts for the next 364 days.
Click here for the 1993 Iron Bowl highlights and our favorite radio voice Jim Fyffe announcing 11-0, 11-0, 11-0!!!
The years that followed continued to provide close games and unpredictable outcomes. While a student at Auburn in '97, the Auburn faithful couldn't believe our eyes when Jaret Holmes kicked at 39 yard FG with 21 seconds that sent the Tigers to their first SEC Championship game in Atlanta. Or, how much fun was it when Carnell "Cadillac" Williams scored on the first play in 2003 on an 80 yard run and Auburn went on to win a close one at home 28-23? The "Honk If You Sacked Brodie Croyle" bumper stickers appeared everywhere on many Auburn fans cars after the 2005 game as Auburn upset #9 Alabama 28-18.
Winning six in row was quite enjoyable in the early-mid 2000's until 2008 in Tuscaloosa. My dad, Zach and his wife Kim and I all went to the game and sat in the upper deck in the Auburn section. We should have known when Sarah Evans came out in her #7 Jay Barker jersey singing the national anthem it was over before it began for the Tigers. A country music star in a Bama jersey, the world seemed right for the Bammers that day. In the cold, wet, miserable weather, Auburn fell 36-0. Alabama did everything right, and Auburn struggled all day it seemed. The spirit of the Bear was near and dear to the Alabama team I soppose. The guy in the press box in charge of pressing the elephant noise wore out that button I'm pretty sure.
Why is the Auburn/Alabama game unpredictable? Case in point: 2009. The mighty Alabama team rolled into Auburn flying high #2 and undefeated against a not as talented , and very injured Auburn team; however, it was Auburn who dominated and was leading until 1:24 left in the game. All of the naysayers did not give Auburn a chance. But this game is not about the numbers nor the records. It's about what happens on that day.
This year's Iron Bowl will be no different. Throw out everything. Vegas, forget your lines. ESPN, your pre-game commentary really doesn't matter and is irrelevant (you are on our nerves anyway with all of your alleged reports and Boise/TCU heart-throb) . What happens from 1:30pm until around 4:30pm is just as much up in the air as the Goodyear blimp at this point.
I'm excited that Hollis, my 2 1/2 year old nephew will experience his second Iron Bowl this year. I hope the 75th edition of this rivalry will provide him a significant memory of jumping up and down with our orange and blue shakers after a great win, and not that of heartbreak. He loves Auburn "sootball" (still searching for his "f" in his pronunciation) and wears his Auburn jersey, pants and helmet at least 4-5 times a day. He loves the band, the eagle that flies, the cheers, the fight song, the team when they run out of the tunnel. Some may say we have brainwashed him already, but I think he gets it even at an early age...it's about the "spirit of Auburn" that makes it so fun and worthy to care about and cheer for on days such as this Friday.
I love the piece written by Kevin Scarbinsky from the B'ham News today, November 24th...it's on AL.com...It is describing just how big this game is. Here is a section from it.
(He is referencing all of the hype of the Boise St. v. Nevada game this weekend and contrasting it to the Iron Bowl).
(He is referencing all of the hype of the Boise St. v. Nevada game this weekend and contrasting it to the Iron Bowl).
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"Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, and a lot of college football's talking heads are selling like mad men in anticipation.
They're selling Auburn losing to Alabama and kissing its BCS title hopes good-bye. They're selling Boise State beating Nevada later Friday night and jumping into the second spot in the BCS standings behind Oregon. They're selling Boise State at Nevada as the equivalent of Auburn at Alabama.
"Pete Thamel of The New York Times actually described Nevada's Mackay Stadium as "a notoriously hostile place to play."
That's 29,993-seat Mackay Stadium. That's not hostile. That's cute.
This propaganda campaign on Boise's behalf isn't. So I'm not buying it. I'm not buying any of it, not even at half-price at midnight Thursday as a door-buster special, and neither should any of the civilians and coaches who vote in the polls that matter."
(full article here)
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He and other writers especially in Alabama all understand and agree the level of significance and attention to this game. It will make family Thanksgiving lunches pretty interesting in the state of AL come tomorrow. Passing the turkey and dressing from one Alabama fan family member to the Auburn fan family member may only come with a half smile....that's just how it is this time of year around some tables. For others, perhaps it is a good idea to promote happiness, love, contentment, thanksgiving, blessings, etc the day prior to carry them through the highs or the lows...whatever may befall.
So...here's to one for the ages (like always)...one way or the other.
It's great to be an Auburn Tiger....now and forever.
War Eagle.
Notable Iron Bowl Games:
1964 - The Iron Bowl was first broadcast nationally on November 26, 1964. Joe Namath led Alabama to a 21–14 victory over Auburn, and Alabama would go on to win its eighth national championship.
1967 – The Run in The Mud - On a night at Legion Field where thunderstorms were so bad that the field had to be constantly cleared of raincoats and other wet weather accessories that blew in from the stands, Alabama quarterback Kenny Stabler ran for a 47 yard touchdown to give Bama a 7–3 win.[10]
1971 - Both teams were playing for a shot at the national championship against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. 10–0 Alabama (#4 AP) earned a 31–7 victory over Heisman trophy winner Pat Sullivan and 9–0 Auburn (AP #5).
1972 – Punt Bama Punt - Trailing 16–3 with six minutes left, underdog Auburn blocked two Alabama punts – returning both for touchdowns – to win the game 17–16, handing Alabama its first loss of the season and ending its national title hopes.
1981 – 315 - Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant got his 315th career victory, passing Amos Alonzo Stagg to become the then-all-time winningest Division I-A coach in a 28–17 win over Auburn.
1982 – Bo Over the Top - Auburn drove the field and scored with two minutes left when Bo Jackson jumped over the top of the pile on the one yard line. Auburn won the game 23–22. It ended Alabama's 9 game winning streak, the longest in the rivalry's history. It would be Coach Bear Bryant's last Iron Bowl.
1984 – Wrong Way Bo - Late in the fourth quarter on 4th and goal from the one-yard line and Auburn trailing by two points, Coach Pat Dye decided to go for the touchdown instead of a field goal. The ball went to Brent Fullwood and the legendary Bo Jackson was supposed to block, but he headed in the wrong direction, leaving Tide defensive back Rory Turner free to take Fullwood out of bounds, preventing the score. Alabama would hold on to win 17–15 and knocked Auburn out of the Sugar Bowl.
1985 – The Kick - At their own 12-yard line and trailing 23–22 with only 37 seconds remaining, Alabama quarterback Mike Shula and the Tide offense drove to the Auburn 35-yard line to set up a 52-yard field goal by Van Tiffin, winning the game 25–23 as time expired.
'1989 – The First Time Ever - In the first Iron Bowl ever played in Auburn, the #11 Tigers beat #2 and previously unbeaten Alabama 30–20.
1993 - 10–0 Auburn (#6 AP) came from behind to defeat 8–1–1 Alabama (#11 AP) in the second Iron Bowl ever played in Auburn, 22–14, capping Auburn's undefeated season. This game is also notable because it was not televised (due to Auburn's probation), but was shown on closed-circuit TV in Tuscaloosa, becoming the first college football game ever to sell out two stadiums at the same time.
1994 - 10–0 Alabama (#3 AP) defeated 9–0–1 Auburn (#6 AP) 21–14 in a matchup of undefeated teams, snapping Auburn's 21-game unbeaten streak.
1997 - After Auburn recovered an Ed Scissum fumble on a screen pass that would have resulted in a first down and sealed an Alabama victory, Jaret Holmes nailed a 39 yard field goal with 21 seconds left to lift Auburn over Alabama 18–17 and send Auburn to its first SEC Championship Game appearance.
1999 - Alabama gets their first win ever at Auburn, 28–17.
2000 - The Iron Bowl returned to Tuscaloosa for the first time in 99 years. In the first Iron Bowl ever played in Bryant-Denny Stadium amidst miserable weather conditions of cold and sleet, Auburn clinched the SEC West title with a 9–0 shutout in Mike DuBose's final game as Alabama head coach.
2003 - Auburn's Carnell "Cadillac" Williams runs for over 200 yards and an 80-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Auburn won 28–23.
2005 - #11 Auburn sacked Alabama's quarterback Brodie Croyle eleven times en route to a 28–18 victory over the #9 Crimson Tide.
2008 - Alabama ends Auburn's streak of six consecutive victories with a 36–0 win in what would be Tommy Tuberville's last season as Auburn's head coach. It was also Alabama's first Iron Bowl victory in Tuscaloosa, ending a six-game losing streak in the Iron Bowl and a four-game losing streak in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
'2009 – The Drive - Undefeated #2 Alabama got down 14–0 early in Auburn against the 7–4 Tigers. A reverse and a surprise onside kick contributed to the Tiger's quick start. Alabama came back and tied the game. The score was 14–14 at the half. Auburn regained the lead 21–14 in the 3rd quarter, but Alabama battled back. Trailing 21–20, the Tide went on a 15 play, 79 yard drive that lasted 7 minutes and 3 seconds to take a 26–21 lead with 1:24 left. Auburn drove inside the Alabama 40, but the Tiger's Hail Mary on the last play failed, sealing Alabama's second consecutive undefeated regular season en route to the school's 13th national championship.
2010- #2 Auburn will enter the 2010 Iron Bowl undefeated, and will face a 9-2 #9 Alabama team. It will be the first Iron Bowl between AP Top 10 teams since 1994.
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