Alabama vs Auburn

The Alabama-Auburn rivalry, known as the Iron Bowl, is one of college football’s most intense and historic matchups. With legendary games, Hall of Fame players, and championship implications, this in-state battle has captivated fans for over a century. From "Kick Six" to Bear Bryant vs. Shug Jordan, explore the history, stats, and unforgettable moments of the Iron Bowl.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Rivalries, the ultimate showdown of sports history's most
intense and iconic matchups. From legendary battles on the field,
the court, and the ice, to the stories behind the
rivalries that defined eras and divided fans. Will bring you
the stats, the stories, and the behind the scenes details

(00:21):
you won't hear anywhere else. So gear up and get
ready to relive the greatest clashes that made sports history.
This is Rivalries Alabama versus Auburn. The Alabama Auburn rivalry,
known as the Iron Bowl, is one of the most
storied and intense rivalries in college football and all of
American sports. This fierce competition between the University of Alabama

(00:44):
Crimson Tide and the Auburn University Tigers has captivated fans,
defined careers, and shaped the landscape of college football for
well over a century. The roots of this rivalry stretch
back to eighteen ninety three, when the two teams first
met on the gridiron. On February twenty second of that year,
two thousand fans gathered at Lakeview Park in Birmingham to

(01:06):
witness the birth of what would become one of the
greatest rivalries in sports history. Auburn emerged victorious in that
first contest, defeating Alabama thirty two to twenty two. From
the very beginning, there was controversy, as Alabama considered it
the final game of the eighteen ninety two season, while
Auburn claimed it as the first game of eighteen ninety three.

(01:27):
This inaugural matchup set the stage for decades of intense competition,
thrilling games, and unforgettable moments that would come to define
college football in Alabama and beyond. However, the rivalry's early
years were marked by intermittent play and political disputes. After
the nineteen oh seven game ended in a six to
six tie, the two schools did not face each other

(01:49):
again for forty one years. Contrary to popular belief, this
long hiatus was not due to concerns over violence or
the heated nature of the rivalry, but rather a petty
dispute over player per diem rates. Auburn wanted Alabama to
cover an additional fifty cents per player, which Alabama refused.
This seemingly minor disagreement led to the cancelation of one

(02:11):
of college football's greatest rivalries over a mere thirty four
dollars The resumption of the rivalry in nineteen forty eight
came about through political intervention. The Alabama state legislature passed
a resolution urging the two schools to play each other again,
even threatening to cut funding if an agreement could not
be reached. Finally, the university presidents came to terms and

(02:33):
the Iron Bowl was reborn. The name Iron Bowl itself
didn't come into use until nineteen sixty four, when Auburn
coach Ralph Shugg Jordan coined the term. The name refers
to Birmingham's history as a center of iron and steel production,
as the game was played at Legion Field in Birmingham
for many years. Over the decades, the Iron Bowl has

(02:55):
produced countless memorable moments in legendary players for Alabama. Names
like Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Derek Thomas, and more recently
two Otagabay Looa and Mac Jones have left their mark
on the rivalry. Auburn counters with stars like Bo Jackson,
Cam Newton, and Pat Sullivan. One of the most iconic

(03:15):
moments in Iron Bowl history came in twenty thirteen, known
as the Kick six, with one second left on the
clock and the game tied, Alabama attempted a fifty seven
yard field goal to win the game. Auburn's Chris Davis
caught the short kick in the end zone and returned
at one hundred and nine yards for a touchdown, giving
Auburn a stunning thirty four to twenty eight victory and

(03:37):
denying Alabama a shot at the national championship. The coaching
matchups have been equally legendary. Alabama's Bear Bryant, widely regarded
as one of the greatest coaches in college football history,
faced off against Auburn's Shug Jordan for nearly two decades.
In more recent years, the rivalry has seen Nick Saban's
Alabama dynasty challenged by various Auburn coaches, including Tommy Tuberville,

(04:02):
Jeane Chiswick, and Gus Malzan. The all time series between
these two teams is remarkably close, reflecting the competitive nature
of the rivalry. As of twenty twenty four, Alabama holds
a slight edge with forty nine wins to Auburn's thirty
seven with one tie. This includes both regular season and
postseason matchups. The closeness of this record is even more

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remarkable considering Alabama's periods of dominance under bear Bryant in
Nick Saban, the Iron Bowl has often had significant implications
beyond state bragging rights. Many times the game has decided
the SEC West Division title and even National Championship aspirations
in two thousand and nine, twenty thirteen. In twenty seventeen,

(04:46):
the winner of the Iron Bowl went on to play
in the National Championship Game. The rivalry has also been
marked by streaks of dominance by each team. From two
thousand and two to two thousand and seven, Auburn won
six consecutive Iron Bowls, their li longest winning streak in
the series. Alabama under Nick Saban, has had several periods
of dominance, including winning four straight from twenty fifteen to

(05:09):
twenty eighteen. The intensity of the Iron Bowl rivalry extends
far beyond the football field. It permeates every aspect of
life in Alabama, dividing families, friends, and communities. The state
is often described as being split between roll Tide and
war Eagle, with little room for neutrality. This rivalry has

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produced some of the greatest coaches in college football history.
For Alabama, Paul bear Bryant stands out as a towering
figure Bryant coached the Crimson Tide from nineteen fifty eight
to nineteen eighty two, winning six national championships and dominating
the rivalry for much of his tenure. His record against
Auburn was an impressive nineteen and six. Following Bryan's retirement,

(05:51):
Alabama went through several coaches before finding sustained success again
under Nick Saban. Saban, who took over in two thousand
and seven, has led Alabama to six national championships and
has compiled a ten and five record against Auburn as
of twenty twenty three. On the Auburn side, Ralph Shugg
Jordan was the longest tenured coach, leading the Tigers from

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nineteen fifty one to nineteen seventy five. Jordan, who gave
the Iron Bullets name, won one hundred and seventy six
games at Auburn and led the team to the nineteen
fifty seven national championship. His battles with Bear Bryant are
the stuff of legend in Alabama football lore. In more
recent years, Auburn has seen success under coaches like Pat Dye,

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Tommy Tuberville, and Gus Malzan. Dye, who coached from nineteen
eighty one to nineteen ninety two, went six and six
against Alabama and helped elevate Auburn's program to national prominence.
Tuberville coaching from nineteen ninety nine to two thousand and
eight had great success against Alabama, winning six straight Iron
Bowls from two thousand and two to two thousand and seven.

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The coaching dynamics have played a crucial role in shaping
the rivalry over the years. Between Bear Bryant's no nonsense,
hard nosed approach and Shug Jordan's more affable personality reflected
the perceived differences between the two schools. In more recent years,
the methodical, process oriented Nick Saban has faced off against

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a series of Auburn coaches, each bringing their own style
and strategy to the rivalry. The Iron Bowl has also
been a showcase for some of college football's greatest players.
For Alabama, quarterbacks like Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, and Aj
mcchaern have left their mark on the rivalry. Defensive stars
like Derek Thomas and Minka Fitzpatrick have terrorized Auburn offenses

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in recent years. Wide receivers like Amari Cooper and DeVonta
Smith have provided some of the rivalry's most electrifying moments,
Auburn counters with its own list of legendary players. Running
Back Bo Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy in nineteen
eighty five, is perhaps the most iconic Auburn player in
Iron Bowl history. His performance against Alabama, including a two

(08:02):
hundred and fifty six yard rushing game in nineteen eighty three,
are still talked about today. Quarterback Cam Newton's twenty ten season,
which included a comeback victory in the Iron Bowl, is
one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history.
The Iron Bowl has often been the stage for Heisman
Trophy moments. In addition to Bo Jackson and Cam Newton,

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Auburn's Pat Sullivan won the award in nineteen seventy one.
Alabama has had four Heisman winners, mark ingram in two
thousand and nine, Derrick Henry in twenty fifteen, DeVonta Smith
in twenty twenty, and Bryce Young in twenty twenty one.
Many of these players had defining moments in the Iron
Bowl that contributed to their Heisman campaigns. The rivalry has

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also been shaped by the unique traditions of each school.
Alabama's roll Tide and Auburn's war Eagle are more than
just cheers, their expressions of identity that encapsulate the passion
and pride of each fan base. The Tumor's corner rolling
tradition at Auburn in Alabama's Rammer Jammer Chair are essential
parts of the Iron Bowl experience. One of the most

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remarkable aspects of the Iron Bowl is how it has
remained relevant and intense despite changes in the college football landscape.
While other historic rivalries have diminished in importance due to
conference realignment or competitive imbalance, the Iron Bowl has only
seemed to grow in significance over the years. The rivalry
has also had a significant impact on the state of

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Alabama beyond sports, often serving as a unifying force in
a state that has faced its share of challenges and divisions.
The economic impact of the Iron Bowl is substantial, with
the game generating millions of dollars in revenue for the
host city each year. In terms of historic games, few
can match the drama and significance of the twenty thirteen

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Kick six game. With Alabama ranked number one and Aubumn
number four, the game had national championship implications. The stunning
ending with Chris Davis returning a missed field goal for
a touchdowns time expired is considered one of the greatest
plays in college football history. Another classic came in nineteen
seventy two, known as the Punt Bama Punt Game. Auburn,

(10:10):
trailing sixteen to zero in the fourth quarter, blocked two
Alabama punts and returned them for touchdowns to win seventeen
to sixteen, spoiling Alabama's perfect season. The twenty ten Iron
Bowls saw another dramatic comeback, this time by Alabama. The
Crimson Tide, trailing twenty four to zero in the second quarter,
rallied to win twenty eight to twenty seven behind the

(10:31):
play of quarterback Greg McElroy in running back mark ingram.
In nineteen eighty five, Auburn's Bo Jackson cemented his Heisman
Trophy campaign with a dominant performance against Alabama. Jackson rushed
for one hundred and forty two yards and two touchdowns
in a twenty five to twenty three Auburn victory. The
nineteen sixty seven game, known as the Run in the Mud,

(10:53):
saw Auburn quarterback Lauren Carter complete a twenty three yard
touchdown pass to Freddie Hyatt in the four fourth quarter
to give Auburn a seven to three victory in a
rain soaked Legion field. These historic games have not only
defined the rivalry, but have often had significant implications for
the national championship picture. The Iron Bowl has frequently served

(11:15):
as a de facto playoff game, with the winner advancing
to the SEC Championship and often the National title game.
The rivalry has also been marked by periods of dominance
by each team. From nineteen seventy three to nineteen eighty one,
Alabama won nine straight Iron Bowls under Bear Bryant. Auburn's
longest winning streak came from two thousand and two to

(11:35):
two thousand and seven, when they won six consecutive games
against Alabama. In recent years, the rivalry has been dominated
by Alabama under Nick Saban. Since taking over in two
thousand and seven, Saban has led Alabama to a ten
and five record against Auburn as of twenty twenty three. However,
Auburn has managed some significant victories during this period, including

(11:57):
the twenty thirteen Kick six game in a twenty six
to fourteen win in twenty seventeen that denied Alabama a
spot in the SEC championship game. The question of which
team currently holds the upper hand in this rivalry is
a matter of intense debate among fans and analysts alike.
Alabama's overall lead in the series and their recent dominance

(12:18):
under Nick Saban could be seen as giving them the edge. However,
Auburn's ability to pull off dramatic upsets and their success
in some of the most memorable games in the rivalry's
history keeps the competition fierce and unpredictable. In reality, the
beauty of the Iron Bowl lies in its unpredictability and
the fact that pass results often have little bearing on

(12:40):
future outcomes. Each game is its own entity, with both
teams capable of rising to the occasion regardless of their
current standing or recent form. The Iron Bowl has transcended
sports to become a part of Southern culture. It has
been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and even references
in popular culture. City of the rivalry has been captured

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in works that explored not just the on field competition,
but the cultural and personal aspects of this long standing feud.
The rivalry has also attracted attention from celebrities in public figures.
It's not uncommon to see famous alumni or fans of
both schools, and attendance at games, adding to the spectacle
and media attention surrounding these contests. This celebrity involvement has

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helped to elevate the Iron Bowl beyond the realm of sports,
making it a national event. One of the unique aspects
of the Iron Bowl is how it has evolved over
time while maintaining its intensity and significance. In the early years,
the game was often played at a neutral site in Birmingham.
It wasn't until nineteen eighty nine that Auburn hosted the

(13:45):
game at Jordan Hare Stadium for the first time. This
move to campus sites has added another layer to the rivalry,
with each team's home stadium providing a distinct atmosphere in
home field advantage, The Iron Bowl has also been a
showcase for innovator of football strategies and tactics. Coaches on
both sides have often used this game to unveil new
plays or formations. Knowing the high stakes and national attention

(14:10):
the game receives. This has led to some of the
most memorable and influential moments in college football history. As
we look to the future, there's no doubt that the
Iron Bowl will continue to captivate football fans around the world.
Both Alabama and Auburn have shown a remarkable ability to
rebuild and remain competitive over the decades. Alabama, with its

(14:32):
financial might, will likely remain a force to be reckoned,
with Auburn, with its history of pulling off dramatic upsets
and its passionate fan base, will continue to challenge their
in state rivals for supremacy. The next chapter of this
storied rivalry is yet to be written, but if history
is any indication, it will be filled with intense competition,

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memorable moments, and the kind of drama that only the
Iron Bowl can provide. Whether it's at Bryan Dennys Stadium
in Tuscaloosa or Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn, when these
two teams meet, the eyes of the college football world
turn to Alabama, eager to witness the next installment in
this timeless rivalry. In conclusion, the Alabama Versus Auburn rivalry

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stands as a testament to the enduring power of college
football to captivate, inspire, and unite. It's a rivalry that
has shaped the SEC, produced some of the greatest players
and moments in college football history and continues to be
a benchmark for excellence in collegiate athletics. As both teams
move forward, adding new chapters to their storied histories, one

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thing remains certain. The Iron Bowl will continue to be
at the heart of college football, driving both programs to
new heights in their perpetual quest for gridiron supremacy. This
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