If you are crazy football fan, either you have to be an obsessive fan of the team of Auburn University or the team of University of Alabama. Definitely you have to take sides and there is no chance for neutrality with these two teams. Michigan and Ohio may come together; Navy and Army may go hand in hand. However, when we talk about the football rivalry, there is no match for Auburn and Alabama.
Alabama is well known for its rich heritage on college football. But one exact day of a year, when there is a game between Auburn vs. Alabama – Iron Bowl, even the families and friends split up to take sides for a single team on the Iron Bowl day. For about over a century, Iron Bowl tears Alabama into two. The hatred keeps growing between these two teams. Further, the fans of each team hate one another. Alabama – Auburn rivalry is really a whole year through obsession.
Initiation of rivalry
In the year, 1893, February 22nd, Auburn and Alabama teams met for the first time in Birmingham. Auburn team won with 32-22. yet, both the teams ended up with a great spat, whether the match should be taken for counting towards the year 1892s season or for the year 1893. This rivalry kept growing and continued in every year, that it leads to the momentary suspension during the series during the teams’ 1907 meeting, where the match ended in tie of 6-6. Until 1948, Auburn and Alabama were not given the chance to meet. The state government took efforts to make the decision to be strictly practiced.
During 1947 December, the representatives of the Alabama team House passed good resolution to encourage both the schools to come together, overcoming the differences to meet in the match. Dr. Ralph B Draughon the Auburn president and Dr. John Gallalee, the Alabama president agreed upon to resume the series for the next year. The game was held in Birmigham, naming it “The Iron Bowl”, as the city is near huge iron deposits.
For many decades, the Alabama university team enjoyed the higher profile when compared to their rival, among the matches held both within the state and even in the international sports meet. Although Auburn had a share of success, they were considered as number two team, within their state. But later in 1980, the waves of Auburn team started to crawl in every match, with the start at Jordan-Hare Stadium. In the year 1987, Auburn requested official that Iron Bowl has to be played at the same stadium, every year. In 1989, December 2, the tigers of Auburn knocked off the big brothers of Alabama in Iron Bowl, with 30-20.
Through 2006, it is Alabama team that leads in Iron Bowl, yet, Auburn has succeeded every of the last 5 Iron Bowls. And every year, the fans look forward for the meet of Iron Bowl, especially for the Auburn vs. Alabama Football game, with the same rivalry, which seems to be growing for a century.
Jason Forthofer is the owner Auburn Alabama Tickets, a website focusing on the history of the Iron Bowl.