Auburn Tigers Football 2011: Is the Iron Bowl the Fiercest Rivalry in College?

The landscape of college football has never been as dynamic as it is today. There are numerous non-traditional teams that have made a name for themselves and a few power houses that have fallen from the top of the college football totem pole. One thing that has yet to change however are the rivalries.

Looking across the country there are a number of rivalries that are circled on every football fans calendar: Ohio State and Michigan, Texas and Oklahoma, Notre Dame and USC, and of course Army and Navy. These games are hyped and anxiously awaited year after year.

Another premier rivalry that occurs on an annual basis is the Iron Bowl, the in-state power struggle between Auburn and Alabama. There are few things that the traditionally laid back southern folks will get riled up about and one of those is college football. The Iron Bowl took a turn for the worse earlier this season with the culmination of Auburn’s undefeated season and ensuing national title.

During the march to the title, numerous reports were launched about Cam Newton and the pay for play scheme and any other character assassination that could follow did. At the end of it all, Jody Wright found himself in the mix. That name might not mean much, but Wright was an intricate part of the NCAA investigation in November. Wright also happens to be an Alabama graduate assistant.

What does this mean for the rivalry? Did Jody Wright intentionally attempt to sabotage the Auburn program? Who knows what his part in the scenario was but at the end of the day it put a bitter taste in the mouths of Auburn fans.

That seemed to just be the beginning in the black helicopter scandal that has reached epic heights with numerous levels of innuendo and message board fodder that has Auburn coaches and players taking guided tours of Stonehenge paid for by boosters. Then there seemed to be a turn of fate for better or worse in the state.

There were two distinct actions that occurred on both sides of the state that seemed to draw the two fanbases together, but at the end of the day the bitterness of the rivalry has picked back up with a never before seen fervor. This rivalry has been suspended before by the state senate of Alabama, what other rivalry is so nasty that the politicians step in?

With the poisoning of the Toomer’s Trees and then the tornado disaster in Tuscaloosa, it appeared that a new civility had been found in all the distaste and distrust. There were fundraising groups from both schools that chipped in to help conserve the trees and clear debris in T-town. Even the Tigers football team took a cleanup group to help with the ravaged city of Tuscaloosa, the home of instate rival the Crimson Tide.

These stories are the ones that make the front page and are talked about nationally. Bitter rivals lending hands in each other’s direction with a passion and hope that we could put football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and even tiddlywinks aside to help our cross state rival and fellow Alabamians.

The dust has settled in Tuscaloosa but there is still much left undone from the horrible natural disaster. The trees in Auburn may just make it after all with the help from some Tide fans and there donations. At the end of the day however, this is a state built around college football and two teams that have the most passionate following in the college football world.

Listening to the now nationally syndicated talk show The Paul Finebaum Show quickly opens anyone’s eyes to the bitterness that is held in this state. For years there has always been testiness and friendly ribbing that occurred between the Tigers and Tide but today it is getting borderline absurd in some areas and the dark side of college football is beginning to show its ugly head again.

A few months of peace and it seems the passion is worse than before. So what does this mean for the world of college football and for the state? At this point, nothing except it gives a reason to shake your head.

With the direction that the two programs are going, the rivalry is just simply going to continue to grow and get worse. With each win for either team a new scandal will emerge. The majority of these scandals are coming from the very cities and towns that love these two teams. It isn’t somebody in New York that is starting rumors or building allegations against the Tide or Tigers, but it is the national writers that are picking up the so called “news” and reporting it however.

At the end of the day, Auburn and Alabama should look hard at one another and thank themselves for the nasty rivalry and constant barrage of allegations that are occurring. Is there anything that will come of the numerous allegations against both schools? Maybe. Did someone break NCAA rules in Auburn or Tuscaloosa? Possibly.

These outrageous fans feel as if they are doing “their” team justice by pulling the trigger on the other team. The “barners” have finally got the “bammers” where they want them. The “bammers” are sure to return the “barners” to their rightful place of second best in the state, or so they say.

The problem is that the fans are doing an injustice to the schools they think they represent and to the players they feel represent them. Will Alabama and Auburn fans ever agree on much? Doubtful. They do need to come to an agreement soon however that both teams being on top of the college football world is actually good for both teams.

There are rivalries all through college football that are bitter and have their fair share of ridiculous and certifiably crazy fans but the state of Alabama holds more than rivalries across the country have combined.

Will the barrage of allegations and attempts to bring down each other ever stop for these schools? Of course not but it needs to become a less obvious attempt or no one will come out smelling and looking good. Today, the state of Alabama hosts consecutive Heisman winners and consecutive champions, something that only the state of Texas can match and it was accomplished in the 1930’s. History is in the making and how this chapter finishes has yet to be seen.

One thing is for sure though, the Tigers and Tide fans need to come to grips with the others success and not be happy for each other but at least have enough of an understanding that the rivalry is not made great by accusations and innuendo but by the players that shed their blood, sweat, and tears on the field and the coaches that lead them there. Let the players play and the regulators regulate without interference. Sit back and enjoy the show.