The Iron Bowl needs no introduction. The annual battle between Alabama and Auburn is known for its hard-hitting, memorable plays and dramatic white-knuckle finishes. It is the ultimate brother against brother war wrapped up in a football game.
These fanatic fans on both sides are neighbors, friends, family, and even husbands and wives. They approach this game every year as if it were life and death.
This is not my first time at this rodeo. I have been through more than 40 Iron Bowls as man and child.
There seems to be something different about this one. There is something ominous, something almost spooky about this year's Iron Bowl.
Usually there is a great deal of fanfare that goes along with Iron Bowl week: fans jawing back and forth, everyone talking about "The Game."
This week there is a tension in the air so thick you could cut it with a knife. It has the emotional feeling of a landing craft full of Marines just about to hit the beach.
Fans from both sides are treating this year's version of "the war between the state" like an epic battle about to take place.
On the one hand, Alabama fans are buying every ticket they can find and paying top dollar for them to witness what they believe will be Alabama's finest moment.
On the other hand, I overheard some Auburn fans talking the other day. They were trying to decide whether or not to "unload" their tickets because "they did not know if they wanted to be there for this one."
I found myself being embarrassed for them. All those years when they knew Auburn was favored to win, they made sure they had a front row seat so they wouldn't miss a single play.
Now that they believe it may be Auburn on the receiving end of the whipping, they are choosing to hide in the relative safety of their homes. You know, let Tommy and the team fend for themselves.
I guess that is the nature of the beast. I am behind you 100 percent until you start losing—then you guys are on your own.
I think that is partly why this week seems so different. There seems to be an air of capitulation among the Auburn faithful. They believe there is about to be a beatdown, and they want to distance themselves as much as possible.
Auburn alumni associations have even canceled some of their beloved "Beat Bama" parties.
On the other side, there are the Alabama fans. They have been taking a beating for the last six years, and there are a few of them that are acting like mistreated dogs. You know, the kind of dog that all you have to do is raise your hand or voice, and it ducks down and braces for another beating.
These fans belong to the under-20 age group. They have known nothing but Auburn dominating this game all their young lives.
The larger portion of Alabama fans reminds me of a different kind of mistreated dog. They are acting more like pit bulls. They are foaming at the mouth and hoping they get their chance to go for the throat. These are the older fans that were there when things were much different. They want retribution.
There is so much at stake this year. On the one hand there is Alabama, ranked No. 1 and hoping to move on undefeated to possibly contend for the National Title. If they are somehow upset by Auburn, that dream would be spoiled by the one team they could not bear to have spoil it.
On the other hand, Auburn and its fans have a lot on the line as well. If they lose this game, it will mean that for the first time since 1999 Auburn will not qualify for a postseason bowl game. It would end the winning streak that they are so proud of, and it would also mean the beginning of the end of Auburn as the dominant team in this rivalry.
More importantly, this game will determine Tommy Tuberville's future with Auburn. If there is one thing that I am sure of, it is that no matter what the outcome, Nick Saban and his staff will survive. That is not true of Tommy Tuberville and his staff—and believe me, they know it.
As you can see, there is much at stake. Something awful is about to happen to one side, and something wonderful is about to happen to the other. Late Saturday night some fans are going to be crushed, and other fans will be bathing in pure euphoria!
Meanwhile, it is awful quiet out there...a little too quiet, if you ask me.
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