Iron Bowl Memories: Looking Back at Twenty Years

As we get ready for the latest installment of the Iron Bowl, this Alabama fan felt it was time to reminisce.  The Iron Bowl holds some of the best and worst memories from my childhood and my adult life.  The last one that I failed to attend was the 1989 edition, which just so happens to be exactly 20 Iron Bowls ago. 

I will give you my best five and my worst five, but bear in mind that these are through very crimson-colored glasses. 

THE WORST:

5.  1995

If you had told me before the game that the Freddie Kitchens-led Alabama offense would roll up 475 yards, I would have felt pretty good about the outcome.  However, on 4th-and-22 with seconds left, Kitchens' pass to Curtis Brown was ruled incomplete in the back of the end zone. 

From my seat in the end zone, the play occurred directly in front of me.  The picture the following day in the Birmingham News would confirm what I thought I had seen:  Brown in control of the ball with one foot in-bounds.  With probation in full effect and dark days looming, this was a tough pill to swallow.

4.  1997

During my freshman year at Alabama, we had very little to cheer about.  However, Alabama looked better than it had all year and was in position to win, bleeding the clock late in the fourth quarter. 

With one more first down needed to seal the win, a controversial screen pass was called.  The play was executed well, but Ed Scissum fumbled, and Alabama lost 18-17.

3.  2000

To this day, this was one of the worst experiences of my life.  We don't often see sleet in Tuscaloosa, but we saw it that day.  The lasting memory of my last Iron Bowl as a college student would not be the dominating defensive performance by Auburn, but the look of hatred in my date's eyes as she told me she was leaving because her hair had frozen...solid.  'Bama loses 9-0.

2.  1989

As a child, I remember thinking that this was a foregone conclusion.  I wasn't old enough to understand Las Vegas point spreads, but I knew that we were a huge favorite—undefeated and on track to play for the first national championship of my lifetime. 

We were beaten soundly, 30-20.  Auburn ran the streak to four in a row.  This was the low point until....

1.  2005

Forever to be remembered as the Brodie Sack Game, this was misery in its purest form.  I had seats on the first row, above the Alabama tunnel.  I remember looking at my wife and saying, "Do you think Shula looks scared?  I think he looks scared." 

Looking back, he looked like the poor guy in Hostel, just before that crazy guy went medieval on him with a power drill.  I also remember Chris Capps missing "eleventy" billion blocks and Brodie in the fetal position.  I think I'm going to be sick again.

Now to the good....

5.  1990 

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