Florida Vs. Alabama: A Modern Day 'Ten-Year War' in the Making

Is it possible that Saban vs. Meyer is the modern day Woody vs. Bo?  The "Ten-Year War" between Ohio State and Michigan from 1969-1978 was legendary.  The Florida and Alabama series is quickly approaching the same level of significance, maybe even more considering the SEC/BCS championships between the two universities.  Round three is Saturday night.

Woody and Bo shared similar backgrounds and character.  Both were from small towns in Ohio.  Both were gritty, tough, disciplined, and demanding.  Bo played for Woody at Miami University and coached with him at OSU.  Despite being fierce competitors on the field, they were friends with mutual admiration for each other. 

Saban and Meyer share similar backgrounds and character too.  Both played college football in Ohio, both coached under Earle Bruce, both started their head coaching careers in the MAC, and like Woody and Bo, both are extraordinarily focused, competitive, and driven. 

All four coaches have established sizable coaching trees as well.  The parallels between them are remarkable. 

In ten years, Bo edged Woody 5-4-1.  Their battles were renowned because championships and pride were always on the line when the Buckeyes and Wolverines collided.  This was “the” game for a decade.

The Florida and Alabama series is beginning to look the same.  Behind a Tebowing effort, the Gators beat the Tide in the 2008 SEC championship, and capped off the season with a second BCS title.  Last year, the Tide cruelly repaid the Gators in the SEC title game by pounding Mark Ingram down their throats in route to earning Bama’s first national title since 1992.  Tit for tat. 

Round three marks the first time Meyer and Saban will play in the regular season.  Think the intensity will be any less?  Hardly.

The Gators and Tide understand that they are the standard bearers within the SEC, probably all of college football.  LSU, SC, and Auburn are all players, but Florida and Alabama are the heavyweights.  The winner stays in the hunt for the BCS title game.  The loser will not be eliminated, but they will need some luck and help to climb back into contention.  It is impossible to measure the pleasure the winner will take in knowing they delivered a potential knockout blow to their rival. 

The value of the Florida and Alabama rivalry rises every year.  Meyer and Saban are two characters helping create some of the best sports theater ever made.  The unforgettable moments in their games are embedded in our minds that will be shared for generations.  The games will live on forever, and if we are fortunate, Meyer and Saban will stay at these schools for a long time. 

** To Sooner and Longhorn fans, after 11 years, the Mack Brown vs. Bob Stoops rivalry is also a legendary series.  This article could easily be written about them too.