Auburn vs. Alabama: 8 Reasons the Iron Bowl Is Football's Wildest Rivalry

To most, football is simply a sport. To an Alabama or Auburn fan, football has become a way of life. There are some fans of both schools that will surely deny that point of fact allegation, but the conversation would end with them telling you why the Tigers or Tide were better than their counterpart this year, no matter the outcome of the annual rivalry game.

The Iron Bowl is a rivalry that never sleeps, and it doesn’t disappear after the football season is long gone. In all actuality, it may intensify as the offseason rolls along. With the recent success that these teams have seen on the field, the Iron Bowl has reached new heights.

The Iron Bowl has always fueled bad blood and tough feelings from both fanbases, but in the past three seasons, this rivalry has turned into an extremely nasty one. It has always been known inside the state that this game brought out the crazy in both fanbases, but the recent off-the-field antics have brought the rivalry into living rooms across the country.

There are numerous other games across the country that are rich in tradition and bring amazing story lines to the college football landscape, but no other game has the intensity and passion that the Iron Bowl possesses. With one day left to kickoff and 365 days of bragging rights on the line, here are eight reasons why the Iron Bowl is college football’s wildest rivalry.

Four Consecutive Years of National Title Implications

It has been a wild ride in the state of Alabama for the past four years. In 2008, Nick Saban had appeared at Alabama, and Tommy Tuberville was on his way out at Auburn. It looked as if the Tide was on its way to in-state dominance over the Tigers for years to come.

Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide had appeared mediocre in 2007, but in 2008, they were pushing toward the SEC Championship game and had hopes for a national title berth, while the Tigers were looking at the possibility of making bowl eligibility. The Tide smashed the Tigers in Tuberville’s last season, and the Tide went on to lose the SEC title game.

It was clear that the Tide had returned, however.

In 2009, Gene Chizik was in his first season on the Plains riding in from Iowa State with a 5-19 record as a head coach. Needless to say, compared to Saban, Chizik looked like a seat warmer while the Tigers found a better option.

The Tide were pushing toward a second SEC title berth in as many years, again carrying national title aspirations into the game. The Tigers opened up the game with the lead and didn’t let go until late in the fourth quarter. Chizik’s Tigers played hard, but couldn’t finish to earn the win as the Tide pushed forward with a victory, and eventually on to win the 2009 national title.

Just last season, the Tigers were marching toward a SEC title berth, and eventually, a national title of their own, as Cam Newton led one of the most electric offenses in recent college football history. Despite a very unwelcoming crowd and a 24-point deficit, the Tigers pulled out the biggest come from behind victory in Iron Bowl history.

This season will be the fourth year in a row that the Iron Bowl will have national title implications hanging in the balance, as the Crimson Tide are looking to make their way to the title game with a win. It is amazing what both of these teams have accomplished in the past, but the most recent years have been incredible.

One State, Two Teams, Two Choices

There is a decision that every person must make once they have become a resident in the state of Alabama. It doesn’t matter if you were born in the state, if you attended one of its colleges or universities or if you are simply a move-in, you will have to decide if you are for the Tigers or the Tide.

There is an occasional citizen that may say “I really don’t mind either way," but they usually will tip their hand in the favor of one or the other by the end of the conversation. Some people are simply born into their personal fandom, while others make their own way.

It is one of the funniest conversations to witness when two people have been talking for a while upon first meeting and the question is asked, are you Auburn or ‘Bama? How quickly the conversation subsequently subsides will give away whether they pull for the same football team.

This rivalry affects every facet of the lives of its fans. The rivalry never sleeps. There are other teams in the state, with UAB, Troy and South Alabama being a few, but the majority of the folks in the state will still have a favorite between Alabama or Auburn. 

State Legislature Involved in Game Re-Birth

The Tigers and Tide first met on the football field in 1893. They played in continuous years until the 1907 season, when the Tide and Tigers could not agree on a how much per diem to pay the players or where to get officials for the game.

Instead of settling the dispute with compromise, the two schools halted play. It wasn’t until 1947 that the state legislature passed a resolution that urged the two schools to resume play. Despite the issuance of the resolution, the institutions were not bound by law to continue play.

Since the resolution appeared to have no effect, the state Congress then threatened to withhold state funding from each school unless the game was resumed. In 1948, terms were agreed upon, and the Iron Bowl has carried on annually ever since. 

ODK Foy Sportsmanship Trophy Ceremony

The ODK Foy Sportsmanship Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of the Iron Bowl. The award ceremony is held every year during the first basketball game between the two schools at the winning team’s home court.

What makes this tradition so unique is not only the fact that the losing team’s SGA president must present the winning team with the award, but also the fact that the losing SGA president must also sing the winning team's fight song in front of a hostile crowd.

This is one of the better traditions that is found in the rivalry and a positive good show of faith by the losing school. Despite the bad blood that flows between the two schools, this is a tradition that deserves to live on forever. 

365 days of Iron Bowl Conversation

With no major pro sports teams in the state of Alabama, the fans of these two schools have no sports to follow outside of their favorite college team. Football just happens to be the most popular sport around.

It doesn’t matter what month of the year it is, football discussions are rampant in the state. Whether you are at the barbershop or in church, there is likely to be a discussion heard involving the Tigers and Tide.

If it isn’t recruiting season, it’s spring ball or fall camp. Either way, this game is always on the minds of the folks in this state. It will constantly be a conversation piece, and even the fuel for an argument or two.

Passion That Runs Deeper Than Blood

The Tigers and Tide bring a unique feeling to their fanbases. There are numerous families that are divided on game day and beyond because of their choice to pull for the Tigers or the Tide.

At times, there are even disagreements that last a lifetime between family members. There is always the idea that family must stick together, but in Alabama, it all depends on who you pull for on college football Saturdays. It may not always be that serious, but it is close. 

This game goes well beyond anything normal found in civilized society. The week leading up to the Iron Bowl things get really odd, as family members will even avoid lengthy Thanksgiving dinners to dodge conversations about the upcoming game. 

Conspiracy Theories That Could Form Documentaries

If you happen to be a fan of conspiracy theories, look no further than the Iron Bowl. Every day, there is a new rumor that is dumped claiming to be the final straw in the numerous cheating scandals that plague both programs, according to sources of course.

Here, outkickthecoverage.com shows that some of the message board investigations and rumors make it into the somewhat mainstream blog world that surrounds college football. There have been issues with of substance in the past for both schools, but as it stands today, neither team has had a major rules violation under their current administrations.

These two fanbases will do anything to get the upper hand over one another however, even committing violations in one another’s name in the attempt to cause NCAA violations for their hated rival. While some accusations may have legs, most of the fingers are pointing in all the wrong directions. 

Lose the Iron Bowl, Lose Your Job

The Iron Bowl has become such an important piece of culture that it has been known to effect the future of head coaches. The rumor goes that a coach could lose 11 games a year, but as long as they win the Iron Bowl, their job is safe.

One of the most obvious instances of this standard was in 1989, when then-head coach Bill Curry stepped down to take the job at Kentucky in an apparent forced out of the job type coupe. Curry was very successful at Alabama, making it to a 26-10 mark in his three years there, even winning the SEC Coach of the Year award in 1989. Despite his record and accolades, he was 0-3 against Auburn. He was gone by 1990.

This is the most important game on the schedule every single year for these two teams. Add to that the plot lines that have been added with both team’s recent success and the poisioning of the Toomer’s oaks, and it becomes apparent what this game means.

Add one more game to the history books after this Saturday, as the Iron Bowl holds the key to the national title yet again.