10 Reasons Why the Iron Bowl is the Greatest Rivalry in Sports
Posted on July 14, 2011 by Jacob Bunn
Here are ten reasons why I think the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn is the greatest rivalry in sports.
10. Hatred
Most all Alabama and Auburn fans simply do not pull for the other team under any circumstances, but it goes even deeper than that. When recruits who have Alabama and Auburn in their final list of potential destinations make their choices, fans of both schools celebrate and despair with each announcement. It doesn’t stop there, though. Both groups of fans (and sometimes beat writers) want to prove that the other program is cheating. And when one school does get nailed by the NCAA (and both have been caught before) the other fan base usually rejoices.
9. WJOX Radio
Arguably the most influential sports media outlet in the state of Alabama, WJOX 94.5 FM in Birmingham lives the Iron Bowl every day of the week. In the morning, WJOX features a show with former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker and former Auburn kicker Al DelGreco. And in WJOX’s afternoon slot, Paul Finebaum, who has been named the most powerful media member in the SEC by the Orlando Sentinel, talks to Alabama and Auburn fans on a daily basis.
8. Profitability
Because so many residents of the state of Alabama care so deeply about this game, local businesses can make a fortune on selling just Iron Bowl memorabilia. There aren’t many other regular season games that have that much influence.
7. Gameday Atmosphere
Unlike any other college football game, the Iron Bowl is intense regardless of the records of the two teams. Both groups of fans are in a battle of smack talk until the designated kickoff time nears. Since both teams are so close in distance, many fans of the visiting school travel to Tuscaloosa or Auburn just to tailgate.
6. Great Coaches
Of course, legendary Alabama coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant needs no introduction. At one point under his watch, Alabama racked up nine straight against Auburn. But there have been other great coaches in the rivalry as well like Shug Jordan, Wallace Wade, Gene Stallings, Pat Dye, and now Nick Saban. During the last decade, Tommy Tuberville coached his Auburn teams to six straight wins over Alabama. Great coaching is a trademark of this rivalry.
5. Unpredictability
In 1972, Alabama was the favorite and maintained a 16-0 lead in the fourth quarter. Auburn then proceeded to kick a field goal and block two punts, which were returned for touchdowns, to capture the win. There are many examples of the favored team not claiming victory throughout Iron Bowl history.
4. The Meeting is Once a Year
In most other sports, a rivalry could be played more than once in a season. In college football, two teams in the same division of a conference will only meet once. So, a team better show up ready to play because it is a long wait for another chance.
3. Close Proximity
In a lot of college football rivalries, the two teams are separated by a state boundary. Throughout history, many college football fans have pegged Ohio State/Michigan as the best rivalry in the sport, but the year-round intensity in that contest could never rise to the Iron Bowl’s level because the two teams are in separate states.
2. Harvey Updyke
When a grown man will call a national radio show to boast about poisoning a tree because of something the rival program did that angered him, I believe you can call it an intense rivalry.
1. Championships
Alabama won the BCS Championship in 2009, and Auburn won it last season. Since the BCS era began, name me two instate rivals that have accomplished that. Plus, the end of the year rivaly usually has direct implications on the SEC Championship Game.
Email Jacob at jacob@bunnsports.com and follow him on Twitter at @JacobBunn
