Voters don't understand this rivalry

[Tigermike 3,054]

An eight point victory may have cost us in the polls. Any voter that penalized AUBURN because of an eight point VICTORY over ALABAMA, has absolutely no idea, has no conception just how heated the AUBURN vs. ALABAMA rivalry is. Any voter that stupid should not be voting.

The AUBURN vs. ALABAMA rivalry is the top rivalry anywhere, in any sport. Ohio St - Michigan does not measure up! Oklahoma - Texas = light weight. SOCAL - UCLA -pass the wine please. FSU - Miami = good games, but not even close.

Voters don't understand this rivalry

Sunday, November 21, 2004

TUSCALOOSA -- They'll never know. Not the writer from the West Coast or the head coach from the Rust Belt.

They'll never understand. Not if they've never spent a November Saturday here. Not fully unless they've lived here.

The Iron Bowl is not about voters or computers. It has nothing to do with margin of victory or strength of schedule.

In the immortal postgame words of Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, "This is not a style-point game."

This game is all about substance. Win it, and you've proved it.

You've got it.

Auburn 21, Alabama 13 was the stuff unbeaten dreams and championship teams are made of. Auburn didn't score first or last, but Auburn scored more than enough when it mattered most.

Auburn didn't score at will or break Alabama's spirit, but Alabama never had the ball in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie or take the lead.

Alabama wasn't the best team Auburn has beaten, but it was the most inspired opponent in the most hostile environment.

That's why Jason Campbell will be remembered by the Auburn family as a special quarterback. He started three games against Alabama and won all three. As far as anyone can remember, no other Auburn quarterback can say the same.

That's why Tuberville should be rewarded by the Auburn hierarchy with a new contract that shows him the money and the love. He has won three straight Iron Bowls and four of five, the past two under the most intense pressure.

That's why the celebration in the north end zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium rivaled any emotion that might be unleashed in the Georgia Dome in two weeks or in Pro Player Stadium come Jan. 4.

In the insightful sideline comment of Auburn basketball legend Charles Barkley, "People are not going to appreciate how big a win this was."

How big was it? It was only the second game this season in which Auburn has trailed. It was the first time this year that Auburn has been shut out for an entire half.

In short, it wasn't Baylor.

Alabama was a terrible trap, and Auburn didn't fall for it. A bitter rival, and Auburn didn't surrender to it.

"People will look at it and say, `They struggled,'" Tuberville said. "Most people that are gonna vote haven't been in this game before."

Will the AP and ESPN/USA Today voters get it? Do the BCS computers have an equation that can measure it?

If a team walks into this game and walks away with one more point, that team has made its point. If a visitor enters this place with a 10-0 record and a No. 2 ranking and exits undefeated, he should go home giddy.

Auburn did, but not before the Tigers felt right at home going crazy right here.

"I ain't been in this rivalry long," said Auburn running backs coach Eddie Gran, "but three in a row, that's pretty strong."

As strong as iron. So Oklahoma and USC can wait. Tennessee, too.

Alabama has come and gone down. It would be the perfect ending, but the perfect season isn't done.

Kevin Scarbinsky's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Write him at kscarbinsky@bhamnews.com.

http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/ks...03229162210.xml

[AUesquire 1]

Great article and good post. I still say if we beat UT anything close to what we did before, that the voters could come around and finally say, "Hmmm, UGA, UA and UT all in a row?" It sure wouldn't hurt to have OU look less than stellar against whatever cupcake they play in the B12CG.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

Great article and good post.  I still say if we beat UT anything close to what we did before, that the voters could come around and finally say, "Hmmm, UGA, UA and UT all in a row?"  It sure wouldn't hurt to have OU look less than stellar against whatever cupcake they play in the B12CG.

125192[/snapback]

I wish someone would explain to me how our win over bama cost us. As I see it:

--we didn't lose any votes. Oklahoma took some votes away from USC but not from us.

--we actually gained slightly in the computer ratings.

--the differential between us and OK in the BCS rating increased by a mere .0016, hardly a big hit. Anyone herd how the Huntsville Times guy voted this week in the AP poll. A lot of us sent e-mails to him and his bosses.

[TigerinBham 1]

That is the reason why we should have not been in a soft zone at the end of the game. Because the voters don't understand the rivalry.

[clantontiger 0]

Voters outside of the state do not know this rivalry. It is never a blow out and it is always close no matter the record. But, they picked up their sunday paper and saw ou 35-0 and saw AU 21-13 and said ou is better. Plain and simple.