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The Iron Bowl, Bitterest Rivalry in College Football

Commentary: #8 Alabama @ #11 Auburn (8-2, 6-1) -6.5

November 19, 2005 /Jordan-Hare Stadium/ 2:30PM CBS

David K. Ward

AUNation.net

11-15-05

BEFORE THE GAME: The Iron Bowl. How much can be written about this game? It is likely THE MOST BITTER RIVALRY in college sports. Bragging rights is not even close. This is a feud that has sent folks to the grave and split families. I know my family is one of those. It has ruined marriages. It has stopped marriages. The intense emotions felt about this game run deeper than can be imagined by most college football fans. Unless you have been to an Iron Bowl yourself you really, truly just don’t get it. The depth of paranoia over this game knows no logic. Coaching careers are made or broken on this game. For a few hours on a Saturday, there is no traffic anywhere in the state of Alabama. We keep track of calendar years by the Iron Bowl. You would never buy a car or home in a year you lost. It is the be all and end all of almost every man, woman, and child in the state. Ain’t it great?

HISTORY: For Auburn, the series stands at 30-38-1. The Crimson Tide Dominated during the 60s & 70s, Alabama’s Glory Years. The main difference in the series being Bear Bryant’s 9 year run from 1973 to 1981. But Auburn owned the series before and ever since. Only during the Bear years did Alabama gain the lead. Alabama trails since Bear’s retirement, and is on a three game losing streak at present. How intense is this rivalry? Bill Curry was at Alabama and had a #2 Ranked team with a #1 Ranked offense and #2 Ranked Defense. He lost the game and was removed as Head Coach at Alabama. He won 10 games that year. He was rewarded with a brick through his office window for losing to Auburn. The Auburn Meltdown in the 2001 game resulted in a 31-7 upset that almost cost Coach Tommy Tuberville his job. Many think that game is Auburn’s lowest point in many years. The AU Family dubbed it “Black Saturday.” That game cost Tuberville two assistant coaches. It also set the stage for Auburn’s resurgence from 2002 on. In 2002, Auburn (7-3) went to play #9 Alabama (9-1) with only the fourth string running back and third string full back. Auburn upset Alabama 17-7 and has never really looked back.

ALABAMA

On Offense: Alabama ranks #9 in Scoring Offense and #7 in Total Offense in the SEC. No discussion on Offense this year would be complete without All-World WR Tyrone Prothro. With him, Alabama was on a roll. He was worth 150-170 yards per game. The hot receiver in the Bama offense was also a spark for the rest. He was exciting….no BREATHTAKING, to watch play. His catch against Southern Mississippi may be the play of the year. He broke is leg against Florida and is out for the year. Here is wishing him a speedy and full recovery. Prothro is missed sorely by the Bama Offense. Since he left, Bama went from averaging 30 ppg, good for #2 in the SEC, to a paltry 17 ppg, or 9.4 ppg inside the SEC. That is good for only #9 in the Conference. Bama averages 217 ypg in the air, good for #8 in the conference. They average 153 ypg, good for #4 in the Conference on the ground. JR Kenneth Darby is Bama’s Top Rusher at 107ypg. The Tide’s Top Receivers are DJ Hall at 62 ypg and Keith Brown at 55 ypg.

On Defense: Bama is at home playing Defense. They are truly the best in the conference by a fair margin. But then again they have to be. Being Ranked #1 in Total, Scoring, Rush, and Pass Defense is imperative to compete with such a lackluster Offense. The Tide is allowing only 9 ppg. This is an outstanding Defense and is Coached and led by Joe Kines. Their top Defender is DeMeco Ryans. He leads this unit into battle. They are a senior heavy group that is hungry and haven’t really been scored upon since the Florida game. Since then, the Tide Defense has given up only 8 ppg.

AUBURN: Auburn still Ranks 1st in the SEC in Scoring Offense and #4 in Scoring Defense. Auburn also Ranks #1 in the SEC in Total Offense and #5 in Total Defense.

On Defense: The Auburn Defense took a beating from the very well prepared Georgia Bulldog team. The effects of two weeks to prepare were very obvious as Georgia pounded the Tigers for 440+ yard and 30 points. Before the game the question that most were asking was if Shockley was healthy. He was a full 100% in anyone’s eyes. DJ Shockley threw for eye-popping 304 yds. That Shockley threw for that much is shocking. Auburn had never given up close to those kinds of numbers. But Shockley has another awesome statistic working for him. His quarterback rating is an unbelievable 156. Folks, that is better than Jason Campbell had during Auburn’s 2004 SEC Championship year! Only Danny Wuerffel at Florida has had better numbers. Besides, Auburn DBs dropped at least 3 sure interceptions during the game. That game skewed what had been very impressive numbers for the Defense.

On Offense: Auburn rates #2 in the SEC in Rushing Offense and #4 in Passing Offense. They have quick, talented, and successful running backs that move the ball. Kenny Irons does not only impress his Dad, he is impressing the Nation. Irons leads the SEC in Rushing. His performance in the Georgia game cemented him as another in a long line of great backs at “Tailback U.” The Auburn rush game is lead by a very good offensive line. Rushing the ball is what Auburn does well, very well. Cox now has his big signature game behind him. He has led two late game winning drives this year, one against LSU that resulted in a missed FG, one against Georgia on national television that will be remembered forever. Auburn is the most balanced attack Alabama has seen this year.

SUMMATION: This Iron Bowl will likely be almost a repeat of the 2004 Edition. I think Alabama will score early and then whither away. It is how they have played all season, or at least since the Florida game. Auburn should just play consistent aggressive ball and wait for the Bama Defense to wear out. In 2004, Auburn came out and scored the first three times they touched the ball in the second half. I bet the game follows that script again. The Bama Seniors should come out fired up taller than a Georgia pine. Unfortunately, games last four quarters, emotion often does not.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: This game will end in a very close defensive struggle. Bama must score first. Their season strategy has been to score first, score just enough, and hold on with the Defense carrying them. It has worked nine times so far. Look for Alabama to sell totally out to stop Irons and confuse Cox with ceaseless blitzing. They will throw the playbook at Auburn on Offense. Auburn has a balanced attack and a very good Defense too. Auburn will counter with a very good run game and just enough passing to keep Bama honest. Ultimately, Auburn has a tried and true method to move the ball. They exploit the Bama DB’s height with taller receivers. AU has thrown jump balls for necessary yardage over the past few years. The best weapons Auburn has are Depth and Talent, the double edged sword that has beaten Alabama the last three years. Depth and Talent take time though. They do win consistently, but they show up late in the game.

PREDICTION: Betting Line: Auburn by 6.5 Take the points and Alabama. This one should be a very intense day at the office. Auburn is at home in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn has the depth and now the maturity to win. Bama Seniors are fighting for their legacies on Saturday. Their careers are at stake. If they lose, they will be only the second team to have never beaten Auburn. They are not going to let that happen lightly. They will fight like never before. In the end, Auburn should win, but the margin will be more like 3-4 points, not 7.