Can you even begin to imagine what the 2011 Iron Bowl will be like?

[BeasFan 3]

We're going to have to wait 10 months, but I can feel my blood pumping even now!

War Eagle!

[Justin5 20]

We should put both crystal footballs on each sideline.

[AUFAN34 0]

We should put both crystal footballs on each sideline.

I agree.

[ShocksMyBrain 9,560]

And Heismans.

[jaredm2012 0]

And Bear Bryant Awards, since a certain Alabama coach hasn't won it and the past three AU coaches have

[BeasFan 3]

Things might get nasty if it turned into a hardware battle!

[mcgufcm 4,109]

I think we should just kick the crap out of them and have fun singing Rammer Jammer.

[AUFAN34 0]

Can we make a 28-27 banner and hang it outside their locker room?

[WinCrimson 61]

I think we should just kick the crap out of them and have fun singing Rammer Jammer.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[WarEagle77 0]

I think we should just kick the crap out of them and have fun singing Rammer Jammer.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Clever

[Auburnfan91 1,408]

I'm sure some Alabama fans are already marking the Iron Bowl as a W for Alabama but I think they'll be in for a surprise. I'm not saying Auburn's going to win because we're losing a lot of players but it's at Auburn this year and that will make a difference. I hope they remember what almost happened in 2009. We got up 14-0 on Alabama and they had to have a long clock killing drive at the end of the game to put Auburn away.

Even though we'll be more inexperienced this year, we'll have more depth and I also think we'll have more talent than we had in 2009. Jordan-Hare should be rocking on Saturday Nov. 26, 2011.

[AUFAN34 0]

I still get mad because we had them beat then lost it.

[Duder 243]

It'll be a brutal game next year. Both teams may well still be in the SECW race. Bama has national title hopes again next year. Couple that with last year's win and the growing animosity amongst the fanbases and it could get nasty inna hurry.

All that being said, I like our chances at home. Richardson has been less than stellar against us and I expect improved secondary play next year. Bama will probably have way more to lose than us, as well. Jordan-Hare is quickly becoming among the toughest in the nation to visit, and it is always turned up a notch for the Turds. I can't wait to order my season tickets!

[AUFAN34 0]

I too, like our chances at home.

[BeasFan 3]

The thing that I expect to rise to a critical point by that time is the Chizik-Saban factor. Help me to remember a time when the coaching strengths and passions were at the level we are these days.

Bear-Shug

Dye-Stallings

who else?

The war of the coaching staffs will be at least as intense as the 4-stars and prize-winning players.

The hype between now and then will start looking like the Cold War, as I see it.

[AURaptor 1,137]

I'll make a $ 1000 bet right here.

If the home team opens up with a 24-0 lead , there will NOT be a come back made by the visiting team.

Any takers ?

[mcgufcm 4,109]

Beas, I think I would include Bowden/Stallings on that list when Terry got to Auburn... by 1994, both schools were off the freaking charts. Bama won the 1992 Championship. Auburn went undefeated in 1993. Auburn was undefeated going into the game (9-0-1), and Bama was undefeated going into the game (10-0). Good coaching matchup there.

Also, Raptor, don't you mean "If the defending national champions open up a 24-0 lead..."?

[BeasFan 3]

Beas, I think I would include Bowden/Stallings on that list when Terry got to Auburn... by 1994, both schools were off the freaking charts.

Agreed. Thanks. Did Tubs ever face a Bama coach in his league?

[mcgufcm 4,109]

Saban. The last two years. That's it.

[BeasFan 3]

The thing that I expect to rise to a critical point by that time is the Chizik-Saban factor. Help me to remember a time when the coaching strengths and passions were at the level we are these days.

Bear-Shug

Dye-Stallings

who else?

The war of the coaching staffs will be at least as intense as the 4-stars and prize-winning players.

The hype between now and then will start looking like the Cold War, as I see it.

To help answer my own question for my own benefit, I grabbed these numbers from

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/alabama/coaching_records.php

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/auburn/coaching_records.php

Some fun things to see:

 Alabama Coaching Records


Coach                First Last Years Games Win Loss Tie  Pct.  
E.B. Beaumont                1892 1892  1   4   2  2 0 0.50000 
Eli Abbott                   1893 1902  4  20   7 13 0 0.35000 
Otto Wagonhurst              1896 1896  1   3   2  1 0 0.66667 
Allen McCants                1897 1897  1   1   1  0 0 1.00000 
W.A. Martin                  1899 1899  1   4   3  1 0 0.75000 
M. Griffin                   1900 1900  1   5   2  3 0 0.40000 
M.H. "Mike" Harvey           1901 1901  1   5   2  1 2 0.60000 
Winton B. Blount             1903 1904  2  17  10  7 0 0.58824 
Jack Leavenworth             1905 1905  1  10   6  4 0 0.60000 
J.W.H. Pollard               1906 1909  4  30  21  4 5 0.78333 
Guy S. Lowman                1910 1910  1   8   4  4 0 0.50000 
D.V. Graves                  1911 1914  4  36  21 12 3 0.62500 
Thomas Kelly                 1915 1917  3  25  17  7 1 0.70000 
Xen C. Scott                 1919 1922  4  41  29  9 3 0.74390 
Wallace W. Wade              1923 1930  8  77  61 13 3 0.81169 
Frank W. Thomas              1931 1946 15 146 115 24 7 0.81164 
Harold D. "Red" Drew         1947 1954  8  89  54 28 7 0.64607 
Jennings B. "Ears" Whitworth 1955 1957  3  30   4 24 2 0.16667 
Paul W. "Bear" Bryant        1958 1982 25 287 232 46 9 0.82404 
Ray Perkins                  1983 1986  4  48  32 15 1 0.67708 
Bill Curry                   1987 1989  3  36  26 10 0 0.72222 
Gene Stallings               1990 1996  7  87  62 25 0 0.71264 
Mike DuBose                  1997 2000  4  47  24 23 0 0.51064 
Dennis Franchione            2001 2002  2  25  17  8 0 0.68000 
Mike Shula                   2003 2006  4  33  10 23 0 0.30303 
Joe Kines                    2006 2006  1   1   0  1 0 0.00000 
Nick L. Saban                2007 2010  4  49  38 11 0 0.77551 

Totals                               116 1164 802 319 43 0.70747 


 Auburn Coaching Records


Coach               First Last Years Games Win  Loss  Tie  Pct.  
D.M. Balliet                 1892 1892  1   1   1  0  0 1.00000 
George Petrie                1891 1892  2   4   2  2  0 0.50000 
G.H. Harvey                  1893 1893  1   4   2  0  2 0.75000 
F.M. Hall                    1894 1894  1   4   1  3  0 0.25000 
John W. Heisman              1895 1899  5  18  12  4  2 0.72222 
Billy Watkins                1900 1901  2  10   6  3  1 0.65000 
Robert S. Kent               1902 1902  1   5   2  2  1 0.50000 
M.H. "Mike" Harvey           1902 1902  1   2   0  2  0 0.00000 
Willis S. "Billy" Bates      1903 1903  1   7   4  3  0 0.57143 
Mike Donahue                 1904 1922 18 146 106 35  5 0.74315 
William S. "Willis" Keinholz 1907 1907  1   9   6  2  1 0.72222 
Boozer Pitts                 1923 1927  3  24   7 11  6 0.41667 
David B. Morey               1925 1927  3  21  10 10  1 0.50000 
George Bohler                1928 1929  2  14   3 11  0 0.21429 
Johnny "Red" Floyd           1929 1929  1   4   0  4  0 0.00000 
Chet A. Wynne                1930 1933  4  39  22 15  2 0.58974 
John F. "Jack" Meagher       1934 1942  9  95  48 37 10 0.55789 
Carl M. Voyles               1944 1947  4  37  15 22  0 0.40541 
Earl M. Brown                1948 1950  3  29   3 22  4 0.17241 
Ralph "Shug" Jordan          1951 1975 25 265 176 83  6 0.67547 
Doug Barfield                1976 1980  5  55  29 25  1 0.53636 
Pat Dye                      1981 1992 12 142  99 39  4 0.71127 
Terry Bowden                 1993 1998  6  65  47 17  1 0.73077 
Bill "Brother" Oliver        1998 1998  1   5   2  3  0 0.40000 
Tommy Tuberville             1999 2008 10 125  85 40  0 0.68000 
Gene Chizik                  2009 2010  2  27  22  5  0 0.81481 


Totals                              119 1157 710 400 47 0.63397 

[BeasFan 3]

I've dropped the pre-1930 sections of both schools, on the theory that few people reading this forum will remember further back.

Maybe you can spot the periods and their coaches where significan history has occurred. If so, point it out.

Putting the coaching history into chronological order makes it a little easier to compare schools, I hope:

   Alabama  
   Coach  
Auburn  
Coach 
                              First Last Yrs Gme Win Loss Tie  Pct. 
Chet A. Wynne                   1930 1933  4  39  22 15  2 0.58974 
  Frank W. Thomas              1931 1946 15 146 115 24  7 0.81164 
John F. "Jack" Meagher          1934 1942  9  95  48 37 10 0.55789 
Carl M. Voyles                  1944 1947  4  37  15 22  0 0.40541 
  Harold D. "Red" Drew         1947 1954  8  89  54 28  7 0.64607    
Earl M. Brown                   1948 1950  3  29   3 22  4 0.17241 
Ralph "Shug" Jordan             1951 1975 25 265 176 83  6 0.67547 
  Jennings B. "Ears" Whitworth 1955 1957  3  30   4 24  2 0.16667 
  Paul W. "Bear" Bryant        1958 1982 25 287 232 46  9 0.82404 
Doug Barfield                   1976 1980  5  55  29 25  1 0.53636 
Pat Dye                         1981 1992 12 142  99 39  4 0.71127 
  Ray Perkins                  1983 1986  4  48  32 15  1 0.67708 
  Bill Curry                   1987 1989  3  36  26 10  0 0.72222 
  Gene Stallings               1990 1996  7  87  62 25  0 0.71264 
Terry Bowden                    1993 1998  6  65  47 17  1 0.73077 
  Mike DuBose                  1997 2000  4  47  24 23  0 0.51064 
Bill "Brother" Oliver           1998 1998  1   5   2  3  0 0.40000 
Tommy Tuberville                1999 2008 10 125  85 40  0 0.68000 
  Dennis Franchione            2001 2002  2  25  17  8  0 0.68000 
  Mike Shula                   2003 2006  4  33  10 23  0 0.30303 
  Joe Kines                    2006 2006  1   1   0  1  0 0.00000 
  Nick L. Saban                2007 2010  4  49  38 11  0 0.77551 
Gene Chizik                     2009 2010  2  27  22  5  0 0.81481 

[BeasFan 3]

For some fun reading on the Iron Bowl, if you hadn't already seen this version, see http://www.ask.com/wiki/Iron_Bowl?qsrc=3044

It may be worth noting that both the current coaches are 50% at the Iron Bowl, Saban 2-2 2007-2010, and Chizik 1-1 2009-2010, so this next one will have the added distinction of being a tie-breaker.

Another interesting read is at http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=5842918 where the last paragraphs read

The rivalry now has an ebb and flow. Alabama no longer feels the tyranny of losing six consecutive games to Auburn. The streak began in 2002, when Dennis Franchione coached the Tide, lasted through Mike Shula's four seasons and went into 2007, Saban's first season.

Tuberville loved trumpeting the streak. After he coached a flag football team in victory on an Air Force base in the Middle East in the spring of 2008, the winning players hoisted him into the air and carried him off the field.

Tuberville held up seven fingers.

"The worst thing is if one team or the other gets on a streak," Housel said. "Then the other side gets lathered up. Those fingers were a constant reminder. I just don't think that was good. It was fun, but what was fun was not necessarily good."

Six months later, Alabama ended the streak with a resounding 36-0 victory. It turned out to be the last game Tuberville coached at Auburn.

"I tell you one damn thing," Housel said. "If Auburn wins, there will be a whole bunch of people holding up one finger. One in a row. Number one in the state. Number one in the nation."

If Auburn wins, Alabama fans may not hold up the same finger.

[tgr4lfe 220]

It'll be a brutal game next year. Both teams may well still be in the SECW race. Bama has national title hopes again next year. Couple that with last year's win and the growing animosity amongst the fanbases and it could get nasty inna hurry.

All that being said, I like our chances at home. Richardson has been less than stellar against us and I expect improved secondary play next year. Bama will probably have way more to lose than us, as well. Jordan-Hare is quickly becoming among the toughest in the nation to visit, and it is always turned up a notch for the Turds. I can't wait to order my season tickets!

How is bama in the NC hunt next year? They've got a new starting QB, lost Ingram and Jones. They've got a lot of guys back on D, which should be good, but going to be difficult for them with a new QB. I could be wrong, but I am not sure there will be an SEC team in contention for the NC, as in the SEC CG winner will likely have at least one loss. Looking at things RIGHT NOW it doesn't seem that there will be any team that will be head and shoulders above the others. I think the West will be as dominant as this past year, with MSU, Arky, bama, LSu and AU capable of winning the division.

Hopefully, by the Iron Bowl the AU OL will have gelled pretty well. I think that is the key to AU's offense next year. With four new starters on the OL, that is going to be critical for them to come together quickly. Playmakers are there at RB and WR and slot, but it all starts with the big boys in the middle.

I think the Iron Bowl will be another close hard fought game in 2011.

[jaredm2012 0]

I think that LSU will be the team to beat in the SEC next year. All the other teams either lose too much or aren't talented enough. South Carolina could improve, they return a lot of playmakers and could be a force.

[Duder 243]

Tgr- Arkansas will not be a viable contender in the West. How is Bama in the MNC hunt? A new QB? Let's rewind to 2009. New QB, new starting RB, loss of Andre Smith...how did that season turn out?

Yes, they lose GMac but most of their o-line is in tact and their secondary and LB corps are in tact. Their d-line loses Dareus but there is talent and now experience on defense. They bring back a two viable running backs with several freshman coming in, talented frosh receivers join Hanks and Maze. They also have a very favorable schedule--similar to ours last year and theirs two years ago.