Rough week, but let's focus on the positives. Alabama leads the series 42–35–1. Via Wikipedia, here are some of Alabama's Iron Bowl highlights .. What are your favorite Iron Bowl memories?
1948: Rivalry Renewed – The rivalry resumed after being suspended for 41 years due issues related to player per diems and officiating. Alabama defeated Auburn 55–0 at Birmingham's Legion Field. It remains the largest margin of victory in series history[SUP].
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1964: First Televised Iron Bowl – Played on November 26, 1964, this was the first Iron Bowl broadcast on national television. Quarterback Joe Namath led Alabama to a 21–14 victory over Auburn. Alabama finished the regular season 10–0, and won the SEC Championship. This was the second of two Iron Bowls whereafter the winner earned the AP National Championship. National championship trophies from the AP and UPI were awarded prior to the bowl games in 1964.
1967: The Run in the Mud – This was the first night game of the series. Thunderstorms soaked Legion Field, turning the field muddy. The game was frequently stopped to clear raincoats and other wet weather gear from the field. Late in the game, Alabama quarterback Kenny Stabler ran 47 yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 7–3 victory. Even though Stabler appeared to run out of bounds the referees did not stop the play because the sidelines had been washed away in the mud.
1971: The Undefeateds – Both teams were playing for a berth in the Orange Bowl to face # 1-ranked Nebraska for the national championship. In the game # 3 Alabama defeated # 5 Auburn 31–7. The game featured Alabama's Heisman Trophy finalist Johnny Musso, and Auburn's Heisman Trophy winner, Pat Sullivan. The victory clinched the SEC Championship for Alabama that season[SUP].
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1981: 315 – Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant earned his 315th career victory after Alabama defeated Auburn 28–17 in 1st year head coach Pat Dye, a former "Bear" Bryant assistant coach. With the victory, Coach Bryant passed Amos Alonzo Stagg's winning record and became the all-time winningest FBS coach. Since then, Coach Bryant's wins have been surpassed by Florida State's Bobby Bowden, but Bryant remains second in the List of college football coaches with 200 wins. Alabama shared the SEC Championship that season with Georgia.
1984: Wrong Way Bo – Late in the game Auburn trailed by two-points, and had 4th-and-goal from the one-yard line. Coach Pat Dye opted to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal. The ball was pitched to Auburn running back Brent Fullwood. Bo Jackson ran the wrong direction on the block, causing Fullwood to be forced out of bounds by an Alabama defender, Rory Turner. Alabama won the game 17–15.[SUP]
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1985: The Kick – After four lead changes in the fourth quarter, Alabama had the ball on their own 12-yard line, trailing by one point with 37 seconds remaining. Alabama quarterback Mike Shula led the offense to the Auburn 36 yard line. Alabama kicker Van Tiffin made a series-record-tying 52-yard field goal as time expired, and Alabama won the game 25–23.
1990: Tide Breaks the Streak – In Gene Stallings' first season as head coach, Alabama defeated Auburn 16–7 in a defensive struggle. The victory ended Auburn's four-game winning streak in the series. The Tide finished the regular season with a record of 7–4 after opening with three losses.
1994: The Inch that Stole Christmas – # 3 Alabama defeated # 6 Auburn 21–14. Auburn's drive late in the game ended when they were denied a first-down by approximately one inch. The victory ended Auburn's 21–game unbeaten streak, and earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game for the third straight season.
1996: Gene's Farewell – Alabama came from behind to beat Auburn 24–23 in the final minutes of Gene Stallings' final Iron Bowl as Alabama head coach. The win earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game for the fourth time in five years. Later inducted into the Hall of Fame Coach Stallings finished his career with a 5–2 record over Alabama's in-state rival.
1999: Alabama's Win on the Plains – Alabama defeated Auburn 28–17, giving the Crimson Tide its first victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The win earned Alabama a berth in the 1999 SEC Championship game. Alabama won the SEC Championship in 1999.
2008: The Beat Down in T-town – # 1 Alabama defeated Auburn 36–0 in Tommy Tuberville's last game as Auburn's head coach. The win resulted in a 12–0 regular season for Alabama (first time in SEC history), and earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game. This also ended Auburn's 6 year winning streak over Alabama.
2009: The Drive – Auburn led #2 Alabama 21–20 with 8:27 left in the game. Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy led a drive starting at the Alabama 21-yard line, completing seven consecutive passes, including a touchdown pass to third-string tailback Roy Upchurch with 1:24 remaining. Alabama won the game 26–21 en route to an SEC Championship rematch with #1 ranked Florida.
1948: Rivalry Renewed – The rivalry resumed after being suspended for 41 years due issues related to player per diems and officiating. Alabama defeated Auburn 55–0 at Birmingham's Legion Field. It remains the largest margin of victory in series history[SUP].
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1964: First Televised Iron Bowl – Played on November 26, 1964, this was the first Iron Bowl broadcast on national television. Quarterback Joe Namath led Alabama to a 21–14 victory over Auburn. Alabama finished the regular season 10–0, and won the SEC Championship. This was the second of two Iron Bowls whereafter the winner earned the AP National Championship. National championship trophies from the AP and UPI were awarded prior to the bowl games in 1964.
1967: The Run in the Mud – This was the first night game of the series. Thunderstorms soaked Legion Field, turning the field muddy. The game was frequently stopped to clear raincoats and other wet weather gear from the field. Late in the game, Alabama quarterback Kenny Stabler ran 47 yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 7–3 victory. Even though Stabler appeared to run out of bounds the referees did not stop the play because the sidelines had been washed away in the mud.
1971: The Undefeateds – Both teams were playing for a berth in the Orange Bowl to face # 1-ranked Nebraska for the national championship. In the game # 3 Alabama defeated # 5 Auburn 31–7. The game featured Alabama's Heisman Trophy finalist Johnny Musso, and Auburn's Heisman Trophy winner, Pat Sullivan. The victory clinched the SEC Championship for Alabama that season[SUP].
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1981: 315 – Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant earned his 315th career victory after Alabama defeated Auburn 28–17 in 1st year head coach Pat Dye, a former "Bear" Bryant assistant coach. With the victory, Coach Bryant passed Amos Alonzo Stagg's winning record and became the all-time winningest FBS coach. Since then, Coach Bryant's wins have been surpassed by Florida State's Bobby Bowden, but Bryant remains second in the List of college football coaches with 200 wins. Alabama shared the SEC Championship that season with Georgia.
1984: Wrong Way Bo – Late in the game Auburn trailed by two-points, and had 4th-and-goal from the one-yard line. Coach Pat Dye opted to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal. The ball was pitched to Auburn running back Brent Fullwood. Bo Jackson ran the wrong direction on the block, causing Fullwood to be forced out of bounds by an Alabama defender, Rory Turner. Alabama won the game 17–15.[SUP]
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1985: The Kick – After four lead changes in the fourth quarter, Alabama had the ball on their own 12-yard line, trailing by one point with 37 seconds remaining. Alabama quarterback Mike Shula led the offense to the Auburn 36 yard line. Alabama kicker Van Tiffin made a series-record-tying 52-yard field goal as time expired, and Alabama won the game 25–23.
1990: Tide Breaks the Streak – In Gene Stallings' first season as head coach, Alabama defeated Auburn 16–7 in a defensive struggle. The victory ended Auburn's four-game winning streak in the series. The Tide finished the regular season with a record of 7–4 after opening with three losses.
1994: The Inch that Stole Christmas – # 3 Alabama defeated # 6 Auburn 21–14. Auburn's drive late in the game ended when they were denied a first-down by approximately one inch. The victory ended Auburn's 21–game unbeaten streak, and earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game for the third straight season.
1996: Gene's Farewell – Alabama came from behind to beat Auburn 24–23 in the final minutes of Gene Stallings' final Iron Bowl as Alabama head coach. The win earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game for the fourth time in five years. Later inducted into the Hall of Fame Coach Stallings finished his career with a 5–2 record over Alabama's in-state rival.
1999: Alabama's Win on the Plains – Alabama defeated Auburn 28–17, giving the Crimson Tide its first victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The win earned Alabama a berth in the 1999 SEC Championship game. Alabama won the SEC Championship in 1999.
2008: The Beat Down in T-town – # 1 Alabama defeated Auburn 36–0 in Tommy Tuberville's last game as Auburn's head coach. The win resulted in a 12–0 regular season for Alabama (first time in SEC history), and earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game. This also ended Auburn's 6 year winning streak over Alabama.
2009: The Drive – Auburn led #2 Alabama 21–20 with 8:27 left in the game. Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy led a drive starting at the Alabama 21-yard line, completing seven consecutive passes, including a touchdown pass to third-string tailback Roy Upchurch with 1:24 remaining. Alabama won the game 26–21 en route to an SEC Championship rematch with #1 ranked Florida.
