The legendary coach came to Auburn and changed the attitude immediately. A former assistant coach under Bear Bryant at Alabama, Dye decided it was time for the Tigers to stop focusing on their in-state rivals, and start focusing on their own problems.

"Because of the success that Alabama had had in football," Dye said, "maybe Auburn had developed a little bit of an inferiority complex as far as that particular game was concerned. It appeared to me that when I got here that Auburn people worried too much about what Alabama was doing.

"I tried to get the message across that Alabama had a great program, and there was nothing we could do about that," he said.

Pretty soon, Auburn had a great program too. Under Dye, Auburn went 99-39-4 in 12 seasons. It was a new era for Auburn Tigers football. One that included the first ever Iron Bowl in Auburn. The 1989 game ended with a 30-20 Auburn upset over the #2 ranked Crimson Tide. It is one of Dye's fondest memories today.

"It was a special day for all the Auburn people because we had been playing Alabama in Birmingham for years and the press and some of the people wanted to say it was a neutral site," Dye said. "But it wasn't a neutral site, and that game should be played on campus."

You might think that Dye, who currently serves as a Special Advisor to the President at Auburn, is partial to both Alabama and Auburn, considering he spent time at each university. You'd be wrong.

"I'm not both," he said. "I was all Alabama when I was at Alabama. When I came to Auburn in '81, I've been all Auburn ever since."

Auburn knows how to play football. The school also knows how to put on a pep rally. About 24 hours before game time, the students took the streets at Toomer's Corner. They started chanting and screaming at 5:15.

"It's great...to be...an Auburn Tiger," they yelled, resonating through downtown Auburn.

At 5:30 they stampeded onto College Avenue, hundreds of them setting up shop in front of a vacant stage. About 45 minutes later, Dye came out to get them fired up. Remember, this is Auburn-Florida tomorrow. So what did the Coach say first?

"Go to hell, Alabama!"

The crowd erupted. It's been over a decade since Dye has coached, but he still knows how to work people into frenzy.

"You can play a big part in tomorrow's game," he told the Auburn students.

"Don't let them take the fans out of the game," he exclaimed.

Pat Dye loves Auburn, and Auburn loves Pat Dye. He will be watching what happens on the Plains tomorrow and enjoying every minute of it.

"It's special," Dye said about Auburn football. "It's a lot more than just a football game itself. It's a social event, and a way of life. People plan their whole years around football season."

They do that thanks to people like Pat Dye.