At one point, Nix said, "I'm not afraid to hide it. I never have been, that I don't have a whole lot of love for them."

No kidding. Nix of course was talking about the Crimson Tide.

Nix, now the offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, is best-known for his work in the 1993 Iron Bowl. The Alabama native came off the bench to replace an injured Stan White and led the Tigers to a stirring comeback victory over their hated rivals.

"Dream come true," he said. "I mean, it was something that as a kid, you do that in the backyard."

Nix is from Alabama, and he grew up rooting for Auburn. He remembers, even as a youngster, getting into fights on the playground with Alabama fans. In some states, residents root for teams from all over the country, but in Alabama, there are only two options.

"You pick a team and that's who you cheer for your whole life," Nix said. "So for 365 days a year, every day of the year, every day of your life, you're either an Auburn or Alabama fan, and that's all that matters to you."

The odd part is Nix actually considered (not seriously, he insists) playing quarterback for the Tide, who recruited him out of high school. He attended some Alabama football games and thought about it, but eventually decided to stay true to his roots.

"I was able to call Gene Stallings and tell him I was going to Auburn. So that was another good, good moment for me."

So what is the reason for this deep-rooted hatred that defines the Iron Bowl? Where does it come from?

I think I found out when I asked Nix what his least favorite thing about Alabama is.

"Probably that forever they thought they were better than Auburn... They actually thought that they were a better, higher class, or whatever, than Auburn, and that Auburn was a lesser place than they were. I think that - I think that's the root of the rivalry. I think that that sums everything up."

Nix explained that years ago, Alabama called Auburn a "Cow College," and the state didn't give funding to Auburn so Alabama could have everything it needed. He also said Alabama's refusal to travel to Auburn until the 80s showed that the state school thought itself to be better than lowly Auburn.

"That's sort of the difference between Auburn and Alabama," Nix said. "Alabama never felt like they had to come to Auburn to play. They always felt like they were better."

This year's game has nothing at stake except for bragging rights. There have been more meaningful Iron Bowls in the past. None of that will matter on Saturday. Whether both teams are undefeated or both teams are out of the National Championship picture, an entire state will look at this one game as the season's most important. The passion will be on display, and so will the pure hatred.

"As far as I'm concerned," Nix said, "they could do away with football (at Alabama) and I'd be just fine. It wouldn't bother me at all... I'm one of those that grew up, I would have cheered for the Communists before I would have cheered for Alabama."

Wow. I guess this rivalry might just be the most intense of them all. Can't wait to find out this weekend.

And for you Tide fans, I know this blog entry might have been a little one-sided. But don't worry. We'll be meeting plenty of Alabama fans who can tell us what they hate about Auburn.

Iron Bowl week has begun!