You want to know how important the Iron Bowl is in the state of Alabama?

It might have cost Mike Shula his job.

When we went to the Iron Bowl a few weeks ago, I asked a number of people who either cover or watch Alabama regularly about Shula's job security. Most people said his status was uncertain. He might come back. He might get fired. I would say that the general feeling was, if people had to pick one outcome, Shula would be let go.

But I think he might have sealed his fate with some questionable coaching decisions that made him the first Crimson Tide coach ever to lose four consecutive games to Auburn.

Continue reading "Shula Out as 'Bama Head Coach" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The formula for victory was a familiar one for the Auburn Tigers. Run the ball, run the ball, play some defense, and run the ball. Or in other words, a steady dose of Irons, both Kenny and David.

In the end, it was a good game and a great experience. The Tigers jumped out to a 14-3 lead with just under ten minutes left in the second quarter. It was basically Quentin Groves 14 - Alabama 3, as the Auburn defensive end blew past Alabama's right tackle, Chris Capps, and forced a fumble from quarterback John Parker Wilson on two consecutive possessions to set up the Auburn offense. First, Brad Lester ran it in to make it 10-3. Then after the second fumble recovery, Kenny Irons scampered in from eight yards out.

Play some defense. Run the ball.

Alabama could have put their heads down (Bobby Knight was nowhere in sight to "gently" raise them) and quit right there. But Mike Shula didn't let that happen. The Crimson Tide fans didn't let that happen. This is the Iron Bowl. It aint over 'til it's over. There was no quit in 'Bama today.

Continue reading "Auburn 22 - Alabama 15" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 07:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'll gave Alabama credit. These fans know how to tailgate.

I've done the tailgate thing at South Carolina, LSU, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and now Alabama. I'd have to say that if there were a Most Valuable Tailgater award, it'd go to the Crimson Tide fans.

Continue reading "Paint The Quad Red" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 02:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week's Auburn-Alabama game reminds me of Georgia-Florida - a rivalry game in which one team is regarded as being much better than the other. Just last week, Auburn (9-2 overall, 5-2 SEC) was a one-loss team still in contention for the BCS Championship game. But the Tigers will limp into Bryant-Denny Stadium after a crushing loss to face Alabama (6-5, 2-5). The Tide lost last week too, but showed encouraging signs of improvement against LSU. Usually in the Iron Bowl, the better team wins. Is Auburn really that much better than Alabama? I would say no.

Continue reading "Auburn-Alabama Preview" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 01:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

These Auburn and Alabama fans don't like each other.

They love each other.

Tonight we dined with a dozen "mixed couples" in the lovely Birmingham home of Joy and Price Kloess. Joy (Auburn '79) and Price (Alabama '79) hosted this party for husbands and wives that attended the rival universities that will do battle tomorrow in Tuscaloosa. The only rules are: these couples must be comprised of an Auburn grad and an Alabama grad, and they must bring food and sport attire from their alma maters.

Not only was the food delicious, it was creative and competitive. You haven't had dessert until you've had a "Bundt 'Bama Bundt" cake. But you can only eat that after your main course of Tiger Taters, or perhaps you'd prefer Tuberville's Thumbs Up Potato Pie. Fear the Thumb ... Not the Pie.

Continue reading "Can't We All Just Get Along? These People Can" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If I didn't know better I'd say that the city of Tuscaloosa was bracing for the storm of the century. . .

Legions of people are carting food, supplies and tents on every street around the imposing edifice that is Bryant-Denny Stadium. A drive that took us only 5 minutes yesterday today requires at least an hour. The University Police Department patrols the streets with an eerily calm efficiency -- they've been here before, they know what to expect.

I dare not call this 'the calm' before the storm -- there is nothing calm about the passion that drives the Auburn/ Alabama rivalry... this is a 365 day a year hatred... this is for all the pride... this is for all the glory...

Continue reading "Alabama Dreaming" »

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Usually, if you ask Auburn fans if they prefer to see Alabama's starting kicker or backup kicker in the game, it would be an easy choice.

I'm not so sure that's the case this weekend.

That's because Alabama's backup kicker is Leigh Tiffin, the son of a man who authored one of the most famous kicks 'Bama history. Van Tiffin's 52 yard field goal as time expired lifted the Crimson Tide to a 25-23 win in the 1985 Iron Bowl.

"I think every kicker kind of dreams about getting a chance to kick a field goal like that," Leigh Tiffin said.

Continue reading ""The Kick"" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 02:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Surrounded by the sports facilities on the University of Alabama campus sits a building that approximately 40,000 people will visit each year.

Something that popular must involve Bear Bryant.

This building is the Paul W. Bryant Museum. It showcases the many memories of Alabama football from the very beginning through today, with a special emphasis on Coach Bryant.

Continue reading "A Walk Through Alabama History" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 05:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bad idea: Being an Auburn fan and living in Tuscaloosa.

Worse idea: Being a former Auburn player and living in Tuscaloosa.

Still, an even worse idea: Being not only a former Auburn player, but an Auburn legend, and living in Tuscaloosa.

David Langner is brave enough to do just that.

Nowadays, Langner works as a Finance Manager at Townsend Nissan. He sells cars regularly to Alabama fans. But 34 years ago, he was breaking those same fans' hearts.

Continue reading "Living in Enemy Territory" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 06:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One state, two cities, two campuses, and three hours of driving have reinforced the theme of the week:

Auburn hates Alabama, and Alabama hates Auburn.

Today the crew packed into the Highlander and set out for the glorious state of Alabama, starting on campus at Auburn University and finishing in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama. Emily, an Auburn graduate, obviously represented her Tigers, so I felt the need to be a Crimson Tide supporter. It got pretty heated.

Glenn began the trip by, either wisely or foolishly (I'm still not sure), putting an Alabama flag and an Auburn flag on our car.

Nobody broke into it yet. So far, so good.

Continue reading "From One Campus to the Other..." »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 01:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Since the first time Emily and I talked about football, she has been describing the hatred that Auburn and Alabama fans have for each other.

I had always thought the Iron Bowl would be a great rivalry, but nothing too different than Florida-Florida State, Michigan-Ohio State, or the one I grew up on - Florida State-Miami. But Emily continues to insist that there is something different about Auburn-Alabama. She says no other rivalry compares.

After tonight's interview with former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix, I am starting to become a believer.

Continue reading "Let the Trash Talking Begin!" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Some people like to capture their favorite sports moments on camera.

Others, like Daniel A. Moore, like to capture them on canvas.

Moore is a University of Alabama graduate who majored in art. He also played high school football, and he's been able to combine the two things he loves into a wonderful profession.

We walked through his gallery today in Birmingham, completely surrounded by paintings of famous moments from previous Iron Bowls. We looked to the left and saw The Kick, Alabama's Van Tiffin booting a 52-yard field goal to beat Auburn. We looked to the right and saw Moore's new book, Iron Bowl Gold, which features a painting of a famous play in each Iron Bowl from 1948-1988, before the game was played on college campuses. Forty-one paintings for Moore, completed in two years.

Continue reading "Painting a Picture of Alabama Football" »

Posted by Adam Aizer at 07:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you go to Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetary, you could get lost easily on the seven miles of trails leading to generations of family burial plots. However, take the trail marked in red, and it leads to a small, simple tomb that marks the resting place of Alabama's most beloved hero.

Continue reading "Alabama: A Visit to Bear's Grave" »

Posted by at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scott Moore is known around the South as the host of "Southern Sports Tonight", a weekday radio show covering SEC college football. However, Moore is also known for giving fans a taste of the whole SEC, as he impersonates several famous SEC characters.

Continue reading "Alabama: Moore's Tour of the SEC" »

Posted by at 06:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)