Alabama Crimson Tide: Three Reasons Iron Bowl Means So Much

Alabama Crimson Tide: Three Reasons Why The Iron Bowl Means So Much 

If you live in another state besides Alabama, you might not understand what the Iron Bowl means to Alabama Crimson Tide fans and Auburn Tigers fans alike. To some, Alabama-Auburn is just another game. Other people know that the Iron Bowl is a rivalry game and is important, but don’t know the magnitude of the game outside of that. Then there are the diehard fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers. The Iron Bowl is the main rivalry game in the state of Alabama and is up for the top college football rivalry in the country.

This game pits family member against family member and friend against friend for this one Saturday in November. The Crimson Tide and the Tigers are battling for bragging rights for 365 days out of the year until the two rivals square off again. So besides the fact that the Iron Bowl is a rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, why does it mean so much more than just a game? I decided to analyze three reasons why the Iron Bowl means so much for these two fan bases. So let’s take a look at those reasons.

A Choice That Divides The State

In the state of Alabama, every person has a choice. They have to decide between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers in college football. Some college football fans in the state are born into their personal fanbase and others choose later in life. No matter where you go in Alabama, you see fans from both teams and you can’t even step inside a store without seeing Alabama Crimson Tide or Auburn fans. The rivalry for 365 days a year never sleeps and it affects every aspect of the lives of fans. There’s a high chance no matter where you go you will be greeted with a “Roll Tide!” or a “War Eagle!”. Even though there are other teams in the state, a majority of people still have a favorite between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers. It is the choice that divides a state here in the south.

Fans That Are The Definition Of Fanatic

Fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers are the definition of a fanatic. The rivalry is so deep it can put a strain on friendships, relationships, and families. Men and women sometimes avoid relationships with fans of the opposite team. Sometimes people will introduce a friend with their name and “he’s cool even though he’s an Alabama Crimson Tide/ Auburn Tigers fan.” Fanatic fans can sometimes go overboard in some instances for example infamous Alabama Crimson Tide fan Harvey Updyke. He decided to take his hatred for the Auburn Tigers to new heights and went way overboard. He poisoned the Toomer’s Oaks and it stopped the long-standing Auburn tradition by killing the historic landmarks. This was an extreme example of the level of fanaticism that some fans take to this game, but it is a sign of how serious the rivalry is.

Coaching And Postseason Ramifications

In most recent years the Iron Bowl has had postseason ramifications for both the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers. Usually, a chance at an SEC Championship spot, a high bowl bid, or a National Championship birth are on the line in this rivalry game. In 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018 Alabama played in the SEC title after playing Auburn. In 2010, 2013, and 2017 the Auburn Tigers played in the SEC Championship after playing the Alabama Crimson Tide.

From 2009 to 2012 the Iron Bowl produced the National Champion in those four years in a row. The game has big effects on the postseason for both teams almost every year. The Iron Bowl also affects coaching for the future of both teams. The old rumor goes that a coach can lose eleven games a year, but as long as they win the Iron Bowl, their job is safe. For instance Bill Curry former Alabama Crimson Tide coach was successful in Tuscaloosa with a record of 26-10 in three years, but despite that he was 0-3 against Auburn and was gone by 1990.

For both the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers this is the most important game on the schedule. It is apparent why the Iron Bowl means so much and what it means to people in the state of Alabama.