The Iron Bowl has produced plenty of memorable moments and games. Some a lot more fun than others, depending on which side of the fence you were born on.
Fair is fair, though. We talked about the Top 10 Iron Bowls from an Alabama perspective earlier this week, but with the season quickly approaching, the football gods require a sacrifice. That sacrifice comes from reliving some of the worst moments in Alabama history, too.
Lord knows, Alabama has had some bad ones, particularly in the Iron Bowl.
Let's take a look at five that are unfortunately burned into our memories forever.
5 Alabama Iron Bowl losses to Auburn that are still hard to stomach
5. 2005: Auburn 28, Alabama 18
This might be controversial, but this one is personal to me. It's one of the worst of my lifetime.
The 2005 season brought hope to Alabama fans in a post-probation world. In Mike Shula's third season, the Crimson Tide had a breakthrough. Alabama started the season 9-0, and for a 12-year-old Tide fan, it felt like the promise of all the history of the program finally coming true for the first time.
But there had been significant chinks in the armor, particularly on offense, after Tyrone Prothro's broken leg in Alabama's dominant 31-3 win over Florida in October. The perfect season ended the week before with a home loss to LSU in overtime, but heading into the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Crimson Tide was supposed to snap a three-game losing streak to Auburn.
Instead, Alabama was humiliated in a 28-18 loss that was never that close. At the end of the first quarter, it was already 21-0 Auburn. Brodie Croyle was sacked 12 times, prompting "honk if you sacked Brodie" stickers and memes.
4. 1982: Auburn 23, Alabama 22
The famous "Bo over the top" game, where star Auburn freshman Bo Jackson scored the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter by leaping over the Alabama defense at the goal line.
This game stung even worse because it was Coach Bryant's final Iron Bowl, and snapped Alabama's nine-game winning streak in the series.
This game is often pointed to as the turning point in what made the Iron Bowl the best rivalry in college sports.
3. 1972: Auburn 17, Alabama 16
Honestly, this game was just as improbable as the Kick Six. Alabama led 16-0 through three quarters at Legion Field and appeared to be cruising toward a win.
Following an Auburn field goal to cut the Alabama lead to 16-3, the Crimson Tide was forced to punt on the ensuing drive. Auburn's Bill Newton blocked the Gret Gantt punt, and David Langer scooped it and ran it back 25 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 16-10.
That wouldn't be noteworthy over 50 years later, except for the fact that they did it again just a few minutes later.
The same guy blocked it, the same guy scooped and scored, and Auburn took a 17-16 lead that they would hold on to, handing No. 2 Alabama their first loss of the season and knocking the Crimson Tide out of the national championship race.
2. 2010: Auburn 28, Alabama 27
Known simply as the "Camback", Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton led an improbable come-from-behind win to lift the Tigers to a one-point win in Bryant-Denny Stadium, preserving what became a national title-winning season for Auburn.
From the opening whistle, Alabama was all over Auburn. The Crimson Tide scored three touchdowns on their first three possessions, breaking out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter. A field goal pushed the lead to 24-0 before Auburn scored to cut the lead to 24-7 at halftime.
The second half felt like a slow-motion train wreck you were just powerless to stop. Everyone could see what was about to happen as Newton led the comeback for an improbable Auburn win.
A comedy of errors led to the result. Mark Ingram's fumble, with the ball rolling perfectly down the sideline and out of the back of the end zone for over 20 yards. Trent Richardson dropping a touchdown pass at the goal line. Greg McElroy's fumble right before the half with Alabama close to punching in another score. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
1. 2013: Auburn 34, Alabama 28
Yeah.
I'm still not ready to talk about this one.
Add us as a preferred source on Google