I'd almost forgotten what an Iron Bowl Saturday in Dixie felt like. After living in Tennessee the previous two Iron Bowls, I'd missed that certain feeling in the air and buzz that moves freely through the state in late November. It's orange, blue, crimson and white everywhere you look. It's tiger tails and Bama flags, as the traffic flows steady down U.S. 280 or South on Interstates 459 and 59.
As Auburn fans celebrate their sixth-straight win over Alabama this week, a 17-10 victory on Nov. 24, I thought I'd pose the question of who really owns the Iron Bowl?
It's not Auburn or Alabama, but Paul "Bear" Bryant.
During Bryant's tenure in Tuscaloosa, he not only racked up one of the greatest coaching records of all time with 323 wins, but posted 19 of those against the "cow college," otherwise known as Auburn Uninversity, the "Loviliest Village on the Plains." His 19-6 record in the 72-game rivalry is the best of any coach for either team. It is understandable why Alabama fans are quick to call the rilvary theirs, however, despite what the series record of 38-33-1 says to their favor, the series is not theirs.
If you eliminate Bear from the equation, Auburn leads the way at 27-19-1.
Only one Alabama coach has beaten its rival more than five times: Bear Bryant. Three Auburn coaches have won more than five over the Tide: Ralph "Shug" Jordan (9-16), Tommy Tuberville (7-2 and still counting) and Pat Dye (6-6). Alabama's Gene Stallings and Red Drew were both 5-2 againt the Tigers.
So, as you see, it is Bear that owns the Iron Bowl, not Bama. For if it weren't for Bear, the bragging rights are Auburn's. Take away the Auburn win's againt Bear and the time spent by Shug and Dye pre-Bear and post-Bear, and the series still tilts toward the Plains (18-11-1).
Of course, you can't elimiate the records of three of the best coaches to coach in the rilvary.
Shug took over Auburn, or API at the time, in 1951 and stayed through 1975. Bear came in 1958 and departed in 1982. Doug Barfield was 0-5 for Auburn from 1976-80, while Dye was 6-6 from 1981-92. The time from Shug to Dye accounts for 42 of the rivalry's 72 games played, thus creating the heart of the heated battle. for this time alone, these 40 games, Bear won 19, Shug won nine and Dye won six. The Tide won 27 and the Tigers won 15.
But has the platue of the rivalry passed or is a new era dawning? Since Dye's departure in 1992, Auburn is 10-5. Before Shug ever walked the sidelines of Legion Field for the Iron Bowl, Auburn was 8-6-1.
The series between the two teams is as close as most of its scores.
Now there's a new Iron Bowl era. Tuberville is knocking on becoming the coach with the most wins against Bama in Auburn history. He already holds the longest win streak for Auburn against Bama. Next is three wins to pass Shug for most wins and to match Bear's streak of nine wins in the series.
So, you tell me, who really owns the Iron Bowl?
OTHER IRON BOWL FACTS
Record by location
Auburn: Auburn 7-2
-- Jordan-Hare Stadium: Auburn 7-2
Tuscaloosa:Auburn 6-0
-- Bryant-Denny Stadium: Auburn 4-0
-- Other Tuscaloosa location: Auburn 2-0
Birmingham: Bama 34-18-1
-- Legion Field: Bama 32-15
-- Birmingham Fair Grounds: Bama 1-0-1
-- West End Park: Auburn 2-1
-- Lakeview Baseball Park: Auburn 1-0
Motgomery: Tied 2-2
-- Highland Park: Bama 1-0
-- Riverside Park: Tied 1-1
-- Other location: Auburn 1-0
