By: Van Cathcart III
If you from the South, you know that football is life for most of us. Either you know a die-hard fan, or you are one yourself. Every year, the University of Alabama and Auburn University face off in the Iron Bowl. Arguably one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports. The Iron Bowl can bring together and cut families apart. You wouldn’t think that a football game can mean so much but here in the Southeast, football means everything to some of us. This year’s Iron Bowl will be played in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Airing at 2:30 p.m. CT on Nov. 26.
The first ever Iron Bowl was played on Feb. 22, 1893. Auburn managed to pull out the win in the initial matchup, winning 32-22. Since then, 86 games have been played and Alabama leads the overall series at 48-37-1.
The Iron Bowl got its name in 1964 from Auburn coaching legend Shug Jordan. Jordan coined the name in 1964. The game was played in Birmingham for most of the 19th century at Legion Field. Birmingham was an industrial city, known for its iron production. Thus, giving the name “The Iron Bowl.”
Some memorable moments of the legendary matchup are considered some of the best endings to football games in history. In 2013, Auburn managed to pull out a win in the game known as “The Kick Six”. With one second left, Alabama kicked a field goal from over 50 yards to seal the victory. Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn decided to put a person in the end zone to field the kick in case it was short. Auburn defensive back Chris Davis was standing in the end zone when the kick was indeed short, Davis then ran the football 109 yards to score and give Auburn the game as time ran out.
No matter where you are in the South on the 26th, I guarantee there is a television on with someone rooting for one of the teams not too far from you. Here in the South, we love our football, and if you’re lucky, football might love you back.