Ain’t it a great time of year! Down South here, all the failures or successes are put aside and for one weekend its like we’re starting fresh. That’s most true in the state known as the Heart of Dixie. I was raised in Alabama. People are always saying you can’t know what that means unless you’ve been through it –and for the most part they are right. For instance: There were four high schools in my county. Two of them were “Auburn” and two were “Alabama.” That simply meant that out of 102 seniors in my school, 9 went to Auburn and none went to Alabama. Ken Stabler grew up 8 miles away but his school was strictly Alabama and he never considered Auburn nor did any other right thinking Foley Lion. In other words, you can’t draw lines north & south or east & west to determine which towns, counties or regions fall into the realm of one school or the other. This is a Gerrymanderers nightmare! Tradition starts with the family and moves outward. The only real rule is that you can’t be neutral and you must be passionate.
I attended Florida and we have a little deal going with FSU. But it’s really not in the league with Auburn vs. Alabama. The Gator players, when I attended, actually regarded Georgia and Auburn, as more hated opponents because they were in- conference. But in Alabama there is never any doubt –for the players, the students, the fans this is really a one game season. That makes it different than all the other major rivalries. Ohio State vs. Michigan doesn’t come close. I was in Cleveland for two years and beyond the Browns they couldn’t give a damn. Furthermore, where they do care about the OSU vs. Mich. game you don’t have Mrs. Smith taking grief everyday over her clothes line from Mrs. Jones about how the Buckeyes are gonna get their asses handed to them or vice versa! Believe me, in Alabama church pews are divided as The Game approaches. Everyone has a stake. It’s just an unparalled experience — a civil war that was particularly fantastic when it was played at a neutral site.
I see that Wunderdog has picked Alabama plus the three. I like that pick. Since the game was moved out of Legion Field in Birmingham to the on-campus stadiums Alabama has yet to win in Tuscaloosa! I met the Bear a few times and the old man must go through a couple of packs of Chesterfields and a fifth of bourbon each Iron Bowl just wondering what the hell is going on down there!
Now, David Shula is no Bear Bryant. But I don’t think Tommy Tubberville is in the league with Shug Jordan or Pat Dye. Bottom line, these are two pretty mediocre SEC teams willing to knock the snot out of each other for 60 minutes. My “feel” this week is that bettors here in Atlanta are leaning towards Auburn. The Tiger games are carried on radio locally and they have a big following. The thinking is that Auburn will be furious after getting upset by Georgia. That’s nonsense. Whatever has happened the week before or the month before means nothing in this rivalry. Usually the better team wins — but not always. I like ‘Bama because its their turn to catch some breaks, their turn to win at home, and nobody in this rivalry is going to lose every game for too long.
Finally, I know most of the nation will be watching the Ohio State/Michigan game. But even if you don’t have a financial interest in the goings-on in Alabama I’d advise you to check in on this little game. And for a moment or two put yourself in the shoes of the supporters of the team that is losing. If its Auburn you are witnessing what had all the prospects of being such a golden season go completely down the toilet with an entire year of vitriolic abuse headed your way. And if it’s Alabama that’s suffering the loss you gotta feel an agony so severely deep that it’s like cancer of the soul! That’s the Iron Bowl. And we understand how sick it is. Don’t matter, though!!