Few rivalries are as bitter as the Alabama and Auburn series. Photo source: Getty Images
There are few rivalries that can match the intensity of the one that takes place at the end of every season down south in SEC country.
Alabama. Auburn. It is the Iron Bowl and it is as tough as its namesake.
We continue our look at some of the high profile rivalry games taking place this weekend with the rivalry that started off with a dispute over which season the game should count toward.
Iron Bowl: #2 Alabama @ Auburn
Alabama leads 39-33-1
When the two football teams met on the field on February 22, 1893 with Auburn winning by a score of 32-22. The bitter feud started with the end of the game when Alabama marked the loss as the final game of their 1892 season but Auburn recorded the victory as the first game of the 1893 season. How else could a rivalry like this one get started? The nasty series continued until 1907, a 6-6 tie, and the two teams did not meet again until 1948 when the state government had to get involved to get them back together on the field.
When the series did resume the two squared off at a neutral site, Legion Field in Birmingham. But Auburn never recognized Legion field as a neutral site as Crimson Tide fans took over on a regular basis. Though Auburn was able to hold their own in the series over the years it took growth within the program, and their stadium, to break away form the neutral field agreement.
In 1987 Auburn officially petitioned to have the Iron Bowl played in their own stadium every other year. Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium had undergone renovations and additions over time and it had finally become larger than Legion Field. The schools agreed to play the Iron Bowl on Auburn's own campus every other year while Alabama received a home allotment of tickets for games played at Legion Field.
In the first "home game" for Auburn in the series the Tigers scored a major upset of an undefeated #2 Alabama team in 1989. Friday's game will mark the 20th anniversary of the program's signature home victory.
Alabama eventually made enough improvements on their own Bryant-Denny Stadium. Once the seating capacity exceeded Legion Field Alabama opted to play their home games in their own stadium as well, starting in 2000.
PREVIOUS: State Farm Lone Star Showdown, Texas vs. Texas A&M
NEXT: Backyard Brawl, Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia
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