Auburn Hate Week! Monday - The History

One of the best rivalries in sports, the Iron Bowl has a very unique and exciting history.  The first game was played in February in 1893 when Alabama considered the game part of the '92 season, while Auburn considered it part of '93.  And the disagreements have not let up since.  Alabama leads the all-time series 39-33-1.

This game is one of those 365 day a year games.  It doesn't matter how the rest of your season went, you win this game, and you own your state for the entire year.

Auburn won 7 of the first 12 matchups from 1892-1907 with the teams tying in 1907.  But this is where it gets interesting:

Auburn threatened to cancel the series after 1906, but eventually backtracked and the teams played one more year.  But after 1907, Auburn made good on their threats and canceled the series all together.  Essentially, the teams could not agree on the type of compensation for the players, and where game officials would be found.

It took FORTY YEARS and an act of Government before the two schools would renew hostilities.  FORTY YEARS!  Alabama and Auburn agreed to meet in neutral Birmingham for the 1948 game - won by Alabama 55-0.  To date, this is the most lopsided game in series history.

The teams split the '40s and '50s, but then came the Bryant Era at Alabama.  Bryant won 9 of his first ten against "That school down the road" and overall went 19-6 including a 9 game winning streak from 1973 - 1982.  Auburn's best decade of the 20th century came in the 80s winning 6 of 10 including four in a row from 1986-1989.

It was also in the '80s that Auburn decided they wanted to move the series out of Birmingham.  Despite the 50-50 ticket alotment, Auburn thought Birmingham was too deep into Alabama territory and wanted it moved to a home and home.  Jordan-Hare was expanded to a size larger than Legion field in Birmingham, and starting in 1989 Auburn's home game was played on the plains.  Alabama continued to play its home portion of the series in Birmingham until 2000 after the 1998 stadium expansion of Bryant-Denny brought capacity past that of Legion Field.

Alabama won the '90s 7-3, but the 2000's have been Auburn's decade.  Auburn has won 7 of 9 including their famous 6 in a row from 2002-2007.  Were it not for an underdog victory by Alabama in 2001, the Barners would have had a streak of 8 in a row.

But last year, Alabama took the series back with a resounding 36-0 victory at Bryant-Denny stadium.

The win capped a perfect regular season, prevented Auburn from going to a bowl game, and was the final nail in the coffin for the Tommy Tuberville era at Auburn.

The last team to beat Alabama in the regular season?

Auburn in 2007.

Up tomorrow:  best games in the series history.