While the Iron Bowl always seems like Armageddon to the fans of both Alabama and Auburn, it's possible this year's game will hold even more meaning -- if that's remotely possible.
For Tommy Tuberville, it's one more opportunity to press and twist his foot on the throat of the Alabama Nation, not only taking the winning streak over the Tide to a mind-blowing six games (and a second hand of fingers), but to stretch his career mark against Nick Saban to 4-2.
That would look pretty snazzy on the morning of Nov. 25 to Tuberville, who lately has come off as the Rodney Dangerfield of state coaches. It will likely be noted that Tuberville makes only half of what the great Saban makes.
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On the other hand, what would an Alabama victory mean not only to Saban but the psyche of the fan base? One only needs to look back on two other Alabama coaches who scored victories against Auburn in their first meetings to calculate the impact.
In 1990, Gene Stallings led Alabama to a 16-7 upset over Auburn. It ended a four-year stranglehold by the Tigers and opened the door to what would be one of Alabama's greatest runs in modern history: The Tide went 11-1, 13-0, 9-3-1 and 12-1 in four subsequent years.
That game also may have been the breaking point in Pat Dye's Auburn career. The win also salvaged what looked like a disastrous season for Stallings, who started out 0-3 and ended with a humiliating 34-7 loss to Louisville in the Fiesta Bowl. However, in the offseason, as Alabama began to gain the upper hand in recruiting, all one could see were bumper stickers reading: "Bama is Back."
In 2001, Alabama was also limping through a difficult season under first-year coach Dennis Franchione. However, the Tide pulled a stunning 31-7 upset over Auburn (at Jordan-Hare Stadium) that helped bring out the yelping wolves in Tuberville's third season, which helped to launch what would ultimately be a coup attempt two years later.
Even though Alabama would officially be sanctioned by the NCAA two months after the game, the victory over the Tigers helped Alabama psychologically through the early dark days of probation.
So how big would an Alabama victory be this November in Auburn?
In one afternoon, it would cement Saban's status (not that it really needs much nurturing) and deliver a piercing and shattering blow to Tuberville and his fan base. Alabama fans view Saban as a liberator, a savior of sorts, someone to free them from the mediocrity, inconsistency and chaos of the past few years. There may not be the warmth yet toward him (like they felt toward Stallings), but he has their undivided attention, unified respect and undying support. They really have no choice.
The relationship between the Auburn Nation and Tuberville is more problematic. The fans are appreciative of his accomplishments, but there is still a detachment often difficult to get a handle on. He underachieved so dramatically in 2001, 2002 and 2003 that he lost a lot of support from old-line Auburn people.
It's easy to blame former officials like William Walker and David Housel, to say nothing of trustee Bobby Lowder. But I'm not sure, if left to a vote of season-ticket holders, Tuberville would have survived past November 2003.
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Fans had no choice but to embrace Tuberville in 2004 as the Tigers ran the table, and they have grown warmer in their feelings since, mostly as a result of the five-game winning streak against Alabama.
Still, not to diminish his accomplishments, but Tuberville has only one SEC title to show for all of this talent and bulging salary. Saban grabbed two in five years at LSU, as well as a national title. He would have likely added at least another one had he remained on the bayou.
To state the obvious: Much will be on the line on Nov. 24 when Alabama and Auburn meet for the 72nd time. It's apparent that not only does Auburn have a chance to continue its recent dominance but to stretch its record against the Tide to 16-10 since Paul Bryant's final game in the series in 1982.
Another win over Saban by Tuberville would hurt the Tide momentum badly. But what would an Alabama win mean?
Everything.
Contact Paul Finebaum at:
finebaumnet@yahoo.com
His column appears Tuesdays and Saturdays in the Press-Register.
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