The Iron Bowl this year proved there is room for only one steel machine in the great state of Alabama: The Crimson Tide.
The Iron Bowl is one of the most-cherished college football rivalry games in NCAA football history. The Iron Bowl began between the two largest public universities in Alabama. The name stems from the role Birmingham, Ala. played in the growth of the steel industry during the Industrial Revolution. The first Iron Bowl was played on February 22, 1893, and the game was played every year until 1907 where the game was suspended due to money issues and compromises between the two schools. It did not begin again until December 4, 1948. The greatest rivalry was alive again.
Since 2000, the game has been played at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium every odd-numbered year, and at Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium every even-numbered year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The last time Auburn played in Bryant-Denny Stadium, it was a nightmare for Alabama fans. Dubbing the name “Cam Comeback,” Auburn’s quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner, single-handedly rolled over the Tide in Bryant-Denny, beating Alabama 28-27.
This year, things looked quite different in Bryant-Denny stadium. The game was dubbed an “embarrassing” performance for the Tigers by (former) Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik. At the half, Alabama was up 42-0. For Auburn, there was no coming back from that, with the final score being 49-0.
Alabama won the West Division of the Southeastern Conference, clinching a spot in the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome, this Saturday in Atlanta against the #3 University of Georgia Bulldogs. The winner of the SEC Championship will most likely go onto face Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the National Championship in Miami, Fla. on January 7, 2013.
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/24/alabama-auburn-rivalry-iron-bowl-history_n_2175522.html
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/72241/iron-bowl-rout-all-but-seals-chiziks-fate