Old School: '85 Iron Bowl Intro

Holy crap that's amazing. I read "three whoopies and a hot damn" before it played on the video and I wondered where you came up with it. Keith Jackson is so awesome.

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Dear lord, look at that drum set that the dude in Iron Maiden had. That's almost Nick Andopolis level.

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    Amazing game, really. Neither team stopped the other consistently. I thought the game was over when Auburn went ahead near the end. We went absolutely nuts, started throwing potato chips and popcorn into the air like confetti!

    Mike Shula, though, stuck a dagger into us with a LONG completion, the Bama receiver dragged two Auburn defenders from the hash, and out of bounds, with time enough for one play. And Tiffin nailed the kick.

    Arrrgh! I went outside and smashed some rocks. But that's what the Iron Bowl's about...

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When it comes to college football I will always say that the IRON BOWL is the best of them all.Especially since Auburn usaully happens to be the losers***** ROLL TIDE ROLL, A TRUE DIEHARD BAMA FAN. Like the old addage of what AUBURN Means" ALABAMA USUALLY BEATS US REDNECKS"

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That was the last glory Mike Shula ever had again in the Iron Bowl. Can't recall the Keith Jackson("with my old pal, Bob Griese...") commentary since I was sitting in the stands that day and I didn't record that game at home. It was my first Iron Bowl and I hadn't yet realized the value of recording the games to watch later. Really, the only thing I can remember is Van Tifflin kicking that 52 yard field goal at the end. What a way to start, but luckily, I didn't lose another one during my 5 year collegiate tenure. Maybe I should go back and watch all the old games and put the highlights on youtube, but the quality of 20 year old videotape isn't the greatest...

After this game, Auburn sank to 19-30-1 in the all-time series. 21 games later, they've improved to 32-38-1. At this rate, Auburn should go ahead in the series in November, 2028.

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Norman: Oh man, that's really clever. 'Auburn' isn't a word, it's an acronym, and it stands for "Alabama Usually Beats Us Red Necks" OMG, that is so funny! Did you come up with that? Hilarious! Man, you should call Jeff Foxworthy and have him put that in one of his redneck books or something. I'm still laughing... I got to admit, that's a whole lot more hilarious than those 'Albarn' jokes... Get that copyrighted before everyone else starts using it...

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Oh, Jesus. I'm still laughing... Norman, you're too much... hahaha Rednecks. Like we go to a cow college or something. Oh my God! I'm dying, here!

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Sorry War Eagle Atlanta, but as you obviously know, Normans not even close to original, my bammer brother has been annoying me with that for almost 40 years. The best Norman can do is hash up some "yuck it up guffaw slash aw shucks moronic redneck humor".....never mind that AU has been rated higher as an academic institute for at least the last 25 years (since I graduated from high school, didnt keep up with it before that so who knows). Bama also didnt take the lead in the series until the sixties. but I digress, I also was at the Van Tiffens Toe game and I still remember the roar of the AU side when we initially thought he missed it (and yes I was very intoxicated and I had to buy my bammer brother a plethora of adult beverages at the Tide n Tiger. But such is life and a few years later I remember leaving the game chanting "Ho Ho Ho four in a row, Merry christmas bammers" and enjoying all the frosty adult beverages courtesy of his tab at the same establishment for the fourth straight year(a tradition that has taken some adjustments since the iron bowl is now home and home). Lets hope Tubby can give another finger this year as I have grown accustomed to my postgame refreshments courtesy of a bammer. War Damn Eagle.

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Funny, Todd. I went to the 1985 game with two friends from high school, one who had just started Alabama that fall. We sat on the Auburn side, and after Tifflin's kick, I remember the stunning hush that came over the Auburn faithful. My friend started jumping up and down and squealing, and I remember looking at her and wanting to hit her. All of a sudden, someone throws a half of a hotdog from above and clocks her right in the side of the face. I started laughing and she was pissed. We didn't say a word to each other on the way home.

The last Iron Bowl I attended at Legion Field was in 1988. If you won and no one broke into your car during the game, it was a good time! My favorite Iron Bowl was '86 in the rain. Once you're soaking wet, you don't care anymore. Afterwards, we partied like it was 1989!

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Notice on the pre-game that Gene Jelks was the starting half-back. Few may remember him considering the next year they moved him to cornerback and moved up another fellow sophomore Bobbie Humphry to RB. In the '86 Iron Bowl, it was raining through-out and both teams had to run the ball. Both Humphry and Brent Fullwood for Auburn had over 200 yards rushing in that game, entitled "Reverse to Victory". Nice send-off for Ray "It'll Never Happen" Perkins...

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War Eagle Atlanta, not many Bammer faithful have forgotten Gene Jelks, not for his play but for his turncoat actions that got the university put on probation. He's not exactly well loved by the bammers, kinda like we feel about Eric "please gimme some money coach my babies are hungry" Ramsey.

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Yes, Todd, I had forgotten about Jelks' treachery. Perhaps he always had that axe to grind after they moved him to DB, especially after Bobby Humphry went to the pros and did fairly well.

I wonder what old Eric is up to these days. Probably working at a carwash somewhere. Oh wait. He did get his degree eventually, I think. MANAGING a car wash, then...

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As the calendar page turns to August, the thoughts of sports fans across the country turn to College Football.

And, why not. With the scandals rocking pretty much every other sport – College Football stands out for its good, clean competition. It’s epitomizes what sports should be all about.

Of course, the various National Polls are coming out with their opinions of who is the Number 1 college football team in the land. And that controversial issue will be debated around thousands of water coolers for the next five months at least.

Before we get into the frenzy of the college football season (I can’t wait), this might be a good time to take a step back and dispassionately explore the topic of which was the best college football team in history.

Certainly, which was the best team ever is a debatable issue. But, as an SEC fan, I have a strong opinion. And, I think the answer is easy:

The 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide was the best college football team ever.

The team was led by the legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Of course the “Bear” ultimately became, perhaps, the best college football coach ever. Among many accomplishments, his teams won fifteen SEC championships and six national championships.

But, his 1961 team was the first. Five more National Championship teams would follow in its footsteps. But, the 1961 team blazed the trail for the rest.

The 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide went an undefeated (11-0) and was crowned the undisputed National Champion. With the numerous national polls, at the time, it was very unusual to finish the season as the “undisputed” National Champ. The ’61 Crimson Tide did it.

But, the really amazing thing about that team was its defense. It outscored its opponents 297 – 25! No one scored more than 7 points against the ’61 Crimson Tide defense and, in fact, six opponents failed to score at all. They beat Tennessee 34-3 and ended the season by beating Arkansas 10-3 in the Sugar Bowl.


The team was led by offensive lineman Billy Neighbors and linebacker Lee Roy Jordan (both in the College Football Hall of Fame); as well as QB Pat Trammell (Heisman Trophy finalist).

Considering the legend of Bear Bryant; the undefeated record; the undisputed national championship; the amazing defense; the fact they were “the first” in a long line of Alabama champions – it’s easy to see why the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide was the best team in college football history.

See you at the water cooler.

Check out best all-time coach at http://www.secsportsfan.com/best-all-time-ncaa-college-football-coach.html

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