Rivalry week is a special time in college football and always has huge implications. Over the last five seasons, the winner of the Iron Bowl has gone on to play in the national championship. The 2014 Iron Bowl will be no different and there is one thing this year that makes this game unique.
I’m sure the Alabama fans reading this know exactly what I’m talking about. Last season, the No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide went into the Iron Bowl undefeated, while Auburn had just one loss. The game would determine who represented the West in the SEC Championship. Alabama ended up being in all too familiar territory with kicking malfunctions during the game, missing two attempted field goals and also had one blocked.
When Alabama set up for a field-goal with time expiring in the fourth quarter, their hopes of becoming the first team to three-peat as national championships in the BCS era would come to an abrupt end. Auburn’s Chris Davis took it upon himself to make sure that happened as he lined up under the field-goal –just in case Alabama’s kicking woes continued—and they did. Davis received the missed field goal and returned it 109 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Heartbreaking is an understatement, which is exactly why this year’s theme for the Alabama Crimson Tide is revenge. Alabama hasn’t forgotten that moment in Spring, Summer, or Fall and has looked forward to this weekend since last year’s Iron Bowl. Coach Nick Saban had better been schooled on all the trick plays in the books, as Gus Malzahn is a gutsy coach who isn’t afraid to make aggressive decisions on the field.
Auburn’s season this year hasn’t quite been as dominant as it was last year. The Tigers have three losses to then No. 4 Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and No. 15 Georgia. With those three losses, Auburn is looking to spoil the Crimson Tide’s national title hopes once again and make it into one of the six big bowl games. Alabama is looking better than they have all season, especially when they knocked off No. 1 Mississippi State. Blake Sims made plays when they needed him to and he will be a big factor in Saturday’s game.
Sims, who is without a doubt at his best in front of the home crowd in Tuscaloosa, will start in his first ever Iron Bowl in his final regular season game as a college quarterback. Can you imagine the pressure that entails?
One concern for Alabama, as Saban voiced this week, was defending Auburn wide receivers Duke Williams and Sammie Coates. This seems doable, as Alabama held Mississippi State’s leading receiver De’Runnya Wilson to just 91 yards. Both Williams and Coates have been hurt this season, but are expected to play this weekend. Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall is going to look to rebound from a disappointing outing last weekend, recording only 171 passing yards.
Last week’s win against Western Carolina left the Crimson Tide banged up with four injured players, leaving the Tide likely without wide receiver ArDarius Stewart and tight end Brian Vogler. Alabama will depend on T.J. Yeldon, Amari Cooper, and Derrick Henry to carry the load on offense. Auburn’s defense has allowed an opponent receiver to record over 100 yards in the last three games, so this could be a standout game for Amari Cooper.
This game is one of the many rivalry games where you never know what to expect. After last year’s heartbreaking upset that left all of Tide Nation speechless, this weekend’s game is almost guaranteed not to disappoint.
*Section Photo and Featured Photo credit to Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images.
