Iron Bowl Matchup Between Alabama and Auburn Takes Place Friday Night

By Patrick Riordan:

The annual Iron Bowl, the football game between Auburn University and the University of Alabama, takes place this weekend in Tuscaloosa. The rivalry between the two schools is considered to be one of the best in the nation, and arguably the best rivalry in college football.  It is the two teams 75th matchup over the last 117 years and the first game since 1994 where both teams have been ranked in the top 10 of the AP polls.

Auburn comes into the game undefeated and ranked second in the nation, hoping for the shot at the BCS Championship that they were denied in 2003.  To get there, they have to beat an Alabama team who not only wants to spoil Auburn’s run, but also holds out for a BCS bid of their own.

The game has a similar feel to last year’s game, where Auburn came within a last minute drive of beating Alabama and dashing their national championship aspirations.  In the aftermath, Alabama went on to bring home the championship (the schools 13th) and had their first Heisman winner.

Auburn’s Heisman hopeful Cam Newton may have to rely on more than this game to secure his trophy.  Newton has had a terrific season marred by off the field issues.  His father is accused of soliciting a fee for Newton to transfer to Mississippi State from the junior college he was attending.  The rumored fee was $180,000.  Heisman voters seem so far to have ignored this bad publicity, as nothing has been proven, but are likely to remain wary in a year that saw Reggie Bush return his Heisman for his own recruiting transgressions.

The game is going to take place Friday at Bryant-Denny stadium in Tuscaloosa.  You can be sure that a capacity crowd of 101,821 will be there cheering loudly for the team of their choosing.