I was 8 years old when I saw Auburn play Alabama for the first time at Birmingham's Legion Field.
It was 1958. Auburn was 8-0-1, a year removed from the national championship and had beaten Alabama four straight times. Alabama was 5-3-1 in Bear Bryant's first season. Auburn won 14-8 that day.
I remember a man offering me $35 for my ticket. Tickets went for about $4 in those days. I was ready to make the deal before my mother grabbed me by the ear.
I don't really remember much about the game, other than the man and woman in front of me kissing passionately when Alabama scored its touchdown. I've missed only one Auburn-Alabama game since. Job duties kept me away in 1993. Lord willing, I will see my 51st Iron Bowl on Friday.
Following are the 10 of the more memorable games I have witnessed:
1. 1989. It was unlike any other game I've seen. Alabama visited Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time and, on a day of remarkable emotion, Auburn won 30-20.
2. 1972. Bill Newton blocked two punts, David Langner ran both in for touchdowns and Auburn won 17-16.
3. 1981. Pat Dye's first Auburn team gave it a heck of a run, taking the lead in the fourth quarter. But Alabama rallied to win 28-17 and Bryant became college football's all-time winningest coach.
4. 1963. Auburn had not only lost four straight to Alabama, it had not scored a point in four seasons. Quarterback Mailon Kent came off the bench to complete a third-down pass to Bucky Waid that set up Auburn's field goal and came off the bench again to throw a touchdown pass to Tucker Frederickson as Auburn won 10-8 and went on to the Orange Bowl.
5. 1985. It appeared Auburn had the game won when it took a 23-22 lead inside the last minute. But Alabama got close enough for Van Tiffin to kick the most famous field goal in Iron Bowl history from 52 yards and give his team a 25-23 win.
6. 1970. Ravaged by injuries, Auburn moved tight end Ronnie Ross and running back James Owens to linebacker the week before the game. Ross made a crucial interception and Pat Sullivan and Terry Beasley led a rally from a 17-0 deficit and Auburn won 33-28.
7. 2002. With running backs Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown and fullback Brandon Johnson out with injuries, Auburn wasn't given much of a chance at Bryant-Denny Stadium. But freshman tailback Tre Smith ran wild, Jason Campbell threw two touchdown passes to right end Robert Johnson and Auburn won 17-7.
8. 2005. Auburn sacked Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle a remarkable 11 times and won 28-18.
9. 1997. Auburn, playing to go to the SEC Championship Game, actually didn't play particularly well against an Alabama team that had won just four games. But Martavious Houston knocked the ball loose in the final two minutes, Auburn recovered and Jaret Holmes kicked the game-winning field goal in an 18-17 victory.
10. 1967. The game played in driving rain. Auburn led 3-0 until Ken Stabler sloshed 57 yards through the mud in the fourth quarter to give Alabama a 7-3 victory.
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