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re: Iron Bowl question
Posted on 5/24/16 at 7:25 pm to I-59 Tiger
Posted on 5/24/16 at 7:25 pm to I-59 Tiger
quote:
Auburn did play some "home games" in Birmingham,too. With the exception of 1974, they played Tennessee there from 1956 through 1978. Also they played Georgia Tech there through '68. Counting the Alabama game, they played three games there in 1968.
Mississippi State played "Home Games" in Birmingham too until about 1965. That's where we played Auburn for our home games.
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Posted on 5/24/16 at 7:46 pm to genro
..and here come the 20 somethings that have no idea what they're talking about as the earliest game they remember is the 2005 Cotton Bowl. I'll answer for you.
This, like all things at Bama is not run by the REC. When the state legislature mandated we play auburn it was also mandated this game be played in Birmingham (as the first one was) which was agreed by the two schools. Talk was also that it would be in Mobile bur never got off the ground but it would never be played at the campuses. It was strictly to make it an event much like the Georgia- Florida game is today.
It was also the largest stadium in Alabama and was strictly a traditional thing.
Auburn started talk after they expanded JHS in 1978 and Bryant said he would stop playing Auburn before he took a team down there. Ray Perkins echoed the sentiment and asked he said Bama would take Auburn off the schedule before a Bama team ever set foot in Auburn. We lost strong leadership at Bama and when it was voted on to play at Jordan-Hare, Steve Sloan was our AD and Bill Curry was our coach. Two very weak minded individuals and they basically said nothing. Joab Thomas as Prez and Sloan as AD were fired almost immediately by the BOT and this more than anything never let Curry build up any good will with Bama fans or the Board.
Not true at all. Up until 1978 AU played a game a year a legion. Nor is the dominating crowd a true statement. This was as about a 50/50 game as you will ever see. It was a game, much like OU-Texas or UF-UGA that was strictly done with tradition in mind. Remember this is back before multi-billion dollar tv deals, etc so money was not the main focus. Bama tried to keep it there but saw the money AU was making and decided to move when money became the collegiate sports motive. I loved Legion and my best memories are there. In time BDS will catch up but right now more big wins that I witnessed were in LF. Wish we still played a game there every year.
quote:
The game was traditionally played in Birmingham- but I was just looking and it alternated between Auburn and B-ham for almost a decade before ever being played in Tuscaloosa. Why was this, and furthermore why did the REC allow this?
This, like all things at Bama is not run by the REC. When the state legislature mandated we play auburn it was also mandated this game be played in Birmingham (as the first one was) which was agreed by the two schools. Talk was also that it would be in Mobile bur never got off the ground but it would never be played at the campuses. It was strictly to make it an event much like the Georgia- Florida game is today.
It was also the largest stadium in Alabama and was strictly a traditional thing.
Auburn started talk after they expanded JHS in 1978 and Bryant said he would stop playing Auburn before he took a team down there. Ray Perkins echoed the sentiment and asked he said Bama would take Auburn off the schedule before a Bama team ever set foot in Auburn. We lost strong leadership at Bama and when it was voted on to play at Jordan-Hare, Steve Sloan was our AD and Bill Curry was our coach. Two very weak minded individuals and they basically said nothing. Joab Thomas as Prez and Sloan as AD were fired almost immediately by the BOT and this more than anything never let Curry build up any good will with Bama fans or the Board.
quote:
Legion Field in Bham wasn't really neutral. It was supposed to be for the IB, but Bama played most of its home games there all season long and usually dominated attendance at the IB. This is why Auburn wanted it moved and Bama was cool with it staying.
Not true at all. Up until 1978 AU played a game a year a legion. Nor is the dominating crowd a true statement. This was as about a 50/50 game as you will ever see. It was a game, much like OU-Texas or UF-UGA that was strictly done with tradition in mind. Remember this is back before multi-billion dollar tv deals, etc so money was not the main focus. Bama tried to keep it there but saw the money AU was making and decided to move when money became the collegiate sports motive. I loved Legion and my best memories are there. In time BDS will catch up but right now more big wins that I witnessed were in LF. Wish we still played a game there every year.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 7:55 am to TouchdownTony
quote:
Not true at all. Up until 1978 AU played a game a year a legion.
Auburn played "home" games at Legion because the other teams refused to come to Auburn.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 7:59 am to MSU5
quote:
How would you feel about it alternating between Auburn and Bham today?
Wouldn't bother me seeing as how we dominate the BBVA Compass bowl.
That is terrible. I know.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:05 am to threedog79
I never went to any games at Legion Field, other than when it hosted the state championship.
If Birmingham built another stadium that could host a few Alabama or Auburn games, would you guys oppose it? Like say they put it near the BJCC. I think it would be kind cool to have one or two games there. Of course that would mean the stadium would have to hold more than what the city of Birmingham is willing to put forth, since UAB wouldn't be able to sell it iut.
If Birmingham built another stadium that could host a few Alabama or Auburn games, would you guys oppose it? Like say they put it near the BJCC. I think it would be kind cool to have one or two games there. Of course that would mean the stadium would have to hold more than what the city of Birmingham is willing to put forth, since UAB wouldn't be able to sell it iut.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:08 am to Gary Busey
quote:
If Birmingham built another stadium that could host a few Alabama or Auburn games, would you guys oppose it? Like say they put it near the BJCC. I think it would be kind cool to have one or two games there. Of course that would mean the stadium would have to hold more than what the city of Birmingham is willing to put forth, since UAB wouldn't be able to sell it iut.
A state of the art stadium with tons of seating in a nice part of town? I'd be down with it.
That said? Never going to happen.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:11 am to Gary Busey
We own Birmingham!
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:12 am to Gary Busey
New stadium is never going to happen. I like the home and home now. There was talk in the late 90s and early 00s when I was up there for the construction of a dome stadium. Simply put, I think Birmingham has run its course and because of the mismanagement of the city and county it will never accommodate the building of a stadium/dome that would be worth having a game there.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:13 am to skrayper
I know it's a dream, just would be cool in my opinion. I like Birmingham and the strides the city is making.
The new proposal for the UAB stadium is around just 35k. Kinda small, but if I were a UAB fan, I'd take it. Legion Field is not only a dilapidated stadium, it's in crime central.
The new proposal for the UAB stadium is around just 35k. Kinda small, but if I were a UAB fan, I'd take it. Legion Field is not only a dilapidated stadium, it's in crime central.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:35 am to genro
quote:A little history for you kids:
I bet he's early 90s and you're mid-late 90s.
Transition was gradual and it took a while for the new reality to sink in. T-Town for decades was just the spot for Homecoming and maybe one other cupcake. By the end of the 90s the roles were flipped and we just had a couple cupcakes at Legion
Birmingham alumni controlled the University throughout the 1900s (up until Bryant's death) and Coach Bryant had no problem with that. In fact, there was a proposal to build a new and much larger stadium just east of Bryce hospital in Tuscaloosa (close to Druid City Hospital) back in the late 60s or early 70s that Coach Bryant, along with the B'ham crowd, got squelched. After Coach Bryant died and UAB started to become the "play toy" of the B'ham crowd, consensus moved to more local control of the school.
PS- Anybody ever wonder why Coach Bryant was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in B'ham instead of Tuscaloosa?
This post was edited on 5/25/16 at 9:06 am
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:37 am to coachcrisp
That site for a "future" stadium on the Bryce property is still in the University's Campus Master Plan.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:40 am to threedog79
quote:
New stadium is never going to happen.
Not in Birmingham anyway. That city has been slowly dying for the last 50 years. If a new and neutral stadium ever gets built, my money for the location is on Huntsville.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:44 am to Gary Busey
quote:
Legion Field is not only a dilapidated stadium, it's in crime central.
My ex-wife grew up in that area - literally could get to Legion Field in 2-3 minutes.
It's a terrible area. Didn't used to be, but as the houses fell apart and no one came in to renovate or build new ones, the neighborhood went to crap.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:47 am to CapstoneGrad06
quote:
That site for a "future" stadium on the Bryce property is still in the University's Campus Master Plan.
I remember hearing this several years ago but I didn't know how true it was. I wonder how far away in time that stadium is.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:50 am to Gary Busey
quote:
If Birmingham built another stadium that could host a few Alabama or Auburn games, would you guys oppose it?
No but the problem is that Birmingham doesn't need an 80K+ stadium now that Alabama has moved all the games to campus. What they need to build is something like Baylor's McLane Stadium...about 45-50K and make it multi-purpose. That would be perfect for the city and UAB but wouldn't be adequate for UA or AU.
A couple of other things, Bama isn't going to want to give up the extra revenue since we pack out a 100K+ stadium currently and spent a ton of dough on it. Auburn just won't play in Birmingham period no matter what.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:52 am to CapstoneGrad06
quote:We, nor our children, would be alive when/if that ever came to fruition. I suspect it's been left that way to keep the State from taking it back.
That site for a "future" stadium on the Bryce property is still in the University's Campus Master Plan.
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:54 am to Gary Busey
quote:
If Birmingham built another stadium that could host a few Alabama or Auburn games, would you guys oppose it?
Another Neutral site game?
Posted on 5/25/16 at 8:59 am to FearlessFreep
quote:
And 2005 was the first Alabama team to beat Tennessee in Tuscaloosa since 1930.
Prior to that game, in its 100+ seasons as a major collegiate football power, the Tide's combined on-campus win total against its three biggest SEC foes, Auburn, Tennessee and LSU, was 11.
9 vs LSU, 2 vs UT, and 0 vs AU.
Just thought I'd let this little gem get a few more eyeballs. RTR
Posted on 5/25/16 at 9:04 am to NYCAuburn
quote:
Another Neutral site game?
Well Auburn fans have always told us that Birmingham isn't really neutral?
Posted on 5/25/16 at 9:07 am to TouchdownTony
quote:
Auburn started talk after they expanded JHS in 1978 and Bryant said he would stop playing Auburn before he took a team down there. Ray Perkins echoed the sentiment and asked he said Bama would take Auburn off the schedule before a Bama team ever set foot in Auburn. We lost strong leadership at Bama and when it was voted on to play at Jordan-Hare, Steve Sloan was our AD and Bill Curry was our coach. Two very weak minded individuals and they basically said nothing. Joab Thomas as Prez and Sloan as AD were fired almost immediately by the BOT and this more than anything never let Curry build up any good will with Bama fans or the Board.
Aren't you kind of glad that didn't happen? I understand the disdain for Auburn and how at that time the Iron Bowl in Birmingham was unique. But how on Earth could have maintained any dignity had Perkins stayed and said,"we will not go to Auburn in 1989 and have asked the SEC to provide us with another conference opponent to end the season."
Perkins had even hinted about dropping out of the SEC.
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