The Iron Bowl just didn't feel the same this year...

quote:

---

I love that we beat their asses down, but it just doesn't feel the same knowing we have two games left in the regular season. Anyone else getting that same feeling?

---

Not really. I wish we'd catch them earlier every year. I think we're better earlier than they are.

It's a weird year.

And frankly beating LSU means more this year. Never thought I'd say that.

Seriously? Didn’t you start this thread earlier today?

Can’t beat ‘em

quote:

---

Didn’t you start this thread earlier today?

---

I've started that very same thread a few times over the last several years before big games. It's an anti-jinx spell I attempt to cast before kickoff.

quote:

---

And frankly beating LSU means more this year. Never thought I'd say that

---

its been that way the last few years

Cecil describes it perfectly:

“There are times when the Alabama-Auburn game lives up to the hype, with amazing plays and unexpected twists and, if the game is In the carnival fun house atmosphere of Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn wins its fair share and then some.
There’s another side of the coin, though.

Those are the games when the hammer meets the nail with blunt force and predictable results. No one has to send a search party into the hedges to find missing fans, no fines are imposed by the SEC for the field being stormed. The main excitement, such as it is, comes from guessing when the backup quarterback will go into the game.

When it is one of those games, Alabama wins.

The fans go home happy, a few snapshots of the scoreboard are taken and the Crimson Tide keeps climbing inevitably toward goals at higher altitudes. No one talks about it for the next decade.
Saturday was one of those games.”

I've wanted it as the kickoff classic for quite a while, especially since 2010 when the game really took an ugly turn with fans and hype.

All summer and fall camp to focus on a big game and heated rival. Fewer "worn out" excuses and plenty of time to improve and get better to overcome a loss. Also, at 0-0, it keeps both teams a bit more honest as they have an entire season ahead, so the kitchen sink and bag full of dirty plays doesn't come out so readily. Plus, less injury risk rolling over to SEC CG week from a rivalry game where everyone plays a little harder and sometimes a longer after a whistle

Plus, it gives a physical game upfront to get players minds right in camp and set the tone for the season.

This season gave a taste of that with AU and Bama still with big games ahead. Like the OP highlighted, I think that changed the dynamic a little bit for me as well.

The atmosphere at the game was ho hum. Every fan I talked to expected exactly what happened, even the Auburn fans. I look forward to next Saturday's arse whipping more though.

Nope. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Zero complaints over here