re: So, why did the Iron Bowl take a 40 year break?

Yea, this thing took a break when Alabama was hitting it's stride on the national scene. Had they kept playing Bama would probably have a 25 or 30 game lead in the series.

And auburns program suffered big time not having Alabama to play while Alabama flourished. Hence why aubie went to Montgomery to force the rivalry to resume. They knew they were on their way to being to Alabama what ga tech is to Georgia.