re: why was the Iron Bowl never played in Auburn until 1989?

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But, wasn’t that because Auburn fans never bought their 50% allotment?

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I don't know what the reason is. But I know that it was never 50/50.

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2:08 for Auburn
O:52 for Tuscaloosa

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LOL. The poster said an hour from Tuscaloosa and 2 hours from Auburn, and you want to argue about a few minutes. When Alabama and UGA play in Atlanta, it's still a neutral site game, and the distance between the two schools and Atlanta is far more than that but I haven't heard anybody crying about it.

I may have missed it but Birmingham is The Iron City. Another poster already noted that it was a neutral game with tickets split between the two teams. So neutral site, split tickets, Iron City = Iron Bowl. It's not difficult to understand.

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LOL.

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2.08

and

0.52


may not compare....

Now that the children have had their turn.
Always been political.
The football rivalry evolved out of a bitter debate, which took place in the state Legislature over the location of the new land-grant college created under the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862.
It seemed the Legislature, heavily influenced by members who were alumni of the University of Alabama, wanted the new school to be in Tuscaloosa, where it would be under the influence of the more-established local university.
The debate lasted more than four years, until Lee County and the city of Auburn won in 1872 by donating more than 100 acres and the existing buildings of the East Alabama Male College.
The Legislature continued to play politics with the new school, aptly named the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, by withholding funding and putting the school on the verge of financial collapse.
If that occurred, then it would fall under the control of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. In 1907, the Legislature attempted to move the new land grant school to Birmingham and when that ploy failed, they again sabotaged the funding to Auburn but the University of Alabama remained fully endowed thanks again to alumni in the Legislature.
In 1915, funding was again withheld from Auburn, but the school was allocated a portion of the tax revenue on fertilizer and farm equipment sales.
Nevertheless, the Auburn faculty perceived it as an insult and just another petty attack on Auburn’s existence as an institute of higher learning by the Legislature and resented the control exercised by the Alabama alumni members.

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Always been political.

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In all that talk about the legislature you conveniently left out the part that the legislature forced the game to be played again, starting in the 1940s, because Auburn's program was basiclly an also ran, and Alabama was the best program in the conference, and elite nationwide (go figure).

Alabama had not played Auburn from 1907 to 1948, when the state of Alabama legislature forced the game to be resumed for the benefit of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, which in 1960 became known as Auburn University. In that time frame, 1907-1948, Alabama won more games than any team except Notre Dame, with a won loss record of 277-79. Auburn lanquished down at #42 in the nation, with a won loss record of 203-146.

stassen link

Alabama also won national titles in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, according to the most recognized sources of that time.

So Auburn was not a good team in that timeframe, judging by the won loss record, and Alabama was a very good team. Other than the fact that playing The University of Alabama helped to prop up Auburn, AU was lucky not to have been playing Alabama during that time frame, because it's nearly certain that the series record of 50-37-1 would have been way more one sided, favoring The University of Alabama.

Still, the game was called the Iron Bowl because it was a neutral site, split tickets, and in a city known as The Iron City.

I will have you for lunch!

Meanwhile, Alabama was on an unprecedented roll. The Crimson Tide ripped off 14-straight winning seasons, captured four Southeastern Conferences championships and added two more national titles in 1934 and 1941 under Coach Frank Thomas. Despite Alabama's success, Auburn wanted to renew the series in 1944. This time, Alabama said no.

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married a girl in the 80s. We were together for 4 kids and 22 years. First time I visited her house and met her parents, I walked into the family room. Bo Over Top print on the wall. Orange and blue crocheted afghan on the sofa. And - kid you not - orange and blue tiger paw light switch covers. This was not a man cave but their main family room. I wrote a check - this was a long time ago - for a subscription to ITAT magazine for Christmas for my ex FIL for 20 years. What’s interesting is not a soul in that house of 6 people attended Auburn, and only my ex and her sister went to any college. FIL was a route carrier for Sunbeam bread. MIL worked at a fabric and sewing shop. Ex wife had one uncle and one cousin who graduated Auburn out of dozens of cousins, etc. I’m friends with many non-college graduates who are AU fans. Tradesmen, barbers, business owners, all walks of life. I have a bachelor’s degree but a college degree doesn’t impress me that much anymore. This old trope from Auburn fans about their big brother doesn’t affect me, except I think it makes people like you look stupid.

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Exactly.

My grandma and grandpa were diehard auburn fans. They never attended any college at all.

Lol..yes..au couldn't sell their..suck then suck now...suck

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Auburn is the only school who pitched a fit about a neutral site. OU-Texas, UF-UGA, other big names do it every year yet Barners were the only ones who pitched a baby fit about it being in Birmingham


Actually, as an OU fan this thread is interesting with the Bammers "insisting that the game in Birmingham was "neutral" and the Barners insisting that it wasn't.

OU fans KNOW that Dallas isn't a "neutral" site... This despite the fact that the Cotton Bowl is 50/50. You are playing in the State Fair of TEXAS... with a giant Texas flag flying overhead...

Perhaps it was the same for Auburn fans in B'ham...?

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obviously, due to the fact OU plays in the state of Texas, and Auburn was still playing in the state of Alabama, it isn't the same.