Rank your favorite 1980s Iron Bowls.
1. 1989- First time in JHS. Enough has been written about that over the years that I don't need to revisit its significance.
2. 1982- Bo over the top ends a 9-year drought and notifies the college football world that a old power is reawakening in east Alabama.
3. 1987- Auburn dominated Bill Curry's first Bama squad to the point that Auburn's 10 points might as well have been 50. The Tigers held the ball for 23 of the 30 minutes in the second half. TB Stacey Danley ran for 157 yards, with no single carry for more than 20 yards. When LB Kurt Crain knocked out Tide WR Clay Whitehurst late in the fourth quarter, it hammered any remaining Tide hopes into oblivion.
4. 1986- Bama was a slight favorite but the Tigers took it to them with a stalwart performance. WR Lawyer Tillman cinched his place in Iron Bowl lore with an impromptu reverse to a touchdown in the closing moments of the game. This was the first of four straight Auburn wins characterized by relentless defense.
5. 1983- Bo Jackson lit up the Bama defense for 256 yards. This game also featured perhaps the worst weather in rivalry history as a tornado-spawning maelstrom overtook Legion Field during the fourth quarter.
6. 1988- Nothing terribly special about this except for the Auburn win. The media hype coming into the game centered Bama LB Derrick Thomas but it was Auburn's steady play that clinched the victory. The most memorable single play for Auburn fans was a "sack" attributed to Bama's defense. QB Reggie Slack rolled right to escape pressure, dumped the ball to TB James Joseph who rumbled for the conversion, then the refs brought the play back claiming Slack was out-of-bounds before letting the ball go. Replays clearly showed Slack yards away from sideline, nearly to the numbers painted on the Legion Field artificial turf when he threw.
Anything to add or argue? Let's hear it.
1. 1989- First time in JHS. Enough has been written about that over the years that I don't need to revisit its significance.
2. 1982- Bo over the top ends a 9-year drought and notifies the college football world that a old power is reawakening in east Alabama.
3. 1987- Auburn dominated Bill Curry's first Bama squad to the point that Auburn's 10 points might as well have been 50. The Tigers held the ball for 23 of the 30 minutes in the second half. TB Stacey Danley ran for 157 yards, with no single carry for more than 20 yards. When LB Kurt Crain knocked out Tide WR Clay Whitehurst late in the fourth quarter, it hammered any remaining Tide hopes into oblivion.
4. 1986- Bama was a slight favorite but the Tigers took it to them with a stalwart performance. WR Lawyer Tillman cinched his place in Iron Bowl lore with an impromptu reverse to a touchdown in the closing moments of the game. This was the first of four straight Auburn wins characterized by relentless defense.
5. 1983- Bo Jackson lit up the Bama defense for 256 yards. This game also featured perhaps the worst weather in rivalry history as a tornado-spawning maelstrom overtook Legion Field during the fourth quarter.
6. 1988- Nothing terribly special about this except for the Auburn win. The media hype coming into the game centered Bama LB Derrick Thomas but it was Auburn's steady play that clinched the victory. The most memorable single play for Auburn fans was a "sack" attributed to Bama's defense. QB Reggie Slack rolled right to escape pressure, dumped the ball to TB James Joseph who rumbled for the conversion, then the refs brought the play back claiming Slack was out-of-bounds before letting the ball go. Replays clearly showed Slack yards away from sideline, nearly to the numbers painted on the Legion Field artificial turf when he threw.
Anything to add or argue? Let's hear it.
Last edited:
