Iron Bowl Years Ending in 3 Favor AU
The Number 3
One of my all-time favorite players in Auburn history is kicker Al Del Greco. Born in Rhode Island and raised in Coral Gables, FL, Del Greco played for Auburn in the early 1980s graduating after the 1983 season. Selected to the 1980s All-Auburn team, Del Greco made one of our most famous kicks defeating Michigan in the 84 Sugar Bowl.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154864776794894
Drilling that kick while wearing the number 3, Al Del Greco had Auburn fans on Bourbon Street dancing, dreaming, and demanding a national championship after a magical season. The former AU kicker went on to a long NFL career spanning from 1984 until 2000 and now is the head golf coach of Samford University in Birmingham. Ironic that a kicker who sought 3 points wore number 3 on his jersey and now coaches collegiate golfers seeking a score of 3 on as many golf holes as possible!
The number 3 itself seems to have a special spiritual meaning within the universe. It all starts obviously with The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit! From there we live a life cycle consisting of birth, life and then death while on this world. People who study Numerology claim that in this universe, both good plus dreadful things come to people as blessings or curses in 3s. The United States Marines will testify proudly that the corps provides jarheads with 3 squares a day meaning breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are several examples of meanings of this number found in ancient scripts and stories, but what does it mean for football other than being how many points a field goal in the game represents?
Heading into the annual Iron Bowl against Alabama and Auburn, years where the game ends in 3 have been more than intriguing. Things went so well after the first game ever between the two teams in Birmingham on February 22, 1893, that the Tide and Tigers played a second time that year ending in 3 on November 29, 1893, again in Montgomery. Auburn won both of those games but when in 1903 when the two teams got together again, Alabama took care of business in the rivalry game, winning 18-6. Both of those numbers divisible by 3. Things went so poorly in the rivalry that The Iron Bowl would not be renewed on a year ending in 3 again until 1953. Shocker, there was a controversy that put this heated game on hold through momentous events like World War 1, The Roaring 20s, The Great Depression and World War 2!
1893 Auburn 32, Bama 22
1893 (2) Auburn 40, Bama 16
1903 Auburn 6, Bama 18
1953 Auburn 7, Bama 10
1963 Auburn 10, Bama 8
1973 Auburn 0, Bama 35
1983 Auburn 23, Bama 20
1993 Auburn 22, Bama 14
2003 Auburn 28, Bama 23
2013 Auburn 34, Bama 28
In Iron Bowl years ending in the number 3, Auburn is 7-3 against Alabama. Some of the most memorable games in rivalry history occurred during those circumstances including the very first game played between the two teams and the last one being the famous “Kick Six” game which many people would argue is one of the most memorable moments in college football history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKmkD1pUG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYPvsnVZ_hs
“We did again boy, we did it again”
In 2023 after a rocky season where Auburn was ranked pre-season number 1 by many media outlets, embattled 5th year head coach, Tommy Tuberville, was on the verge of being replaced by Louisville Coach, Bobby Petrino. Rumors swirled around campus tailgates that Tuberville would be let go after the Iron Bowl win, lose, or draw. An 80-yard touchdown scamper by Auburn legend, Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, to start the game set the tone for the evening and cooled any immediate terminations. The following week a nasty story about the possible usurping on Coach Tuberville leaked to the press and the coach's job was saved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mka7zVVUMis
“Go crazy Cadillac, go crazy”
Rejoining Al Del Greco in the 1983 edition of The Iron Bowl, another Auburn legend, Vincent “Bo” Jackson, dodged tornados, and Alabama defenders scampering for 256 yards rushing against the proud Tide with two Herculean effort touchdowns.
https://www.cbs42.com/weather/weather-wednesday/remembering-the-iron-bowls-tornado-warning-of-1983/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyOsJQGJz-w
“And once Bo Jackson with 9.5 speed gets outside it’s see you later”
“Good-Bye, in your face”
Heading back now 50 years from 2023 to 1973, number 1 ranked Alabama and 6-4 Auburn met in The Iron Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham. Hard to believe that Bama would be looking for their first victory against Auburn in football with years ending in 3 in 50 years this Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The previous year 1972, Auburn had ripped Alabama’s hearts out and stomped on them in the Legion Field endzone in what would be forever known as “Punt Bama Punt”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCzEEE129SE
Lightning had struck twice for undefeated Alabama in 1972 with Auburn catching both bolts in a bottle spoiling any National Championship aspirations for Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. In 1973, a hardened and revenge seeking Tide would not allow to even score on their way to a championship showdown against Notre Dama in the New Orleans Sugar Bowl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dULP0Ezb1_I
Auburn had not beaten Alabama in 5 years until the 1963 Iron Bowl in Birmingham. Another Auburn legend, Tucker Frederickson, led the Tigers ferociously onto the field looking to end that streak. This was a top ten matchup with Joe Namath led Alabama ranked #6 while Auburn was ranked #9. Both of those ranking numbers are divisible by 3 by the way. Something must have been in the numerical air as the Tigers upset the Tide in front of the Legion Field crowd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c-8ni-I-SU
So here we are 60 years later and searching for any video from the 1953 Iron Bowl and games beyond! Heading into the 2023 edition of this game, Alabama leads Auburn in this series 49-37-1. Currently Alabama is a 14.5-point favorite against their in-state rival on said rivals home field. It speaks volumes to the condition of both programs in 2023. Speaking of numbers, since 2007 when Nick Saban coached his first game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has had 1 head coach, 204 wins, only 28 losses, 6 National Championships, 8 SEC Championships, 11 wins over Auburn in the Iron Bowl and currently have a 3-game win streak in the rivalry. Auburn, however, in 2007 had 7 total coaches, with 2 being interims, 132 wins, 85 losses, 1 National Championship, 2 SEC Championships, and 5 Iron Bowl wins. Before Saban won his first Alabama/Auburn game in 2008, Auburn had rattled off 6 straight wins in the rivalry.
What do all these numbers mean? Since coming to Alabama in late 2006, Nick Saban and Alabama have been the far more dominant team in the Iron Bowl. That is not breaking news but what is important to acknowledge, no other team not named LSU has given Saban this many fits while at Alabama. Early on during the Saban regime, Florida under Urban Meyer had some success against the Tide. Recently, upstart Georgia coached by Kirby Smart has taken control of the SEC away from Saban with back-to-back National Championships. Very few schools in conference and only Clemson out of conference have been able to stay with Alabama under the possible greatest of all time. And what about when Alabama under Saban travels to Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn for Iron Bowls? The GOAT is a mediocre 4-4 in those games on the road. While at LSU you guessed it! Saban was 0-3 coaching in Auburn for the Bayou Bengals. There is that number 3 again. Is there enough magical symmetry in the universe running as an undercurrent dimensionally to shine in Auburn’s favor in 2023? If you keep this in mind, since 1893 when these two teams played each other in the same year twice to kick off the rivalry on the football field, the average score in year’s ending in 3 are Auburn 20, Alabama 19.