The Bowden family has been involved in some of the most storied rivalries in college football history. From Florida State-Florida to Florida State-Miami to Clemson-South Carolina and West Virginia-Pitt, the Bowden brothers have seen it all. But when it comes to intensity, both Terry and Tommy Bowden agree that nothing compares to the Iron Bowl.
“The Auburn-Alabama game is just different,” former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden recently said on The Auburn Undercover Podcast. “I’ve been in a lot of big rivalries, but in Alabama, people don’t number their years, they name them. You say, ‘Punt Bama Punt,’ ‘Bo Over the Top,’ ‘The Kick,’ and people instantly know exactly what year you’re talking about.”
Terry Bowden, who led Auburn from 1993-98, was at the helm for one of the most memorable Iron Bowls in history, a 22-14 victory over defending national champion Alabama in 1993. That game, which was played under Auburn’s NCAA probation and not televised, saw the Tigers rally behind backup quarterback Patrick Nix and wide receiver Frank Sanders.
Terry described the energy inside Jordan-Hare Stadium that day as unforgettable. “I don’t know if they’ve ever rolled Toomer’s Corner as hard as they did that night,” he said. “That game meant everything to Auburn. Alabama had just won a national title. They thought they owned the state. But we went out and took it back.”
Tommy Bowden, who served as Auburn’s offensive coordinator before becoming the head coach at Tulane and then Clemson, echoed his brother’s sentiments on the significance of the rivalry.
“It’s the most cold-blooded rivalry in college football,” Tommy Bowden told The Auburn Undercover Podcast in a separate interview. “You don’t go for the wrist in that game – you go for the jugular. There are great rivalries out there, but this one is just different.”
Terry said that the Iron Bowl’s impact extends beyond just the 60 minutes on the field. “It’s not just a game; it’s a way of life,” he said. “This rivalry is bigger than football. It determines how happy your Thanksgiving is, how friendly your neighbors are and sometimes even who gets hired for a job. That’s how serious it is.”
For Terry, the stakes of the Iron Bowl are unlike anything else in college football. “If you don’t understand the Auburn-Alabama game, you don’t understand football,” he said. “People say, ‘What are you playing for if you can’t go to a bowl?’ You’re playing for Auburn. And if you win that game, you’ve won something that matters more than any trophy.”
Tommy, who also spent time coaching in the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry, said that while other rivalries had intensity, they couldn’t match the all-consuming nature of the Iron Bowl.
“The biggest difference is that in Alabama, people live side by side, work together and deal with this game every single day of the year,” he said. “It’s not just about football. It’s personal.”
Terry also emphasized the emotional toll the rivalry takes on those involved. “Somebody’s getting shot in a trailer park that night, win or lose,” he said, half-jokingly. “Families take it seriously. It’s not just a game – it’s bragging rights for an entire year.”
The Bowden brothers’ experiences have given them a unique perspective on what makes college football great, but both are clear on one thing – there is nothing quite like the Iron Bowl.
“You might win a national championship,” Tommy said. “But if you lose the Iron Bowl, that’s what people are going to remember.”
Terry agrees. “I just can’t bring myself to root for the team across the state,” Bowden said, referencing Alabama. “That’s just how it is – once an Auburn man, always an Auburn man.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
