Controversial Column

What Really Grinds My Gears

(Published in The Auburn Plainsman on June 15, 2007)

-dozens of encouraging comments and negative rebuttals followed publication-

        Since I’ve been at Auburn, I have developed a pet peeve that I can’t help venting about every once in awhile... delusional Alabama fans. I’m not from Alabama, so I’ve only been bothered by this for a few years. I haven’t learned how to ignore some of the ignorant and offensive comments that Tide fans come up with. No one is going to turn the other cheek in such a heated rivalry. It becomes a vicious cycle of retaliation when you get into an argument with one. It’s hard not to be a hypocrite, but they hardly ever have a logical argument to make in the first place.

            Most of their fans live in the past, understandably so since their record over the last decade is 67-55 with six different coaches coming and going. The coaching circus in Tuscaloosa has been one of the most humorous and sorest subjects in this state's sports.

            Dennis Franchione couldn’t stand Tuscaloosa for more than two seasons, and Mike Price didn’t get a chance to coach a single game after some inappropriate behavior in Florida. That kind of embarrassment inspired the athletic department to make the rash decision of hiring Mike Shula. Four years later, athletic director Mal Moore said on the record that Shula was never qualified for the job in the first place.  

            Now they think they’ve solved all of their problems by giving Nick Saban one of the richest contracts in NCAA history. Saban may have done a good job in Baton Rouge, but LSU had to share that champtionship in 2003 with the USC Trojans. Who knows what would've happened if they had actually played each other. Saban left a lot of Dolphin fans angry in Miami, and he will be expected to turn around one of the worst programs in the SEC around in a couple of years.
          No matter how much Alabama embarrasses itself every year, they justify it by bringing up the glory years. Not only were the most vocal fans not even alive to see this success for themselves, they have no connection to the school whatsoever. They like to brag about their twelve championships, but multiple were awarded retro-actively. Meaning the trophy was given to them years after the season took place.

            What really grinds my gears is their inability to admit defeat. No matter how many times the Tigers win, their fans retain this sickening pride. It may just be how insecure they’ve become, but they seem to treat losses like a bad dream.            

            Auburn has won five consecutive Iron Bowls, but their fan base act like every one has just been a fluke. Despite having higher admission standards, our university is dismissed as a lowly cow college for illiterate in-breeders with no where else to go.This couldn't be farther from the truth.

This is just another example of how classless they can be. At the end of an exciting Iron Bowl last season, the students section threw their trash at Auburn players. A full bottle of water hit former cornerback David Irons in the eye. While Irons could’ve lost his sight, the student section erupted in cheering and laughter.

            It’s been said that Auburn is the adopted red-headed step child of the state. No matter how many times Auburn proves itself to be better, it gets no respect. When Auburn finally does win its first unanimous national championship, Alabama will probably create t-shirts with “Got 12?” on the front.

            In what is considered one of the best rivalries in college sports, both schools are equal in almost every way. Auburn has proven itself to be better in some ways over the years. The coaching staff and players are aware of this, now if only their fans could admit defeat every once in awhile. That would be nice.