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Like many intrastate rivalries between public universities in the United States, much of the animosity between the two schools stems from sociological differences between each school's fan base ( alumni and other supporters). Many of the more heated in-state rivalries involve a state's perceived "flagship university" and a land-grant university. Traditionally, flagship universities educated the more urbanized and economically upscale portions of their state's population. Land-grant schools, which were specifically established to provide education in agriculture, engineering, and military science, drew heavily from rural and small-town dwellers. Although there are numerous exceptions to this rule on both sides, much of this old divide still lingers. In the Iron Bowl, Alabama is the "flagship" school and Auburn the land-grant school.
The winner of the game has statewide "bragging rights" until the next year, and as is typical of rivalry games of this nature, a win in this game can seemingly salvage an otherwise poor season for the winner, while a loss can ruin what had otherwise been a fine season for the loser. As is typical of such games, it is usually scheduled to be the final regular-season game for each team and is always played in late November.
Alabama and Auburn played their first football game in Lakeview Park in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham is the largest city in the U. state of Alabama and the county seat of Jefferson County. The city also occupies portions of Shelby County. Though the population of the city itself is only 242,820 ( 2000 U. census), it serves as the major nucleus on February 22February 22 is the 53rd day of every year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 312 days remaining, 313 in leap years. Events 1290s BC The coronation of Ramses II, on whose face the sun's rays fall each year in Abu Simbel temple. 1281 Martin IV becomes Pop, 1893Events January 1 Japan accepts the Gregorian calendar January 2 Introduction by Webb C. Ball of the General Railroad Timepiece Standards in North America: Railroad chronometers January 13 The Independent Labour Party of the UK has its first meeting. Janua. Auburn won, 32-22, before an estimated crowd of 2,000. As if a signal of the future, disagreement between the schools began immediately as Alabama considered the game to be the final matchup of the 1892Events January 1 Ellis Island begins accepting immigrants to the United States. January 14 Death of Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, second in line heir to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Next in line is his younger b season and Auburn recorded it as the first of 1893. The series was suspended after the 1907Events January events January 6 Maria Montessori opens her first school and daycare center for working class children in Rome Casa dei Bambini in San Lorenzo). January 14 An earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica kills more than a 1,000 January 23 Charles Curtis game when the schools could not come to agreement over the amount of expenses to be paid players, as well as from where officials for the game should be obtained.
It would take a 1947Events January January 1 British mines nationalized January 1 Nigeria gains limited autonomy January 1 The Canadian Citizenship Act went into effect January 3 Proceedings of the United States Congress are televised for the first time. January 10 United Na resolution by the Alabama House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives is a name used by many countries for the lower house of a bicameral legislature. The corresponding upper house is typically called a senate'. The functioning of a house of representatives can vary greatly from country to country, to cause the rivalry to be renewed in 19481948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January January 1 Nationalisation of UK railways to form British Railways. Arab militants lay siege to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. First day of the Ital where the teams met in Birmingham's Legion Field. Alabama won that game, 55-0, in the most lopsided victory of the series. The game would be played exclusively at Legion Field until 1989 when Auburn hosted the game in Jordan-Hare Stadium before a (then) record crowd of 85,319.
For most of the 20th century, both schools played many of their homes games in Birmingham (and for Auburn, Columbus, Georgia) due, in part, to the difficulty of travel to both Tuscaloosa(the location of the University of Alabama campus) and Auburn as well as insufficient on-campus facilities. Over the years, Auburn's stadium was steadily enlarged and Auburn was able to convince most of its opponents to travel to Auburn for a true home-and-home series. Alabama, however, continued to play half its home games each season in Legion Field.
By 1980, when the west upper deck of Jordan-Hare was completed, the only remaining 'neutral site' game on Auburn's schedule was the Iron Bowl, as it had come to be called due to Birmingham's prominence as a center of iron and steel production. Auburn fans now perceived a disparity in fan support in Birmingham due to Alabama's other home games in the city. AU officials set out to move their home game to Auburn with the addition of the east upper deck which would make Jordan-Hare the largest stadium in the state. On December 2, 1989, a sellout crowd would witness Auburn win its first true 'home' game of the series, 30-20 over an Alabama team that entered the game unbeaten and ranked #2 in the country.
Alabama officials had fought the move from Birmingham and continued to hold their home game at Legion Field until the 2001 season where it was once again played in Tuscaloosa in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game had been played in Tuscaloosa twice before early in the series in 1895 and 1901.