He made a statement nine months ago after winning the 2019 Iron Bowl, but it still rings in the mind of Alabama players and Crimson Tide fans as bulletin board material.
Gus Malzahn, Auburn’s head football coach, celebrated a 48-45 victory over Alabama by bringing the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy into Auburn Arena. He has been the state champion over Nick Saban for two of the last three years, and he reminded everyone back in February.
According to an article from Brandon Marcello of 247Sports, Malzahn told Tiger fans that the trophy ‘feels comfortable’ at Auburn and he plans on keeping it there for a long time.
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Since it did not get an opportunity to avenge its loss to Louisiana State University, the Tide will take its anger out on Auburn this weekend at Bryant-Denny Stadium. A pair of costly turnovers and undisciplined play on defense led to Alabama dropping last year’s meeting at Jordan-Hare Stadium. For the first time in six years, the Tide missed the cut to make the College Football Playoff. Malzahn and the Tigers kept it from competing for a national championship, and Tide players know it.
With its former student-athletes calling Auburn “the best team in the state,” Alabama is out for revenge and to return the Iron Bowl trophy back home to Tuscaloosa. ESPN’s College Football GameDay will be in attendance for arguably the best rivalry in college football. Both teams have played each other 84 times since 1893, with the Tide carrying a record of 46-37-1.
Coach Saban is 5-1 all-time against Malzahn at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
