With the 85th matchup of the Iron Bowl scheduled for Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the staff at Touchdown Alabama Magazine has compiled a series of 10 stories on the best games from the rivalry.
The series will break down the lead up to each game, the significance of the matchup, and the game itself as we go down memory lane of Alabama versus Auburn. We will provide two to three stories per day, until kickoff this weekend.
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We are down to the No. 7 all-time Iron Bowl matchup, and it goes to the 1985 game.
Lead up to the Game
After his 25-year coaching career at Alabama and unexpected death, Ray Perkins took over the program from Paul W. “Bear” Bryant in the 1983 season. He played at wide receiver for Bryant from 1964 to 1966, winning national championships in both 1964 and 1965.
Perkins suffered a 20-23 loss to Auburn in his first Iron Bowl, but he avenged himself in the following season.
Pat Dye and the Tigers had an 8-3 record in 1984 and were on pace for the Sugar Bowl.
It had defeated a pair of Top-25 teams — Florida State and Georgia — and was set to hand the Crimson Tide its seventh loss of the season.
For the first time since 1957, Alabama football was having an awful year at 4-6.
The lone major victory it had came against No. 11 Penn State (6-0), prior to facing Auburn. The in-state rival was ranked No. 11 in the nation, but Perkins and the Tide salvaged its year by pulling an upset 17-15 win. Regardless of the strong play from Auburn’s Pat Washington (quarterback) and Bo Jackson (running back), Mike Shula and Alabama’s offense were able to edge out a close victory.
The Tide finished 1984 at 5-6, while the Tigers finished at 9-4.
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In 1985, both school entered with winning records. Auburn was 8-2 and carried a No. 7 ranking, and Alabama compiled a record of 7-2-1 — including wins over four top-25 teams. Coach Perkins was expecting big things in his third season.
Significance of the Game
Following a victory in 1984, Alabama was able to win a second straight Iron Bowl over Auburn in 1985.
The accomplishment gave the Tide its fifth win over a top-25 team and Perkins finish the season at 9-2-1.
Before his death, Bo Jackson handed Coach Bryant a loss in his final Iron Bowl. Alabama was able to repay Jackson the favor during his final appearance in the rivalry in 1985. He would win the Heisman Trophy that year, but Jackson had two losses in his career against the Tide.
The 1985 Iron Bowl Game
Auburn scored first in 1984, but the Crimson Tide set the tone during this game.
Mike Shula guided the team on a 94-yard drive in 13 plays and Craig Turner scored a touchdown. After the Tide’s defense forced a fumble of Auburn’s Pat Washington and recovered it, Van Tiffin made a 26-yard field goal — pushing Alabama’s lead to 10-0 in the first quarter.
Before players such as Al Bell (wide receiver) and Gene Jelks (running back) would get going, Greg Richardson had a field day versus the Tigers on punt returns and kick returns. He opened the second quarter was a strong punt return and though the Tide did not end the drive with a touchdown, Tiffin nailed his second kick from 32 yards out.
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Auburn would finally put a drive together in the middle of the second quarter.
Washington completed some big passes and Bo Jackson capped off the possession with a score.
Shula and the Tide continued its offensive success, as it set Tiffin up for a third attempt from 42 yards and he was automatic once again.
Offensively, the Tigers were able to truly establish a rhythm. It had balance with Jackson, and Washington connected with Freddy Weygand and Trey Gainous on long passes.
Auburn drove the ball into Alabama’s territory, but a sack from Wayne Davis forced it to settle for a field goal. Chris Johnson made a 49-yard try, cutting the Tide’s lead to 16-10.
Alabama took the lead into halftime, however, the second half would be historic.
Gelks (a freshman) and Jackson (a senior) both totaled over 100 yards rushing for their schools, but the Tigers started the third quarter with Kevin Porter intercepting a pass off Shula.
Auburn immediately went to the ground game and put together an 80-yard drive on 16 plays.
Jackson had a huge gain on a screen pass and ended the drive with his second rushing score.
Auburn took its first lead of the game, 17-16, yet it did not last long.
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Shula and Al Bell started connecting with each other in the passing game, and the possession ended on a long touchdown run from Gelks.
Alabama regained the lead, 22-17, but it missed a two-point conversion. Coach Pat Dye and the Tigers returned the favor with a scoring drive of its own. Reggie Ware, a fullback, scored from 1-yard out and put the Tigers ahead, 23-22.
Auburn attempted a two-point try, but Cornelius Bennett knocked Washington’s pass down.
Alabama’s final drive in the fourth quarter cemented the legendary status of Shula at quarterback.
Prior to having Tua Tagovailoa take a bad sack in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and return with a game-winning touchdown, Shula did it for the Crimson Tide in 1985. After getting sacked, Shula completed an 8-yard pass to Gelks and then found Bell on fourth down to move the chains.
He would then quickly get the ball to Richardson and with no timeouts, the receiver got out of bounds at the 35-yard line. With six seconds left, Tiffin ran onto the field to attempt his fifth kick of the game. Despite his made attempts from 26, 32, 42 yards, he missed for 52 yards earlier in the matchup.
The miss did not bother him, as Tiffin drilled a 52-yard kick into the win.
He was carried off the field by his teammates, and delivered Perkins his second Iron Bowl victory.
The moment would be dubbed “The Kick” and it made Tiffin a hero, as the Tide won by a score of 25-23.
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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.
