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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In terms of historic moments, the No. 3 game of this Iron Bowl series is from 1981.
Lead up to the Game
Alabama was on a roll from 1973 to 1980, beating Auburn in eight straight Iron Bowls.
It entered the 1980 matchup at 8-2 and grabbed a 34-18 win over the Tigers. The Crimson Tide ended the campaign with a 10-2 record, following a 30-2 beatdown of No. 6-ranked Baylor in the Cotton Bowl.
Coming into the 1981 season, the Tide was trying to make it nine straight victories over the Tigers.
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Alabama was 8-1-1 on the year, including top-10 wins over Mississippi State and Penn State. Auburn was 5-4 under a first-year head coach in Pat Dye, who was a linebackers coach on Paul Bryant’s staff at Alabama from 1965-73.
He was on staff for two national championships (1965, 1973), but Dye was now on the opposite end of his teacher.
Significance of the Game
Despite him being on the backend of his career, Coach Bryant was still the biggest name in college football at the time.
He had already won six national championships and 13 SEC titles. Bryant was going after a 14th conference crown, but he was also chasing history. He needed one victory to surpass Amos Alonzo Stagg as the most winningest head coach in the sport.
The 1981 Iron Bowl Game
A lot of missed opportunities, turnovers and points left on the field happened for both schools, but Alabama found ways to make plays when it needed them.
Gary Hollingsworth got the Crimson Tide started with a rushing touchdown. Both teams traded turnovers, and then George Peoples returned the favor for Auburn with a rushing score. The Tigers had chances to make field goals, however, Al Del Greco missed on two of three attempts. Alabama and Auburn were tied at 7 at halftime and while Joey Jones was having trouble fielding punts (two fumbles), Jesse Bendross gave the Tide a 14-7 lead on a touchdown pass from Ken Coley at quarterback.
Lionel James, Auburn’s running back, responded with a score himself.
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Along with Hollingsworth and Coley, Alabama played Walter Lewis too. He found Bendross for another score, pushing the Tide’s advantage to 21-17. Linnie Patrick wore down the Tigers defense with strong runs, including one for a touchdown.
Alabama’s defense kept Auburn off the scoreboard after Patrick’s efforts, and clinched a 28-17 victory.
Coach Bryant earned win No. 315, making him the winningest head coach in Football Bowl Subdivision.
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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.
