<p>The rivalry between Alabama and Auburn is on par with Ohio State-Michigan in football or UNC-Duke in basketball in many ways. The winner of the Alabama-Auburn game gets more than braggiing rights. Players could decide what school they will attend depending on the outcome. I know, living in Virginia, that is often very true with Virginia-Virginia Tech.</p>
<p>Certainly it gets plenty of air time, as CBS carries the game.</p>
<p>According to [Greatest</a> College Football Rivalries from America’s Best and Top Ten](<a href=“Unique America - Discover Unique Places Near You”>Unique America - Discover Unique Places Near You) , it’s the number 2 college football rivalry just behind Oklahoma and UT-Austin. Before I came to UA, the only rivalry I was very familiar with is ranked #20 (Washington and Washington State), and the UA-Auburn rivalry is much more than that. Another list I’ve read ranked Alabama the top state for college football. When you’re down here, you may want to consider an “I Hate Orange” t-shirt or one of the many game day shirts (if you were in a sorority, they get their own shirt designs). Don’t be surprised if you are in another part of the country and are wearing houndstooth and/or UA clothing that people will shout “Roll Tide” or “War Eagle” (Auburn’s phrase) immediately upon seeing you. I’ve met a lot of people from Alabama this way and also a lot of football fans.</p>
<p>*How huge is the Auburn/Alabama rivalry? What can it be compared to? *</p>
<p>Krazie…since you’re a So Cal girl, you can probably more relate to this…</p>
<p>The rivalry is bigger than UCLA vs USC …or …USC vs Notre Dame.</p>
<p>I actually did not know about the Bama Vs Auburn rivalry until a co-worker who is an Auburn alumnus clued me in. Now he begins & ends every conversation with “war eagle”. </p>
<p>I don’t care as long as we beat the University of TN!</p>
<p>As long as we’ve segued into SEC musings . . . </p>
<p>We live in Hawaii and there’s a home on my street, more than 4,000 miles from Tuscaloosa, that has a Bama banner hanging from the eaves above the front door. </p>
<p>My neighbor, who lives directly across the street from me hails from Georgia. Ever since he heard my son is going to UA he barks out (and I do mean barks), “Go Dawgs!!” whenever he sees me.</p>
<p>And as for needing to beat Tennessee, there’s always this little YouTube gem to keep up the motivation: [YouTube</a> - I Hate Tennessee](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt2BAfhUHX0]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt2BAfhUHX0)</p>
<p>Love it!!!</p>
<p>I know where you’re coming from. My son will also be coming from socal. </p>
<p>When he started getting communications from Bama, his uncles were stoked, but I figured - no way, not what he’s looking for - small to med. college, not too far from CA. However, dad told him he can’t say no until he researches, he liked everyone at reception (especially Dean Karr) and finally visited over spring break. Liked everything about it and like your daughter figured he didn’t want to be one of the crowd. Bama offered more of an overall experience with the challenges of an honors college. </p>
<p>We’re also trying to figure out about Family Weekend - thanks for the input mom2collegekids. I just found this cite yesterday and was up soooo late and you’ve given me some wonderful information.</p>
<p>Krazie, </p>
<p>I don’t care what anyone says, this is THE most intense rivalry in the nation. And Im not just referring to the football game. These school’s have been battling for the lion’s share of state and federal funding from day one. Since UA was created first, and bears the state’s name, it is considered the Flagship university of Alabama. But Auburn was chosen over UA to become the state’s land grant university in the late 1800s. That designation allowed AU to slowly grow till it surpassed UA in enrollment in the late 1940s, despite years of receiving less funding from the state than UA. </p>
<p>When AU became the largest university in the state (UA became the largest school in the state, once again in 2006), it was able to develop greater political support, and it began to thrive. Because AU has more students studying engineering and the sciences, it gets more state funding from Alabama. Yet the poor state funding in the past has continued to haunt AU and alumni to this day, and they insist that UA receives preferential treatment in everything. </p>
<p>The stereotype is that UA has the prettier campus (by far), is the school for business, law, medicine, the arts, and is the destination for the children of the state’s upper class, while AU is the school for Vet Med, Engineering, Agriculture, Forestry, and the Sciences, and is the destination for the state’s middle class. While AU’s campus is not as pretty as Bama’s it has come a long way, and I think it is lovely campus now. Similarly, while AU has traditionally had a greater emphasis on the Sciences, UA is rapidly closing that gap, and while UA has traditionally had a greater emphasis on Business, AU’s School of Business is not far behind UA’s in the rankings. And as for which class goes where, I think it is nonsense. There are just as many upper crust folks who end up at AU than UA. In fact, UA is more diverse given its signficantly higher enrollment of Black students. Yet AU, with its proximity to Atlanta, has signficantly higher numbers of out of state students, though UA is catching up there too. </p>
<p>So the stereotypes are only half true, but they persist, and both alumni look down their noses at the other. I don’t think most UA people realize what a fine school AU is, how nice much of its campus is, and I dont think that most AU people realize the juggernaut that UA is becoming. Many of them still think AU is the more prestigious school, though the last decade’s rankings have usually had UA ahead of AU. And they insist AU is “harder to get into” than UA, pointing to AU’s modestly higher ACT/SAT range, though UA has a much higher application rejection rate. </p>
<p>When I attended UA in the late 80s, AU was the higher ranked program. What happened at AU in the 80s mirrors what is happening at UA right now. Back then, they were getting the modern facilities, though they were not nearly as beautiful as the new buildings going up at UA. See, I’m caught up in the rivalry too!</p>
<p>But what really ticks Auburn fans off the most is the nine straight years in the seventies that UA beat AU in football. Those were tragic days for AU, and many kids in Alabama who pulled for Auburn experienced the merciless boasts of UA children all year. AU won the Iron Bowl six out of ten years in the 80s, thus restoring some pride to their fans. Then Bama won 7 out of the 10 Iron Bowls in the nineties. Then AU won seven of the 10 Iron Bowls in the last decade, including an unprecedented six in a row, which almost killed many UA faithful. With Saban in charge, and the expansion of BDS, the AU fans are once again, feeling like the red headed step child of the state. lol</p>
<p>Well said Atlanta. There is nothing that compares to the intensity of Alabama - auburn. The entire state is at a virtual standstill during that game. </p>
<p>Bama has another long and intense rivalry with Tennessee, but in that rivalry there was also a lot of respect between the two programs/fanbases etc etc. Of course Phil Fulmer and his merry band of henchmen eroded quite a bit of that mutual respect, but with Dooley up there now I look for it to get back to how it was.</p>
<p>The auburn rivalry is based on hate, jealousy, and resentment resulting from little brother syndrome by that cow college from across the state.</p>
<p>Have to laugh, DS is all set to go to Prom with his #1 choice, just found out the other day that she’s going to Auburn. Out of his class of 1200+, they are the only two heading down to Alabama - go figure!</p>
<p>Too weird!!! :)</p>