The last time that Auburn football won a game over Alabama was in 2019, which was the next to last season of the [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag] era and the freshman season of [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag].
Auburn has had two head coaches since then, and the third one is set to lead the Tigers into the 2023 game this November. Plenty has changed around Auburn’s program since the 48-45 win at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and this season’s team hopes to right the ship against their bitter rivals.
[autotag]Luke Deal[/autotag], [autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag], and [autotag]Elijah McAllister[/autotag] was asked about the rivalry game during Tuesday’s appearance at SEC Media Days in Nashville. Deal and Stutts shared their experiences in playing in previous Iron Bowls, where Deal said that it will benefit the Tigers to play the game at home this season.
“It always helps, I’ll tell you that,” Deal said of playing the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium. “I love playing away games. As a football guy, I love it. It’s cool to go to different universities, different stadiums, but there’s nothing like Jordan-Hare Stadium in the fall.”
Deal and Stutts are also under the mindset that it takes an entire season to prepare for the Iron Bowl. Deal says that you can win or lose an Iron Bowl before the game is even played. Stutts echoed Deal’s theory of the game.
“Just showing up every day and taking advantage of every opportunity,” Stutts said. “We’re focused on these last two weeks of summer and then we’ll take it one game at a time. When we get there, we’ll be excited for that game.”
The lone Auburn representative who has not played in an Iron Bowl is linebacker Elijah McAllister, who recently transferred into the program from Vanderbilt. He is excited for the chance to finally play in the game.
“It’s one of the two rivalries I wanted to play in growing up,” McAllister said. “I’m excited to finally play in it and do it and fulfill my college career in the last game at home there, so I’m excited.”
This season’s game is set to take place at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 25. Alabama leads the overall series, 49-37-1, and has won seven of the last ten games played.
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