Once a year, whether in Tuscaloosa or Auburn, fans of the Tigers and the Tide alike are forced to follow their troops into battle and cross behind enemy lines. This year it’s Alabama fans’ turn to cross the battle plain.
But what if you’re already behind the lines? What if you’re already stowed away at Auburn – a bammer behind barn doors?
For some Auburn students, setting fandom and football aside means getting educated by your worst enemy. Is it as bad as it sounds?
“My entire family is all Georgia fans,” said Matt Merritt, a senior in chemical engineering and Alabama fan. “It hurt my dad more for me to come here than for me.”
Often Alabama and Auburn fans have to trade places in order to advance their education. Both schools are state schools, and both have better accommodations for some majors than the other. For instance, engineers are attracted to Auburn while Alabama is known for its business and law programs.
“The reason I came was because of the Shelby Center, but then I switched,” said Grant Romine, a fifth-year senior majoring in physics and applied mathematics. “Alabama isn’t for a physics person. It’s not built for that.”
For some, it can be nerve-wracking to submerge themselves in enemy territory. When Merritt first came to Auburn, he made sure to keep his fandom to himself until he found others that shared his passion for the Crimson Tide. “Most people are good sports,” he said.
As it turns out, there’s no need to be afraid of those who attend Auburn’s so-called “cow college.” Most people in Auburn have good hospitality, according to Wes Hughes, a graduate from the exercise science program.
“I can’t say the same for Tuscaloosa," Hughes said. "If you wear an Auburn shirt in Tuscaloosa, you’re getting ridiculed. Here they just kind of look at you like ‘what is he doing here?'"
Auburn is smaller than Tuscaloosa. Iron Bowl game day on the Plains is vastly different to game day at Alabama.
The layout at Alabama gives tailgaters more room to spread out but remain within the vicinity of Bryant-Denny. The same can’t be said for Auburn, where people will tailgate down Wire Road, a long hike from Jordan-Hare. The Plains are small and centralized. It’s especially cramped on Iron Bowl game day, and rival fans are bound to brush elbows.
“Don’t be obnoxious to other people just because they don’t cheer for your team,” Romine encourages. “It’s a football game. They’re just people that enjoy football too. I think it’s entirely funny that ‘oh, you’re a good Alabama fan’ is even a thing.”
Traveling to Auburn is a different experience, especially when you're traveling straight toward the heart of a rivalry. It takes fans from both sides to do their part and keep the game day experience civil and enjoyable for all.
But Hughes has one final piece of advice for Alabama fans traveling to Auburn for the Iron Bowl this year.
“Don’t go to Sky Bar,” Hughes said. “It sucks.”
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