This Saturday, thousands will be watching the one game that is talked about all year in Alabama: the Iron Bowl.
"We have to play because this is an extremely important game to so many people," said coach Gene Chizik. "You have to love it. You have to love being able to just having an opportunity to play in this game. Every year, somebody in this game makes history. Every year, somebody goes down with a play or two in a game that people talk about forever. That's the way this game goes."
Last year's Iron Bowl drew the largest attendance to date at 101,821. Chizik said he is teaching his players the importance of the Iron Bowl and to focus on the present.
"New year, different year, different players, completely different dynamic," Chizik said. "Yes, we refer to the history of the rivalry because it's very important, but in terms of us specifically going back over the last two years, we don't really pay a lot of attention to that unless it pertains specifically to what we're teaching them."
The Auburn Tigers have the second toughest schedule in college football -- their opponents have a combined winning percentage of .626. Also, three teams in the SEC West -- LSU, Alabama and Arkansas -- currently hold the top three spots in the rankings.
Chizik said this game isn't about the tough schedule, however. It is about the importance of the rivalry between Auburn and Alabama.
"You have to play great because it's the Iron Bowl," Chizik said. "This is a rivalry. I don't think I have to sit here and tell 120 guys we're an underdog. They can read. They have ears. I don't have to tell my team that."
Chizik said starting sophomore quarterback Clint Mosley is more comfortable than he was at the beginning of the season.
"There are some things he's done well," Chizik said. "There's times when he hasn't had an opportunity to do some things well because he's been under some duress. Overall, I think he's definitely progressed."
Senior offensive lineman Brandon Mosley was injured last weekend during the Samford game, and Chizik said he doesn't know if Mosley will make it to Saturday's game.
"He's a tough kid now, he's a tough guy," Chizik said. "If there's any way he can play, he's going to play. He's made some strides, but he's one of those guys that's going to be tough to keep out of this game. We'll play it day by day, but if there's any way he can play, he'll play."
Chizik also said he doesn't know if Ladarius Owens, redshirt freshman defensive end, will be fully healthy in time for the Iron Bowl. Owens sustained a foot injury during the Arkansas game.
"I was really proud of him before he got injured," Chizik said. "The South Carolina game, I think, was when I really noticeably saw him making some serious strides at the defensive end position. He's gotten bigger. He's filling out. He's 250-plus pounds right now. He's really done a great job of getting his body prepared, and he was really coming along."
Chizik said the game will come down to being physical and stopping Alabama's powerful running backs.
"It has to start with the defensive line up front and those guys coming off the ball and trying to get vertical penetration," Chizik said. "It's going to be about our linebackers fitting and our safeties fitting, and if there's a misfit anywhere on the run, then our safeties have to bring the ball down. That's pretty much 200-year-old football."
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