Tigers’ 30-20 victory against No. 2 Tide adds luster to Fame Bowl

By JOEY JOHNSTON

Tribune Sports Writer

(c) Tampa Bay Times. Originally published Dec. 3, 1989.

AUBURN, Ala. — It was a dose of Southern-fried hyperbole, but the significance couldn’t be minimized for the deafening sold-out din that witnessed Auburn’s monumental 30-20 victory against the previously unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

This was history. This was redemption.

Auburn fans have never enjoyed such a moment. For the first time in 54 Iron Bowl meetings, the rivalry was contested at Auburn, which was perceived as a second-class program during the Bear Bryant era at Alabama. Some believed that the Tide, which insisted on the “neutral” site of Birmingham, would never come to Auburn.

Saturday, they came, they saw … and they were conquered.

“There’s no way to describe how this football team felt coming down to the stadium with all the Auburn people lining the sides of the street,’’ Auburn coach Pat Dye said after emerging from a raucous Tiger locker room. “It must have been like the night the wall came down at Berlin. It seemed the people were freed from bondage.’’

The Tiger Walk set the stage for an unforgettable game, which hardly had worldwide impact. But in the football-mad state of Alabama, this was a seismic rite of passage — and a crushing blow to the Tide’s national-championship hopes.

Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC) was dropped into a three-way tie for the conference title, but still will receive a Sugar Bowl bid to face the Miami Hurricanes. Meanwhile, No. 11 Auburn (9-2, 6-1) will face the Ohio State Buckeyes (8-3) in a riveting Hall of Fame Bowl matchup at Tampa Stadium.

“I especially detest losing to a team and a coach I’ve never been able to beat,’’ said Alabama coach Bill Curry, who, during stints at Georgia Tech and Alabama, is 0-10 against Dye’s Auburn teams. “In this state, you have to beat your interstate rivals to be a great team. We didn’t do it. We haven’t done it in four years. Losing takes a luster off everything.

“In time, we will get excited about going to the Sugar Bowl and playing Miami. But it’s not the same as if we were undefeated.’’

Alabama’s magical season collided with reality. And the post-game wounds stung like never before. The dreams were dashed — a potential national title, an undisputed SEC championship and a victory against their biggest rival — before the color and pageantry of 85,319 mostly partisan Tiger fans who roared their approval.

The Tide led 10-7 at halftime, but the passing of Auburn quarterback Reggie Slack keyed a 10-point third-quarter turnaround by the Tigers. Auburn built a 27-10 fourth-quarter lead, then withstood a furious comeback attempt by Alabama quarterback Gary Hollingsworth, who finished 27 of 49 for 340 yards and two touchdowns.

“I have no problem with Alabama going to the Sugar Bowl,’’ Dye said. “We were there the last two years. They haven’t been in, what, 10 or 12 years? I hope they go and have a good time because we’re dang sure gonna have a good time in Tampa.’’

At Auburn, these were good times, indeed. Auburn has won at least a share of the last three consecutive SEC titles. It has four straight victories against Alabama.

But now, in a setting that took a generation to realize, in an equal-footing moment that had some long-time Auburn fans weeping with joy, this was more than just a football game.

“We had to win this game,’’ Auburn receiver Shayne Wasden said. “Had we not won, all the struggles to get the game played at Auburn would’ve been seemingly for naught.’’

“This game meant everything to us,’’ said Auburn running back Stacy Danley, who rushed for 130 yards. “I can’t imagine another game that means more to our program and to our university.’’

Plain and simple, this was history. No hyperbole needed.