Iron Bowl Vs Iron Dome: How Does The Auburn-Alabama Rivalry Stack Up Against Middle Eastern Conflicts

With NCAA football around the corner and conflict ravaging the Middle East, a lot of fans have rightfully been wondering how exactly the legendary Auburn-Alabama rivalry stacks up against other notorious geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East. Let’s take a look.

What makes sports and military clashes so great is their shared, sacred history. Auburn and Alabama have been fighting over territory since pre-NCAA times, and to this day, the NCAA recognizes the sovereignty of the University of Alabama. But you can’t have this conversation without noting that in the Middle East, those on and off-the-oil-field conflicts are not as organic and can arguably be seen as a result of outside influence from the CIA or MI5—a blatant NCAA rules violation that remains unpenalized.

And yes, while football historians agree Alabama was there first, it has a well-documented past of treating Auburn fans terribly, such as setting up unauthorized tailgates at Auburn home games, which displaces thousands of fans who just want to enjoy the game. Thankfully, there’s not a single Middle Eastern conflict that has gotten this dirty, so Auburn-Alabama has a leg up.

But no one can overlook the worst blunders in each of these conflicts. Sure, the United States did fund Osama bin Laden when he fought the Soviets in Afghanistan, only to later be betrayed by him in 2001, but it pales in comparison to the blunder the NCAA made in not advocating for a two-school solution earlier. Think of all the brutal outcomes that could have been avoided: Alabama victories of 49-0 in 2012, 35-0 in 1973, and 38-0 in 1963—all the result of Alabama’s excellent air game and brute force ground game. Millions of Auburn fans endure generational trauma while living inside Alabama thanks to the inaction of those in power.

Okay, but what about the gameday experience? Typically, before war, there’s some type of warning, like an air raid siren, but the crowd at Bryant–Denny Stadium is so loud that Auburn players never have the chance to seek shelter before the Crimson Tide take the field. If you’re rolling Tide, you gotta love it, but to the rest of the SEC, it’s an appalling act of psychological warfare.

Whether you prefer play action or a geopolitical QB sneak, in the end, these rivalries have a little something fun for everyone.