The Alabama Crimson Tide is preparing to head into Jordan-Hare Stadium for an Iron Bowl matchup that, as always, has extremely high stakes.
This time around though might mean even more than usual with Alabama’s season and playoff chances very much hanging in the balance in a place where they have struggled historically no matter how much they are favored by.
This time around, going up against an elite Auburn defense with an offense that has struggled as of late, they are favored by less than a touchdown.
On paper based on decades of history, this should be a brutal matchup for the Crimson Tide and the tallest task of Kalen DeBoer’s career. When asked about it though, DeBoer seems to be embracing the challenge rather than running from it.
“I think every game is its own game,” DeBoer said via Bama247 when asked after the win over Eastern Illinois about going to Auburn for the first time.
“I understand what the history of this rivalry is – home, away – doesn’t matter. It’s about this one game. Pouring everything into it you’ve got. Our guys will do that…We’re gonna be going into an SEC environment. It is our rival. It’s got, again, a lot of history to it. We’re just gonna focus on our preparation. The things that matter to us is what our mindset is, and what the week looks like as far as the work.”
For as spectacular as Nick Saban was during his time at both Alabama and LSU, he carried four losses at Jordan-Hare Stadium in his nine games coaching there, and even in many of the wins needed miracles to get out alive.
The last two Iron Bowls on The Plains have been absolutely unbelievable, and Alabama stole victory from the jaws of defeat in both. Even though he was not in Tuscaloosa, no one knows this better than DeBoer.
“We’re gonna have to be at our best,” he said. “That’s what you keep working for. That’s where we’re at. That’s what our guys will ask of themselves and each other. One day at a time you put the game plan together. One day at a time you work at it, and Saturday will come and we’ll be ready to go.”
It should be another classic in Jordan-Hare under the lights this coming Saturday.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
