The World Series, Wimbledon, The Masters, the NCAA Final Four and the Super Bowl — each of those events represents the pinnacle of its sport, and each appeared on USA Today’s “10 best bucket-list sporting events” that sports fans should attend before they die.
Conspicuously missing from the list was the BCS Championship, or the soon-to-be-launched “College Football Playoff.” But that doesn’t mean college football wasn’t represented in the top 10, it’s just that the game sports fans absolutely must attend at least once in their life isn’t the one that decides which team is the best in the nation, but rather which is the best in Alabama (but I repeat myself).
The Iron Bowl, the yearly matchup between The University of Alabama and Auburn University, was the only college football event that made the bucket list.
Here’s what USA Today had to say:
Although the sports world is full of bitter rivalries, there’s perhaps none more heartfelt than the annual Thanksgiving weekend match-up between the University of Alabama and cross-state rival Auburn University. “It shows how important football is in that part of the country. I’ve never experienced anything like it, and how it divides not just the entire state, but families,” said Robert Tuchman, president of Goviva.com, a company offering curates travel experiences, with an emphasis on sports.
While the first game dates to the late 19th century, Both teams have been nationally ranked in recent years, making the showdown even more dramatic.
Bucket list tip:
Don’t miss the pre-game tailgating, a spectacle in itself. “This event is all about the atmosphere and tenacity of the rivalry. Although the game is the must see, it’s really the pre game tailgate where all the fun is happening.”
Alabama leads the all-time series 42–35–1, but Auburn has taken 6 of the last 10.
Other events on the list included the FIFA World Cup, the Kentucky Derby and the Daytona 500. To view the full list, head over the USA Today.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
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