The Uncivil War: Alabama Vs. Auburn, 1981-1994

I was in Books A Million one night in 1996 when I happened across this little book. It is FANTASTIC, the story of college football's greatest rivalry during its peak, 1981-1994. During the fourteen years featured, each team won seven times. The tale begins with the legendary Paul 'Bear' Bryant telling Wyoming Coach Pat Dye not to take the Auburn head coaching job because he is going to get the Alabama job. But Dye resists. The rest, as they say, is history. In this book you get: Bear Bryant's 315th win Bo Jackson over the top Bo Jackson, birth of a legend Bo Jackson, the wrong-way kid The Greatest College Football Game Ever Played (1985) The Game Comes To Auburn The Eric Ramsey Chronicles Back-To-Back Unbeatens and The End of the Beginning You know all the names. Mike Shula, Bo Jackson, Derrick Thomas, Brent Fullwood, Cornelius Bennett, Patrick Nix, Keith McCants, Lawyer Tillman, Walter Lewis, Lionel James, Ricky Moore, the Rocker brothers, and the two words that cause Auburn fans to careen their cars into telephone poles Van Tiffin

I didn't grow up in the State of Alabama but it only took me one visit to this game to understand the emotions. The book sets the stage for each year's game with details and history leading up to the end of November. If you have attended classes in Tuscaloosa or Auburn - you need no further convincing. But if you are of the opinion that Oklahoma-Texas or Ohio State-Michigan is the fiercest rivalry - prepare to take a back seat. Too bad it ends in 1994 and doesn't include 18-17 in 1997 or 31-27 in 1995. Head to Toomer's! WAR EAGLE!