Tider4Ever wrote:
Because Alabama was so great for so long. Alabama is a power house, people know about the Alabama Crimson Tide all over the country. We haven't been a power house the past few years, and we will never be as dominant as we were during the 60's and 70's, but I believe we will begin to see a much improved Alabama over the next couple of seasons. Alabama is just one of those powers though. I mean when you mention traditional powers you think Notre Dame, USC, Nebraska, Penn State, Oklahoma, and a few others, but Alabama is one of those. (This isn't a knock on Auburn by any means) but Auburn is a different type of power, they are not as well known, you guys have always kind of had the underdog mentality, but ya'll have fought with your toughness and made a pretty considerable dent into the football landscape. Which is one reason I respect you guys.
Tider --- I have to disagree with the premise that Auburn is not as well known. Having a career that has led me to live throughout the east coast and
travel throughout the country, I have developed the perception that Auburn is generally considered to be a top tier football program in the same class as the
ones you mentioned. However, I do agree that many Auburn fans seem to possess and "underdog" persona --- one that I found a bit puzzling when I was
an Auburn student in the 1970's. Being a Georgia native, I could attest that the Georgia fans and Tech fans did not consider Auburn to be an underdog.
I have learned more about the history between Auburn and Alabama over the past 30 years and can now better appreciate some of the "perceptions"
within the state of Alabama (I now live the Mobile, AL area). However, as an Auburn graduate whose family has been well represented at Auburn (including
having a daughter who is currently an Auburn student), I have never accepted the perpetual "underdog" perception that some possess. There may be
people around the country who want to place Auburn University in Georgia, but I also bet there are some people actually don't know the state in which Notre
Dame is located.
Swamper
