Letter from Auburn fans left Bryant gracious
Ihave in my possession an unusual letter. It's unique, not so much for the question the writer raises, but because of another letter from a quarter-century ago, a copy of which was mailed as an attachment.
Bobby Sweat is an class of '83 Auburn graduate who now lives and works in Houston. Not unlike many other football fans whose colors are burnt orange and navy blue, Bobby is agitated by an argument he hears often from his Crimson Tide acquaintances. Namely, that Auburn can only be "up'' in football when Alabama is "down.''
After researching head-to-head games since 1980 when both teams were nationally ranked heading into the Iron Bowl, here's what he found:
"Auburn is 7-1 over the last 28 years when both teams were ranked,'' notes Bobby, "and in four of those games, Alabama was the higher-ranked team. So it would seem that when Alabama's good, Auburn can be good as well, and better at least half the time.''
There's more. "Looking at the games Alabama has won in those years suggests that, quite the opposite to conventional wisdom, Alabama seems to be good when Auburn is down,'' says Bobby.
He points out that in the 12 years Alabama won the Iron Bowl since 1980, Auburn has been down half the time. The Tigers finished 5-6 in 1980 and '81, 9-4 in '84, 8-4 in '85, 8-3-1 in '90, 5-6 in '91, 5-5-1 in '92, 9-1-1 in '94, 8-4 in '96, 3-8 in '98, 5-6 in '99 and 7-5 in 2001.
"The facts seem to indicate that since Bear Bryant, Alabama's usually only good when Auburn is down,'' Bobby writes. "But why let facts ruin a good myth?''
As a footnote, Bobby attached a copy of a letter he received during his senior year in college a few days after he and his roommate mailed a "sympathy card'' to the Alabama head coach following the 1982 Iron Bowl, when Auburn snapped a nine-game losing streak to Alabama.
In the card, he mentioned that "we both thought he was the greatest college coach of all time and wished him many more successful 10-1 seasons at Alabama.''
When Bobby returned to school after the holidays, a letter was waiting in his mailbox. Dated Dec. 10, 1982, it was written on University of Alabama stationary and dictated by the athletic director to his secretary, Linda Knowles. This is what it said:
Mr. Bobby Sweat & Phil Gerlach
94 Gentilly
Auburn, AL 36830
Dear Bobby and Phil:
Thank you very much for your letter. I am highly flattered by your comments, particularly since you are fans of Auburn.
Appreciate you writing and hope each of you has a most Joyous Holiday Season.
Sincerely,
Paul Bryant
PB/lk
Nineteen days later, in his final game as Alabama's coach, Paul Bryant's team beat Illinois at the Liberty Bowl.
Four weeks after that, he died of heart failure in a Tuscaloosa hospital.
John Pruett at john.pruett@htimes.com or visit his al.com blog at http://blog.al.com/pruett
Only a bammer would say something like that
after an article like that. Oh yeah remember 1985 that was how long ago. Take your glasses off man. 72- 52- 3 is our record when bama has beats us since 1980.
Only 5 of those years did we win at least 8 games. So as you can see I would say that by that record you could say we were down. I would love to see bama's
record the 15 years we beat them over this span
