Editor’s Note: The Over The Mountain Journal asked several former Alabama and Auburn football players from the Birmingham metropolitan area what their favorite memory was from the Iron Bowl and why. Here are their responses:
Gregg Carr
Auburn linebacker, 1981–1984
“My favorite memory was in 1982 when we beat Alabama 23-22 in the “Bo Over the Top” game. That was my happiest moment as a player because Auburn hadn’t won against Alabama in a while. That day is special.” (Carr lives in Mountain Brook.)
Griff Langston
Alabama receiver, 1968-1970
“The 1968 game where (Tide linebacker) Mike Hall changed his No. 54 jersey to a tight end jersey number and caught a touchdown pass. That was a great feeling to win (24-16) in my sophomore year!” (Langston lives in Birmingham.)
Thom Gossom
Auburn receiver, 1972-1974
“The touchdown I had called back in 1974. It was a helluva play. Everybody always ask me about that play. It was a great game. I felt like it was the first time we could match talent with Alabama while I was there. Mike Washington, their cornerback, had a pick six against us the year before when he jumped an out route. We decided to go with an out and up. I caught the ball and went in for a 49-yard touchdown, but they said I stepped on the line before I caught the ball and I couldn’t come back in and catch the ball. That was a real big play. It happened in the third quarter and we were down 17-7. That would have made it 17-13. We did score a touchdown later in the game and that’s how it ended up, 17-13.” (Gossom lives in Ft. Walton, Florida, but frequently comes to Birmingham to visit his father.)
Mike Clements
Alabama defensive back, 1977-1980
“My favorite memory was watching our offense go down the field and score in the last three minutes to beat them in the 1979 game. We were undefeated and everything was on the line. Our offense had not had much success all day. It was the fourth quarter and do our die. They drove the length of the field and scored a touchdown and we won 25-18.” (Clements lives in Homewood.)
Patrick Nix
Auburn quarterback, 1992-1995
“My favorite memory was the 1995 game because it was my last one. The favorite play of my life was taking a knee on my last play ever against them.” Auburn won 31-27. (Nix lives in Pinson.)
Bobby Humphrey
Alabama running back, 1985-1988
“My favorite memory was the Van Tiffin kick in the 1985 game my freshman season. It was the most emotional roller coaster I’ve ever experienced. There were six lead changes in the fourth quarter.” Tiffin’s 52-yard field goal as time expired gave Alabama a 25-23 victory. (Humphrey lives in Hoover.)
Neil Caudle
Auburn quarterback, 2006-2010
“I’ll give you two. When I was playing, it’s when Philip Lutzenkirchen scored the winning touchdown in the 2010 game. The whole year was dramatic. We were behind a lot and it always came down to the end. To be able to come back and win that game (28-27) was incredible. As far as a fan – I’m a lifelong Auburn fan – was in the 2005 game when we sacked (Alabama quarterback) Brodie Croyle 11 times. I was at that game. That’s the most fun I’ve ever had at a game. I’ll never forget that.” Auburn won 28-18. (Caudle lives in Birmingham.)
Stan White
Auburn quarterback, 1989-1993
“I guess I’ve got a couple. Playingwise, my senior year (in 1993) I got hurt, but we went undefeated, beating the defending national champions. Three or four ranking systems gave us the national championship. The other was my freshman year (1989). I didn’t play that year, but that was the first year the game was down at Auburn. I’ve never been to a sporting event any louder than that day.” (Auburn defeated the previously undefeated and No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide 30-20.) “As a broadcaster it was the “Kick 6” game in 2013 with all that happened.” (Auburn’s Chris Davis fielded an Alabama missed field goal in the end zone and returned it for a touchdown on the final play of the game, giving Auburn a 34-28 victory.) “That’s the greatest ending ever in any sport.” (White lives in Birmingham.)
