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The Tuscaloosa News
What Kalen DeBoer has heard about Iron Bowl rivalry between Alabama football vs Auburn
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- What Kalen DeBoer has heard about Iron Bowl rivalry between Alabama football vs Auburn
When Kalen DeBoer first got to Alabama football , he said there was no particular story he heard to explain what the rivalry means between the Crimson Tide and Auburn .
All he knew was what happened in the 2023 Iron Bowl .
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"I understand what took place a year ago and what it took to win that game," DeBoer said. "And that's, I think, probably pretty reminiscent of what both sides are looking at as far as the effort it's gonna take and playing for four quarters, playing every second, every play like it's your last. So that's the intensity of it."
DeBoer got his first taste of what the Alabama vs Auburn rivalry looks like in a Sunday team meeting.
Coming off a 24-3 loss to Oklahoma , DeBoer said he could "already feel leadership stepping up" from players who have played in the rivalry, players who can best describe what the game actually means to the state.
"Ever since I've been here, I think I hear about it every day," DeBoer said.
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It's a rivalry Alabama has held a significant advantage in. The Crimson Tide have won each of its last four meetings with Auburn. Alabama has not lost to Auburn at home since 2010.
The 2024 Iron Bowl is going to be an "awesome environment," DeBoer said, one where Alabama has the chance to finish undefeated at home.
But it's so much more than that to Alabama, DeBoer admits.
"This game, what it means to those who come from each side, what it means to the state," DeBoer said. "It's talked about, not just told to me, but talked about to everyone in their homes. It's Thanksgiving weekend, so if you're not at the game, you're watching it with your friends and family. I've heard stories of families being divided because of it n many different ways. This is what rivalry games are all about And this is a rivalry that is on another level."
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Alabama will take on Auburn at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Kalen DeBoer has heard about Alabama football Iron Bowl rivalry vs Auburn
