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The Tuscaloosa News
Kalen DeBoer shares first thoughts on Alabama football vs Auburn Iron Bowl rivalry
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Kalen DeBoer shares first thoughts on Alabama football vs Auburn Iron Bowl rivalry
Alabama football is nearing the Iron Bowl, but not quite there yet. The Crimson Tide have a road meeting with Oklahoma before Kalen DeBoer and company can shift focus entirely to Auburn .
But in the final SEC football coaches teleconference of the season, DeBoer gave a preview of how Alabama is approaching its first Iron Bowl of a new era.
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"That's going to be a game that the whole state, us, Auburn, pour everything into," DeBoer said. "Just such great history over the many years. It's a big game. Big game for a lot of reasons. Big focus for us will be hopefully that we're playing for something. And that's obviously going to be impacted by this weekend. That's really what I've always tried to focus rivalry games on is where we're at in the season, what it means for our team. But you certainly understand the atmosphere and environment for the fans and everyone surrounding the game, and how important it is to them with a rivalry game."
Alabama has won four straight Iron Bowls against Auburn, two of which were decided by three points or less.
Alabama's last loss to Auburn came on the road in 2019, falling to the Tigers 48-45.
The Crimson Tide has not lost an Iron Bowl game in Tuscaloosa since 2010.
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DeBoer knows what rivalries feel like, calling the one between Washington and Oregon "heated." He's experienced rivalries at Alabama, having already faced Tennessee and LSU .
But this one, DeBoer expects, will be different.
"The in-state ones always do mean a little bit more in its own way," DeBoer said. "That's what makes it fun for everyone."
Alabama vs Auburn will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT Nov. 30 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on ABC.
Alabama will play Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Norman 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: Kalen DeBoer shares first thoughts on Alabama football vs Auburn Iron Bowl
