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What is Nick Saban's message to Alabama football before Iron Bowl vs Auburn?
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- What is Nick Saban's message to Alabama football before Iron Bowl vs Auburn?
Nick Saban feels Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer has a tall task ahead of him Saturday in the Iron Bowl against Auburn .
While admitting the Crimson Tide has a "huge advantage" as the home team, Saban said DeBoer has an extra job of getting Alabama prepared as a team that had "College Football Playoff aspirations" which is now "maybe not the case."
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But Saban made it clear on ESPN's "College GameDay." Alabama vs Auburn is bigger than just the CFP.
"This game is really important to the people in the state of Alabama," Saban said. "When you are born in Alabama, you have a birthright. You are either going to be for Bama or you're going to be for Auburn. You grow up that way with great passion. So this is a big game for a lot of people. And it's a big game for the players."
Alabama has won four straight against Auburn, including the 2023 Iron Bowl that ended with a fourth-and-31 game-winning play by Jalen Milroe and Isaiah Bond .
Alabama vs Auburn: 'Like a movie': Perspectives of fourth-and-31 Alabama football win vs Auburn
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Alabama last fell to Auburn came in a 48-45 loss to the Tigers Nov. 30, 2019.
The Crimson Tide 's last home loss to Auburn was Nov. 26, 2010.
Ahead of Saturday afternoon, Saban had a message to try and keep the Crimson Tide's win streak against Auburn alive.
"Adversity causes some to break and some to be great," Saban said. "And that's Alabama's challenge today."
And when "College GameDay" analyst Lee Corso tried to insinuate an Auburn upset, Saban made his allegiances clear.
"Not so fast," Saban said.
Alabama kicks off against Auburn at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
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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: Nick Saban message to Alabama football before Iron Bowl vs Auburn
