AU’s best win in streak iced perfect season

By Joe McAdory

Published: July 31, 2007

Of the 74 times Auburn won in my 98-game streak at Jordan-Hare Stadium, none were bigger than when it beat Alabama 22-14 in 1993. Why? Auburn hadn’t beaten Alabama in its last three tries, Alabama was the defending national champion, plus the win allowed the Tigers to close out its perfect season at 11-0. It was the icing on the cake. It wasn’t a bad game, either. Below are what I perceive as the rest of Auburn’s five-best wins in the streak.

2. Auburn 23, Florida 20 (2001): When you beat the No. 1 team in America, it’s a pretty big deal. I’ve never seen the stadium get so crazy. I suppose what made this win so special to Auburn was the fact that it wasn’t supposed to win at all. Not only did Auburn win, but it did so in dramatic fashion.

3. Auburn 10, LSU 9 (2004): Not only did the game conclude in climactic fashion, but this win could be signaled as the springboard to the Tigers’ 13-0 season. It gave Auburn the momentum it needed to whip Tennessee two weeks later and roll on from there. A loss in this game could have greatly changed the Tigers’ fortunes.

4. Auburn 38, Florida 35 (1993): Same deal as the LSU game above. Had Auburn not beaten Florida that day, it may have lost two more times in 1993. But the momentum gained and confidence earned from this victory propelled the Tigers to its perfect season. And had Calvin Jackson not intercepted Danny Wuerffel with the Gators on the brink of a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, this game could have been over early.

5. Auburn 18, Alabama 17 (1997): The Tigers needed this one to capture the SEC West crown, but overcame a 17-6 deficit in the second half to win by a field goal. It’s pretty cool when the Iron Bowl comes down to the final moment.

Next week: Auburn’s five-most memorable defeats during the streak.