What Nick Saban said on ESPN’s College Gameday is going to come as a shock to a lot of people.
And it’s going to hurt the feelings of those who reside in Auburn, Alabama.
Saban, arguably the greatest college football coach of all time, is getting under the skin of Auburn fans, even in retirementGetty Images – Getty
College football is built on rivalries.
It is built on pure hatred and disgust that fanbases have for one another.
None being bigger than the disdain between Alabama and Auburn.
The Iron Bowl is one of the biggest games of the year, with a rivalry that is as strong as any in college football.
Or so we thought.
Apparently, Alabama has trouble getting up for their bitter in-state rival.
The seven-time national champion shared on College Gameday that Tennessee is actually the team Alabama considers to be their great rival.
“Third Saturday in October is like a holiday in those two states, and the cigar tradition of winning this game afterwards is a fun thing,” Saban said.
“But for our players [at Alabama], this was a bigger rivalry than any other game that we played.
“I’m talking about rivalry game. Even bigger than Auburn to our players.
Auburn and Alabama always play on the Saturday day of the regular season, with huge postseason implications usually on the lineALBERT CESARE
“It was always difficult for me to get our players up for the Auburn game.
“It was never difficult for the Tennessee game.”
Say what you want, Auburn fans, but that has to sting.
Your biggest rival on the planet doesn’t consider you to be theirs.
There’s getting ‘little brother-ed’ and then there’s whatever Saban just did to all of Auburn.
The thing is, that’s only going to add more fuel to the fire when these two teams meet in the last game of the regular season.
And that’s what college football is all about.
Until then, Alabama better hope they get up for Tennessee as easily as Saban says, because the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide are going to have their hands full with the 11th ranked Volunteers at Neyland Stadium.
