The 1998 Iron Bowl marked the end of an era. It was the final chapter of the rivalry played at Legion Field in Birmingham, the “Old Gray Lady” that had hosted the game for decades. Alabama sent the stadium out in style with a 31-17 comeback victory over Auburn.
The 17-0 Hole
Things looked bleak early for the Crimson Tide. Auburn, despite a 3-7 record, came out firing and built a shocking 17-0 lead. The Alabama offense was stagnant, and the crowd was restless. It appeared Terry Bowden’s resignation mid-season had sparked a fire in the Auburn squad.
The Comeback
But Alabama refused to fold. Led by running back Shaun Alexander and a stingy defense, the Tide roared back. They scored 31 unanswered points, completely flipping the script. Quarterback Andrew Zow found his rhythm, and the defense shut out Auburn for the remainder of the game. The win secured a respectable season for Alabama and closed the book on the Birmingham chapter of the rivalry with a Crimson Tide victory.