Pat Dye

The 1982 Iron Bowl is the moment the tide turned. After losing nine consecutive games to Alabama, Auburn finally broke through with a 23-22 victory at Legion Field. The game is immortalized by one soaring leap. Trailing 22-17 late in the fourth quarter, Auburn drove the length of the field. With under two minutes to play, they faced a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Coach Pat Dye didn't hesitate. He gave the ball to freshman Bo Jackson. Jackson took the handoff and launched himself over the pile—and the Alabama defense—into the end zone. "Bo Over the Top" became the defining image of Auburn football for a generation. The win broke the psychological stranglehold Bear Bryant had on the rivalry.

The 1985 Iron Bowl is widely considered the greatest game in the history of the rivalry. In a contest that featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, Alabama defeated Auburn 25-23 on a 52-yard field goal by Van Tiffin as time expired. The final period was breathless. Auburn took a 23-22 lead with 57 seconds left on a Reggie Ware touchdown run. It seemed like Bo Jackson (who rushed for 142 yards) had done enough to win. But Alabama quarterback Mike Shula engineered a masterful two-minute drill, moving the Tide into field goal range. With three seconds on the clock, Van Tiffin lined up for a 52-yard attempt. The kick was perfect, clearing the crossbar with room to spare. Legion Field exploded.

The 1989 Iron Bowl was more than a game; it was a cultural shift. For the first time in the rivalry's history, the game was played at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium. The emotional energy propelled #11 Auburn to a 30-20 victory over #2 undefeated Alabama. The atmosphere was unlike anything Alabama had faced. Auburn trailed 10-7 at halftime but fed off the crowd's energy in the second half. They scored on four consecutive possessions to take a commanding 27-10 lead. Quarterback Reggie Slack and running back Stacy Danley led the way, but the MVP was the crowd. Alabama battled back but couldn't overcome the deficit or the environment. The win secured a share of the SEC title for Auburn. More importantly, it shattered the tradition of playing the Iron Bowl solely at Legion Field, changing the dynamics of the rivalry forever.