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Iron in the Blood: How the Alabama vs. Auburn Rivalry Shaped the Soul of the South
The story of college football in Alabama is the story of the South itself. This behind-the-scenes account of the Alabama vs. Auburn rivalry, one of the fiercest in American sports, details its rich history, celebrates the triumphs of both teams, and showcases the larger-than-life power of football to break down barriers and promote positive change.
For Alabama and Auburn, football isn’t life. It’s much more important than that. Their rivalry is a multigenerational one, fueled by rage and redemption, and they’ve clashed with a trademark ferocity and defiance. But the shockwaves of their feud have transcended the football field, entering into politics, advancing civil rights, and opening up eyes and hearts in a way even religion never could.
Yahoo! Sports senior writer Jay Busbee traces the perpetual impact of football in Alabama, from the days of Reconstruction all the way to the hyper partisan battles of 2020 and beyond. From the Kick Six to the poisoned oaks at Toomer’s Corners, Iron in the Blood revels in the victories of both schools and examines the iconic figures connected with both programs, as well as their unprecedented impact on football and social justice alike, all while paying homage to the beating heart of the Alabama–Auburn the dedicated fanbase.
Iron in the Blood is an up-close look at one of America’s most colorful sports rivalries, but it’s also a glimpse into the joy and agony of being a die-hard football fan. It’s the dramatic history of how football has defined a state, inside and outside its stadiums. And it’s the story of how Alabama realized that football is both an exciting way to celebrate its brightest days and a welcome path to climb out of its darkest ones.
For Alabama and Auburn, football isn’t life. It’s much more important than that. Their rivalry is a multigenerational one, fueled by rage and redemption, and they’ve clashed with a trademark ferocity and defiance. But the shockwaves of their feud have transcended the football field, entering into politics, advancing civil rights, and opening up eyes and hearts in a way even religion never could.
Yahoo! Sports senior writer Jay Busbee traces the perpetual impact of football in Alabama, from the days of Reconstruction all the way to the hyper partisan battles of 2020 and beyond. From the Kick Six to the poisoned oaks at Toomer’s Corners, Iron in the Blood revels in the victories of both schools and examines the iconic figures connected with both programs, as well as their unprecedented impact on football and social justice alike, all while paying homage to the beating heart of the Alabama–Auburn the dedicated fanbase.
Iron in the Blood is an up-close look at one of America’s most colorful sports rivalries, but it’s also a glimpse into the joy and agony of being a die-hard football fan. It’s the dramatic history of how football has defined a state, inside and outside its stadiums. And it’s the story of how Alabama realized that football is both an exciting way to celebrate its brightest days and a welcome path to climb out of its darkest ones.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published August 26, 2025
14 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Jay Busbee
25 books34 followersJay Busbee is a senior writer for Yahoo Sports, where he’s covered the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Masters, the Daytona 500, the Kentucky Derby and, of course, the Iron Bowl. He is also the host of NASCAR Studios’ “Home Turn” travel/history show, and he writes a weekly Southern culture Substack newsletter, Flashlight & A Biscuit. Jay’s work has been honored by Best American Sports Writing, and his book "Earnhardt Nation," a biography of NASCAR’s Earnhardt family, won praise from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly for its in-depth research and narrative scope.
He lives in Atlanta with his family and worships at the church of SEC football.
He lives in Atlanta with his family and worships at the church of SEC football.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.
My first memory of loving college football was the 2013 Iron Bowl. I remember sitting on the couch in my living room, only half-focused on the game, when the Kick 6 happened. The announcers shouting "Auburn's gonna win the football game!" My brother and dad screaming in the room with me. The fans storming the field. I get chills thinking about that moment even today, and thus began my yearly tradition of intensely watching the Iron Bowl as a University of Georgia fan.
Busbee uses the Kick 6 as the launching point of Iron in the Blood because, like me, this is a moment that all football fans remember, but there is so much more to the Iron Bowl than recent history.
Iron in the Blood traces the Auburn-Alabama rivalry back to the start and entwines the rivalry with American history. Busbee takes us through wars, segregation, the Civil Rights movement, COVID-19 and the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, all with the rivalry at the foreground. Mixed in are the stories of players, coaches and fans that reveal the deeply personal nature and importance of this game and this rivalry to the people of Alabama. The combination of the historical progression and these anecdotes creates a vivid picture of what created the intensity of the Iron Bowl and what it means to the entire college football world.
Busbee reveals why college football is a force of nature in the American South and the psychology of a college football fan in this captivating history that any football or U.S. history fan would enjoy.
My first memory of loving college football was the 2013 Iron Bowl. I remember sitting on the couch in my living room, only half-focused on the game, when the Kick 6 happened. The announcers shouting "Auburn's gonna win the football game!" My brother and dad screaming in the room with me. The fans storming the field. I get chills thinking about that moment even today, and thus began my yearly tradition of intensely watching the Iron Bowl as a University of Georgia fan.
Busbee uses the Kick 6 as the launching point of Iron in the Blood because, like me, this is a moment that all football fans remember, but there is so much more to the Iron Bowl than recent history.
Iron in the Blood traces the Auburn-Alabama rivalry back to the start and entwines the rivalry with American history. Busbee takes us through wars, segregation, the Civil Rights movement, COVID-19 and the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, all with the rivalry at the foreground. Mixed in are the stories of players, coaches and fans that reveal the deeply personal nature and importance of this game and this rivalry to the people of Alabama. The combination of the historical progression and these anecdotes creates a vivid picture of what created the intensity of the Iron Bowl and what it means to the entire college football world.
Busbee reveals why college football is a force of nature in the American South and the psychology of a college football fan in this captivating history that any football or U.S. history fan would enjoy.
August 4, 2025
College football has many legendary rivalries, some of which are quite fierce and quite old - Michigan-Ohio State, California-Stanford, Minnesota-Wisconsin and Oklahoma-Texas to name a few. One of the best is an intrastate rivalry in the Southeast Conference, Alabama vs Auburn. This book by Jay Busbee takes a deep dive into the history of these two schools in the Yellowhammer State.
Both schools get equal amounts of coverage in the book, something that is refreshing when one considers the storied history of Alabama Crimson Tide football and their overall success which is much greater than Auburn. Coaches for both the Tide and the Auburn Tigers are portrayed here. Especially the legendary names at both schools - Shug Jordan for Auburn, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Nick Sabin for Alabama are the most notable names among the coaches. Players such as Bo Jackson (Auburn) and Joe Namath (Alabama) also have much text dedicated in the book. Busbee does a great job of telling how the contributions of these men, plus others, have helped shape this rivalry into one of the best in college football.
His accounts of some of the more memorable games in this series, such as the 2013 “Kick Six” game, the 1972 “Punt, Bama, Punt” game and the 2023 Gravedigger game. Each one of those chapters allowed the reader to relive those extraordinary games with enough details and storylines to give a complete picture of the intensity of the rivalry.
But what makes this book so good are the stories away from the football field and how anyone living in Alabama will be chanting either “Roll Tide” or “War Eagles” depending on their loyalty. One of the best stories in the book was already known by many football fans even if they don’t have a rooting interest in this rivalry. An Alabama fan named Harvey Updyke poisoned two oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn. Those trees were covered in toilet paper when Auburn would win the Iron Bowl and Updyke wanted that to end after the Tigers won in 2010. He eventually pled guilty to the crime. While there have been other publications and stories about this, Busbee’s detailed and complete account of this is great reading and just one example of how he brings the deep seated passion of these rivals to life.
Even if a reader doesn’t take sides in Iron Bowl matchups, they will be informed and entertained by reading this book. Any college football fan of any team will want to add this one to their bookshelf.
I wish to thank Ben Bella Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley, The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Both schools get equal amounts of coverage in the book, something that is refreshing when one considers the storied history of Alabama Crimson Tide football and their overall success which is much greater than Auburn. Coaches for both the Tide and the Auburn Tigers are portrayed here. Especially the legendary names at both schools - Shug Jordan for Auburn, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Nick Sabin for Alabama are the most notable names among the coaches. Players such as Bo Jackson (Auburn) and Joe Namath (Alabama) also have much text dedicated in the book. Busbee does a great job of telling how the contributions of these men, plus others, have helped shape this rivalry into one of the best in college football.
His accounts of some of the more memorable games in this series, such as the 2013 “Kick Six” game, the 1972 “Punt, Bama, Punt” game and the 2023 Gravedigger game. Each one of those chapters allowed the reader to relive those extraordinary games with enough details and storylines to give a complete picture of the intensity of the rivalry.
But what makes this book so good are the stories away from the football field and how anyone living in Alabama will be chanting either “Roll Tide” or “War Eagles” depending on their loyalty. One of the best stories in the book was already known by many football fans even if they don’t have a rooting interest in this rivalry. An Alabama fan named Harvey Updyke poisoned two oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn. Those trees were covered in toilet paper when Auburn would win the Iron Bowl and Updyke wanted that to end after the Tigers won in 2010. He eventually pled guilty to the crime. While there have been other publications and stories about this, Busbee’s detailed and complete account of this is great reading and just one example of how he brings the deep seated passion of these rivals to life.
Even if a reader doesn’t take sides in Iron Bowl matchups, they will be informed and entertained by reading this book. Any college football fan of any team will want to add this one to their bookshelf.
I wish to thank Ben Bella Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley, The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
November 17, 2025
What a great look at the history of the Iron Bowl, both on and off the field. Incredible research from Jay throughout. Really enjoyed this one.
8/10
8/10
September 8, 2025
Iron in the Blood offers a compelling and meticulously researched account of one of college football’s most storied rivalries between the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Spanning over a century, this rivalry dates back to the 1890s and has evolved into a cultural phenomenon that resonates far beyond the football field. Mr. Busbee masterfully captures the intensity, passion, and historical significance of this clash, both on and off the gridiron.
The book is rich with historical detail, weaving together the narratives of legendary coaches, iconic teams, and pivotal moments that have shaped the rivalry into what it is today. Mr. Busbee’s chronological approach provides clarity and structure, allowing readers to follow the evolution of each program while appreciating the broader context of Southern football tradition.
One of the book’s strengths lies in Busbee’s ability to seamlessly alternate between Auburn and Alabama’s histories. He balances the perspectives of both institutions with fairness and insight, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of how each school’s identity and legacy have been forged through competition. His storytelling is both informative and engaging, making complex historical developments accessible without sacrificing depth.
Packed with knowledge and vivid anecdotes, Iron in the Blood is a must-read for fans of college football, historians of the sport, and anyone interested in the cultural impact of athletic rivalries. Mr. Busbee’s work stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of competition and the profound influence of football in the American South. Thank you to NetGalley, Jay Busbee, and Brilliance Publishing for a free advanced readers copy for an honest review.
The book is rich with historical detail, weaving together the narratives of legendary coaches, iconic teams, and pivotal moments that have shaped the rivalry into what it is today. Mr. Busbee’s chronological approach provides clarity and structure, allowing readers to follow the evolution of each program while appreciating the broader context of Southern football tradition.
One of the book’s strengths lies in Busbee’s ability to seamlessly alternate between Auburn and Alabama’s histories. He balances the perspectives of both institutions with fairness and insight, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of how each school’s identity and legacy have been forged through competition. His storytelling is both informative and engaging, making complex historical developments accessible without sacrificing depth.
Packed with knowledge and vivid anecdotes, Iron in the Blood is a must-read for fans of college football, historians of the sport, and anyone interested in the cultural impact of athletic rivalries. Mr. Busbee’s work stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of competition and the profound influence of football in the American South. Thank you to NetGalley, Jay Busbee, and Brilliance Publishing for a free advanced readers copy for an honest review.
September 8, 2025
4 Star Review
This book was an absolutely incredible experience! Even as someone who's only background knowledge on the subject was being a fan of college football and US history. This book describes in good detail so many events in US history particularly focused on the south for obvious reasons. But also so many experiences, stories, legends and explores the personalities and backgrounds of so many individual people. I loved the thorough coverage of the subject and all applicable factors, the amazing story telling, the play by plays in important moments of college football history and everything in between. I would recommend this book for not only Alabama, Auburn but anyone with an interest in American football and American history. If I had any complaints about this book it would be how much the end of the book focused the connection between these universities and modern politics which are already so divisive. Even that could be interesting to another reader as this book really is so thorough. Another bit of praise I have is that I listened to audiobook and the performance was so good I truly believed that I was listening to someone who cared about the subject and was telling his unbiased perception of it all it truly incredible even as someone who was unsure how I would be engaged by this type of book!
Thank you Jay Busbee, Chris Abernathy, Simon & Schuster, Brilliance Audio and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for my unbiased review!
This book was an absolutely incredible experience! Even as someone who's only background knowledge on the subject was being a fan of college football and US history. This book describes in good detail so many events in US history particularly focused on the south for obvious reasons. But also so many experiences, stories, legends and explores the personalities and backgrounds of so many individual people. I loved the thorough coverage of the subject and all applicable factors, the amazing story telling, the play by plays in important moments of college football history and everything in between. I would recommend this book for not only Alabama, Auburn but anyone with an interest in American football and American history. If I had any complaints about this book it would be how much the end of the book focused the connection between these universities and modern politics which are already so divisive. Even that could be interesting to another reader as this book really is so thorough. Another bit of praise I have is that I listened to audiobook and the performance was so good I truly believed that I was listening to someone who cared about the subject and was telling his unbiased perception of it all it truly incredible even as someone who was unsure how I would be engaged by this type of book!
Thank you Jay Busbee, Chris Abernathy, Simon & Schuster, Brilliance Audio and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for my unbiased review!
November 30, 2025
A really good book that describes the rivalry between Alabama and Auburn's football teams from their origins to 2024 (book came out this year). The book doesn't just focus on the matchups between the two teams, but the history of each team through the last 100 years or so and how changes to each team affected the other. It also describes how cutlure in the south affected each team throughout the years. You'll hear stories about Bear Bryant, Pat Dye, Bo Jackson, Joe Namath, Bart Starr, Ken Stabler, Cam Newton, Gene Stallings, Nick Saban and more. You'll also read about the the man that poisoned the trees at Toomer's Corner, how the game used to be played at Legion Field and other scandals with each team. Very well reported, written and researched. I'm not a fan of either team really, especially Alabama, but this is a must-read book for any college football fan and an ABSOLUTE must for Alabama and Auburn fans. The author doesn't seem to be a fan boy of either team, so each alumni will enjoy.
October 30, 2025
Full disclosure: Jay Busbee is a pal. Many of the events he writes about in the latter half of this book, we covered together, joking over a Chick-fil-A sandwich in press boxes from Athens to Oxford, and especially in Tuscaloosa and Auburn. I like Jay a lot. Even so, objectively, this is an exceptional book. From the dawn of Southern football to the “Kick Six” (IYKYK), to the post-Saban era and the Hugh Freeze experiment, Jay covers it all in an entertaining and informative way.
He also covers the racial history of Alabama, but only as it was related to Bear Bryant and Shug Jordan’s role, a deft dance that he balanced perfectly. My only quibble, and it’s minor, is that he didn’t need a chapter on Senator Coach Tuberville. A sentence or two would have sufficed. But that’s minor. Overall, this is a great book, start to finish.
He also covers the racial history of Alabama, but only as it was related to Bear Bryant and Shug Jordan’s role, a deft dance that he balanced perfectly. My only quibble, and it’s minor, is that he didn’t need a chapter on Senator Coach Tuberville. A sentence or two would have sufficed. But that’s minor. Overall, this is a great book, start to finish.
November 18, 2025
It’s like the Jarrett Stidham of college football books. Was it good? Kinda. Was it bad? No, yet generally uninspiring, and it feels like there’s plenty of room for improvement. Will I remember it after 5-10 years? Likely vaguely at best (I had to google Stidham to remember his name).
Not great, not bad, easy read to get into the rivalry. 3.25 stars. Serviceable game manager with glimpses of upside.
Not great, not bad, easy read to get into the rivalry. 3.25 stars. Serviceable game manager with glimpses of upside.
October 15, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the early ARC. WOW something about Auburn books gets me fired up!! I loveddd learning about the legacy of not just the Iron Bowl rivalry but also really the history of college football and the subsequent sociocultural changes that went with. I received the audiobook version and it gave me full body chills. Loved it.
September 15, 2025
Rehash of stories that have been documented in numerous books regarding the rivalry. If you are a fan you will probably enjoy rehashing them. Written evenly between the two teams. Nothing new for diehards but a book fans should buy.
September 19, 2025
Of course this is a four star book for me because I was raised on the Iron Bowl (War Eagle) and have been fortunate enough to attend many. Nevertheless, this was a well researched and enjoyable book. It was well written and a pleasure to read.
July 26, 2025
Great book on the rivalry with lots of great details.
October 15, 2025
An absolute must-read for any sports fan.
December 18, 2025
this was so good! and i loved the narrator! thank you NetGalley for the audio arc!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews