Auburn rushed the field like they've never beat Alabama before.
This particular rivalry is quite easily one of the most intense, most vicious rivalries in college sports. It’s bitter enough that the Alabama state legislature passed a resolution in 1947 to get the schools to end the 40-year game hiatus, then backed it up with a threat to withhold funding from both schools if play didn’t resume. Needless to say, it worked.
The cause of said 40-year hiatus? Officially, it was a disagreement over per diem for each school and how many players were allowed to attend. However, for the longest time, it was thought to be a safety issue because of the violence in both the game and the stands.
Abhorrent on its surface, sure, but the roots of that visceral hatred ran back to the still-fresh wounds of Reconstruction (this ought not come as a surprise). You see, back in the 1870’s, UA wanted any and all land from the Morrill Act to go to Tuscaloosa for use and control. When the city of Auburn ponied up land and buildings, the scalawags and Freedmen that were actually holding elected office let them start their own college (but not without a 4-year fight from UA and their numerous alumni holding elected office). Once the Radical Republicans were out of office, UA began an effort to end Auburn’s existence by starving it of funds. This obviously did not set well with the plainsmen, and the first football match-up was seen as an extension of the political bullshit. Too bad Auburn won that game, too.
Tuscaloosa has gone on to grab money from Auburn, and even once from Montevallo (women’s college), just because they’re not part of the UA system. They’re crooked, and everyone knows it. But, y’know, football seems to be the only thing they don’t cheat at.
So yeah, any time Auburn defeats the pinnacle of arrogance, graft and worship of the past, it’s just like the first time all over again. The Bama fans hate it, the $250k fine is a drop in the bucket, and life goes on in this acid trip of a state.