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Carlile enjoyed AU’s historic Iron Bowl
Published November 25, 2009
On Dec. 2, 1989, Auburn fans packed Jordan-Hare Stadium to its seams. Never had the stadium seen so much energy from Auburn fans. It was day like no other in Auburn Football history.
The program's bitter archrival was finally meeting Auburn in enemy territory instead of where Tigers’ fans believed was a "not so neutral" Legion Field in Birmingham.
After years of negotiations, Auburn finally made it happen.
The Iron Bowl was going to be played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Finally, Alabama was coming to the Plains.
Scottsboro native Rob Carlile was a walk-on kicker for the Tigers during the 1989 and 1990 seasons.
He didn't dress with the team for the game, but the day Auburn hosted Alabama in the 1989 Iron Bowl is as memory the local radio station owner says will never fade.
"The Auburn people were so prepared for this," Carlile said. "There was just so much intensity and energy that day."
Players that did not dress with the team for games were sometimes invited to join the squad for its traditional Tiger Walk, where fans line Auburn's players' path into the stadium.
Carlile had been invited but had never went through Tiger Walk before. He decided to do so for the Alabama game.
"I hate to put a number on it, but there had to be a minimum of 10,000 people (at Tiger Walk)," Carlile said. "When it first started, about 10 (players) could walk side by side, but it got down to (single file) because there were so many people there."
Despite kickoff being nearly two hours away, Carlile remembers the crowd filing into the stadium much earlier than normal.
"I remember Alabama's players coming out for pregame, and you could see them just looking up in the stands," Carlile said. "They were surprised by how many people were already there. I think that got to them."
Alabama entered the game with a 10-0 record and ranked second in the country. Auburn was 8-2 and ranked 11th, a decided underdog to the visiting Crimson Tide.
"After practice on Thursday, (Auburn) coach (Pat) Dye gave one of the best pep talks I've ever heard," Carlile said. "Nobody gave us much of a chance to win and people thought it was bad timing to finally host Alabama because they were strong that year. But Coach Dye wanted (Alabama) at their best."
Alabama led 10-7 at halftime, but Auburn eventually pulled in front 27-10 en route to a 30-20 upset and historic victory.
"They say people started rolling Toomer's Corner before the game was over," Carlile said. "I think people are still celebrating (that win)."
On Friday, the Iron Bowl will be played in Auburn for the 10th time. And on the 20th anniversary of Jordan-Hare Stadium's first Auburn-Alabama clash, Alabama again visits with an unbeaten record, a No. 2 ranking and national championship hopes.
Carlile will again be on the Plains for the Iron Bowl, as he was invited back for the 20th anniversary reunion of that epic Auburn win in 1989. Those attending the reunion will take part in a luncheon early Friday, participate in Tiger Walk and be introduced on the field starting at 1 p.m. prior to the 1:30 kickoff.
"Back then, I don't think people realized how important a moment that game was," Carlile said. "That has to be one of the top moments in Auburn Football history."
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