1948 Iron Bowl

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The 1948 Iron Bowl, held on December 4, 1948, marked the first matchup in the series since 1907, and the first to be played in Legion Field. Though the city was still months away from having regular television service, a live telecast of the game was transmitted by shortwave radio for display at Municipal Auditorium.

Auburn president Ralph B. Draughon and Alabama president John Gallalee decided during the winter and spring of 1948 to end the disagreement and renew the series after fighting what they considered interference into their internal affairs by the state legislature. The teams met in Birmingham because it had the largest stadium in the state, 44,000-seat Legion Field. On the morning of game day, the presidents of the Student Government Associations of the two institutions buried an actual hatchet in Woodrow Wilson Park to signify the end of the dispute that had interrupted the series.

In the forty years since the two teams met, Alabama had earned a national reputation with visits to national bowl games. The Tide overwhelmed the Tigers during the December 4 meeting by a score of 55-0. Quarterback Ed Salem threw touchdown passes of 20, 53 and 30 yards, scored another touchdown on a 17-yard run, kicked seven extra points and played safety for the defense.

References

Iron Bowl (Alabama vs. Auburn)
Sites: Alabama State Fairgrounds, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Highland Park (Montgomery), Lakeview Park, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Legion Field, Riverside Park (Montgomery), and West End Park.
By year: 1893, 1894, 1895, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023