Local Alabama and Auburn football fans make Iron Bowl predictions

UA defenders pursue opponent last Saturday.

Few will argue that when it comes to college football rivalry games, there is no bigger rivalry anywhere than the Iron Bowl, the annual meeting between the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers.

This year’s Iron Bowl, which will kick off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, is shaping up to be the biggest game between the two schools in a generation. Alabama, the defending national champions, enters the game with a perfect, 11-0 record and ranked No. 1 in the nation. Auburn, ranked No. 4 in the country, enters the game with a 10-1 overall record and looking to upset their archrivals.

Leading up to the game this week The Courant polled a wide variety of local football fans to see how they thought the game would turn out on Saturday, and there were no shortage of opinions. The vast majority of prognosticators believe that Alabama will win, but more than a few predicted that Auburn would carry the day. Some said it would be close while others predicted a blowout.

Hillcrest High School head football coach and athletics director Larry Boykin, who has three state high school football titles on his resume, is predicting an upset with Auburn winning, 30-27. Along with Boykin, a number of other coaches at Hillcrest predicted that Auburn would win this year’s Iron Bowl. Head girls basketball coach Natalie Nelson, a former Auburn University-Montgomery basketball star, predicted that Auburn would win, 35-33, and Hillcrest head volleyball coach Todd Smith predicted that Auburn would win, 27-24. Assistant football coach Arthur Ingram III said Auburn would win, 38-33.

On the other side of the coin, Hillcrest principal Rodney Drish predicted a 35-10 Alabama victory, and head boys basketball coach Tommy Dukes predicted Alabama would win, 28-12. Head softball coach Terry Gandy said Alabama would win, 31-14, and assistant coach Derek Korbe predicted a 42-20 Alabama win. Hillcrest band director LaFrancis Davis said Alabama would win, 28-17.

Local school board member Willene Whatley, a diehard Auburn fan, predicted Auburn would win, 31-28. However, school board chairwoman and UA grad Coretta Boykin predicted Alabama would win, 20-17. School board vice-chairman Donald Lee, a record-setting quarterback at Lyeffion High School in his heyday, said the Tide would win, 27-10. Evergreen Elementary School principal Tonya Bozeman, who has two degrees from the Capstone, predicted the Tide would win by “at least three touchdowns over the wishful War Eagles.”

Tuskegee University quarterback Justin Nared, a former Hillcrest grid star, predicted that Auburn would win the Iron Bowl, 28-24. Gillis Morgan, a former Evergreen Aggie quarterback, agreed, saying Auburn would pull it out, 24-21. Former Sparta quarterback Drew Hardin said Auburn would win, 27-24, and Wayne Caylor, who was once known as “Boot” for his knack for booting game-winning kicks for Evergreen High School in the 1960s, said Auburn would edge out Alabama, 31-30.

Former Alabama offensive tackle Drew Davis, a Sparta Academy graduate, predicted Alabama would win, 28-17, and Evergreen native Keith Pugh, who played wide receiver at Alabama under Bear Bryant, said Alabama would win, 35-21. Former Sparta head football coach Clint Lowrey said Alabama would win, 37-28, and former Sparta quarterback Michael Brown predicted a 35-21 Alabama win. Detroit Webb, a junior varsity basketball coach at Sparta, said Alabama would win, 38-24, while Sparta football and baseball standout Tristan McPhaul predicted Alabama would win, 28-14.

Sparta Academy super fan Byron Warren, who has served as the school’s Sports Information Director for decades, predicted Auburn would win, 21-14, and head baseball coach Kenny Bledsoe said Auburn would win, 27-24. April Palmer, one of the greatest girls basketball players in Sparta history, said Auburn would will the Iron Bowl, 38-35.

Longtime local youth football coach Ernest Boykin predicted a 24-7 Alabama win, but Karl Kast with Castleberry Parks and Recreation said Auburn would win, 27-24. Hillcrest football star Trae Lewis said Auburn would win 35-31, and Jeff Hallford, also a former Hillcrest Jaguar, said Auburn would beat Bama, 42-38.

Over at the county courthouse, Conecuh County Commission Chairman Johnny Andrews predicted that Alabama was going to beat Auburn, 38-17, and Conecuh County Emergency Management Director Johnny Brock predicted Alabama would win, 35-13. Evergreen attorney Clint Hyde, whose car tag reads “1 15X” in reference to Alabama’s 15 national titles, predicts a 27-24 Alabama victory.

County Coroner Michael Lambert said Alabama would win, 21-17, and former county coroner Butch Cobb looks for Alabama to win, 34-31. Conecuh County Rescue Squad commander Alonzo Grace said he expects Auburn to win, 27-21, and local health inspector Casey Grant is calling for a 24-21 Auburn win.

At Evergreen City Hall, Mayor Pete Wolff predicted a 38-27 Alabama win, and Evergreen City Councilman Luther Upton said Alabama would win, 34-23. Evergreen City Attorney Richard Hartley agreed, saying the Tide was going to roll, 35-28. Over at the library, local history guru Sherry Johnston predicted a 38-31 Alabama win.

Evergreen City Clerk Becky Robinson said she would not touch the “who will win” question with a 10-foot pole, and Evergreen Projects Manager Jeff Sullivan, a Mississippi State grad, also graciously declined. However, local grant writer Cara Stallman said Auburn would win, 35-28, and tossed in an enthusiastic “War Eagle!” to boot.

There were also a number of predictors among local law enforcement officers. Conecuh County Sheriff Edwin Booker wouldn’t venture a final score, but said he looked for Alabama to win by 10. Deputy Geoff McGraw, a former football standout at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton, said Alabama would win, 35-24. Castleberry Police Chief Tracy Hawsey expects Alabama to win, 38-36, and Evergreen police officer Vince Heath said Alabama will win, 17-13. Butler County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Klaetsch predicted a 42-24 Alabama win.

Local firemen also had strong opinions on the matter. Evergreen Fire Chief Ricky Nobles said Alabama would win, 35-28, and Nymph Fire Chief Jeppie Dees said Alabama was going to win, 27-14. Castleberry Fire Chief Josh Reeves predicted a 34-17 Alabama win, and Lyeffion Fire Chief Thad House said Alabama would win, 31-24. Assistant Castleberry Fire Chief George McIntyre said Alabama would win, 27-14.

For many, making a prediction was sort of a family affair. Dr. Douglas O’Connor and his wife, Amy, are arguably the two biggest Alabama fans in Conecuh County, and they both predicted an Alabama victory – 42-17 and 27-13, respectively. Assistant District Attorney Todd Watson, the son of Conecuh County coaching legend H.L. Watson, predicted a 35-24 Alabama win, and his wife, Catherine, said Alabama would win, 42-28. Their son, Todd Watson Jr., a rising football star himself, predicted Alabama would win, 35-21.

Seventy-five-year-old Robert C. Riley, a lifelong Tide fan, said Alabama would win, 34-28, and his son, Stephen, predicted a 27-17 Alabama victory. Stephen’s son, Stone, said Alabama would win, 35-24. Stephen’s wife, Brandy, was of a different opinion, however. She’s calling for a 28-21 Auburn victory.

Tim Barlow predicted a 46-13 Alabama win, and his son, Marc, a former standout pitcher at Hillcrest, said Alabama would win, 35-24. Former Evergreen mailman Carlton Waters predicted a 42-21 Alabama win, and his wife, Regina, said Alabama would win, 34-21.

Joey and Jeri Rodgers – both devoted LSU fans – predicted Alabama wins in the Iron Bowl - 35-24 and 24-21, respectively. Their son, Drayton, a former Sparta standout athlete and now a student-athlete at Huntingdon College, said he expects Alabama to win, 31-24. John Johnston said Alabama would win, 31-20, and his nephew Jake Adams, a former Sparta hoops standout, said Alabama would win, 35-20.

Over at the Evergreen Post Office, mailman Gilbert Harden said the Tide was going to roll, 23-7, and down at the Piggly Wiggly, meat man Dwight Langford said Alabama was going to win, 27-17. Nick Klaetsch, the manager at Love’s Travel Stop, said he expects Alabama to win, 31-27, and Bubba’s BBQ owner Pat Poole said Alabama would win, 31-17. Black Angus restaurant owner Joye Fordham predicted a 35-28 Alabama win, and Olde Cask Imports owner Daryl Harper, an Alabama grad, said he looks for Alabama to win, 38-24. Daryl’s mom, Myrtis Harper, predicted the Tide would roll, 24-14.

Down at Wolff Motor Co., car salesman Carl Tillery said Auburn will win, 44-21, and local Woodmen of the World representative Carol Reed agrees, saying Auburn will carry the day, 20-17. Dr. Mark Roberts is predicting a 31-10 Alabama win, and recently retired State Farm agent Marc Williams said Alabama will win, 37-13. Local minister Edward Robinson looks for Auburn to win, 42-35, and Robbie Moorer, one of the biggest – if not THE biggest – Auburn fan in Conecuh County, said Auburn will win, 42-35.

Chris Lanier, an Air Force officer, sent in his prediction from Oklahoma, saying Alabama will win, 38-21, and Sherdrick Rankin, an Army officer, predicted from Afghanistan that Alabama would win, 24-10.

Media representatives from around the area also chimed in with their predictions. Courant publisher and editor Robert Bozeman predicted a 34-13 Alabama win, and Monroe Journal managing editor Mike Qualls, who has covered sports for decades, said Alabama would win, 35-21. Recently retired Auburn journalism professor Ed Williams said Auburn would win, 31-27, but Brewton Standard sports writer Adam Robinson said Alabama would win, 27-13. Greenville radio’s Colin “Big C” McGuire, a former football manager for Bear Bryant, said Alabama would win, 38-21, and Monroe Journal reporter Josh Dewberry said he expects Alabama to win, 45-38.

Joe Thomas, the publisher and editor of The Tri-City Ledger in Flomaton, said Alabama will win, 35-17, and Clarke County Democrat sports writer Ross Wood looks for Alabama to win, 42-21. Jay Thomas, the editor of The Opp News, said Alabama will win, 21-20. Michele Gerlach, the publisher and editor of The Andalusia Star-News, expects Alabama to win, 31-28, and Star-News sports writer Andrew Garner looks for the Tide to win, 31-14. David Parker, the head of the Alabama High School Football Historical Society, expects Alabama to win, 42-13.

Others making predictions included Aaron Albritton, Alabama, 28-7; Ray Castillo, Alabama, 41-17; Larry Darby, Alabama, 30-7; Buddy Evers, Alabama, 38-28; Gary Fayard, Alabama, 35-21; Lawrence Gulley, Alabama, 21-9; Randall Gulley, Alabama, 28-17; Derrick Harris, Alabama, 41-13; Jesse Jordan, Alabama, 27-17; Brandon Lee, Alabama, 42-17; Lavon Lee, Alabama, 37-14; Brett Loftin, Alabama, 38-17; Linda McLaughlin, Alabama, 45-24; Stephen Pierce, Alabama, 35-28; Chuck Perkins, Alabama, 35-17; Mark Rowell, Alabama, 24-14; Brett Talley, Alabama, 42-14; and James Leon Windham, Alabama, 24-13.

Last, but not least, Repton Mayor Terri Carter jokingly offered up a “politically correct” prediction, saying that the game would end in a “tie with overtime.”