Nov. 24, 2017
Each Friday during the 2017 football season, AuburnTigers.com will feature a column from Auburn historian and Athletic Director Emeritus David Housel to commemorate the 125 year history of Auburn football. We hope you enjoy!
By David Housel
Return with us now to that thrilling day of yesteryear, December 3, 1949.
The Alabama game never comes around that I don't think about that day. I was only three years old and have no recollection of it at all, but it has grown in legend and lore, as Coach Jordan would say, "Down through the years…"
Alabama had beaten Auburn--embarrassed Auburn-- 55-0 the year before in the first game played between the two schools in 41 years. The break was not caused by a big fight in which somebody died as many thought for a long time. No, nothing like that. It was caused by something earthier than that: money. For the 1908 game Auburn wanted to take 22 players and pay $3.50 per diem. Alabama wanted to take 20 players and pay $3.00 per diem, a difference of about $17.00 a day or $34.00 for the entire trip.
As is so often the case, pride and ego got involved. Next there was a disagreement on a date for the game, then a disagreement on officials. Both sides became entrenched and, as a result, there was no Auburn-Alabama game for 40 years.
But back to December 3, 1949. Auburn was bad, really bad, with a record of 1-4-3, going into the game. Alabama was 6-2-1 and, again, a heavy favorite. Still basking in the glow of the previous year's 55-0 victory, Alabama fans were flush with confidence.
As the Auburn players were getting on buses at their hotel for the short ride to Legion Field, some Alabama fans, perhaps inebriated, perhaps supremely confident, waved $50 and $100 bills at the Auburn players, taunting that Alabama would score 56 that day.
Max Autrey and Travis Tidwell, who told this story 43 years later, put this in their hearts and pondered it as they drove down Eighth Avenue toward the stadium. Forty-three years later, they still remembered.
Auburn scored first when Johnny Wallis intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. Alabama tied the game 7-7 just before the half, but it was already a moral victory for Auburn. There would be no "56" this year. Not today.
Using the great Travis Tidwell as a decoy, Auburn drove 71 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Now, if Auburn could just hold'em. Auburn couldn't. Alabama drove 51 yards in the closing minutes of the game and lined up for what appeared to be the tying extra point. Appeared to be. That's the operative term. "Appeared to be."
Tidwell took credit for what happened next. He had played high school football against the Alabama kicker Eddie Salem, and Salem, Tidwell said, "knew about my speed and quickness."
"Line me up on the outside and I can block it," he told Coach Earl Brown.
Tidwell didn't block it, but Salem missed it.
"He saw me come into the game," Tidwell said 43 years later. "Right before the ball was snapped, he looked over to see where I was. That broke his concentration, and he missed the kick."
Auburn ran out the clock and had one of its sweetest victories ever, 14-13.
Auburn fans didn't want to leave the stadium. They stayed and stayed, celebrated and celebrated, ripping apart the feather-filled seat cushions that were rented at the game. They left only when night came. The west stands and much of the field were covered with feathers. It was said to be the last time feather cushions were ever used at Legion Field.
The party continued long into the night, especially at the Thomas Jefferson Hotel, headquarters for Auburn alumni, fans and students. Amid the revelry, an Auburn student, Stringbean Jennings, fueled by victory and perhaps a bit of alcohol, made his way to the end of the hall and placed a collect call to the Queen of England.
When informed Her Majesty was sleeping and did not wish to be disturbed, Stringbean didn't miss a beat, "Well, when she wakes up, you tell her Auburn just beat the hell out of Alabama, 14-13."
No one knows what will happen in this year's game—we hope we know, but we really don't.
But, just in case you need it, the international area code for London and Buckingham Palace is 020.