The Alabama-Auburn football rivalry is one that is so seismic that it transcends the gridiron and bleeds into the other athletics programs of both schools.
Documentaries have been done chronicling the history of the Roll Tide-War Eagle interstate blood-feud, and they all point to the two cities having a healthy level of respect and intercollegiate athletic hatred for each other…minus the notable few.
The rivalry has not even been slowed down by the pandemic.
With limited capacity in 2020-21, even women’s soccer is feeling the power of the battle for Yellowhammer supremacy:
“It’s Auburn-Alabama, every time you play. So for sure, we’re feeling that rivalry a little bit in the air this week at practice.”
— Justin Lee (@ByJustinLee) March 27, 2021
Today. 2 p.m.https://t.co/RPR7CNjyrU
No wonder, then, that even former players from each school are still taking shots at the other–and even in sports they weren’t even involved in.
Former Tiger and current Detroit Lion Kerryon Johnson took a swipe at the Crimson Tide basketball team following last night’s Sweet 16 loss to the UCLA Bruins:
Bama player - “Coach should we practice our free throws??”
— Kerryon Johnson (@CoachKerryon) March 29, 2021
Bama Coach - pic.twitter.com/3OOHy9f19v
Pictured is ‘Bama coach Nate Oats after winning the SEC Championship. Oates famously swore at LSU’s players just seconds after losing the conference title game…essentially trolling college kids moments in the emotionally draining aftermath.
Well, Johnson used the screen capture of Oats’ famous words (“Get the **** out) to troll Alabama basketball for shooting a putrid 11-25 from the free-throw line in the overtime loss.
Johnson was a 2018 NFL Draft pick whose Auburn football squad knocked off the eventual National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide in his junior season en route to an infamous Peach Bowl to the “uncrowned” National Champion UCF Knights.
He now looks to reach RB1 status in Detroit for a Lions team that just swapped out Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff. No matter where he goes, though, Johnson will always bleed blue and orange and have a healthy hatred for the Crimson Tide.