2022 has been a special year for Auburn athletics. 2021 was not quite such for Auburn football, basketball, women’s basketball, or baseball.
The basketball season never had a chance to be, with NCAA violations hovering over Bruce Pearl’s program leading to self-imposing a postseason ban. Women’s basketball was at the end of the ‘Coach Flo’ era, while Butch Thompson’s diamond Tigers couldn’t replicate their 2019 College World Series success.
Auburn football is a different beast entirely. Coming into the season as an SEC enigma, the Tigers got off to a promising 6-2 start–one that screamed ‘not a contender’ by the beatdown Georgia gave them at home but still provided hope with wins over LSU, Arkansas, and Ole Miss–but became a conference punchline by the end of the season.
A 6-6 regular-season record and a Birmingham Bowl appearance ended up being plenty of fodder for the Gumps. Now, seemingly, The Auburn Plainsman has provided more ammunition by calling the 2021 Iron Bowl the Auburn athletics event of the year.
Tiger fans were not happy at that insinuation:
Ngl the Iron Bowl was hype for about 55 mins but I probably wouldn’t vote a loss as the best sporting event… I’d probably vote for the Kentucky or Alabama basketball games https://t.co/jRRw03PBia
— Lance Dawe (@LanceDawe_) April 22, 2022
Type an ellipses if you’re being held hostage, writer of this article https://t.co/0JUclxucDJ
— Auburn Hippie (@AuburnHippie) April 22, 2022
Casting my vote for the Kentucky basketball game personally but go off guys. https://t.co/O5MRf4rjYx
— Brant (@brant_daughtry) April 22, 2022
Is there a camera on all of us? Are we being pranked by the kids right now? What is happening??? 😂 https://t.co/0ALWrkIAEJ
— Pablo Escobarner (blue chek) (@PabloEscoburner) April 22, 2022
The kids are not alright https://t.co/gc8XQSm04C
— Justin Lee (@ByJustinLee) April 22, 2022
https://t.co/0JUclxucDJ pic.twitter.com/7uXU0rdHvp
— Auburn Hippie (@AuburnHippie) April 22, 2022
Perhaps the Auburn family will be happier come next year should a more deserving winner be chosen.