In five seasons, Alabama defensive lineman Tim Keenan has faced Auburn five times and walked out of the stadium victorious each time. So, when asked what it was like playing in the Iron Bowl, the Birmingham, Ala., native didn't mince words.
“It’s always a great time going against little bro, having some fun," Keenan said. "Going 5-0 in my time here. I feel like that’s gonna be the new trend, to go undefeated against little bro.”
Ouch. That rubs even more salt in the wounds of Auburn fans after Saturday's 27-20 loss to No. 10 Alabama, in which some questionable calls led to the Crimson Tide's game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Much like Auburn took advantage of the Dennis Franchione/Mike Shula years in Tuscaloosa, with the Tigers winning six straight games against the Crimson Tide under Tommy Tuberville, Keenan has been on the good end of an Auburn era that has seen Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze come in and fail in making the Tigers competitive again. With Alex Golesh now in charge, one of his top priorities will be beating rivals Alabama and Georgia, against whom the Tigers have lost a combined 15 straight games.
Auburn's last win in the Iron Bowl came in 2019, when Bo Nix was a freshman, and Gus Malzahn was still in charge on the Plains. You have to go back two more years to 2017 for the Tigers' last win against the Bulldogs.
So, with five straight wins under his belt in college football's biggest rivalry, Keenan has every right to talk. Let's hope someone has the nerve to ask him about his stat line in the Tide's victory over the Tigers on Saturday. All you will see is a bunch of zeroes. It seems little bro was too much for Keenan to make an impact, unlike his teammates.