Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard has undoubtedly played in some hostile environments during his first three years of college football, but he might be stepping into the biggest test for him and the Crimson Tide on Saturday as they go to Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on rival Auburn.
That didn't stop the Las Vegas native from throwing out some words that will end up on every Auburn bulletin board for the rest of the week.
"It's obviously a great atmosphere and, you know, a place that a lot of people want to play, but who says we can't change that? Bernard said on The Next Round on Monday. "But who says we can't go out there and blow them out, like how we did last year? Not saying they're a bad team. They're a great team. But like coach always says, we don't have to make the games close. And so like that's just kind of like our approach to the game. Like, we don't have to make this game close if we don't need it to be.
First, a 28-14 victory is not exactly a blowout by any means, but as Bernard points out, he hasn't experienced the voodoo that comes out of Jordan-Hare for the Iron Bowl, especially when the sun goes down and the place, as former Alabama head coach said, "becomes haunted." The receiver was at Washington and not part of the 2023 team that had to convert a 4th-and-31 to beat an Auburn team that was overmatched in every area, nor has he been a witness to the chaos of the annual rivalry game outside of the friendly confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
"First of all, it's my first time experience playing there," Bernard said. "And some of the other guys, the first time as well. And so like, just hearing all the stories and seeing all like the highlights of the games they played there."
Opening your mouth during Iron Bowl week is an annual tradition. Opening it up when you haven't experienced Jordan-Hare Stadium yet is another entire thing. I'm sure No. 5 in crimson and white will be a target for some Tigers on Saturday night.