I docked the late 2004 games a little, I guess, because they felt like such inevitabilities by that point. After the Georgia game, I had absolutely no doubt at all Auburn was going to win out. So I thought there was a little less drama involved. But your mileage is welcome to vary.

Still bothered that we were able to pick up $10 tickets outside JHS before ’01 florida. Weather wasn’t good, we had “no shot”, but so little belief left a bad taste, until we rushed the field to celebrate!! (agreed that ’06 uf was loudest ever)

And Alex nailed it on ’04 ut. Most impressive and important win of that magical season. Actually made the SECCG feel much closer than we felt it would be. (BTW, great cf venue. Enjoyed how quiet it got there this past visit.) WDE!

Looking back on the last decade, it seems to me that the 01 Florida game was the single most important win of Tommy Tuberville’s career. Sounds crazy, I know, but hear me out: Despite the fact that we were one season removed from an SEC west crown, Tommy still had no signature wins (maybe you can count 99 Georgia) and was still reeling from a beatdown in the SECCG the previous year. That year, we had already lost to Syracuse (!), and had barely survived against 2 of the SEC’s bottom dwellers. It clearly looked like we were headed for mediocrity (which we were, that season). But in my opinion, that win changed the direction of the whole program. The game put Tuberville on the map and singlehandedly changed his perception in the players’ and fans’ eyes. It’s no coincidence that the list doesn’t include any games that happened before that night. The #1 team in the nation came to our house and we defeated them. That instilled a confidence in that young group of players that lasted all the way to 04 and beyond. I don’t think the dream season happens without that victory. In fact, if Tuberville lost that game, there’s no doubt in my mind that he would have gotten the axe after the 03 season. That’s how much good will he built with that victory.

Much is made of “the streak,” but honestly, the only victories we had over Bama over the last decade that are really memorable for me were the 02 and 05 seasons. The others were just routine-every bit as expected as wins over MSU and Vanderbilt. What really made the Aughts special were the games against Florida.

The aforementioned ’01 game. The ’02 game….despite the loss, we watched Jason Campbell and Ronnie Brown grow up in the second half. That was when everything finally clicked and we became the offensive juggernaut that would carry us through ’04. ’06 and ’07…two games I will remember fondly until the day I die. That, and the games against LSU and Georgia are what really stood out to me, then and now.

Bama just wasn’t good enough. Unfortunately, I didn’t really fully enjoy “the streak” while it lasted. Bama just wasn’t good enough. I’m sure Bama fans did the same thing when they were stomping us up and down the field in the 70s. I have a feeling this decade will be different. ‘Bama is back, unfortunately. Every forthcoming victory we have against them, starting with the ’10 season (I’m calling it), will be enjoyed to the fullest.