Rain doesn’t dampen enthusiasm of Auburn, Memphis fans at Birmingham Bowl
Auburn helped draw a record crowd to the Birmingham Bowl. (Christopher Jones/Alabama NewsCenter)
Walker Laury was a popular person when it came to posing for selfies in the west stands Wednesday during the Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field.
Walker Laury was popular for selfies at Legion Field for the Birmingham Bowl. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)
The sophomore information technology major at Memphis was supposed to be one of six Tiger fans who spelled “Tigers” on their shirtless bodies. But the others didn’t follow through, leaving Laury with his bare torso with a large blue “R” on it.
But the 22-year-old was undeterred.
“I took off work, I got prepared for it and I’m glad to be here.”
And he wasn’t alone.
The 10th Birmingham Bowl fulfilled its promise as the best attended for this decade-old event. The nationally televised game drew a Birmingham Bowl record 59,430 fans to see the Auburn Tigers down the Memphis Tigers 31-10.
A forecast of rain did nothing to deter fans from all directions as they descended upon Legion Field. There was a bit of a festival atmosphere across the street from the stadium as one business challenged fans to ride a mechanical bull.
Neighborhood entrepreneurs lined the streets leading to the Old Gray Lady on Graymont Avenue, waving towels to entice fans to park in their yards, for a fee. Nearby, a parking attendant stood in a lot entrance at Legion Field, waving off motorists. Spaces there were apparently already full.
With kickoff an hour away, all roads appeared to lead to Legion Field as traffic backed up on Interstate 65 South at the Sixth Avenue North off ramp and Interstate 20/59 at the Arkadelphia Road exit. A drive downtown found a huge line of fans snaking around the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame seeking a shuttle.
The line was much shorter at Birmingham CrossPlex. The last shuttle from that station arrived just after 11 a.m. Seven-year-old Elijah Hudson could see the videoboard as the bus pulled in.
“They’re doing the coin toss,” he said.
Inside, 10-year-old Greyce Godbehere of Indian Springs jumped up and down near the Auburn fence, watching Auburn quarterback Sean White practice his throws. Wednesday’s game reminded Greyce’s mom Chelle of the days Auburn played the Iron Bowl at Legion Field.
“It brings back memories from my childhood because I used to come here to watch Alabama-Auburn games as a child,” she said, acknowledging jokes about needing a map to find the stadium. “It’s neat to come back.”
Conversely, 56-year-old Auburn fan Claude McGee got to see his first Auburn game in person. He would go ‘to’ Legion Field for the Iron Bowl but could not venture inside.
“Back then,” he said, “we couldn’t afford to go to these things. We didn’t have cash back then.”
The Birmingham Bowl was a treat for Memphis fans Udo Mueller, who wore a Memphis watch, and his wife Jamie. The Hendersonville, Tenn., couple generally doesn’t get to attend games of their beloved Tigers.
The Muellers were at the game with Auburn fan Kyle Jones of Gadsden. While Jones had not seen Auburn play at Legion Field, he played there himself when his Etowah Blue Devils faced Birmingham’s West End.
The large crowd created long lines at concession booths and restrooms. While there was some impatient fans, most took the circumstance in stride.
By halftime, the clouds parted and patches of blue sky slipped through. Light showers resumed before the Memphis band left the field but eventually subsided.
When the final second ticked off the clock, fireworks went off beyond the north stands. Several Auburn seniors hugged head coach Gus Malzahn as they won their first bowl game and the first with Malzahn at the helm.
