American winner takes all

Chapter 206 Iron Bowl: The continuation of a century-old grudge (22)

To talk about the relationship between Alabama and Auburn University, which has been constantly in turmoil and chaos, we have to start from the 19s.

At that time, the United States relied on the westward expansion movement to obtain a large amount of arable land, but there was a serious shortage of agricultural labor. There was an urgent need for practical industrial and agricultural technology and high-quality professional and technical personnel to improve the efficiency of American industry and agriculture. However, at that time, American universities The system is still the same as that of old Europe. The university is out of touch with social reality and cannot adapt to the needs of the socio-economic situation in the United States at that time.

In order to reverse this situation, in 1862, it was Lincoln again who signed the Morrill Land Grant Act, which had a profound impact on the United States.The bill stipulates that land will be allocated at an amount of [-] acres per person according to the number of legislators in each state, and the income generated from the land will be used to build universities. These educational institutions will focus on the teaching of agriculture, science, and engineering, and "Not excluding other sciences and classical studies", in order to cultivate talents for the United States.

Including the famous "MIT" and "Cornell University" in the future, they were all established based on this opportunity. This is also the reason why there are many "XXX Agricultural and Mechanical Universities" in the United States. These colleges are called "Zengdi Universities". The first batch of 69 land-added universities was a solid foundation for the United States to transform from an agricultural country to an industrial country.

The bill itself was intended to boost higher education, but in Alabama, things changed a little bit.

During the Civil War, the University of Alabama, which was located in a slave state, was naturally a staunch supporter of the Confederacy. Many graduates of the school joined the Confederate Army, and some campuses were even used as outposts and were destroyed in the war.

Although the war was lost, the University of Alabama was preserved. How could we sit back and watch as our former enemy planned to build "Alabama A&M University" on our doorstep?

In addition to the different positions, what is more important is the income rights of these 24 acres of land grant.Both sides began to regard each other as a thorn in the flesh.

The school mobilized a large number of alumni to exert influence on the state legislative body. By 1874, the remaining Confederate (Southern) forces began to take the initiative in the legislative body and tried many times to terminate the establishment of Alabama A&M University.

Similarly, Auburn University is not to be outdone and has slashed tuition and graduation standards to steal students from the University of Alabama.

In 1902, both houses of Congress introduced a bill to fund the establishment of a "School of Mines and Mining Engineering" at every land-grant college.The University of Alabama secretly sent personnel to Washington to lobby to prevent the bill from passing.Auburn University responded tit-for-tat by sending people to lobby the Association of Land-Grant Colleges.In the end, the University of Alabama achieved its goal.

In response, Auburn University pushed its plan to relocate to Birmingham in the state Legislature.

In 1940, the president of Auburn University, "Duncan", relied on his close relationship with the then Governor of Alabama, Bibb Graves, to backstab the University of Alabama and obtain multiple contracts with the Agricultural Adjustment Administration and the Soil Conservation Service. Cooperation projects.

The University of Alabama backhandedly attacked Auburn in the state Legislature, saying "The University of Alabama has an established and broad responsibility for higher education in the state," prompting a strong response from Auburn University President Duncan, who said he "I have never seen a bolder, more thoughtful, more vicious or more deceptive document," he said, calling the University of Alabama an "evil monster."

In 1947, the new governor, Jim Folsom, stepped down personally and intervened, saying that "both universities are important educational institutions in Alabama, and in view of the intercollegiate competition between the two schools, there will be In order to facilitate better understanding between the students of the two schools, necessary negotiations should be carried out to promote sports competitions between the two schools."

The translation is that you should stop fighting. The most important thing now is to unite to develop sports.

The state Legislature then rushed through a bill to encourage completed sports programs between the two universities.

The response from the University of Alabama and Auburn University was surprisingly unanimous: No way!

In the end, the state Legislature threatened to withhold federal financial allocations, which made the two universities reluctant to sit down to discuss sports competition matters.

At this point, the battle between the two universities changed from a war of words to a rugby match.

Therefore, the victory or defeat in the Iron Bowl is not just an honor, but a continuation of the nearly century-old battle between the two universities.

As for the origin of the name Iron Bowl, it is because the two universities have been competing against each other in Birmingham, and Birmingham's steel industry is very developed. Over time, this saying came into being.

Even the hosting of the game in Birmingham has gone through a series of confrontations. Alabama has always claimed that Auburn's home turf is too bad and will not go there. Auburn's stadium at the time was too small and it knew it was wrong, but it also believed that Birmingham was far away from the stadium. Tuscaloosa is too close and should be played at a more neutral court.

All in all, the two schools quarreled over everything, and there were countless conflicts, big and small, for three days and nights.

By now, the Iron Bowl rivalry has transcended even the two universities themselves, representing the rivalry within the entire state of Alabama.

According to a 2019 study, regardless of alma mater factors, fans who support different universities have clear differences in their positions.

Crimson Tide fans are typically conservative, anti-immigration, anti-abortion, and pro-gun rights, while Auburn fans are the opposite across the board.

By December, college football is over, so the Thanksgiving holiday has become the perfect time.

·
As the game date approaches, changes are taking place in the training facility.

The first of them is that there are more reporters. Every training, several groups of reporters come to conduct interviews. TV stations, sports magazines, local radio stations, and many media come in turns, and most of these media have made one request: to interview Ethan.

However, the team is actively preparing for the game. After consulting Ethan's opinion, team leader Mary helped him avoid most interviews.

At this time, Ethan will not be distracted and try to accept interviews. From December to September next year, he will have more than half a year at his disposal, and he can accept interviews however he wants.

As for the result of the game, Ethan didn't think too much about it. Under the influence of Jim Fuller, his rushing threat reached another level, as Mary shouted at the time: "This is the Crimson Tide's nuclear weapon!"

That evening, everyone who was about to finish today's training received an uninvited guest.

The school's athletic director, Bob Boone, is not the star this time.

Because there was a middle-aged man with gray sideburns standing next to him—Roger Sorensen, the president of the University of Alabama.

"Ethan, your performance is amazing. Our whole family is now your fan. Because of our busy work, we didn't have time to come here. You are stronger than you look in the camera." Roger Sorensen laughed. He said, looking at Ethan's eyes radiating light.

"In addition, this game is very critical, whether it is from the perspective of the team's championship or between it and Auburn University...you should know these." Roger Sorensen mentioned the key game against Auburn University.

It is precisely because of this that he came.

"Of course, I will try my best to win at Auburn University." Ethan responded without any hesitation.

Principal Roger nodded, but he was very satisfied with Ethan's answer.

At this time, he noticed Mary standing next to Ethan. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "How come you also became a staff member of the Crimson Tide?"

There was more kindness in his words, and he obviously had a good relationship with Mary.

Ethan thought of Mary's previous comments about her relatives. Could it be that her relatives were the principal?

Mary smiled and explained why.

Here, Alabama's sports director Bob Boone also came to Ethan's side. Ethan saw the hint in his eyes and walked aside.

"I have reported the bowl game to the president and the board of directors, and it will be used as a backup plan. Once the NCAA officially announces that it will ban Alabama from participating in the bowl game, this plan will be adopted. However, some people on the board have expressed hesitation. They are afraid of this. It will trigger even more intense retaliation from the NCAA, and neither side can convince the other at the moment," Boone said with some caution.

Ethan looked at the camera not far away, which was the crew of the FOX TV documentary.At first, Ethan only regarded this as a good exposure opportunity for himself and did not refuse the other party's shooting.

"Now it seems that this documentary may have a special effect." Ethan suddenly said.

In addition to Ethan, the principal also had more conversations with other players, and the entire visit lasted nearly four and 10 minutes.

So much so that when Ethan arrived at the restaurant, he was already late.

"We have to leave for New York tomorrow." McKenna, who was sitting opposite, said.

Today the annual Iron Fist is held at Auburn's home court, and Alabama's Million Dollar Band does not need to attend. The band has a more important task this year and is invited to participate in the Macy's Parade.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is also a Thanksgiving tradition. NBC broadcasts it live every year, starting at [-] a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and ending at [-] noon.

The Crimsonettes, as part of the Million Dollar Band, will also go to New York to perform in the parade.

"Is there anything I need to bring you? That's Macy's Department Store in Manhattan, New York." McKenna had already begun to think about what products she would bring back to Ethan.

Ethan said it didn't matter.

"Although I can't be there in person this time, I will cheer you on before the TV Festival." McKenna continued.

Ethan has heard such words N times in the past few days.

"You know. I just went to the gas station to refuel on the way here, and the staff at the gas station recognized me and said the same thing as you." Ethan raised his eyebrows.

“Don’t underestimate the determination of Crimson Tide fans,” McKenna said with a smile.

The two communicated for a while, and Ethan got up to go to the bathroom. As soon as he left, McKenna saw Ethan's cell phone ringing on the table.

Before I knew it, the GSM base station signals around Tuscaloosa also became sufficient.

McKenna picked up the phone and saw the mark "MOM" on the screen.

A few months ago, McKenna would definitely not have chosen to answer the call.

But at this moment, she picked up the phone, took a deep breath, and answered the call nervously, making her voice as soft as possible: "Hi..."

The other end of the phone was stunned for a moment, and then the response came: "Who are you?"

"I am Ethan's classmate, my name is McKenna." McKenna introduced herself with a smile.

"Hello, hello, McKenna, how are you going to spend the Thanksgiving holiday?" Mia asked on the other end of the phone.

Doesn't she want to invite me to Thanksgiving dinner?

When McKenna thought of this, she seemed even more nervous.

“…Unfortunately, ma’am, I have to go to the Macy’s parade this year.”

"Macy's, are you a member of the school marching band? Can you play the trumpet?" Mia discovered new information.

"Not playing an instrument, I'm a member of the Crimsonettes." McKenna responded.

"I know about Crimsonettes, so Ethan and I can see you on TV?" Mia continued.

"Yeah, I'll probably go first."

"It turns out you are still the captain. You must be a very beautiful girl." Mia looked extremely curious on the phone.

McKenna looked up at this time and saw that Ethan had come back.Then handed the phone to Ethan.

"I haven't talked enough with your classmates. How will the five of us arrange today's Thanksgiving? I'm afraid Catherine won't be able to return to Los Angeles. She has exams during this time." Mia tried to say.

"Then we can only celebrate the holidays separately. My training here has become more and more frequent these days." Ethan shook his head.

"Okay, but William does have time. It seems that he can only go back to Los Angeles alone." Mia muttered.

·
On Thanksgiving night, Ethan stood in front of the window sill of his apartment, looking at the quiet campus.

School is on holiday today, and the roads that would normally be crowded with people at this point seem particularly empty at this moment.Even the few houses not far away where the sorority activities were held were not as noisy as before and seemed unusually quiet.

McKenna went to New York, and Ellie also returned to her hometown. All the team members were reunited with their families, but she was the only one left...

Ethan just spoke to Lisa, Catherine, Mia and others this afternoon. Rather than missing these people, it is better to say that Ethan missed his family in his previous life.

After thinking about it, Ethan picked up the phone and made a transoceanic call.

"If I remember correctly, it should be Thanksgiving in the United States now, right?" The familiar voice of Giselle was on the other end of the phone.

"Yes."

"You should be with your family at this time. Listening to your voice, I can feel that you are not in a good mood. It's okay, I'm by your side." Giselle comforted.

"How's the training going?"

"It's still the same old thing. I have several blisters on my feet. I have to walk back and forth in high heels every day, which is more tiring than playing volleyball. But there is good news. The bodybuilding teacher even praised me today, saying that my steps are getting better and better. It looks better, but I don’t think it’s any different from before…”

Ethan looked out the window and listened to Giselle's long talk...

(End of this chapter)