February 22, 1893: The 1st Iron Bowl

February 22, 1893: The University of Alabama and the school then known as Alabama A&M play each other in football for the 1st time, at in Lakeview Park in Birmingham, Alabama. A crowd of 5,000 people sees A&M, later to be known as Auburn University, win, 32–22.

Alabama vs. Auburn is called the Iron Bowl, because of Alabama's role in America's steel industry. Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds were all "steel cities" in England, and cities in Alabama were named for them, and produced steel as well. (Birmingham is sometimes known as "The Pittsburgh of the South.") And "Iron Bowl" sounds a lot better than "Steel Bowl."

Tuscaloosa is 56 miles southeast of Birmingham, and 103 miles northwest of the State House in Montgomery. Auburn is 109 miles southeast of Birmingham, and 55 miles northeast of Montgomery. The 'Bama and Auburn campuses are 157 miles apart, separated by U.S. 82 from Tuscaloosa southeast to Montgomery, and then I-85 northeast to Auburn.

The University of Alabama was founded in 1819, the year that Alabama was admitted to the Union as the 22nd State, in Tuscaloosa. The University of Alabama System also has campuses in Birmingham and Huntsville. 

East Alabama Male College was founded in 1856. It became Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical College (Alabama A&M) in 1872, became the 1st school in the State to admit women in 1892, became Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Alabama Tech) in 1899, and Auburn University in 1960. It has only the one campus.

UA fans look down on other schools, especially Auburn, whom they call "the Cow College." Auburn's pride was so wounded, and their resentment at Alabama's long-term success so deep, that the rivalry between the schools is perhaps more intense than any other in college sports.

After an incident in 1908, Auburn and Alabama didn't play each other again until 1948, when the State legislature mandated that they play each other. Along with Ohio State vs. Michigan and Texas vs. Texas A&M, it remains one of college football's fiercest rivalries. Through the 2021 season, Alabama leads, 48-37-1.

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February 22, 1893 was a Wednesday. Why was it played on a Wednesday, in February, instead of on a Saturday in Autumn? It's the State of Alabama. Who knows why they do anything they do?

At any rate, no other college football games were played that day, and no professional sports leagues were in operation.