Where did “throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bowl?

[81usaf92]

Where did “throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bowl?

I’ve been reading Al.com and a few other sites, and have found a common theme. There are are several articles and posts that blast the idea of a 3 td point spread. Always stating that the Iron Bowl is a game where “ you can throw out the record books”. I looked it up and only once since the 1950’s has a double digit favorite lost out right (1984). How people beat this saying into the ground you would think it was an unpredictable game like tOSU-Michigan in which big favorites losing isn’t that uncommon.

But 1984 is the only IB I can find that a team with no business winning that game won. All other “upsets” were between teams with similar records and talent.

 

[GrayTide]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

That is an ask Bill question.

 

[Relayer]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

It's pretty much the cliche rolled out all rivalry games. Especially when one team is a big favorite.

 

[dWarriors88]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

It's pretty much the cliche rolled out all rivalry games. Especially when one team is a big favorite.

Especially when we lost to the same team last season. UGA has me more concerned than AU

 

[B1GTide]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

It's pretty much the cliche rolled out all rivalry games. Especially when one team is a big favorite.

This - for most rivalry games, it is a legit statement. For Alabama/Auburn, it is not. When one team is significantly better in this game, that team almost always wins.

 

[Tidewater]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

It came from the thought, "If we predict that this will be a lopsided win by the favorite, nobody outside Alabama will watch."

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Re: Where did “throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bowl

I’ve been reading Al.com and a few other sites, and have found a common theme. There are are several articles and posts that blast the idea of a 3 td point spread. Always stating that the Iron Bowl is a game where “ you can throw out the record books”. I looked it up and only once since the 1950’s has a double digit favorite lost out right (1984). How people beat this saying into the ground you would think it was an unpredictable game like tOSU-Michigan in which big favorites losing isn’t that uncommon.

But 1984 is the only IB I can find that a team with no business winning that game won. All other “upsets” were between teams with similar records and talent.

I'm at work so I'll go into more detail when I have time.

However......I'm running that hackneyed cliche through my Newspaper database, and I'll let you know what I find.


I found this admitted hilarity from the November 29, 1963 edition of the Hattiesburg American by Ed Staton:

"And have you ever stopped to think that when a coach says, 'You can throw out the records in this one,' the coach of the other team probably wishes he could?"


Staton was an LSU grad and New Orleans sportswriter who passed away in 2012 fwiw.



ETA:
So far - this cliche most commonly seems to be applied by sports editors to the Army-Navy game. I'd have to research results to validate or dispute that.

 

[Redwood Forrest]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

It's pretty much the cliche rolled out all rivalry games. Especially when one team is a big favorite.

Yes and totally inaccurate. Fake news at its finest. If true then every rivalry would be have a 50-50 split with one team rotating a one game lead every three years.

Throwing the record book out the window would mean the favored team loses exactly half the time and that does not happen in any rivalry I know of …… but there might be one somewhere.

 

[tidegrandpa]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

See 1963, 1972, 2010, 2013 and a few others in my lifetime

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

By far, this cliche is applied to the Army-Navy game. I find repeated references to this in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1971, and 1974.

Again - I don't know if this is TRUE, I'd have to do an evaluation on that rivalry and, to be blunt, I could care less.


Another article cites that cliche regarding ANY game involving the service academies against each other (in this case, a Navy-AFA game).


ETA:

An Auburn coach applied it to the Ole Miss-LSU game in 1973.

 

[81usaf92]

Re: Where did “throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bowl

See 1963, 1972, 2010, 2013 and a few others in my lifetime

But in none of those was Alabama heavy favorites, or Auburn having mediocre to horrible seasons.

The argument isn’t “ crazyness doesn’t happen” or “ favorites outright lose”. It’s “ heavy favorites lose” and “ records don’t matter”. Like I said, 1984 is the only exception to the rule in both main arguments.

 

[Bamaro]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

See 1963, 1972, 2010, 2013 and a few others in my lifetime

Not sure how those turned out but for me I guess the losses stick in my mind more and it seems like we lose or struggle too often when I'm expecting a win.:conf3:

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

Obviously, I cannot find what some sportscaster might have said somewhere.

And I cannot find what isn't in my database, although since most news stories used to be nothing but regurgitating of the AP or UP wire, it should have shown up at least as a secondary quotation.


But......


the earliest I can find this cliche in newspapers is actually the 2000 game. And......well read:


"Don't throw out the records. There has been no surprise winner of the Iron Bowl since 1984..." (Scott Turner, Cullman Times, predicting a ten-point Auburn win in the 2000 game).

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

Shula is quoted as saying it before the 2003 game in "The Athens News Courier."

 

[USCBAMA]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

This - for most rivalry games, it is a legit statement. For Alabama/Auburn, it is not. When one team is significantly better in this game, that team almost always wins.

Having been to 36 straight USC-Clemson games, it's even less true in that rivalry where the favored team almost always wins (sadly for me, more times than not that is Clemson).

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

See 1963, 1972, 2010, 2013 and a few others in my lifetime

in 2010, auburn was undefeated with a Heisman favorite at QB while Bama had 2 losses before they met.
sounds familiar??

 

[USCBAMA]

Re: Where did “throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bowl

But in none of those was Alabama heavy favorites, or Auburn having mediocre to horrible seasons.

The argument isn’t “ crazyness doesn’t happen” or “ favorites outright lose”. It’s “ heavy favorites lose” and “ records don’t matter”. Like I said, 1984 is the only exception to the rule in both main arguments.

84 is the only Iron Bowl I've been lucky enough to attend. You could kinda "feel" that Auburn team and fans had already chalked up the win. For such a subpar season for Bama, that was a heck of a fun game.

 

[tidegrandpa]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

in 2010, auburn was undefeated while Bama had 2 losses before they met.

In 2010, we also led 24 zip at half.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Re: Where did “ throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bow

We also led 24 zip at half.

I was pleasantly surprised we made it looked so easy. if you recall, auburn had 2 of their starters on defense out in the first half.

 

[81usaf92]

Re: Where did “throw out the record books” come from when talking about the Iron Bowl

In 2010, we also led 24 zip at half.

But we were only a 3.5 point favorite, and they were 11-0 going in. That isn’t exactly throwing out the record books, that is basically two equal or near equal teams playing a game.

The closest you will ever get to throwing out the record books besides 1984 is 2001 and 2002.