state politics and the Iron Bowl

Ty Simpson and Isaiah Horton connected three times for touchdowns, the last on a fourth-down play in the waning minutes, and No. 10 Alabama escaped Auburn with a 27-20 victory in the rivalry known as the Iron Bowl on Saturday night.

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is trying to simplify things for his team in the Iron Bowl. He wants his players to handle the crowd noise at Jordan-Hare Stadium and the emotions that come with playing a rival. Everything else, he believes, will work out. It sounds easy. It hasn’t been that way for the Crimson Tide in their last three trips to Auburn. The Tigers will also bask in the glory of former player Bo Jackson's Heisman win. Auburn will honor him during the game.

Last week, APR commentator Steve Flowers managed a unique feat - he was able to pair state politics with the annual Iron Bowl rivalry game between the…