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Better Relations Day

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In 1907, Alabama and Auburn played a football game that would make sports history; not because the score was tied 6-6, but because the game would mark the end of athletic relations for the next 40 years.

After the game in 1907, coaches from both schools met to work out the details for the Alabama/Auburn game of 1908. When agreement on the details could not be met, athletic relations ceased between the two schools. Many stories have existed to explain the breaking of relations such as the story of a great riot at the 1907 game. But Mike Donahue, director of intramurals at LSU in 1907, was quoted as giving the true account for the break in relations: "failure to agree on details, where the teams would stay, the expenses, and how many players each squad would be permitted to have, plus not deciding on the officials, caused the breaking of relations between Alabama and Auburn." The two schools would not play each other again until 1948.

In the spring of 1948, a joint press release by President Draughon and Dr. Gallalee announced the resumption of athletic relations between Auburn and Alabama. It was then that the student leaders at each school began a common plan of action to promote the highest type of athletic relationship. On May 14, the following statement was made jointly by the student leaders of the two schools:

"The student representatives of Auburn and the University of Alabama announce the arrangement of joint meetings between student leaders of both institutions to plan for the highest type of cooperation between the two student bodies in connection with the resumption of athletic relations between the University of Alabama and Auburn. It is the desire of both student bodies to make the various athletic contests between the two schools an instrument for promoting high qualities of sportsmanship and friendly competition. The student leaders of both institutions believe that definite planning on their part will be a factor in arriving at these desired ends. The Auburn student leaders will be the guests of the University of Alabama student body on Tuesday, May 18, 1948 at the University of Alabama. The student leaders of the University will be the guests of the Auburn student body in a meeting to be held in Auburn in the fall. Definite plans for promoting active and friendly cooperation will be considered at both meetings."

Hence, the student leaders worked together in planning for the first game, and thus, the first Auburn/Alabama Better Relations Day was planned. The student leaders would meet again in the fall to reaffirm plans and iron out any difficulties with the game of 1949. In the spirit of cooperation, the plans reached fruition; the result, a hard-fought, close margin game that prevented any embarrassing conflicts between the two student bodies.