Auburn to honor 1983, 1993 and 2013 football teams during 2023 season
Auburn legends will be returning to Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2023.
In a press release Friday, Auburn announced plans to honor the 1983, 1993 and 2013 football teams on their respective 40th, 30th and 10th anniversaries.
The 1983 team will be at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept. 30 against Georgia. The 1993 team will be honored on Oct. 21 against Ole Miss and the 2013 team — on the 10th anniversary of the “Kick 6″ — will be honored during the Iron Bowl against Alabama on Nov. 25.
Led by head coach Pat Dye and running back Bo Jackson, the 1983 team finished the year 11-1 and went a perfect 6-0 in the SEC to win the conference championship. Auburn beat four teams ranked in the top 10 at the time of the game including Florida and Georgia in the regular season. The Tigers beat Alabama 23-20 in the Iron Bowl in Birmingham before winning the Sugar Bowl against Michigan. The Tigers finished 3rd in the AP poll, but some other rankings crowned the Tigers national champions. It’s not an officially claimed title by Auburn.
The same is true for 1993 group. Auburn went a perfect 11-0 overall and 8-0 in the SEC under head coach Terry Bowden in his first year. Auburn finished 4th in the AP Poll, but was regarded as national champions by the National Championship Foundation. Auburn beat a No. 4 ranked Florida team and No. 11 ranked Alabama that year, both in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The 2013 bunch is one of the most beloved Auburn teams in the program’s history. After going 3-9 the year prior, head coach Gus Malzahn turned the Tigers around in his first season at the helm to go 12-2. Auburn won the SEC and went to the national championship game before losing to Florida State.
Though that season is remembered for the rivalry wins against Georgia and Alabama. For the “answered prayer” as Verne Lundquist said on the CBS broadcast two Georgia defenders jumped to intercept a Nick Marshall pass just to instead deflect it into the hands of Ricardo Louis to score the winning touchdown. And for the Kick 6 — the missed field goal at the end of 2013 Iron Bowl ran back 109 yards by Chris Davis for the most memorable Iron Bowl finish in the rivalry’s history.
Times have not yet been announced for those three games featuring the honorary teams on their anniversaries.
Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]