Freddie Kitchens reminisces on playing former HS teammate Patrick Nix in the Iron Bowl

It’s that time of year when, even outside of Alabama, UA and AU alumni are asked about Iron Bowl memories. The rivalry clash came up at Freddie Kitchen’s Wednesday press conference when a reporter asked what it’s like for Kitchens to watch Bo Nix play. Kitchens was high school teammates with Bo’s father Patrick Nix.

The reporter asked, “When you see Patrick Nix’s son playing there, do you feel anything but old?”

Kitchens responded, “At least Patrick’s a couple years older than me.” He went on to tell reporters about them facing the older Nix in the 1995 Iron Bowl.

“Patrick and I played in high school together,” Kitchens said. “When we played each other in the ’95 Iron Bowl… We went to high school together in a small town in Alabama. The whole city is like 6,000 or 8,000 people in Attalla, Alabama and just going crazy because it’s kind of a big deal – Alabama and Auburn, one’s at Alabama, one’s at Auburn… we’ve got a lot of good memories. I’ve got a lot of good high school memories with Patrick. So do I feel old? I feel old every morning.”

Nix was the victor in the battle of the Attalla products as the Tigers defense managed to hold off Kitchens at the end to secure a 31-27 win. Tigers fans are hoping Bo can lead AU to a similar outcome on Saturday in Jordan Hare Stadium.

With 9 seconds left in the 1995 Iron Bowl, Auburn’s defense held off Freddie Kitchens and the Tide to clinch a 31-27 win. #tbt pic.twitter.com/L23e431HcV

— The Auburn Vault (@AuburnVault) June 22, 2017

Kitchens’ full presser can be viewed below (Nix question at 14:53)

HC Freddie Kitchens at the podium. https://t.co/pKuoMOXyRk

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 27, 2019

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.