Former Auburn coach Terry Bowden issues statement after 1993 Tigers claim national championship
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Auburn on Tuesday created a stir around college football after it declared an additional 7 national championships, on top of the 2 it previously recognized.
Terry Bowden, who was named Auburn‘s head coach ahead of the 1993 season after 6 seasons at Samford, went 11-0 in his first year on the Plains despite a postseason ban and a reduction in scholarships. The Tigers, led by Stan White and James Bostic, ultimately ended the year as the lone undefeated program in the country and were named co-champions by the National Championship Foundation. However, on Tuesday, the program officially laid claim to that title and 3 others.
Bowden released a statement after the news, posting it to 247Sports’ Auburn Undercover site:
I want to congratulate all the players and coaches on the 1993 Auburn football team who have now been officially recognized as National Champions. As the only undefeated team in college football that year, and having defeated the defending National Champions at Alabama, it is an award and recognition richly deserved.
Coming off two losing seasons and three straight loses to Alabama, plus being put on probation with no games on TV or postseason play, they said the team would have nothing to play for. They were dead wrong.
Playing for the pride of Auburn University and for each other was all the incentive you needed to run the table. In fact, you kept right on winning through the first nine games of 1994 for a streak of 20 straight.
Thanks again for one heck of a season. War Eagle!
Auburn fans will hope that 2025’s team can shake off years of disappointment that have surrounded the program. The Tigers open against Baylor on Aug. 29.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
