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Auburn

Chad Baker-Mazara, Tahaad Pettiford lead Auburn troll of Alabama with crane celebration following Iron Bowl win

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•02/15/25•

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Chad Baker-Mazara (Photo by Matt Rudolph/Auburn Live)
Chad Baker-Mazara (Photo by Matt Rudolph/Auburn Live)

No. 1 vs. No. 2 in college basketball lived up to the hype. Auburn went into Tuscaloosa and fully established itself as the best team in the country, beating Alabama in Coleman Coliseum. A massive win for Bruce Pearl‘s team and now, the fun is just getting started.

Auburn players decided to bring back a long-standing troll within the Iron Bowl, both in football and basketball. The Crimson Cane was spotted on the floor but with the Tigers performing it, they were mocking their in-state rivals.

Chad Baker-Mazara got things going at midcourt before Denver Jones, Miles Kelly, and Tahaad Pettiford got in on the action. Winning big games on the road has become quite normal for Auburn this season but beating Alabama and being able to troll them has to be the best feeling of them all.

You can check out the full sequence here.

The Crimson Crane goes back to the 2021 football season. Alabama players would pull out the celebration after scoring touchdowns, most notably John Metchie and Jameson Williams. Metchie used it shortly after winning the Iron Bowl in a fourth overtime and keeping the College Football Playoff hopes alive.

Basketball quickly got involved and soon, Auburn was using it to troll for the first time. After beating Alabama in Neville Arena, Bruce Pearl himself used the celebration near the scorer’s table. Ever since, when someone has won an Iron Bowl of Basketball, the Crimson Crane has made an appearance — this time, as a troll.

“You walk into our locker room, there’s a sign that says, ‘Make History,’” Pearl told ESPN’s Jess Sims after the game. “These kids are never going to forget this 1 vs. 2 matchup. We played great from start to finish. We acted like we were the No. 1 team, we prepared like we were the No. 1 team and we are the No. 1 team in the country.”

Auburn will be hoping similar postgame circumstances emerge in three weeks. A rematch between these two will take place on the Plains on March 8. There might be a chance of another No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, especially if wins stack up.

Next up for AU is the long-awaited return home, not playing in front of The Jungle since Feb. 8. Arkansas will be the opponent before another rivalry game against Georgia. From there, a final four-game stretch will feature four ranked opponents.