Charles Barkley calls Alabama fans 'ungrateful brats'

Auburn has two main rivalries on the schedule every single year, with Georgia being first. Dubbed the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, the Tigers will play host this season at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Head coach Hugh Freeze will be getting his first taste of the rivalry and is still getting accustomed to how the two fan bases feel about each other.

Freeze said he is not big on hate, hoping the Georgia rivalry should not be made out of it. Well, the opinion of Auburn legend Charles Barkley was asked and he was on Freeze’s side. But when it comes to the team in Tuscaloosa… Barkley feels a bit differently.

“Not really,” Barkley said. “I mean, I hate Alabama. That’s a little different animal. You can’t have that much hate in your heart, No. 1. And I don’t really hate Alabama, I just want to beat them. I hate their fans because they’re obnoxious.”

Why does Barkley hate Alabama? Besides the obvious answer of him attending Auburn and being a supporter of the Tigers — he called the Alabama fans “ungrateful brats” about their football program’s recent performances. Not just the two-loss regular season in 2022 but also following the recent loss to Texas.

“They lost two games last year,” Barkley began. “It was like ‘Kill us now. That’s the end of the world.’ And then after they lost to Texas, it was like ‘Oh my God.’ You got the greatest coach of ever and they’re a bunch of ungrateful brats. That’s the only thing I hate about Alabama.

“Alabama is a great program, I got a lot of friends that played there. You know how much love and respect I have for Coach Saban. But I just hate their fans because they’re obnoxious and entitled.”

Barkley has spoken extensively about how much he respects Nick Saban. He even was high on the job Nate Oats did with the men’s basketball program last year. At one point, he called Alabama the best team in the country as they worked toward being the No. 1 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

There is a lot of respect from one of the greatest Auburn players ever for what Alabama has done on the field (or court). There is just no love for what the fans produce on a daily basis. That’s where the Iron Bowl really thrives, no matter what sport you are talking about.