As you are reading this, we are on our way down for a Grove Hill Thanksgiving and to watch the Auburn-Alabama game with my father.

Though Daddy is still a loyal Auburn fan, he has outlived most of the Alabama supporters who used to make his life miserable when Bear Bryant's teams were beating the Tigers like a rented mule; so today, his emotional investment in the outcome is a little less — but not much.

In the Bryant era, my father became so discouraged that he retreated to his Poutin' House, away from the inevitable telephone calls, and listened to the game alone. Mama would get the score when it was over, and if Auburn won, which was seldom, she would fix Daddy a nice supper. If Auburn lost, which usually happened, Mama would tidy up the kitchen, make sure there was stuff for sandwiches if he came in hungry, and go to bed. The agony of defeat was not something to share.

However, there were happy times like Thanksgiving weekend 1988, when I took my bride of only a few months into the wilds of south Alabama for what was her first total emersion into the rivalry.

My buddy Jim, an Alabama fan, had invited all manner of folks up to his house to watch the game. Daddy was reluctant, but his new daughter-in-law promised to bring him home if things got bad, so he went. (Mama didn't go. Wasn't her kinda party. But she sent a pot of squirrel dumplings as her contribution.)

I knew it was going to be a good day when I saw the keg on the front porch.

I was right.

Two TVs were set up to allow fans to watch with their own kind, but by halftime everyone was crowded into one room to cuss and cheer as the situation demanded.

Auburn won.

The squirrel dumplings were great.

Daddy went home happy.

About that time it was announced that the University of Alabama finally would lower itself to visit Auburn and play the annual game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Daddy vowed that he would have to see it to believe it, so he upped his contribution to the Auburn Alumni Association, rose on the ticket list and got us a couple for the big day.

It was great.

Auburn won.

Daddy went home happy.

But we are dreading this year.

And not because we will likely lose.

Let me explain.

Just as Alabama fans are obnoxious optimists, Auburn fans are natural pessimists. We come by it honestly. We have won only one national championship (as Alabama fans love to point out), and no sooner was it awarded than we were put on NCAA probation. (The day after that was done, a banner appeared at Toomer's Corner announcing "Auburn gives the world 15 minutes to get out of town.")

Then there was the 1993 undefeated season, when we did not have to wait for probation to take the bloom off the rose — we were on it already.

And the 2004 undefeated season, where some mystic BCS tribal calculus kept us out of a championship game that we probably would have won.

So, what are we to expect this year?

I'll tell you.

Even if Auburn beats Alabama, the joy will be less because Alabama will go to Atlanta to play Florida for the Southeastern Conference championship.

Then comes the series of predictable events that Auburn fans fear.

Alabama beats Florida, and even though there will be more than one undefeated team, Alabama will be put into the national championship game — it is Alabama, after all.

Follow me now.

And where is the national championship game being played this year?

Un huh.

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Yessir.

As everybody knows, the Rose Bowl is a site sacred in Crimson Tide lore. Just listen to their irritating fight song — "Remember the Rose Bowl …"

OK, the song is about the Rose Bowl "game," which will have already been played on Jan. 1. The championship game a week later will be played in the "Rose Bowl stadium" — same place, different game — not that it will make any never-mind to Alabama fans. Subtle distinctions are not their thing. A Rose Bowl by any other name will smell just as sweet.

Even though it was in the 1920s that Alabama went to the real Rose Bowl and put Southern football on the map, Tiders still strut and brag. Dear Lord, if Alabama returns to Pasadena and wins another national championship, will we ever hear the end of it?

They will probably rewrite that song.

Auburn fans cringe at the thought.

The rest of you should as well.

Harvey H. ("Hardy") Jackson is Eminent Scholar in History at Jacksonville State University and is a columnist and editorial writer for The Star. E-mail: hjackson@jsu.edu.