Gus Malzahn isn't shy when it comes to Auburn's rivalry with Alabama.
After reviving the Tigers' football program in his first season as head coach, including a BCS title game appearance and a thrilling victory in the Iron Bowl, Malzahn had a message for his rivals in Tuscaloosa: This is only the beginning.
Malzahn was on hand for the Alabama-Auburn men's basketball game Thursday night to claim the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Iron Bowl.
With his football team standing behind him, Malzahn whipped the Auburn crowd into a frenzy when he accepted the trophy during the halftime ceremony.
Before the 2013 season, Alabama had won four of the last five meetings against Auburn, including a 49-0 drubbing in Tuscaloosa in 2012. The Tigers finished 3-9 that season under Gene Chizik, whom Malzahn replaced.
The most recent Iron Bowl, of course, had one of the most dramatic finishes in college football history -- a 109-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown by Chris Davis that gave Auburn a 34-28 victory.
Auburn went on to win the SEC championship, finishing 11-1 in the regular season, before falling short to Florida State in the BCS championship game, 34-31.
