the game. Auburn won the toss and elected to receive. We had real tough 185 pound guard, Tom Banks. On the first play from scrimmage, spuat's Herb Hanna (6'3" 230 pounds), hit Banks in the mouth with a forearm and knocked out 6 of his teeth. There were no face masks back then. Banks reached down in the dirt and picked up the sod and teeth and threw them in his mouth.
When he got back to huddle there was blood all over him. His teammates begged him to go to the sidelines. He shook his head "no", and our QB called the next play. On the snap of the ball, Tom Banks spit blood, teeth and turf into the face of their huge All American. That fired up the Auburn team into a frenzy and led by Banks and Travis Tidwell we beat them in the greatest upset of the Iron Bowl by the score of 14 - 13.
Bank's son, Tom Jr., played center on the '67, '68, & '69 Auburn teams making All SEC. He played 10 years in the NFL with the St Louis Cardinals and made the Pro Bowl 4 years. They are the only father and son to have played in the Senior Bowl game.
War Eagle!
