SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The burden Auburn’s football team will gladly carry into University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday night will be a heavy one.When the Tigers play Oregon in the biggest football game Auburn has ever played, they’ll carry the hopes and dreams of generations of Auburn people, the ones who fill Jordan-Hare Stadium now and the ones who came before them.They’ll carry the disappointment of players in 2004 and 1993, who did all they could and were denied, the players who went to bed on Jan. 1, 1984, believing they were national champions and awoke to find out they were not.They’ll carry the dream of Pat Dye, who came so close so many times.They’ll carry the legacy of Jeff Beard and Shug Jordan, who dared to believe Auburn football could be great and spent more than a quarter of a century proving it.They’ll play for children who proudly wear their colors to school, win or lose.They’ll play for everybody who ever played Auburn football and everybody who ever loved it.But most of all, they’ll play for themselves, their families and their coaches.They are here because they earned it, because they wouldn’t give in when they were down 24-0 in the first half at Alabama, when they were down by 17 to Clemson, 13 to South Carolina and 14 to Georgia.They are here because of impact players like Cam Newton, Nick Fairley, Zach Clayton, Darvin Adams, Terrell Zachery, Lee Ziemba, Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens.Because four senior offensive linemen - Ziemba, Ryan Pugh, Mike Berry and Byron Isom – heeded the challenge to be tougher than anyone they played.Because when Kodi Burns couldn’t live his dream and be the starting quarterback, he showed his teammates what being unselfish was all about.Because when Mario Fannin realized he wasn’t going to be a 1,000-yard rusher, be took great pride in stopping pass rushers cold in their tracks.Because T’Sharvan Bell took it to heart when he was told he wasn’t physical enough.Because Zac Etheridge believed he would be back when hardly anyone else did.Because Jay Jacobs believed enough in Gene Chizik to put his own job on the line to bring him to Auburn.Because Brandon Mosley, who had never played offensive line, was ready when called.Because freshmen who came with stars in their eyes covered kickoffs with fierce determination.They are here because of guys like Bart Eddins and Neil Caudle, who came back to lead when they could have gone on with their lives.They are here because of assistant coaches who came from places near and far because they believed what Chizik believed.They are here because of players who gave up individual identities to be part of a team with big dreams.Yes, the burden will be heavy Monday night at University of Phoenix Stadium. It will be heavy, too, for Oregon players, who also carry the mantel of many. Getting here was hard. Winning will be hard.But the men who take the field, whether they wear the green and yellow of Oregon or the orange and blue of Auburn, will be where so many dream of being.It’s their time.
Amazing, I still can't believe I'll be there in person.
Will you? Did the ticket situation work out?
Yes they did, aside from Tammy getting escorted off the plane for smoking in the airplane bathroom, causing us to wait for about an hour on the plane while they make sure nothing is burning or whatever, everything went perfectly.
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