From the college folk here in Texas this is what I get.
Auburn is the middle brother( like a&m), we do ok sometime but for the most part of it were a middle tier team. Won our fair share but never made it to the big dance. 2004 a distance memory and most folk outside of Auburn couldn’t tell you what our record was that year. Last year we go all the way but with media hyped controversy (truth-Un-truth?) all they know is what they hear from the talking heads. Once again the SEC is in the limelight. We also had the two best players in the land and now they’re gone. If it wasn’t for them why are we struggling now? (Good point)
I try and explain (past 30 years-our record in the sec-etc) waste of my time.
Outside of the south-the rest of the media is tired of the SEC and enjoys seeing teams fall. It just happens to be Auburn this year. God helps us if a TCU or Boise ever make it to a MNC- They'll all be talking with cum spewing from there mouth.
Oh, and for your idiot Texas friends:
1981-2010
Auburn: 255-104-5, 6 SECC, 3 Undefeated Seasons, 1 NC
Texas: 255-107-4, 3 Big 12 and 4 SWC Titles, 1 Undefeated Season, 1 NC.
I guess Texas just does ok sometimes too.
Like bammer, they use an era of football that ended with Royal's retirment in '76, to call themselves "the elite" of college football, and call programs like Auburn "middle brother".
Auburn is a top 15 program lifetime, and has surpassed many of the "all time elite" the last 30 years to become a top 10 program.