Worst Defending National Champions Ever?

[AUChizad]

Remember how there was a litany of articles claiming that we were the worst defending National Champions of all time? They were scouring the record books to see who currently had the worse follow-up to their national championship season, to see who we would clearly replace in the hall of shame. It wasn't even stated as a hypothetical, despite zero games being played at the time.

Auburn was ranked 23rd by the AP in the preseason poll, which was the lowest ranking of a defending AP #1 of all time when you consider that the only team ever to be ranked 23rd or unranked, was Minnesota back in 1961 - when they only ranked a Top 10.

At SEC media days, we were not only picked 5th in the west, but Ole Miss, the only team we beat out, got two first place votes to win the conference. The only two teams that didn't get a first place vote was us and Vanderbilt.

Finebaum said he "couldn't find four wins on Auburn's schedule" this year. Many others in the media agreed. Hell, even our own beatwriter said that 8-5 is the absolute ceiling that only optimists believe is achievable. Rod Gilmore and Kirk Herbstriet said Auburn would be lucky to be bowl eligible, and if we made it to 500, we should consider that a successful season.

Any other links to crow eating I missed?

[AUChizad]

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/naysayers_out_in_force_for_aub.html

In Las Vegas, the low expectations have been jarring. Casinos that provide early game lines have the Tigers as an underdog in as many as seven or eight of their 12 contests. And in games in which the lines have fluctuated since opening, they've moved dramatically in favor of Auburn's opponents. One Vegas blog even speculated that the Tigers could become a popular value pick for contrarian bettors simply because the consensus has swung so resoundingly against them.

[Townhallsavoy]

Finebaum's going with the "7-5" prediction right now.  He said that's what he's always said, but I distinctly remember him laughing at Auburn's chances for a bowl game. 

We still may go 7-5.  We may equal LSU's 8-5 record in 2008. 

We may actually be the worst defending national champions of all time. 

But you know what? 

We're still 2010 national champions.  Can't take that away. 

[AUChizad]

http://sportswithmike.com/2011/08/auburn-wont-make-it-to-a-bowl-game/

Auburn won’t make it to a bowl game
By
Mike Reiter
– August 16, 2011Posted in: Archives, College Football, SEC

The “2011 College Football Bold Prediction” series kicks off with a statement regarding the defending national champions.

Just like no one outside of the Auburn Family® would have believed Auburn would be a National Champion during the 2010 season, no one in Auburn is going to believe this prediction.

The Auburn Tigers will not make it to a bowl game in 2011.

The Tigers return six starters and lose Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, Lombardi Trophy winner Nick Fairley, and a veteran offensive line that led Auburn to the 2011 BCS National Championship.

But their time atop the college football will be short-lived as the Tigers will all but drop dead during the 2011 season.

Why?

It’s simple.

Schedule. Schedule. Schedule.

First, let’s take a look at Auburn’s five game road schedule.

At Clemson: Last year it took overtime and a well-called time out for Auburn to win in their own stadium.

At South Carolina: Another close game from last year where the Tigers took advantage of four Gamecock turnovers in the fourth quarter.

At Arkansas: A high scoring affair from last year, where Tyler Wilson picked apart the Auburn defense after Ryan Mallet went down.

At LSU: Another single digit win from last year, and this year it doesn’t get any easier traveling to Baton Rouge to face an even better LSU team.

At Georgia: The Bulldogs got out to a 21-7 lead last year following the first quarter last year, and by the time they meet this year, the “Dream Team” and 3-4 defense will be well-seasoned and Aaron Murray will almost be a junior.

Five road games. Five losses. Write that down. Written down. And linked.

Now, let’s take a look at the home slate outside of the non-conference cupcakes against Utah State, Florida Atlantic, and Samford (three projected wins).

Mississippi State: Last year the Tigers won 17-14 in Starkville, and the Bulldogs will be better in 2011.

Florida: The two teams did not face each other last year, and while Will Muschamp will have growing pains during his first year, the Gators still have plenty of talent led by senior quarterback John Brantley.

Ole Miss: Outside of the non-conference home games, the most manageable home game on the schedule, but the Rebels will also be better this year. Last year the Tigers won by 20 points in Oxford.

Alabama: Iron Bowl 2010, 28-27. “Never Again” is a sign that is placed throughout the Alabama locker room following the debacle last year in Tuscaloosa, where they didn’t defeat the Tigers following a 24-0 lead. This year though, the Crimson Tide look to be in the national title hunt, but the Tigers could play spoiler.

With the three non-conference wins and the win against Ole Miss, along with five road losses, that puts Auburn at 4-5. The Tigers will be underdogs in the three other games (Mississippi State, Florida, and Alabama).

Alabama can be predicted as a loss, which means that the Tigers would have to beat both Mississippi State and Florida at home to make it to a bowl.

That won’t happen.

I don’t know which game the Tigers will win or lose, but they will split those games, finish the season 5-7 and miss out on a bowl game following their National Championship run.

[RWS]

We're still 2010 national champions.  Can't take that away.

That's why I really hate when somebody says "defending" champs. I suppose it's just easier to say.

[ssgaufan]

http://sportswithmike.com/2011/08/auburn-wont-make-it-to-a-bowl-game/

                                                                             

[AUChizad]

Finebaum's going with the "7-5" prediction right now.  He said that's what he's always said, but I distinctly remember him laughing at Auburn's chances for a bowl game. 

I do as well. He went game by game and mockingly scoffed "LOSS." after each one except Utah State, FAU, Samford, and Ole Miss. Even Ole Miss he left as a tossup.

We still may go 7-5.  We may equal LSU's 8-5 record in 2008. 

We may actually be the worst defending national champions of all time. 

But you know what? 

We're still 2010 national champions.  Can't take that away.

Hell, we may still go 6-6, but even that meltdown scenario, we bowlin' baby. Something most of the media predicted against for us. 7-5 is more likely, but I've gotta think UF  and USC with Lattimore > UGA.

[ssgaufan]

I do as well. He went game by game and mockingly scoffed "LOSS." after each one except Utah State, FAU, Samford, and Ole Miss. Even Ole Miss he left as a tossup.
Hell, we may still go 6-6, but even that meltdown scenario, we bowlin' baby. Something most of the media predicted against for us. 7-5 is more likely, but I've gotta think UF  and USC with Lattimore > UGA.

I'm not sure about that.  Looks like Richt might have the bulldogs back on track. 

[Kaos]

I'm not sure about that.  Looks like Richt might have the bulldogs back on track.

They're acting like punk thugs.  I guess so. 

[GH2001]

We also lost 17 starters which is the most ever for a defending National Champion.