Expecting to Be Blown Out in Week 4

[Townhallsavoy]

Some of you historians may need to contribute for this to accurate.  Please double check and bring up anything I've missed.

When's the last time Auburn went into week 4 or less expecting to be blown out by their opponent?

Going back to 1960, I'm looking at every Auburn team that had a rough start.

1961 - 6-4
Started 2-1 with a close loss to Kentucky.  Lost to Georgia Tech 7-6 in week four.  I doubt that loss was expected and getting blown out was probably not on anyone's radar.

1964 - 6-4
Started 2-0 with a 30-0 opener and a 3-0 2nd week win over Tennessee.  Lost 20-0 in week three, which I imagine would have been unexpected after the 2-0 start.  Definitely no reason to expect a blow out loss.  Rebounded with a win in week 4, 33-12 over UT-Chatt. 

1965 - 5-5-1
Ominous start to the season going 0-1-1.  Lost to Baylor 14-8 and tied Tennessee in Knoxville 13-13.  Won our next two games fairly convincingly.

1966 - 4-6
Started 1-3 with a horrendous loss to Tennessee, 28-0.  That was the worst loss all year until facing Alabama in Birmingham. 

1975 - 4-6-1
Horrific start going 0-3-1.  Final season total should have been 3-6-2, but Miss State forfeited.  Even after the bad beginning, Auburn went on to win three straight away games against Kentucky, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. 

1976 - 4-7
Another bad start for Auburn.  Lost the first two games against Arizona and Baylor.  Went on to beat Tennessee and Mississippi. 

1980 - 5-6
Auburn wins first two games in Barfield's last year.  Gets blown out in the third.  Was Auburn expecting to get blown out that game?

1981 - 5-6
Pat Dye's first year had a horrific start.  1-3 with two close losses to Tennessee and Wake Forest.  Lost 17-3 against Nebraska.  Went on to win four of next five. 

1984 - 9-4
Started year rough with two straight losses.  Went on to win six straight including convincing wins in weeks 3 and 4. 

1998 - 3-8, possibly Auburn's worst season in history
Lost 19-0 against Virginia to open the year and followed that with a 17-0 victory against Ole Miss.  Lost next three in games that, according to their final scores, looked like we could have maybe if the ball bounced our way gotten a chance to win.  Worst loss was to #5 Florida, 24-3. 

2003 - 8-5
Started the year with a shut out loss to USC (eventually AP NC) and a 17-3 loss at Georgia Tech.  The sky could have been falling.  However, we won the next two games convincingly, 45-7 and 48-3.  Then, we faced top ten ranked Tennessee at home and won 28-22, and the score was closer than the game.  Went on to beat top ten ranked Arkansas at Arkansas. 

2005 - 9-3
Horrific opening game with Brandon Cox throwing four interceptions and losing to Georgia Tech 23-14.  The score was 17-14 going into the fourth quarter.  Won the next five convincingly and nearly went on 10-0 run if our kicker could make a field goal in Baton Rouge. 

2007 - 9-4
A should have been 0-3 start as Auburn had zero offense against Kansas State and nearly lost.  Score was 23-13 because we had a fumble return for a TD at the end of the game to seal it.  Lost to South Florida in overtime and Miss State at home.  How did we respond?  By sending Lou Holtz to the senate.  Won 55-20 against our cupcake and then went into Florida and beat a Tebow-led Gator team.  Our next loss came against the eventual national champions in Baton Rouge on an aberrant bomb in the back of the endzone. 

2008 - 5-7, the worst (now second so far) Auburn team I've ever seen personally
Started 3-0 with each being a rough game.  Nearly beat the defending national champions, LSU, but lost again on a last second pass. 

So I ask, after reminiscing on those past seasons, did you ever think that Auburn was in position to be blown out by week four? 

I don't think there's ever been a year where we expected to lose like this.

[Pell City Tiger]

None that I can remember. Until recently, I never expected Auburn to get "blown out" by any opponent. There were some games I knew we had a good chance of losing, but I never really had the feeling we were in a situation similar to Pickett's Division at the battle of Gettysburg (which is how I feel now).

Hopefully, our boys make a heroic stand - or at least a decent showing for themselves. Night games at Jordan-Hare have a tendency to bring out a little magic. I just don't see that happening this time, though.

[djsimp]

Like mentioned by the goat fucker, the AU/LSU games were to be recognized.
This year, not so much.

[The Prowler]

Some of you historians may need to contribute for this to accurate.  Please double check and bring up anything I've missed.

When's the last time Auburn went into week 4 or less expecting to be blown out by their opponent?

Going back to 1960, I'm looking at every Auburn team that had a rough start.

1961 - 6-4
Started 2-1 with a close loss to Kentucky.  Lost to Georgia Tech 7-6 in week four.  I doubt that loss was expected and getting blown out was probably not on anyone's radar.

1964 - 6-4
Started 2-0 with a 30-0 opener and a 3-0 2nd week win over Tennessee.  Lost 20-0 in week three, which I imagine would have been unexpected after the 2-0 start.  Definitely no reason to expect a blow out loss.  Rebounded with a win in week 4, 33-12 over UT-Chatt. 

1965 - 5-5-1
Ominous start to the season going 0-1-1.  Lost to Baylor 14-8 and tied Tennessee in Knoxville 13-13.  Won our next two games fairly convincingly.

1966 - 4-6
Started 1-3 with a horrendous loss to Tennessee, 28-0.  That was the worst loss all year until facing Alabama in Birmingham. 

1975 - 4-6-1
Horrific start going 0-3-1.  Final season total should have been 3-6-2, but Miss State forfeited.  Even after the bad beginning, Auburn went on to win three straight away games against Kentucky, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. 

1976 - 4-7
Another bad start for Auburn.  Lost the first two games against Arizona and Baylor.  Went on to beat Tennessee and Mississippi. 

1980 - 5-6
Auburn wins first two games in Barfield's last year.  Gets blown out in the third.  Was Auburn expecting to get blown out that game?

1981 - 5-6
Pat Dye's first year had a horrific start.  1-3 with two close losses to Tennessee and Wake Forest.  Lost 17-3 against Nebraska.  Went on to win four of next five. 

1984 - 9-4
Started year rough with two straight losses.  Went on to win six straight including convincing wins in weeks 3 and 4. 

1998 - 3-8, possibly Auburn's worst season in history
Lost 19-0 against Virginia to open the year and followed that with a 17-0 victory against Ole Miss.  Lost next three in games that, according to their final scores, looked like we could have maybe if the ball bounced our way gotten a chance to win.  Worst loss was to #5 Florida, 24-3. 

2003 - 8-5
Started the year with a shut out loss to USC (eventually AP NC) and a 17-3 loss at Georgia Tech.  The sky could have been falling.  However, we won the next two games convincingly, 45-7 and 48-3.  Then, we faced top ten ranked Tennessee at home and won 28-22, and the score was closer than the game.  Went on to beat top ten ranked Arkansas at Arkansas. 

2005 - 9-3
Horrific opening game with Brandon Cox throwing four interceptions and losing to Georgia Tech 23-14.  The score was 17-14 going into the fourth quarter.  Won the next five convincingly and nearly went on 10-0 run if our kicker could make a field goal in Baton Rouge. 

2007 - 9-4
A should have been 0-3 start as Auburn had zero offense against Kansas State and nearly lost.  Score was 23-13 because we had a fumble return for a TD at the end of the game to seal it.  Lost to South Florida in overtime and Miss State at home.  How did we respond?  By sending Lou Holtz to the senate.  Won 55-20 against our cupcake and then went into Florida and beat a Tebow-led Gator team.  Our next loss came against the eventual national champions in Baton Rouge on an aberrant bomb in the back of the endzone. 

2008 - 5-7, the worst (now second so far) Auburn team I've ever seen personally
Started 3-0 with each being a rough game.  Nearly beat the defending national champions, LSU, but lost again on a last second pass. 

So I ask, after reminiscing on those past seasons, did you ever think that Auburn was in position to be blown out by week four? 

I don't think there's ever been a year where we expected to lose like this.

That's somewhat skewed, when has Auburn faced an Elite team like a LSU/uat in their fourth game of the season? My guess, without looking through every season ever played, would be not that many times, if any.

[War Eagle!!!]

That's somewhat skewed, when has Auburn faced an Elite team like a LSU/uat in their fourth game of the season? My guess, without looking through every season ever played, would be not that many times, if any.

You are a fucking dumb ass Prowler. Auburn played LSU game #3 in 2004. They had just won a national championship and ended up only losing 3 games that year. Away to us, away to #3 UGA and then their bowl game to Iowa.

And that is the first game I thought of...I am sure their are more. Dude...stop it...

[dallaswareagle]

And here is the bad part of the game. If it goes according to the way everyone thinks (and the way we have played) the score at ½ time will be around 28-3.

Student section empty, (they left 3rd qtr ULM) and the stadium about ½ empty and this on a nationally televised game. 

[Kaos]

You are a fucking dumb ass Prowler. Auburn played LSU game #3 in 2004. They had just won a national championship and ended up only losing 3 games that year. Away to us, away to #3 UGA and then their bowl game to Iowa.

And that is the first game I thought of...I am sure their are more. Dude...stop it...

No Auburn NEVER plays anybody good in their first four games.  EVAHR!!1!  Didn't play a damn soul in 1946, so there's your fucking pattern.  Just ignore the rest of these years...

Among AU's First Four Opponents:

2011: Clemson
2010: Clemson, South Carolina
2009: West Virginia
2008: LSU
2007: Kansas State/South Florida (in the top ten at the time I think)
2006: LSU
2005: Ga. Tech
2004: LSU
2003: USC
2002: USC
2001: Syracuse
2000: LSU
1999: LSU
1998: LSU
1997: Virginia, LSU
1996: LSU
1995: LSU
1994: LSU
1993: LSU
1992: LSU
1991: Texas, Tennessee
1990: Tennessee
1989: Tennessee
1988: Tennessee
1987: Texas, Tennessee
1986: Tennessee
1985: Tennessee
1984: Tennessee, Miami, Texas
1983: Texas, Tennessee
1982: Tennessee, Nebraska
1981: Tennessee, Nebraska
1980: Tennessee
1979: Tennessee
1978: Tennessee
1977: Tennessee
1976: Tennessee
1975: Tennessee
1974: Tennessee, Miami
1973: Tennessee
1972: Tennessee
1971: Tennessee
1970: Tennessee, Clemson
1969: Tennessee, Clemson
1968: Clemson
1967: Tennessee, Clemson
1966: Tennessee
1965: Tennessee
1964: Tennessee
1963: Tennessee, Houston
1962: Tennessee, Ga. Tech
1961: Tennessee, Ga. Tech
1960: Tennessee, Ga. Tech
1959: Tennessee, Ga. Tech
1958: Tennessee, Ga. Tech
1957: Tennessee, Ga. Tech
1956: Tennessee, Ga. Tech
1955: Florida, Ga. Tech
1954: Florida, Ga. Tech
1953: Ga. Tech
1952: Maryland, Ga. Tech
1951: Vandy, Florida, Ga. Tech
1950: Vandy, Florida
1949: Florida, Ga. Tech
1948: Florida, Ga. Tech
1947: Florida, Ga. Tech
1946: NOBODY (schedule included: Southern Miss, Furman, St. Louis and Tulane)

[AWK]

You are a fucking dumb ass Prowler. Auburn played LSU game #3 in 2004. They had just won a national championship and ended up only losing 3 games that year. Away to us, away to #3 UGA and then their bowl game to Iowa.

And that is the first game I thought of...I am sure their are more. Dude...stop it...

Don't argue facts, you just need patience...

[djsimp]

Don't argue facts, you just need patience...

Can you whistle?

[Tiger Wench]

Can you whistle?

Only past a graveyard, Axel.

[Godfather]

Only past a graveyard, Axel.

Girl I'm gonna show you how to do it
And we start real slow
You just put your lips together
And you come real close
Can you blow my whistle baby, whistle baby
Here we go

[Townhallsavoy]

Something else with this point -

Think back to last year.  You remember what I did?

I predicted the upset.  I thought Auburn would go into Baton Rouge and shock the world like we've done so many times in the past. 

I laid out many points as to why Auburn had a chance.  LSU had three of their best players suspended.  We were 2-1 the previous three weeks with a shocking upset of South Carolina in Columbia and a win against Florida. 

Some of us had reason to believe using tangible reasons. 

That's dead.  There's no reason anyone out there thinks we won't get blown out except for blind homerism. 

I've only been an Auburn fan since 2003, but I know that since then, I've never, ever felt like this.  Not even last year against Alabama did I feel certain that it would be a blowout.  I thought the rivalry game would surely keep it close. 

This year?  Nothing.  No hope.  Just bleak, dark desolation. 

[Tiger Wench]

This year?  Nothing.  No hope.  Just bleak, dark desolation.

Gloom, despair and agony on me.

[Snaggletiger]

You met another and THPPP you were gone. 

[The Prowler]

You are a fucking dumb ass Prowler. Auburn played LSU game #3 in 2004. They had just won a national championship and ended up only losing 3 games that year. Away to us, away to #3 UGA and then their bowl game to Iowa.

And that is the first game I thought of...I am sure their are more. Dude...stop it...

Elite teams don't lose 3 games, fucking cock sucker.

All of those teams that Kaos listed, none of them are close to what Auburn faces Saturday. The fact that LSU & uat have separated themselves from the rest of NCAA teams is astonishing (they could be the next two NFL expansion teams). I'm mitt talking about big name teams, I'm talking about teams that win every game, just by stepping off the bus.

[Snaggletiger]

Elite teams don't lose 3 games, fucking cock sucker.

All of those teams that Kaos listed, none of them are close to what Auburn faces Saturday. The fact that LSU & uat have separated themselves from the rest of NCAA teams is astonishing (they could be the next two NFL expansion teams). I'm mitt talking about big name teams, I'm talking about teams that win every game, just by stepping off the bus.

Change of pace question for you.  What does AU need to do defensively to at least stay in this one Saturday?  I have no illusions about our O getting it done enough to make this one remotely close.  But what's your opinion on how they need to play it on D?  Any personnel changes? 

I watched the Falcons last night and was quite impressed with their defense from the standpoint of the multiple formations they used.  They had numerous blitz packages coming at you from all angles.  Does AU stack the line?  That's what I think.  Do they mix it all up and give LSU a bunch of new looks?   

[War Eagle!!!]

Change of pace question for you.  What does AU need to do defensively to at least stay in this one Saturday?  I have no illusions about our O getting it done enough to make this one remotely close.  But what's your opinion on how they need to play it on D?  Any personnel changes? 

I watched the Falcons last night and was quite impressed with their defense from the standpoint of the multiple formations they used.  They had numerous blitz packages coming at you from all angles.  Does AU stack the line?  That's what I think.  Do they mix it all up and give LSU a bunch of new looks?

Hell no. LSU wins just by stepping off the bus, cock sucker....

[War Eagle!!!]

Elite teams don't lose 3 games, fucking cock sucker.

All of those teams that Kaos listed, none of them are close to what Auburn faces Saturday. The fact that LSU & uat have separated themselves from the rest of NCAA teams is astonishing (they could be the next two NFL expansion teams). I'm mitt talking about big name teams, I'm talking about teams that win every game, just by stepping off the bus.

You're a dumb ass...

[Tiger Wench]

You're a dumb ass...

I have never met anyone, including attorneys and politicians, that are as adept at reconfiguring and sidestepping and qualifying and redefining and re-stating previous statements as our own dear Prowler.

[bottomfeeder]