Auburn
- That was the worst Iron Bowl I've ever watched.
- But my rage has died and it died quickly. That Auburn team was pretty much the same Auburn team we've watched since week six. The Georgia game was an anomaly with Duke being out thus stifling our offense.
- 448 total yards against Miss State and 23 points. Gave up 469 yards and 38 points.
- 582 total yards against Texas A&M and 38 points. Gave up 453 yards and 41 points.
- 600 total yards against Alabama and 44 points. Gave up 539 yards and 55 points.
- Our trips to the red zone were redolent of the Miss State game. Something inflicted this team that made it hard to score after marching down the field. Whatever it was, I wish we would have figured it out before this game. I firmly believe the score at the half is 35-14 and if we could pick off Sims and score like we did to open the 2nd half, we go up 42-14 with a big ass Auburn party in an emptying Bryant Denny stadium.
- But we couldn't score. We dropped two easy touchdowns. We settled for field goals. Somehow, after amassing 400 yards against Nick fucking Saban in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was still 6 points from taking the lead.
- They were who we thought they were. Simms isn't a great quarterback. Cooper is good but can disappear for a while. Kiffin can score points, but we had him figured out. But our defense, oh our defense.
- I don't see how we can keep Johnson. I don't know if I was in the Fire Ellis! camp before, but I think I am now. It's simply absurd to think that our players are so stupid that they can't handle running his simplified defense. After two years, he should have players that are improving. Every top defensive coordinator there has ever been shows improvement as they coach their players. Even on bad teams. I mean, look at Florida. That's a shit football team but they can play defense for most of the game. I understand running into an offensive coordinator or two that are just so brilliant or so stocked with legendary players that you can't slow them down. But week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9 , week 10, and week 12, we've given up 450+ yards, 500+ yards in some, and 31+ points.
- I think we have the smartest offensive coach in college football, and he lost three games this year because the defense was so bad that it was impossible to score enough points to win.
- All in all though, I'm going to be sad to see some of these players go. Marshall was a rollercoaster ride. If Duke leaves, he's the best receiver I have personally ever seen at Auburn. If Sammie leaves, he's the fastest receiver I have personally ever seen at Auburn. Dismukes is a mean ass center. CAP is a really good running back. Great numbers. Not sure he's in the conversation with the legends though. Quan Bray seems to have been a constant for a decade now.
College Football
- I'm growing tired. I watch Auburn football to support and live with my alma mater. I cheer for my team to win and hate to lose and sometimes, I don't really care either way because I just enjoy being part of a culture that is Southern, educated, and fun.
- But I watch college football for drama. I want to see big games where I don't really know what's going to happen. I like the complex spiderweb that forms and breaks with each week as upsets happen and great teams are built. I like seeing top players perform well and hoist trophies and catch the NFL's eye. I like seeing entertaining coaches give great one liners in press conferences. I like wondering what all will happen in the end and how and where and who will be crowned the national champion.
- I know this is going to be a little brother, douchebaggy, and poor sportsman-type melt, but I'm ready to take a break from college football until Nick Saban leaves Alabama.
- I became a college football fan in 2003. I watched a few games prior to that, but it wasn't until I became a student that I fully understood what it meant to follow college football. From 2003 until 2007, I cheered and screamed and complained with everyone else about my team. I loved and hated Tuberville because I never knew what was going to happen. Each year, a new team would arise and win. In 2003, LSU made it through with one loss, went on to sneak into the BCSCG and beat the pants off of Oklahoma. I cheered for LSU because they were SEC and I was tired of hearing the media talk up Oklahoma and USC.
- In 2004, Auburn without expectations went undefeated. We were left out of the BCSCG. I did not like that. But it was dramatic. It was a fair discussion. Why should have USC and Oklahoma dropped after starting 1 and 2? There were debates. Good points from both sides.
- In 2005, we were treated with a real Game of the Century. Two great teams with superstar players competing for an actual trophy. Came down to the last minute with a heroic and forever-memorable touchdown run by Vince Young.
- In 2006, Florida snuck into the BCSCG and after more debates about how they didn't deserve to be there, they beat the pants off of Ohio State. Ohio State was a good team then. So was Michigan. So was USC.
- In 2007, it was LSU. In 2008, it was Florida, but someone was creeping up.
- In 2009, Bama luck started. (I started typing out how much has happened for Alabama - like all of it, but it was getting to be too much.)
- From 2009 until 2014, we've seen time after time Alabama have the ball bounce their way. Time after time, teams seem to have pinned Alabama down for defeat but there's always something that keeps them just enough in the game for them to win it in the end.
- And it's not just games, it's the whole shabang. There seems to always be something there to keep Bama in the hunt. 2011, 2012, and 2014 are all part of this. Is Alabama the absolute best team in the country? Maybe. But when most teams lose a game, they lose their footing for the NC. For Alabama, it's always been a speed bump.
- I'm not alleging cheating. I'm not saying anything funny's going on. It's just been how it is. 2011, Oklahoma State has an in-house tragedy and loses to Iowa State. In 2012, Alabama loses late (deathblow, right?) yet Kansas State and Oregon both lose the following week and Alabama's right back in it.
- In 2014, Alabama has the ball bounce their way numerous times again. And here we are again. For the fourth time in six years, Alabama will be in the college football playoff. For the fourth time in seven years, Alabama is in Atlanta.
- Now, Alabama being Auburn's biggest rival makes it suck worse. That's really the true melt here. But it's getting old.
- As I said earlier, I turn on college football for drama. Miss State was supposed to beat Ole Miss setting up a huge Iron Bowl, but Miss State lost putting Alabama in the SECCG anyway. I mean, that's how it happens nowadays, right? Alabama's in anyway.
- Even if they aren't in, anyway, they still are a cat's whisker away from being in...anyway. Took a Kick Six to keep them out of it last year. Were 7 points from being in it in 2010.
- Anyways, I'm venting. I'm tired of seeing Alabama win every year. It's killed the drama. Eleven times out of twelve, Alabama will win and even with the one loss they get, things will usually still bounce their way so that in the end, the one loss didn't matter at all. I mean, you know what's going to happen next Saturday. I'm not even going to watch it. Alabama is going to beat Missouri and go into the playoff as the #1 team.
- Every other team in the country even when putting together a "dynasty," experiences cyclical highs and lows of rebuilding. Alabama truly reloads. They truly have the best dynasty I've ever seen in college football, and it's boring.