The Arms race

[Snaggletiger]

Last night didn't give me the warm and fuzzies.  Maybe it's because the grand stage and all the hype made those two teams look like far more than they really are.  Maybe it's more a matter of falling off the mountain top and into the shitter after beating two number 1's and then laying two straight eggs thereafter while our two biggest rivals went on to fame and fortune.  Maybe it's the thought of having Malzahn for 7 more years. But the bottom line for me, and I don't pretend to speak for any of you, is that in a few short weeks, the momentum in  the arms race took a sharp turn towards the two teams playing last night. 

Bama:  Bama gonna' be Bama.  As long as Saban is there, they will be a recruiting machine with unlimited backing and unchecked by anyone, especially the NCAA.  For the first time since the mini-emperor has been in power, they suffered a rash of injuries that would decimate 95% of the teams out there.  It affected them late in the season and made them in one sense, almost human.  But they still had a roster full of 5* kids on the bench going, "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play."  It was good enough to win another MNC.  They won't skip a beat next year.  In fact....

They'll be better. Why?  Because of Tuga Tuiasosopomekalekahienyho.  Kid can ball.  Make no mistake.  He's got all the tools.  He's fearless, strong, quick and has a lightning fast release.  It became blatantly obvious that Hurt was a one-trick pony and their offense suffered with him at the helm.  Give Taga a few games to work with receivers in real time and they may be scary good. He'll be the first real threat that Bama has had at QB under Saban.  Like I said, Bama gonna' Bama.

Georgia:  Speaking of QB's, how did Jake Fromm State Farm get so damn good by season's end?  Coaching?  No, he's not dynamic, but a true freshman consistently making back-shoulder throws?  Hitting receivers in stride with a defender draped all over them?  Different type of QB, but in his own right, kid can ball too. Make no mistake, the Dawgs are cranking up the recruiting machine using the same tactics Smart and Co. perfected at Bama.  They are loading the wagon with top rated kids for years to come. 

I saw two dynamic, true-freshmen quarterbacks last night.  I saw 220+ pound running backs all over the field.  I saw tons of freshman talent that the announcers were raving about all night long.  And other than Smart going semi-Malzahn conservative in the 2nd half, I saw coaching out the ass. 

Yes, Auburn beat both those teams.  I've said many times that we've got top-shelf talent at every position across the field.  I've also said that it looks like a 4 loss season is going to be better than average for Gus.  Are my perceptions wrong?  Can we keep up?   

[The Six]

As noted scoundrel and wise blockade runner Rhett Butler might say:

"Look at us, all these poor tragic people. Auburn is sinking to its knees. It may never rise again. 'The Cause!' 'The Creed!' The cause of living in the past is dying right in front of us. At the rate of $49 million dollars over 7 years."

[Kaos]

Can we investigate his entire family packing up from Hawaii to come to Alabama -- jobless no less -- and move into an Alabaster neighborhood. 

[jmar]

Last night didn't give me the warm and fuzzies.  Maybe it's because the grand stage and all the hype made those two teams look like far more than they really are.  Maybe it's more a matter of falling off the mountain top and into the shitter after beating two number 1's and then laying two straight eggs thereafter while our two biggest rivals went on to fame and fortune.  Maybe it's the thought of having Malzahn for 7 more years. But the bottom line for me, and I don't pretend to speak for any of you, is that in a few short weeks, the momentum in  the arms race took a sharp turn towards the two teams playing last night. 

Bama:  Bama gonna' be Bama.  As long as Saban is there, they will be a recruiting machine with unlimited backing and unchecked by anyone, especially the NCAA.  For the first time since the mini-emperor has been in power, they suffered a rash of injuries that would decimate 95% of the teams out there.  It affected them late in the season and made them in one sense, almost human.  But they still had a roster full of 5* kids on the bench going, "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play."  It was good enough to win another MNC.  They won't skip a beat next year.  In fact....

They'll be better. Why?  Because of Tuga Tuiasosopomekalekahienyho.  Kid can ball.  Make no mistake.  He's got all the tools.  He's fearless, strong, quick and has a lightning fast release.  It became blatantly obvious that Hurt was a one-trick pony and their offense suffered with him at the helm.  Give Taga a few games to work wit

Georgia:  Speaking of QB's, how did Jake Fromm State Farm get so damn good by season's end?  Coaching?  No, he's not dynamic, but a true freshman consistently making back-shoulder throws?  Hitting receivers in stride with a defender draped all over them?  Different type of QB, but in his own right, kid can ball too. Make no mistake, the Dawgs are cranking up the recruiting machine using the same tactics Smart and Co. perfected at Bama.  They are loading the wagon with top rated kids for years to come. 

I saw two dynamic, true-freshmen quarterbacks last night.  I saw 220+ pound running backs all over the field.  I saw tons of freshman talent that the announcers were raving about all night long.  And other than Smart going semi-Malzahn conservative in the 2nd half, I saw coaching out the ass. 

Yes, Auburn beat both those teams.  I've said many times that we've got top-shelf talent at every position across the field.  I've also said that it looks like a 4 loss season is going to be better than average for Gus.  Are my perceptions wrong?  Can we keep up?

I think your perceptions are correct because our failure ultimately benefits our rivals. Always have. Not sure how the message gets through but Gus has to let go of this offense or he never comes close to fulfilling his contract. And in my mind that comes with a ten win minimum.
That's where all of those incentives started with this last unfinished contract. So it should be expected.
How does he get there?
Free Lindsey!
T-shirts ought to sell well on campus.

Tua=vertical
Jalen=lateral

Both Stidham and Fromm can deliver with good protection.
UGA had a come to Jesus meeting after we took them apart in the regular season game.
They improved.

[Buzz Killington]

Can we investigate his entire family packing up from Hawaii to come to Alabama -- jobless no less -- and move into an Alabaster neighborhood.

The poor things are sweating and toiling in an apartment though.  How long before they move on up to the sky like George and Weezie?

[jmar]

The poor things are sweating and toiling in an apartment though.  How long before they move on up to the sky like George and Weezie?

Tua's touchdown pass likely becomes known as the Atlanta Aloha or something to that effect once Daniel Moore immortalizes him.
Can you move on up in Tuscaloosa?

[Saniflush]

Tua's touchdown pass likely becomes known as the Atlanta Aloha or something to that effect once Daniel Moore immortalizes him.
Can you move on up in Tuscaloosa?

If you move out you can

[Kaos]

What amazes me is the continuity of our main enemy. 

If you look back through the entire history of college football, team 'dynasties' are typically three to five year runs. 

Even Bryant's ten-year stranglehold on the state from 71-79 saw his teams bounce around in the Top Ten until the 78 and 79 teams put trophies on the wall.  Before that he'd had two good years in 64 and 65 and then a lot of not-great teams until 71.  Yeah, seven of the nine teams from 71-79 were one-loss teams. So that's similar. 

But other than that, what we're seeing now is unprecedented.  At some point all the great dynasties start to wear at the edges.  Nebraska, Oklahoma, USC, Miami, Notre Dame, FSU.  They all eventually crack under their own weight. 

I don't understand how this awful thing just keeps going like a deranged Energizer Bunny. 

1) Is it carte blanche from the NCAA to cheat at will?
2) Is it fear from the media to piss off the confrontational Saban and in fawning over him perpetuate his mystique?
3) Is it PEDs?

Five years ago I thought the end had to be on the horizon.  It's worse now and I don't see an end to it.  How is that possible? 

[wesfau2]

1) Is it carte blanche from the NCAA to cheat at will?
2) Is it fear from the media to piss off the confrontational Saban and in fawning over him perpetuate his mystique?
3) Is it PEDs?

#1 with a healthy dose of #3.

[Snaggletiger]

What amazes me is the continuity of our main enemy. 

If you look back through the entire history of college football, team 'dynasties' are typically three to five year runs. 

Even Bryant's ten-year stranglehold on the state from 71-79 saw his teams bounce around in the Top Ten until the 78 and 79 teams put trophies on the wall.  Before that he'd had two good years in 64 and 65 and then a lot of not-great teams until 71.  Yeah, seven of the nine teams from 71-79 were one-loss teams. So that's similar. 

But other than that, what we're seeing now is unprecedented.  At some point all the great dynasties start to wear at the edges.  Nebraska, Oklahoma, USC, Miami, Notre Dame, FSU.  They all eventually crack under their own weight. 

I don't understand how this awful thing just keeps going like a deranged Energizer Bunny. 

1) Is it carte blanche from the NCAA to cheat at will?
2) Is it fear from the media to piss off the confrontational Saban and in fawning over him perpetuate his mystique?
3) Is it PEDs?

Five years ago I thought the end had to be on the horizon.  It's worse now and I don't see an end to it.  How is that possible?

It's letter number A.  All the top teams have great players.  But, when you can go into a MNC game and hand the ball off to 4 different backs that were coveted by every top program in the nation, or be decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball and simply plug in another 5* for every guy that went down, it pretty much is what it is. 

Like I said, it's a recruiting machine with unlimited backing and not one Sheriff on duty.

[WiregrassTiger]

It's letter number A.  All the top teams have great players.  But, when you can go into a MNC game and hand the ball off to 4 different backs that were coveted by every top program in the nation, or be decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball and simply plug in another 5* for every guy that went down, it pretty much is what it is. 

Like I said, it's a recruiting machine with unlimited backing and not one Sheriff on duty.

Token works with the sheriff’s office. Do not know if he’s on duty. And, do not care.

[AUChizad]

Five years ago I thought the end had to be on the horizon.  It's worse now and I don't see an end to it.  How is that possible?

Saban is 66. Second oldest coach in the NCAA behind Snyder at Washington State.

Hopefully he's dead in less than a decade. If we're lucky, he'll retire before that.

[Buzz Killington]

I'm not saying it's PEDs, but it's PEDs.

[Kaos]

Saban is 66. Second oldest coach in the NCAA behind Snyder at Washington State.

Hopefully he's dead in less than a decade. If we're lucky, he'll retire before that.

I like how you think, Mister.

[Snaggletiger]

I'm not saying it's PEDs, but it's PEDs.

Yeah, but why hand models?

[GH2001]

Saban is 66. Second oldest coach in the NCAA behind Snyder at Washington State.

Hopefully he's dead in less than a decade. If we're lucky, he'll retire before that.

Does mike leach know about this?

[Godfather]

Does mike leach know about this?

He forgot to carry the 1

7 -2 / 11 * 65 = Kansas State

[GH2001]

He forgot to carry the 1

7 -2 / 11 * 65 = Kansas State

He's like Milton on office space. They fired him years ago. Just a glitch in payroll.

[AUChizad]

He forgot to carry the 1

7 -2 / 11 * 65 = Kansas State

K-A-N-S-A-S
11-1-14-19-1-19
23-1-19-8-9-14-7-20-15-14
W-A-S-H-I-N-G-T-O-N

Figure it out on your own, guys, I shouldn't have to spell out the full equation.

[Buzz Killington]

Excuse me!  Excuse me!  I think you still have my stapler.