I could be wrong, but I can't remember a better year for Auburn's men's athletics in the history of the school.
Basketball Final Four -- first time ever. Should have played for it all.
Baseball just made the College World Series.
Men's golf made the NCAA Championships.
And then there's football. Music City Bowl!!! Hell yeah!
It's hard to believe that both baseball and basketball are in better shape than the football program and out-performed it. Last season left a bitter taste with the pathetic loss to Tennessee, the come-from-ahead-shit-the-bed against LSU, and the utter disgrace at Mississippi State. There's just no excitement around the program going into this season. For me, it's more a sense of dread. Or maybe just no real expectation of improvement. Resignation to more of the Gusterhump that the program has become. More clueless doubletalk, more staring in confusion at the scoreboard, more spastic gyrations as another dumbass "plan" falls apart, more promises to get it figured out, more babble about being close, more failing to get it done. I just don't have any faith in Gus.
We're not going to be Alabama in football. Ever. I've finally reconciled that in my heart. They care more than I do, they are willing to do things I'd never want my program to do, they are happy to sell their soul to win football games. And they are a better football program today and historically than we are. That's not going to change in my lifetime. With that settled, I'm happy to be the better program overall. Don't think that's close right now. Better academics, better athletics top to bottom, better colors, better everything.
We may not be Alabama, but we can put a competitive product on the field and one that does not squander the talent we have with blunderbuss decisions, befuddled playcalling and other ineffective machinations that are hallmarks of someone who is in over his head.