Tigers X - Number one Source to Talk Auburn Tigers Sports
Pat Dye Field => War Damn Eagle => Topic started by: Townhallsavoy on June 27, 2011, 06:00:11 PM
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In 2007, Auburn started the season 1-2 with losses to South Florida and Miss State. These were preceded by an embarrassing performance against Kansas State.
It wasn't until three true freshmen offensive linemen had the gall to call out the veterans in practice. Rumors surfaced of Ryan Pugh and Chops BlockMcGee being so physical that the coaches decided to play them.
So Lee Ziemba was moved to LT, Chops to RG with Pugh - a true freshman center - manning the RT position.
From there, Auburn went on to upset Florida in Gainesville, lose to the eventual national champions by a second TD pass, defeat their arch-rival, and win a thrilling New Years Eve bowl game. They finished 9-4 - not bad for three true freshman linemen.
This year (as referenced by CFB Live today), the expectations are at an all time low. We're not even expected to make a bowl game. 6-6 will be respectable. 7-5 a wonderful accomplishment. 8-4 is a homerific prediction.
What's the #1 reason for these predictions?
Not Cam. Not Fairley.
It's the offensive line.
Bring up Michael Dyer and O-Mac?
They won't do anything because of the offensive line.
Bring up the possibility of our QBs being successful?
Not a chance. They won't have time to get a rhythm because of our offensive line.
Our upcoming season is going to be difficult and frustrating especially after experiencing one of the greatest seasons of all time for all teams.
But let 2007 be a glimmer of hope. Sometimes, a hungry young batch of players wanting to prove themselves is all you need to do miraculous things.
Ask Wes Byrum - true freshmen in 2007. If it wasn't for that young, inexperienced line in Gainesville, he would have never gotten to run across the field doing the gator chomp.
68 Days.
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Yes, I'm sure there will be some true frosh on the OL but Greene and Mosley are no slouches. I also think Sullen and Dismukes will be just fine as well. The first three or four games will be paramount.
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Yes, I'm sure there will be some true frosh on the OL but Greene and Mosley are no slouches. I also think Sullen and Dismukes will be just fine as well. The first three or four games will be paramount.
Malzahn and Grimes will get it right. The talent is there though it might take a few games.
My concern is with the defensive depth at tackle and at LB. (lack in numbers, undersized)
We go four deep at DE and in the secondary.
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I'm concerned about the QB & LB positions...that's it. Brandon Mosley came to Auburn as a TE with limited OL playing time. Against MSU, Ziemba gets hurt midway through the 2nd Qtr, Mosley steps in at Left Tackle and the Offense doesn't suffer at all...I think he played better than Big Z. Then Greene goes out for the season the next week, in comes Mosley at RT...He played as if he should've been the starter at RT all along. Greene was getting smoked by Bowers, not so much against Mosley.
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Yes this is going to be daily.
67 Days
Why should a lack of game time experience be the death of Auburn football?
Only a few true freshmen players will be relied on. Reese Dismukes even enrolled in January and went through spring practice, so it's not like he's completely green.
I understand the lack of experience card being played for most teams. Those teams are usually wondering about coaching changes. How is the new coordinator going to work out? Is this coordinator going to get his act together? What about the new o-line coach?
Auburn doesn't have that problem.
In three years, we've had to replace one coach - the defensive line coach.
Every position has had consistent coaching from proven coaches, and honestly, I expect to see this well-oiled machine rolling out playmakers every year until we do have a real coaching shake up.
And why should I or anyone worry about Mike Pelton stepping in to replace Tracy Rocker?
Pelton's notables:
Demarcus Ware
Osi Umenyiora
Ahtyba Rubrin
Pelton was part of a 20 game win streak at Auburn, first team all-SEC, co-captain of the 94 team, and a co-defensive coordinator at Troy where they had tremendous success.
All of the other coaches should be familiar to you. They've been at Auburn since 2009.
While inexperience will slow us down, I see no reason why we shouldn't show signs of being more consistent and more comfortable.
67 Days.
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Yes this is going to be daily.
I look forward to your Daily Affirmations.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jX9QklC3G4E/TM8lAt040UI/AAAAAAAADRI/eW0s2_t1W9c/s400/Stuart_Smalley.jpg)
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Honestly, this should be front page shit daily with some shit linked here to get some traffic going. I am tired of
listening to snaggle's stupid stories talking to the same old people.
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I have a sneaking suspicion that we might bite some people in the ass this year. I love it when the pundits make us such a huge underdog. Even in some of our worst years, we have never been Ole Miss, or Miss State.
The whole world is trying to make us out to be Vandy and I'm not buying it.
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Honestly, this should be front page shit daily with some shit linked here to get some traffic going. I am tired of listening to snaggle's stupid stories talking to the same old people.
Here ya go... Let me give you a 9,345th usage of..
"Listen to him, he's pre-med."
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I have a sneaking suspicion that we might bite some people in the ass this year. I love it when the pundits make us such a huge underdog. Even in some of our worst years, we have never been Ole Miss, or Miss State.
The whole world is trying to make us out to be Vandy and I'm not buying it.
Yep.
And that's precisely the mindset I'm fighting. At least for now. I have 66 more posts to make, so I better think of some new material.
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Here ya go... Let me give you a 9,345th usage of..
"Listen to him, he's pre-med."
And yet, if someone follows that up with "I thought he was pre-law." "What's the difference?", I automatically smile and think of a simpler time, when Kevin Bacon was a freshman ROTC student, John Belusi was still alive, and this whole world made sense to me.
We are Delta House.
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And yet, if someone follows that up with "I thought he was pre-law." "What's the difference?", I automatically smile and think of a simpler time, when Kevin Bacon was a freshman ROTC student, John Belusi was still alive, and this whole world made sense to me.
We are Delta House.
9,345 smiles will do you good then, good sir. Of course, baby's or the average waterhead will laugh at a serious injury... countless times... regardless of harm done. That's just pure simple goodness there.
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Also Pale...
I'm not sure if you use Twitter at all.. (guessing no), but following Jim Gaffigan is great. His wife just had a baby, and he's tweeting daily demands placed by the newborn. Classic Gaffigan. You'd enjoy them.
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Anything that starts with 'tw" is for the gheys.
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In 2007, Auburn started the season 1-2 with losses to South Florida and Miss State. These were preceded by an embarrassing performance against Kansas State.
It wasn't until three true freshmen offensive linemen had the gall to call out the veterans in practice. Rumors surfaced of Ryan Pugh and Chops BlockMcGee being so physical that the coaches decided to play them.
So Lee Ziemba was moved to LT, Chops to RG with Pugh - a true freshman center - manning the RT position.
From there, Auburn went on to upset Florida in Gainesville, lose to the eventual national champions by a second TD pass, defeat their arch-rival, and win a thrilling New Years Eve bowl game. They finished 9-4 - not bad for three true freshman linemen.
This year (as referenced by CFB Live today), the expectations are at an all time low. We're not even expected to make a bowl game. 6-6 will be respectable. 7-5 a wonderful accomplishment. 8-4 is a homerific prediction.
What's the #1 reason for these predictions?
Not Cam. Not Fairley.
It's the offensive line.
Bring up Michael Dyer and O-Mac?
They won't do anything because of the offensive line.
Bring up the possibility of our QBs being successful?
Not a chance. They won't have time to get a rhythm because of our offensive line.
Our upcoming season is going to be difficult and frustrating especially after experiencing one of the greatest seasons of all time for all teams.
But let 2007 be a glimmer of hope. Sometimes, a hungry young batch of players wanting to prove themselves is all you need to do miraculous things.
Ask Wes Byrum - true freshmen in 2007. If it wasn't for that young, inexperienced line in Gainesville, he would have never gotten to run across the field doing the gator chomp.
68 Days.
It all starts up front. If the OL gets their shit together, then we can be pretty good IMO. I expect growing pains in the OL. However, we're not completely devoid of experience there. Greene, Mosely, and Sullen will bring a bit of needed experience. The major hole to fill, is at C. A Fr. there could result in some confusion early.
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Anything that starts with 'tw" is for the gheys.
You would say that, twat.
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Anything that starts with 'tw" is for the gheys.
twat did you say?
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twat did you say?
I mommy part hear you.
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I mommy part hear you.
I have an ear infuction.
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I have an ear infuction.
You should go to the dicktor and get some peniscillin.
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You would say that, twat.
That is such a vulgar word with negative connotations.
I prefer the term "panty hamster".
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That is such a vulgar word with negative connotations.
I prefer the term "panty hamster".
Twitching panty hamster?
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It all starts up front. If the OL gets their shit together, then we can be pretty good IMO. I expect growing pains in the OL. However, we're not completely devoid of experience there. Greene, Mosely, and Sullen will bring a bit of needed experience. The major hole to fill, is at C. A Fr. there could result in some confusion early.
This is what I'm talking about right here. Plus, Dismukes I believe was in Auburn for Spring drills. That should help a good bit also.
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66 Days.
"You have so much to worry about this year."
It's a statement that's stated in different words all the time lately. Always directed at Auburn fans.
"The NCAA - you have to worry about that."
The NCAA said we're clear. Unless something unknown arises. In that case, everyone has something to be worried about. There are no asteroids on a path to destroy us right now. But tomorrow, there could be.
"You're losing Cam Newton."
You're losing Greg McElroy. You're losing Ryan Mallett. You still have Jordan Jefferson. You have Tajh Boyd. You have Chris Relf.
I'm not worried about it.
"You're losing Nick Fairley."
You're losing Marcel Dareus. You're losing Drake Nevis and Kelvin Sheppard.
"Your schedule is tough."
Your schedule is tough. Alabama has opponents with open dates. They go to Penn State. They have Florida and Auburn as away games.
In LSU's first 9 games, they have Oregon (Dallas), Northwestern St, @Miss St, @West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, @Tennessee, Auburn, @Alabama.
"You have an inexperienced offensive line."
You're replacing a left tackle.
We aren't the only ones that should be worrying. The SEC West is wide open if you ask me.
66 Days.
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Front Page nice job THS
You even get your own column picture.
(http://www.tigersx.com/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/dailycountdown-300x294.jpg)
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Can I write an article on the best movie quotes of all time?
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Can I write an article on the best movie quotes of all time?
People with post counts as low as yours have no rights.
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People with post counts as low as yours have no rights.
But I know the format!
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People with post counts as low as yours have no rights.
Says one of the people with 3/4's of their posts comprised of movie quotes after movie quotes after movie quotes. I think you should support Mr. Rider. Perhaps get a coffee table book in the works. You'll be millionaires.
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But I know the format!
Fail.
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But I know the format!
Look, all I'm saying is even though you sit around all day and know how the threads go does not mean you really have a grasp on reality.
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Fail.
Nope.
I chuckled...
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Nope.
I chuckled...
That doesn't constitute an unfailure in your particular case. Sorry... :poke:
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Says one of the people with 3/4's of their posts comprised of movie quotes after movie quotes after movie quotes. I think you should support Mr. Rider. Perhaps get a coffee table book in the works. You'll be millionaires.
Let me just respond to this succintly and unemotionally.
I use this forum to communicate with a broad range of friends whom I have met over the years. I enjoy it. Some of them enjoy my posts. Some of them don't.
I don't offer strong opinions on recruiting, game strategery, and many of the others going-ons because, to be quite honest, my opinion only means something to me. I learned a while back that I will never convince you to change your minds on anything, mainly because you are ALL too hard headed.
So, therefore I make my comments and make fun of people and situations. Again, some people enjoy them and some do not.
I would, however, wager that no one enjoys reading about people who don't enjoy them making commentary about them. There are a lot of inside jokes on here that we all have been the target of from time to time and I, for one, enjoy keeping them alive.
So, you have two choices, block me so you will not have to read movie quotes, smartass comments and other nonsense or grow up and quit bitchin' about it.
The ball is in your court...
(Damn, that was neither succinct nor umemotional.)
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Let me just respond to this succintly and unemotionally.
I use this forum to communicate with a broad range of friends whom I have met over the years. I enjoy it. Some of them enjoy my posts. Some of them don't.
I don't offer strong opinions on recruiting, game strategery, and many of the others going-ons because, to be quite honest, my opinion only means something to me. I learned a while back that I will never convince you to change your minds on anything, mainly because you are ALL too hard headed.
So, therefore I make my comments and make fun of people and situations. Again, some people enjoy them and some do not.
I would, however, wager that no one enjoys reading about people who don't enjoy them making commentary about them. There are a lot of inside jokes on here that we all have been the target of from time to time and I, for one, enjoy keeping them alive.
So, you have two choices, block me so you will not have to read movie quotes, smartass comments and other nonsense or grow up and quit bitchin' about it.
The ball is in your court...
(Damn, that was neither succinct nor umemotional.)
What's a HUGE element of comedy? Timing.
Allllllll I'm saying. I'm not going to block you cause frankly 99% of what you post.... I enjoy. You're usually spot on. So, there is nothing personal here from me against you. I'd say with the way certain people have become and are on this site... Timing could be better with certain "inside" things.
..and for the record, I think it's going to be more than acceptable for me to push back a little... make a little fun of some folks in light of certain things and generally not give too much of a shit as I have in the past.
Sorry if I bugged you... I certainly don't want anyone else on the site to feel insulted, or picked on when it's not known if they approve of the subject matter or not.
Carry on, sir. Formats and what not.
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I would just like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that I have a bowl cut.
:bowl:
Carry on.
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I would just like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that I have a bowl cut.
:bowl:
Carry on.
No no... A GLORIOUS... Duke paint job supported... bowl cut.
:thumsup:
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What's a HUGE element of comedy? Timing.
Allllllll I'm saying. I'm not going to block you cause frankly 99% of what you post.... I enjoy. You're usually spot on. So, there is nothing personal here from me against you. I'd say with the way certain people have become and are on this site... Timing could be better with certain "inside" things.
..and for the record, I think it's going to be more than acceptable for me to push back a little... make a little fun of some folks in light of certain things and generally not give too much of a poop as I have in the past.
Sorry if I bugged you... I certainly don't want anyone else on the site to feel insulted, or picked on when it's not known if they approve of the subject matter or not.
Carry on, sir. Formats and what not.
You did not bugg me. I actually enjoyed getting that off my chest. The emotion I was feeling was great joy.
Also, I don't feel like I have done my job if someone doesn't feel insulted or picked on.
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You did not bugg me. I actually enjoyed getting that off my chest. The emotion I was feeling was great joy.
Also, I don't feel like I have done my job if someone doesn't feel insulted or picked on.
Right on. :bc:
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I hope you all mean what you say. This thread's got 66 more days to go before it starts getting pushed off the page.
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66 Days.
"You have so much to worry about this year."
It's a statement that's stated in different words all the time lately. Always directed at Auburn fans.
"The NCAA - you have to worry about that."
The NCAA said we're clear. Unless something unknown arises. In that case, everyone has something to be worried about. There are no asteroids on a path to destroy us right now. But tomorrow, there could be.
"You're losing Cam Newton."
You're losing Greg McElroy. You're losing Ryan Mallett. You still have Jordan Jefferson. You have Tajh Boyd. You have Chris Relf.
I'm not worried about it.
"You're losing Nick Fairley."
You're losing Marcel Dareus. You're losing Drake Nevis and Kelvin Sheppard.
"Your schedule is tough."
Your schedule is tough. Alabama has opponents with open dates. They go to Penn State. They have Florida and Auburn as away games.
In LSU's first 9 games, they have Oregon (Dallas), Northwestern St, @Miss St, @West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, @Tennessee, Auburn, @Alabama.
"You have an inexperienced offensive line."
You're replacing a left tackle.
We aren't the only ones that should be worrying. The SEC West is wide open if you ask me.
66 Days.
Yep, dead on. Good stuff. People act like Auburn is the only great team to ever graduate a bunch of Sr's, or lose Jr's to the draft.
You also forgot the all time fave of the idiot mullets..."It's back to normal 6-6 for Auburn". Though I'm not even sure something that fucking moronic deserves a response.
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Allllllll I'm saying. I'm not going to block you cause frankly 99% of what you post.... I enjoy.
So you have liked 6 of his posts? That's not much of a time to get to know a person...
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So you have liked 6 of his posts? That's not much of a time to get to know a person...
That right der was fuckin funny not as funny as some farks, but quite funny nonetheless.
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So you have liked 6 of his posts? That's not much of a time to get to know a person...
I've met Bugg. He's a good guy. I'm not totally reliant on epenis size, but hey.
At a ball game... Beer time. I know some here know that format. Even if they're clueless as donkey dung roll about others.
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I've met Bugg. He's a good guy. I'm not totally reliant on epenis size, but hey.
At a ball game... Beer time. I know some here know that format. Even if they're clueless as donkey dung roll about others.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AAQ5R1CDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
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(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AAQ5R1CDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Welllllll.... Might have gone unnoticed, except someone here... :rolleyes:
Sorry, Mr. Rider.
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65 Days
Inexperience and a lack of depth is not necessarily a bad thing especially when considering entertainment value.
We signed 14 four stars (one of those a five star) in last year's recruiting class. Most of them have qualified.
Most of them will get a chance to compete and contribute.
I'm thinking the law of probability states that at least one or two of them will be future superstars for Auburn.
Who exactly?
No clue.
But someone is going to emerge, and we're going to see it this season.
Be on the lookout for the next Auburn legend.
65 Days.
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Be on the lookout for the next Auburn legend.
Do we really want one of these?
(https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1264690413/legend021411b.jpg)
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But someone is going to emerge, and we're going to see it this season.
Be on the lookout for the next Auburn legend.
65 Days.
Coincidence that I am back for the first game in 65 days???????? #winning
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But someone is going to emerge, and we're going to see it this season.
Be on the lookout for the next Auburn legend.
65 Days.
Coincidence that I am back for the first game in 65 days???????? #winning
That how much time you have to serve after the goat incident?
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That how much time you have to serve after the goat incident?
Some of us can't be selective>
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii265/tstturgill/Animals/smileygoat.jpg)
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Do we really want one of these?
(https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1264690413/legend021411b.jpg)
Tha fuck????? Not even gonna ask.
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64 Days
Has Michael Dyer been overlooked?
In the midst of the greatest season in Auburn history and in the midst of the greatest season of any single player in the history of college football, a 5'7 200 pound power/scat back broke a long standing record by Auburn's most prolific and most historic player.
He is now Auburn's leading freshman runner and still has a few years to accomplish even more.
We're all waiting in anticipation to see how great he can be.
But is there a need to "wait"? Should he already be considered great or even legendary?
Bo Jackson changed Auburn. He brought us out of the shadow of Alabama and launched us "over the top" in the upper echelon of college football. His eye dropping runs were so important, they were given names. Names that symbolized their importance. And he was the spotlight and deserved it all.
But what about Dyer? How does he compare?
This past season was a stepping stone for Auburn football. Bo brought us over the top of Alabama. Which was great. We have a winning record against them since Bo dove over the pile. We've won some SEC championships. We've had a few undefeated seasons.
But we've always stumbled. Always right before the end fallen to our knees before claiming the trophy we thought was ours.
Last season, we didn't fall. We claimed the trophy. And all of the accolades went to Cam. And rightfully so.
But what about that little guy fresh out of high school?
What about the fact that he had 20+ yard runs in 8/14 games we played? Most of which came in important SEC/championship games.
What about the 100 yard performance against South Carolina that solidified the close, tough win?
What about the 100 yard performance against LSU? Remember when Patrick Peterson grabbed a hold of him near the end zone? Dyer dragged him a few yards then released him to the ground before scampering a few more yards down the field.
What about the 180 yard performance to knock out Ole Miss?
The fact that he broke Bo's record against UGA in the midst of peril off the field?
The 13 yard scamper that set up the final touchdown to Lutz against Alabama?
And most importantly, the one for the symbols.
Bo went over the top and showed the world that we would no long be beneath Alabama or anyone else in the SEC.
Dyer refused to go down. Refused to be tackled. He was brought close to the ground in a close game in the most important game in Auburn's history.
But instead of going to the ground, Dyer stayed up. It was shocking. We were all so used to falling short of the crystal ball like in 1983, 1993, and 2004.
Dyer's refusal to put his knee on the ground was the battle yell from Auburn that we would no longer be falling short of our goal.
But we've heard everything about Cam. Not as much about Dyer - the freshman who did more than Bo.
Luckily, Dyer has at least two more years to turn heads.
64 Days.
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Well said Ths...our stout back has been slighted by the Bamers and Fbomb thinking he can't compare with Richardson or Lattimore because he benefited by having Cam but I think we all know he is as tough as they come and plenty battle tested. Wonder how they will spin it when he doesn't miss a beat with three new offensive linemen?
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63 Days
What'd you do today?
It's Saturday.
Probably hung around with family. Cut the grass. Drank a beer. Lit up the grill. Checked out a girl too young for you. Turned on the TV. Complained about the heat. Listened to music. Laughed. Argued. Joked. Screamed. Yelled.
Probably did all of those things.
But you didn't watch any live football.
63 Days.
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62 Days
Time warp.
It's July 3, 2010.
Answer the following multiple choice questions:
1. Who is Cam Newton?
A) Heisman Trophy Winning Quarterback
B) Backup to Neil Caudle
C) Brent Schaeffer
2. Who is Nick Fairley?
A) Lombardi winner and most dominant defensive player in college football
B) Decent defensive tackle with potential to be good but not great
C) Lazy and incompetent player who shows some signs of dominance but mostly disappears
3. Who is Gene Chizik?
A) A BCS championship caliber coach who dominates recruiting every year
B) A young coach in over his head who has to go undefeated to break .500
C) The worst coach in the SEC and an embarrassment to the Auburn football program
4. How good is Alabama?
A) Pretty good but overrated. 3 losses is on their horizon
B) The most dominant team in college football returning numerous starters including the Heisman winner
C) Better than some NFL teams
5. How good is Texas?
A) Horrible. Coaching staff in disarray. Players unsure how to play football. Losers to Iowa State.
B) Incredible shot at repeating as Big 12 champions. Gilbert got experience in the BCSCG and will immediately be a successful Heisman candidate
C) Rebuilding but should have no more than two losses
6. How good is Florida?
A) One of the worst teams Meyer has ever had. No identity on offense. Not enough on defense to overcome adversity
B) Incredible stockpile of talent and a lock for the SECCG against Alabama. NFL-ready quarterback, speed all over the offense, and 5 stars all over the defense
C) Rebuilding and should make the SECCG. At most two losses if the inexperience doesn't get it together. Too much talent to fail
Record your answers.
Time warp.
It's July 3, 2011. How'd you do?
62 Days.
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I was right about Chizik and Alabama. If this was baseball, I'm hitting second in the lineup yall.
1. JaMarcus Russellike showoff. I'm thinking better than Tyrik Rollinson though. Caudle back-up.
2. Inconsistent, plays hard only when it's necessary. Had one memorable play v. Bamer.
3. Seriously too early to tell but he says he will let his coaches coach which is encouraging for a change.
4. Almost always overated but capable of dropping a couple of games even with all of that talent.
5. Oh Texas is going to win their conference easily.
6. Florida should be in Atlanta especially since South Carolina generally chokes.
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61 Days
I can't wait.
61 Days.
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61 Days
I can't wait.
61 Days.
front page ...
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front page ...
Haha sorry. After July 4th festivities, I wasn't exactly capable of producing something of substance.
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61 Days
I can't wait.
61 Days.
Do we have to pay you for this?
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Do we have to pay you for this?
apparently, the teacher was busy on a holiday.
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60 Days
In 16 days, we will begin hearing three days worth of coach-speak that will be nitpicked and critiqued.
Here's a preview of what you may hear on the SEC West side:
Nick Saban - "This is the 5th year in my 5 year program. Do you know how talented my teams are during my 5th year? Every position on this squad is loaded. Every coaching spot is well trained. The secretaries know the intricate details of the process. The fans have expectations through the roof and rightfully so. Just look at my 5th year at LSU. Do you know how perfect that team was? All it takes is one person to screw it up, and I dare you to name that one person that can screw this up."
Gene Chizik - "This is it. We're all in with faith and family. Families go through rough times and good times. Sometimes you don't even know what to expect at the family dinner. Sometimes it's good with BBQ pork or grilled shrimp. Sometimes it's pot roast. But either way, your grandma's cooking it and your grandfather's saying the family prayer before the meal. Which is why it's good. Faith. Family. All in. All the time."
Bobby Petrino - "We're going to throw the ball. We're going to run it some. We're going to play half assed defense. What the hell else do you expect from me after all of these years?"
Les Miles - "The grass is going to be a bit green this year, but that's okay because we have the soil to grow into a special vine capable of producing special fruit. Two seeds fell in the road. One was trampled upon while the other was cultivated naturally by Mother Earth. We are the trampled upon. But we also have a friend in Mother Earth, and we have communion with her to ensure her good graces."
Houston Nutt - "The the the the quarterback thing was you know not all that it was cracked up to be. Masoli was kind of like ravioli ya know? Filled with good stuff but soft and slimy on the outside. We'll get that fixed. We've got the special kids on our team. It'll be just fine. Just fine."
Dan Mullen - "We were 'this' close last year. And we're putting it together. I'll tell you what, if we could have just landed a few more recruits in the last class, I'd guarantee an undefeated season. But considering, we're going to have to work hard for what we earn this year. But that undefeated season was so close. 'This' close. My book will be out soon. It'll explain everything."
60 Days
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Les Miles always uses the word "quality". ALWAYS. A quality player. A quality opponent. A quality team.
Always.
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:bugs: at Nutt and Miles.
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I'm officially sick of all of the "experts" saying we aren't going to be able to field a team this year.
It's pretty consistant accross the board from these guys that we will be lucky to end up bowl eligible to get the BBVA Compass bowl in Birmingham...
What the bleeding fuck is wrong with these guys?
I'm not saying we're going to be in National Championship contention at the end of the year. Literally no one is.
But the more I hear we're not going to be a top fucking 50 team, the more I think we actually may make some noise this year.
There is not one other topic that I can think of in which the media in general is more consistantly wrong than they are about Auburn football. No one gave last year's team a fart in the wind's chance to finish even third in the SEC West. John Brantley was set to light the world on fire at UF, and in the same breath, Cam Newton was unproven and probably woudln't be the 8th or 9th best QB in the SEC. And not just last year. Chizik's first year was supposed to be right in line with the 3-9 or 2-10 from his previous two seasons at Iowa State.
I'm starting to come back around to the "old Auburn" mentality of wanting to "fly under the radar". Every single time we're not given a snowball's chance in hell end up being our greatest years. It's as consistant as the weather. Keep telling me we have zero chance.
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59 Days
15 days until SEC media days. Here's the SEC East:
Will Muschamp - "No, I'm not going to get the 'boom' going like I did as a coordinator. I'll have to be a bit more calm. But don't worry. I'll still have excitement. I mean, when a defensive end sheds his block and blind sides the quarterback breaking his collar bone, I might let out a little - 'boom!' - when it happens. You know, when the linebacker fills the hole and clobbers a running back into the ground on 3rd and 1, I'll probably let out a - (bangs fist on table) 'Boom!!' When the cornerback blankets the receiver and then turns his hips just in time to pick it off and claim that ball as his, I'll (punches his own head) 'BOOM!!!' one good time. When the strong safety dives head first into the facemask of a crossing receiver, I'll, uh, uh, well BOOM MOTHERFUCKER YOU FUCKING KNOCK THAT MOTHERFUCKER OUT! Anyways, about the offense. Um, I guess we'll have one. I don't really care."
Mark Richt - "We'll try to beat Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Florida. Will that be enough? How are we going to do it? Well, a vanilla pro style offense that lets the quarterback make good decisions on the play action pass that's been set up by the run. Defense? I guess we'll have one."
Joker Phillips - "'Kentucky football?' Was that a joke? Oh you were just joking because my name's Joker, right? You probably have something to say about how we're really just a basketball school and how Calamari is getting paid $40 million and how I'm paid hourly. Is that it? What did you say then? Yeah. Repeat your question to me. Repeat it slowly, and I'll repeat it back to you slowly just to make sure we're on the same page. 'How-is-the-football team-looking-this-year-at-Kentucky?' You did it again, didn't ya? Kentucky football. You making a joke?"
Steve Spurrier - "Well, you know Garcia's a good athlete, but he's just going to have to make better decisions. The guys around him get it done. I'm getting it done. Lattimore, special player, real special player. It's just on Garcia. If he comes through, we'll have a pretty good squad. How's Tennessee doing this year? Is this their year? Oh really? Oh that's too bad."
Derek Dooley - "It's operation Vols Freedom. Volunteer Storm. SEC War III. And I'm the general. If the other schools are going to use biological warfare (cough)Miles, I can't help that. We aren't going to battle that way. Hey did you all know my last name's Dooley?"
James Franklin - "It's a cyclical process to which we aspire to effectuate. The efficacy of our program relies on the will and determination of our constituents. The Southeastern Conference has bestowed the divine right of kings to some of its members. We hope to join those who are sacerdotal - what is it you ask of me? Why do I speak this way as a football coach? We sellin' Vandy as the Stanford of tha South now, ya hear? You seen my recruiting rankins as of right now? Tell me how my ass tastes. Tell me. You can't cuz you too short, right chump? You punk ass...Anyways. As I ponder the existence of man...."
59 Days
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58 Days
Watch Lists.
What exactly is the criteria for making these lists of players to watch in terms of winning awards?
Last year's experience?
Or is it just hype?
And why would we not wait until the 2011 season has started to start discussing awards for best performances of the 2011 season?
But if we must get the hype train going, allow me to provide a few more players to watch in 2011.
Craig Sanders - Rumors are that he's pushing 280 pounds. What was once considered a cast-off recruit by Alabama, Sanders made a serious impact on the national championship team as a kickoff specialists. He was known for delivering big hits after sprinting down the field shedding blockers like they were nothing. That was 30 pounds ago. Sanders has tremendous speed for a big guy, and if he's really up to that weight, he should be pivotal in stopping the run.
Dee Ford - Speed. Pure speed from a smaller defensive end who has also bulked up since arriving on campus. He was unblockable in the A-Day game on third downs, and he'll vastly improve our pass rush. While Sanders's size may anchor the run defense, Ford's speed may be an X factor in the pass defense.
Onterio McCalebb - Speaking of X factors, O-Mac is the unsung hero of Auburn's offensive production. Blanketed by the highlight reels of Cam Newton and Michael Dyer, McCalebb went on to set an Auburn record for yards per carry (min 75 carries) at 8.5 yards every time he touched the ball. 810 yards rushing along with 8 touchdowns came behind Cam Newton's gaudy numbers along with Dyer's numbers that broke Bo Jackson's record. He was crucial in victories against Miss State (led team in rushing), Arkansas (99 yard kickoff return), LSU (134 total yards including 70 yard game winning touchdown run), Ole Miss (68 yard touchdown run to take lead), and Georgia (3 touchdowns). Combine his rushing ability with the fact that he is pure lightning on kickoff returns, and this guy should be on every watch list out there.
58 days.
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57 Days
"Imagine Auburn hadn't won the BCS championship last year. Imagine you just missed it by one loss. No one would even be talking about Auburn going into this year. You can tell by your opening schedule. All 11am games. Because everyone knows that Auburn was a fluke last year, and this year, Chizik's real coaching abilities will be exposed."
You've most likely heard or said something similar.
It's funny how every college football season has two sets of results. The first is the result of the offseason. The second is the result of the second season.
I think Auburn has lost the offseason predictions every year now since 2004. In 2003, Auburn was given all the hype but failed to capitalize on what they had.
Perhaps our penitence is to be critiqued and scoffed at every offseason.
Prior to 2004, we were going to be no better than 2003. We still had Jason Campbell. We still lacked identity on offense. We had a 8-9 win coach in Tuberville. We weren't recruiting well. But we went 14-0.
Prior to 2005, we lost too much talent to compete. We would be on a downward spiral because Tuberville used up his one good year. We went 9-3. And we came very close to going 10-1 in the regular season except for a tough overtime loss to @LSU.
Prior to 2007, we were once again nobodies. No one to really care about. No one to scare. Inexperience was all over the field, and our quarterback was half blind (literally). We most likely would rely on on a true freshman QB by the end of the season. Our running backs were inexperienced. Our defense was young. Saban had come to town. And yet, despite a rough start, we went on to compete rather well in the SEC including a last second loss to eventual national champions LSU.
Prior to 2009, we had a 5-19 coach. No talent. No hope. No motivation. We were coming off of a 5-7 embarrassment and a laughable coaching search. The team shouldn't even try. We had the worst quarterback in the league. We had a dysfunctional offensive line. We had everything you didn't want when attempting to at least be competitive in the SEC. And yet, we went 8-5. Some may scoff at my positive opinion of this season since we lost 5 SEC games. But we were mostly competitive. Considering the predictions were for Auburn to be sucked into a black hole, I'd say things went rather well for Coach Chizik and the Auburn family.
2010 is well documented. Low expectations from the nation. Big results from the team.
So, does Auburn like the spotlight or not?
I'd say not. At least not when going into the season.
We like to lose the offseason. Our summer time record is 0-8.
And what a great way to start the fall by going 3-0 in the morning when very few are watching. When very few will know that their summer time predictions failed.
57 Days.
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:aubie: :we: :aunc:
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56 Days
Counting down to football is a long, dry, frustrating process.
One stint of excitement is quickly squashed when you realize there's almost two months worth of 100 degree temperatures left.
Speaking of difficult stretches of time, have you seen Auburn's schedule for October?
@South Carolina
@Arkansas
Florida
@LSU
Ole Miss
That may be the toughest 5 game stretch in the entire country. Although, we don't really know yet as all five of those teams could be terrible this year.
But nonetheless, the fact that 3/4 games will involve travelling makes matters very difficult for Auburn.
How has Auburn faired in similar stretches of torture in recent history?
In 2005, Auburn faced the following October/November with no bye weeks involved:
@Arkansas
@LSU
Ole Miss
@Kentucky
@Georgia
Alabama
Auburn's record through that stint? 5-1.
In 2007, Auburn faced this in late September/October with no bye weeks involved:
@Florida
Vanderbilt
@Arkansas
@LSU
Ole Miss
Auburn's record through that gauntlet? 4-1. (Remember how young that offensive line was?)
I'm not saying October will be no big deal. On preseason paper, it looks much more difficult than those previous schedules.
But let's not act like it's a nail in Auburn's coffin this season.
56 Days
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Great job Townhall... #winning
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55 Days
Bulldozers.
That's what they are.
Bulldozers.
Auburn will face the following running backs in the 2011 season:
Vick Ballard (220 pounds)
Trent Richardson (225 pounds)
Marcus Lattimore (220 pounds)
Kniles Davis (220 pounds)
Spencer Ware (230 pounds)
These running backs pose a dangerous combination of size, strength, and speed. Their ability to push the pile is uncanny, and it takes a tremendous effort to bring them down.
Physicality is crucial when attempting to stop these guys from plowing through the line and gaining extra yards.
The best defense against these iron-clad behemoths is to put heavy muscle in their way and stop their momentum giving the quicker guys a chance to wrap them up and bring them down.
Stuffing the middle with pounds is your only defense.
No one knows for sure the exact weight needed to stop a 225 pound freight train, but hopefully these guys provide enough to anchor the line of scrimmage:
Ken Carter 6'5 300
Jeff Whitaker 6'3 315
Jamar Travis 6'0 300
Angelo Blackson 6'5 300
Gabe Wright 6'3 280
Nosa Egua 6'2 260
Craig Sanders 6'4 280
Bulldozers - big uglies plowing the line of scrimmage and bowling over anything weighing less than 250.
55 Days.
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54 Days
Let's give the opposition an inch.
They say, "Gene Chizik is a 5-19 coach. He just got lucky with Cam Newton and Nick Fairly."
Gene Chizik is 22-5 as Auburn's football coach.
To give you an idea of how that ranks among Auburn's best coaches in their first two years:
1. Terry Bowden 20-1-1
2. Pay Dye 14-9
3. Tommy Tuberville 14-10
4. Shug Jordan 7-13
Bonus points to Chizik for winning the SEC and national championships within two years of being hired.
The bigger and more important question concerning college coaches is how do they do building a program?
We see Terry Bowden dominated the scene as soon as he arrived. He went undefeated his first year as a coach, and for all we know, he could have won the national championship that year as well.
But his career faltered. He went on to lose 4 games each his 3rd and 4th seasons, and his career spiraled into a shadowy graveyard of an embarrassing departure and a 3-8 season finished out by an assistant coach.
Pat Dye's first two seasons were highly respectable. He broke Auburn out of Alabama's stronghold.
But it was what Dye did later that was most remarkable.
Pat Dye took Auburn from middle of the pack/Alabama's easy rival to numerous SEC championships and top rankings each season.
Tommy Tuberville was similar. He started slower than Terry Bowden, but he too led Auburn to an undefeated season and an SEC championship.
Ralph Shug Jordan had the least reputable start, but he went on to win a national championship and posted multiple undefeated seasons.
So who is Gene Chizik?
The doubters say Chizik is a 5-19 coach. They could say he's another Terry Bowden. Auburn fans will vehemently disagree by pointing to Cam's Heisman, Fairley's Lombardi, and a football made of crystal sponsored by Sears.
In Chizik's first two full recruiting seasons, he has had 1 recruit not qualify. This is quickly becoming his team. His players. His philosophy.
It's obvious what he is able to do with dominant players. But in terms of running a program?
We're going to find out this season.
54 Days.
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53 Days
While the sweat drips down your face and drops to the ground beneath you, open up your imagination.
Close your eyes. Clear your head. Do away with any sounds around you.
Ignore the suffocation you're feeling in your nose.
Picture green grass, deep blue sky. 70 degree temperature. The smell of hickory permeating the air. The soft sounds of voices in the distance. The sight of people adorned in orange and blue colors mingling with close family and friends.
The TV is airing the beginning of College Gameday. You grimace but then a sentimental smile overwhelms as you wait for the first discussion.
Suddenly it hits you. A breeze. A soft breeze that's cold to the touch. You begin to tear up...
And you wake back up. Back into the heat. The pale blue sky. The hazy cloud cover. The sweat ring around your neck. The worn out eye lids tired of squinting.
Don't forget your daydream.
53 Days.
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53 Days
While the sweat drips down your face and drops to the ground beneath you, open up your imagination.
Close your eyes. Clear your head. Do away with any sounds around you.
Ignore the suffocation you're feeling in your nose.
Picture green grass, deep blue sky. 70 degree temperature. The smell of hickory permeating the air. The soft sounds of voices in the distance. The sight of people adorned in orange and blue colors mingling with close family and friends.
The TV is airing the beginning of College Gameday. You grimace but then a sentimental smile overwhelms as you wait for the first discussion.
Suddenly it hits you. A breeze. A soft breeze that's cold to the touch. You begin to tear up...
And you wake back up. Back into the heat. The pale blue sky. The hazy cloud cover. The sweat ring around your neck. The worn out eye lids tired of squinting.
Don't forget your daydream.
53 Days.
I waited all day for that bullshit? Tomorrow's better be early.
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I waited all day for that bullshit? Tomorrow's better be early.
Hey! Even Jay Leno has an off night! Cut me some slack here!
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Hey! Even Jay Leno has an off night! Cut me some slack here!
Actually I thought that was the best one yet. With SEC Media days just around the corner, I think the emphasizes what all CFB fans are thinking right now.
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Actually I thought that was the best one yet. With SEC Media days just around the corner, I think the emphasizes what all CFB fans are thinking right now.
:bar:
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52 Days
"Run it! Run it! Hurry! Run it! Run it! Now! Run it!"
The alarm clock chirps its first call. It's 5:30 in the early morning, and the sun has yet to show its face.
He would usually want to stay in bed. That's how he felt years ago when he still living in his parents' house attending grade school. He was the superstar then. Every morning was the start of another humdrum day of being the big man on campus. The most athletic kid on the teams of multiple sports. Another normal day of success in the classroom and praise from his elders.
But that was then. That was all usual.
Now, things are peculiar. At 5:30, he feels the incessant need to hurry.
To sprint out of bed and dominate everything in his way. He opens doors much more fervently. He brushes his teeth in half the time it took as a kid, yet he is twice as efficient. He prepares a nutritious breakfast faster than it once took to pour a bowl of Lucky Charms.
He is dressed and ready to go within 15 minutes.
And he feels like he could improve his morning routine to be ready in 10 minutes.
He knows he has to hurry. The dream had told him so.
As he turns to lock his apartment door, he faintly hears in the distance the same voice scream, "Run it!"
He winces, but he hurries.
His ride is already waiting for him.
"Come on, man. We've got to get there soon, or Coach is going to hammer us!" his ride says.
He tosses his small bag in the back, and the car is moving before he's closed the door.
It's a three minute drive to the complex. Five minutes if you're a freshman. Seven minutes for normal students.
The two in the car are both silent, but they know what each other is thinking.
"It's possible to get there in two minutes. Our plan is flawed. Our efficiency is pathetic."
But they don't speak it. They know complaints are reserved for the laymen.
He looks out at the campus. It's still. The leaves are still lost in some reverie of youth. The squirrels have yet to emerge from their nests. The ground is covered in peaceful tranquility. A distant professor is seen sipping coffee, meandering towards his office in the large building.
He doesn't envy them. If they had come out into the world before he did, they would be more efficient. They would be faster. They would have first access to the world, and the spoils would be theirs.
"Step on it," he says faintly.
They've timed the red lights at this hour. They know they don't have to stop before the second red light because it always changes.
He could have gone anywhere in the country for his education. He chose this place. This quaint town tucked into the corner of Alabama. This village of youth eager to learn. Eager to participate. Eager to socialize.
Is eagerness efficient? He decides that it's not. He cannot be eager to learn if it is already learned. He cannot participate if he is the game. He doesn't have time to socialize.
He could have gone anywhere. Would it have been different?
Would it have been different if he had appreciated the bayou more? He wonders what he would be doing at 5:48am if he had gone there. He knows that he wouldn't know much about his playbook. They have a brand new offensive coordinator. Not knowing and eager to learn. Inefficiency at its best.
Would it have been different if he had respect for the old time classics? What would he be doing right now if he were passing Chimes in place of Hall? He knows he wouldn't be in much of a hurry. He could take his time. He could wait for the opposition to tire. But he isn't eager to participate. He isn't wanting to end the wait for the play to begin. He is the play. It starts with him. And it starts immediately.
What would life be like in the rolling hills of The Natural State? Would he be wondering who he is fighting for? Would he really know his coach? Do they even trust him to be around tomorrow?
There's no time here to wonder. He's committed a penalty just pondering the possibilities.
There's no time to ponder because he already knows.
And since he already knows exactly what's expected of him, he knows to do it quickly. Efficiently. Perfectly.
If he doesn't, he knows there are numerous guys around him that will. He's no longer a big man on campus. No longer the star of the team. He's simply another gift to be appreciated by the general.
The car stops.
Without thinking and what seems to be one swift movement, he grabs his bag, exits the car, walks 19.5 steps, swings the door open, veers left at a 47 degree angle, walks down the steps skipping every other one, turns at a 90 degree angle to his left, enters the locker room, walks by two locker rows before approaching his own, precisely spins the lock to the exact numbers, opens the door and tosses in his bag, closes the locker as he is walking away from it, walks 16 steps into the weight room, glances at the workout board without breaking stride, and hits the bench as soon as the whistle blows.
As he pushes the bar away from his chest, he thinks about how he could possibly be more efficient. How he would do it differently.
But the thoughts are stifled as he realizes there's no time for thinking. He just has to "Run it!"
52 Days.
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(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CiS_iMZorvc/Sd6YQL5jEqI/AAAAAAAAAH4/oiHViIw6dks/s320/kim-clap.jpg)
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(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CiS_iMZorvc/Sd6YQL5jEqI/AAAAAAAAAH4/oiHViIw6dks/s320/kim-clap.jpg)
Now you see, the changing of the worrd is inevitabre!
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Wow...
Nicely done dude. That was exceptional. Quite possibly the best thing I have read from you.
By the way, which player were you talking about and how did you know what his morning routine was? That's some skreet knowledge...
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Wow...
Nicely done dude. That was exceptional. Quite possibly the best thing I have read from you.
By the way, which player were you talking about and how did you know what his morning routine was? That's some skreet knowledge...
Somebody has been stalking him at the gym no doubt.
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Wow...
Nicely done dude. That was exceptional. Quite possibly the best thing I have read from you.
By the way, which player were you talking about and how did you know what his morning routine was? That's some skreet knowledge...
Thanks.
I'm not sure which player. My source never gave me the name. He got it from his brother-in-law. I'm sure he can find out for us.
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Thanks.
I'm not sure which player. My source never gave me the name. He got it from his brother-in-law. I'm sure he can find out for us.
He'll get on that.
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Thanks.
I'm not sure which player. My source never gave me the name. He got it from his brother-in-law. I'm sure he can find out for us.
If that's the case, it had to be Craig Sanders. He's from Ariton, you know.
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If that's the case, it had to be Craig Sanders. He's from Ariton, you know.
I'd love to see some pictures...
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I'd love to see some pictures...
video?
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If that's the case, it had to be Craig Sanders. He's from Ariton, you know.
Where is that, by the way?
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Where is that, by the way?
I don't know but they have a Gold's Gym, I think...
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I don't know but they have a Gold's Gym, I think...
Oh wait, I found it. It's just off Highway 268.
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Wow...
Nicely done dude. That was exceptional. Quite possibly the best thing I have read from you.
By the way, which player were you talking about and how did you know what his morning routine was? That's some skreet knowledge...
You should be giving me the praise. It was my criticisism barely 14 hours ago that led to his strife of perfection.
It was a well done effort on Townhall's part, but the golf claps belong to me.
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(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CiS_iMZorvc/Sd6YQL5jEqI/AAAAAAAAAH4/oiHViIw6dks/s320/kim-clap.jpg)
Nice Buzz, you just created a new smiley. :thumsup:
:kimclap:
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Nice Buzz, you just created a new smiley. :thumsup:
:kimclap:
You are on a fucking roll.
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I like the white spots around Kim. It's his aura.
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Nice Buzz, you just created a new smiley. :thumsup:
:kimclap:
Fuck yeah...I'm a contributor!!!
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51 Days
What's changed about college football?
The following quarterbacks have hit the 2,000 yards passing/1,000 yards rushing in a season. They are the only ones in history:
Cam Newton
Colin Kaepernick
Joe Webb
Dwight Dasher
Dan LeFevour
Vince Young
Brad Smith
Woodrow Dantzler
The more interesting fact? Dantzler was the first to do so, and Dantzler played in the year 2001.
From 2001-2010, eight players have accumulated enough yards through the ground and the air to make this list.
Three of them (Kaepernick, Webb, Smith) did it twice.
From 1890-2000? Zero players achieved this mark.
Obviously for a long time, seasons were shorter. Would Cam Newton have hit the mark only playing 10 games?
Possibly not.
Nonetheless, quarterbacks are lighting up the statistics with exciting dual threat ability the likes we have never seen.
For most (and for me), this makes the game more exciting.
A true leader on the offensive side of the ball. A crucial integral that steals the spotlight and leads the other 10 guys to victory.
While the statistics do become more individualized, they are still reliant on the other guys on the field.
It was exciting to watch Cam Newton because he could do it all. He could run. He could throw. And more importantly, he could be the general on the field. The receivers had to catch. The linemen had to block. The running backs had to open things up.
And the fans got to watch a star.
Seven out of the last ten seasons have featured a dual threat quarterback that was adept at both throwing and running.
We have no reason to not expect one this season.
I've got my eye on Denard Robinson at Michigan.
What about you?
51 Days.
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I've got my eye on Denard Robinson at Michigan.
What about you?
My money is on Phillip Sims at Alabama.
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My money is on Phillip Sims at Alabama.
That's one muscled up he-man
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That's one muscled up he-man
I heard they nicknamed him "Table Scraps".
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My money is on Phillip Sims at North Alabama.
fixed
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fixed
Best 4th post too...
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I like Robinson too Ths. He needs more help and Michigan might only win a handful but this guy is electric. And I think he will light up the NFL as a slot back ala Bush.
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51 Days
I've got my eye on Denard Robinson at Michigan.
What about you?
51 Days.
On paper, yes I would agree Robinson is a good candidate to pull this off. Only issue for him may be that Hoke switched Michigan back to a Pro-Style system. Robinson might not run as much. Quick trivia: Anyone know who his OC at Michigan is? Should be a familiar prostyle coach to most Auburn fans.
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On paper, yes I would agree Robinson is a good candidate to pull this off. Only issue for him may be that Hoke switched Michigan back to a Pro-Style system. Robinson might not run as much. Quick trivia: Anyone know who his OC at Michigan is? Should be a familiar prostyle coach to most Auburn fans.
Borges?
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Borges?
Yes, I posted the link to that story 8 months ago. JESUS CHRIST, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS READ MY THREADS!@#@!#!@
I'M LEAVING!@#!@#@!# :( :( :(
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Borges?
Yes, I posted the link to that story 8 months ago. JESUS CHRIST, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS READ MY THREADS!@#@!#!@
I'M LEAVING!@#!@#@!# :( :(
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47 Days
"Are you kidding me?!?"
"Mr. Athletic Director, look, I'm sorr-"
"The power bill is double what it was last year! Why the hell has the A/C been turned down ten extra degrees! It's freezing!"
"My office and my chair, they're just, well it's just so hot outside, ya know?"
Mark Richt's power bill has gone up.
From 2002-2008, every year but one did Mark have a 10 win season.
But in 2009, he had an 8 win season and in 2010, he had a 6 win season.
If Richt can't improve, he's going to need his own window unit especially considering Muschamp and Dooley are very young inexperienced head coaches.
Mack Brown's carrying an extra handkerchief in his pocket.
It's been two years since Brown was in the BCS championship game, but something seemed off last year.
Almost tiring. Like the program had run out of gas.
He may have some time, but he may be cautiously eyeing those retirement papers if he can't keep up with the rest of the nation.
Paul Wulff at Washington State.
"But Washington State is such a doormat!"
And the coach before him could win 5-6 games a year. Mike Price won 10 games from 2001-2003.
Wulff is 5-32. That's around a .135 winning percentage.
He's probably past the sweating phase and just kickin' it until he's run out of town.
Greg Schiano might want to keep some extra hundred dollar bills around to wipe his forehead.
Not so much because he has been a terrible coach.
But Rutgers - a traditionally bad football team - is pumping tons of money into Schiano's program.
Schiano makes 2.25 million per year, and he's convinced boosters to fund facility improvements.
And Rutgers still looks like Rutgers.
Football and school spirit is why we watch.
But it's the drama of the offseason that keeps us talking.
Soon, we'll start figuring out talking points for next January-July.
And coaching changes are always fun.
47 Days
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Yes, I posted the link to that story 8 months ago. JESUS CHRIST, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS READ MY THREADS!@#@!#!@
I'M LEAVING!@#!@#@!# :( :( :(
Thats where I gots me info from Shirley.
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Yes, I posted the link to that story 8 months ago. JESUS CHRIST, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS READ MY THREADS!@#@!#!@
I'M LEAVING!@#!@#@!# :( :(
Stop yelling at me sourpuss.
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Stop yelling at me sourpuss.
It's these short arms...they make me emotional.
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46 Days
Years ago, football season lasted from September through December and ended on January 1st. High school recruits were allowed to sign with their college of choice in February, and most people went about their business until the following fall.
Nowadays, football season lasts from September through mid January. Football's recruiting season lasts year round and really heats up January and February. Football's spring season lasts from March until April. Trash talking season lasts from May until June. Football's media season is in July, and football's practice season is in August.
Fans have to buy tickets to experience most of those.
Tomorrow starts the media season. All 12 SEC coaches will visit the Winfrey hotel in Hoover, AL and will field questions from a group of hair-gelled, fake tanned journalism nerds who probably only played football in the 9th grade.
And those nerds can be a coach's best friend in terms of pushing propaganda or a coach's thorn in terms of asking too much.
The best defense against an unwanted question is a strategy known as coach-speak. This kind of answer is a vague statement that technically answers the question but leaves out relevant facts.
But what if coach-speak was illegal?
What questions would each coach hate to answer if they were forced to answer truthfully?
SEC EAST
Will Muschamp (Florida) - "Coach, how does it feel to be the last former Tuberville coordinator - Chizik, Petrino, and Fischer being the others - to get a head coaching job?"
Mark Richt (Georgia) - "Is there a game this season that you've circled as the 'If we don't win this one I'm done' game?"
Joker Phillips (Kentucky) - "How's the basketball team this year?"
Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) - "Using only adjectives, how do you feel about Stephen Garcia?"
Derrick Dooley (Tennessee) - "Using only adjectives, how do you feel about Lane Kiffin?"
James Franklin (Vanderbilt) - "What's the formula for coming up with a post game speech after a loss?"
SEC WEST
Nick Saban (Alabama) - "How do you feel about being partially responsible for the creation of numerous NCAA rules meant to curtail head coaches from taking advantage of high school and college students?"
Gene Chizik (Auburn) - "If Julie Roe Lach was on fire and all you had to do was pee on her to put it out, would you?"
Bobby Petrino (Arkansas) - "How do you manage family life considering being a college football coach requires so much of your time?"
Les Miles (LSU) - "Would you be willing to pay a few thousand dollars for a tape of my 14 year old cousin playing capture the flag in his back yard with his neighborhood buddies? Have one of your assistant coaches text him the answer."
Dan Mullen (Miss State) - "Coach, how different do you think things would be right now if you had ponied up the money for Cam Newton and stayed quiet about it?"
Houston Nutt (Ole Miss) - "Out of the 120 FBS schools in the country, how many of them would you leave Ole Miss for even if you had to take a pay cut?"
46 Days
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Bobby Petrino (Arkansas) - "How do you manage family life considering being a college football coach requires so much of your time?"
Les Miles (LSU) - "Would you be willing to pay a few thousand dollars for a tape of my 14 year old cousin playing capture the flag in his back yard with his neighborhood buddies? Have one of your assistant coaches text him the answer."
I chortled out loud at these...
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45 Days
SEC media days starts today!
It's all downhill from here.
Next week, radio hosts will analyze the interviews until they're blue in the face.
The following week, practice starts. Articles begin churning out. It suddenly hits less than 30 days until kickoff. Depth charts are settled. Predictions get rolling. Hype begins. The fireworks are ready to go.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's preview each team's most needed player in order to have a great season.
SEC EAST
Florida - QB John Brantley. In 2008 and 2010, Florida finished in the top three in recruiting rankings. While 2009 was rated #11, they still hauled in 3 five stars and 9 four stars. Needless to say, Florida's full of experienced talent especially on the defensive side of the ball. But the offense remains a question mark. If Brantley can manage the pro-style offense effectively, this team will make serious noise this season.
Georgia - RB Isaiah Crowell. A true freshman? Yes. A true freshman at running back is crucial to Georgia's success this year. Aaron Murray may be considered by some to be the best quarterback in the SEC, but he's lost a lot of talent around him. The two experienced running backs from last season are gone. If Crowell doesn't get the line of scrimmage moving, Murray won't have much time to avoid the blitzes every team will throw at him.
Kentucky - QB Morgan Newton. Kentucky loses Randall Cobb, and they have to find a new identity. Newton now has experience, and Joker Phillips's program should be running smoothly. If Newton doesn't come through, this Kentucky team could be looking at missing a bowl game.
South Carolina - LB Shaq Wilson. Last year, South Carolina had one of the most productive offenses in the country. They should be just as dangerous this year with Lattimore, Garcia, and Jeffrey returning. However, despite their offensive production, they still lost five games. Defense was their weak point. They get Wilson (2009 leading tackler) back after an injury last year, and he has to return to form. If not, this team will not be much different than last year's.
Tennessee - QB Tyler Bray. Question marks plague the Tennessee program. From NCAA investigations to a depleted depth chart to an inexperienced head coach to a young, shaky quarterback. The Vols need consistency. Bray has the most potential talent of anyone in the country, but he lacked leadership last year. He has to grow up quickly. If he does, Tennessee may have a puncher's chance to make noise.
Vanderbilt - QB Larry Smith. Vanderbilt returns all 11 starters from last season's offense. While they were horrible last season, returning starters equals experience, and experience equals a better chance at proper execution. Vandy doesn't have much of a chance to get to a bowl game, but if Larry Smith can come around as an experienced QB, they may squeeze out 6 wins.
SEC WEST
Alabama - QB AJ McCarron (or Phillip Sims). Donta Hightower almost got this spot because the defense is predicted to be the best defense of the last ten years. As the leader, Hightower has to come through. But what if the defense is put into a position to lose? That's the worst mistake a quarterback can make. To give the other team easy field position is like cracking your defense in the knee with a hammer. Trent Richardson will do his part. The offensive line will do theirs. The defense will be stacked. But with a lack of talent at the receiver position and an inexperienced quarterback, it's crucial that the starting quarterback does not make stupid mistakes leading to points for the other side.
Auburn - MLB Not Available. Auburn is inexperienced all over the field. The offense is going to take a step backwards after losing Cam Newton and four offensive linemen. But the defense should continue to grow as they are three years into Ted Roof's system. Josh Bynes was the leader of the defense last year. Whoever fills his spot is the most important player on the team. He'll have to be a leader. A warrior. And one who stuffs the middle as most of Auburn's opponents feature bruising, heavyweight running backs.
Arkansas - MLB Jerry Franklin. Tyler Wilson will do just fine. Knile Davis will continue to dominate the running game. But the defense has to make the next jump. Jerry Franklin is the leader of an improving defense that has to be better at stopping the run. Franklin's play this year will determine if Arkansas has another good season or if Arkansas makes a trip to Atlanta in December.
LSU - RB Michael Ford. Everyone knows the plight of the LSU quarterback, but Ford is the key component of this offense. If he (or any other running back on the team) cannot be a consistent productive back that moves the line of scrimmage, Jordan Jefferson will be forced to make quick decisions - something that's proved fatal to LSU the past few years.
Miss State - QB Chris Relf. Miss State is shooting for its first 10 win season since 1999. Relf is the leader of Mullen's vaunting offense, and in order to beat the top teams of the West, he will have to be their Tim Tebow.
Ole Miss - RB Brandon Bolden. Bolden has been Ole Miss's feature back for a few years now, and if Ole Miss wants to get back to winning 9 games, he has to break out. Ole Miss had a terrible season last year, and this year doesn't look promising. If Bolden can control the line of scrimmage, eat clock, give the quarterback time to throw, and help the defense with field position, Ole Miss stands a chance to upset some unsuspecting teams.
45 Days.
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Knile Davis.
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44 Days
A haze of smoke still lingers in the air. Faint screams paint the background with a fearful atmosphere. The pattering of footsteps of those who want to live.
In the center, one man celebrates. His wild hair blithely dances with the breeze. His arms alternately punch the sky.
He stops. The smoke clears.
Glass breaks in the distance. Pieces of the building fall to the ground adding to the din of the scene.
He doesn't notice.
He slowly walks forward. His feet slightly scrape the pavement. They knock a piece of metal out of the way.
He thinks about his back. He is battered and bruised. He was awfully close to the explosion. It nearly knocked him unconscious. But it was worth the pain. Worth the injury. He would heal. He would not.
He stops and stares trying to cut his vision through the remaining fog. There's nothing there. He saw him land right in this spot. He can see how the debris fell all around this spot, but this spot is empty and clean.
The ticking of a pocket watch begins to echo. He pulls an oversized, colorful watch out of his pocket and loudly giggles at the sight of the familiar clown painted on the back. He checks the time. Just past midnight.
He begins scouring the scene. Overturning sheetrock. Tossing away glass.
He is no where to be found.
He pauses in pain. He can barely move his back. And that's when he senses it. And he turns around.
In shock, he sees him standing upright. Tall, strong, and confident. Victorious even. Perhaps an expression of elation but one couldn't tell. There was no mirth behind the black mask.
"Give up, Joker. You've caused enough damage to yourself. To others. To our city," he said.
The Joker started to turn around. He stumbled, but he knew a gun was around here somewhere. He found it on top of an overturned car.
When he spun around, Batman was gone, and the Joker knew he had failed once more in taking out his foe.
Two and a half years ago, a man named Gene Chizik moved from the state of Iowa to the state of Alabama amidst criticism and derision.
He was a 5-19 failure. A glorified coordinator that had benefitted from experienced head coaches and a roster full of talent.
He was taking over a hopeless program. One that just had an embarrassing turn of events with a slovenly offensive coordinator. One that just lost to Vanderbilt. One that was embarrassed and shut out by their arch-rival. One that was drowning in recruiting. One that had nothing to stand high on.
He was met with uncertainty. More so, he was met with a disdain for his hiring. Sincere acrimony was directed at the athletic director responsible for this debacle.
Worse, a simpleton drove to an airport amongst other unhappy Auburn fans and vocally booed the person who hired him. It was caught on video. Broadcasted nationally were the words, "We want a leader not a loser!"
Still, Chizik stood tall. He sternly stated in his press conference that he loved Auburn. That he's always wanted to coach at Auburn. He handled the situation beautifully.
But the negative attacks still came. Dire predictions were headed his way.
He hired a staff of unappreciated assistant coaches. His offensive coordinator was deemed no better than a high school coach. His defensive coordinator was painted as a failure. His two coaches in charge of recruiting were thugs and crooks.
No one would be fooled by Auburn, they said.
Maybe they weren't. But Chizik's first recruiting class just a few months after his hire managed to salvage what was once thought to be a complete mess.
His first season was treated just as harshly.
No hope. We would all see just how bad he was. How Tuberville would have saved the day somehow. How Chizik would be unable to handle the firestorm of the SEC, the media, and the fans.
But he did. He stood confidently and won his first 5 games as a head coach. He would go on to win 8 games and show inspiring leadership as the team won a thrilling bowl game against Northwestern.
Yet, everyone still laughed. Northwestern was a doormat. Chizik had lost too many SEC games. Recruiting would falter, and Chizik would fade away into the dungeon of losing coaches.
To everyone's surprise, Chizik emerged on top again. A top 3 recruiting class including the number one player from numerous states. The top JUCO prospect. The #1 running back according to Rivals.
Things were looking up for Gene Chizik.
But not if the Joker had anything to say about it.
The top JUCO prospect wasn't a top prospect at all. He was a thief. He was Brent Schaeffer. The #1 running back was too old. He would never grow into a mature football player because he was already 20. None of the depth chart would matter because of the ineptitude of the head coach.
Chizik was still a nobody and would trap himself. It was almost too easy for the villain to get the victory.
By October of 2010, Gene Chizik and Auburn had solidified themselves as a national contender. After an impressive victory against an extremely talented LSU team, the college football world would have to take Gene Chizik seriously.
He was no longer a loser. He was a true leader. And he had many weapons of sophistication he could use to retake the city. To place Auburn at the top.
That's when the Joker started playing unfair. Sophisticated weapons were no longer used. A dirty bomb was dropped, and everyone snickered and grinned as surely Gene Chizik would return to his cave as a nobody in the college football world.
But he still stood tall. He didn't play their game. He played his own. And he came out on top with the spoils of the victor.
The Joker wasn't done.
The Joker still had other dirty bombs. Dirtier bombs. Bombs that would kill the Batman and remove him from the scene.
No way Chizik could recruit well after such a tumultuous season. The NCAA would slam Auburn. The media would report the smoking gun. Recruits would run for other schools.
Once again, however, Chizik was unshaken. Auburn finished with another top recruiting class.
The Joker began to get desperate. He began threatening with unimaginable weapons. Dirty bombs weren't enough.
Suicide bombs were called in.
Aspiring professionals claimed to have tapes. Claimed to have evidence that would destroy Auburn. Threatened to use them when the time was right.
No way Chizik could survive an attack when the attacker has wrapped his arms around Chizik's waist.
But when the bombs blew, Chizik stood tall. The attackers had disappeared.
The Joker sensed that this man was unstoppable. He would have to do it himself, and he would have to use something big.
So the Joker lured Chizik into a building littered with explosives. He would bring the entire building down in order to stop Chizik. It was no longer about the competition. It was about ruining Chizik's victory. Ruining the joy one gets from success. Destroying the past by eliminating the future.
Again, when the bombs blew and the building came down, Chizik stood tall. This time the Joker had hurt himself.
Batman never kills. He worries about protecting its city, ensuring its prosperity, and warding off the enemies.
I have no reason to believe that Chizik is any different.
As silly as it may sound, I respect Gene Chizik for resembling a famous comic book hero. He never tries to destroy the enemy. He worries about promoting the goodness of Auburn, and he is always successful at warding off the unwarranted attacks against Auburn's football program, Auburn's university, and Auburn's fans.
Unfortunately, comic books never seem to have an ending.
In the next issue, we see Gene Chizik handle The Joker without his weapons of old. He'll need new weapons to use. New tactics. New ways to escape the traps set by The Joker.
That is, until The Joker finds himself locked up in Arkham.
44 Days
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:kimclap:
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43 Days
Today ends SEC Media Days.
As the day wraps up, we'll start hearing predictions from spiky-haired, pencil twisting journalists who think they've learned inside information from the coaches in their interviews.
We should join them.
Starting today (mainly next week), the countdown to football will shift from promoting why Auburn is not going to fall into a black hole and focus on previewing and predicting the season. Please feel free to discuss everything said here as it is all one man's opinion.
Preseason SEC championship predictions and why:
SEC East - South Carolina
SEC West - LSU
SEC Champion - LSU
The overwhelming favorite to win the SEC is Alabama. They are stacked top to bottom with talented recruits and NFL-caliber veterans.
But they have two problems.
1. Inexperienced quarterback.
2. Difficult schedule.
The schedule isn't difficult in the sense that they're going to lose 3 or 4 games. It's difficult because breaking in a new quarterback and relying on defense isn't the best strategy to have.
Alabama will be covered more in depth later on.
Why LSU?
They remind me of 2004 Auburn. An unproven, shaky quarterback finally being introduced to a new offensive coordinator. Just as much talent from recruiting as anyone in the country. Experienced talented receivers. Experienced, dominant o-line. Strong, powerful running backs. And a defense to be feared.
LSU will drop a few games. I don't pencil them in as a national champion caliber team because every team in the SEC faces a difficult schedule, and I truly believe most teams will have at least two losses.
But it's LSU's start that gives me confidence in them.
They are better than Oregon in Dallas, @Miss State, and @West Virginia.
They will not only be 4-0; they will be 4-0 and carrying the hype to be the #1 in the country after an impressive start.
From there, while possibly exhausted, they get Kentucky and Florida at home. Kentucky poses no threat at Tiger Stadium, and Muschamp's maturing Florida team most likely isn't ready for their second biggest rivalry game of the season which is played in Baton Rouge this year.
This gives LSU plenty of room to handle the remaining tough games (@Tennessee, Auburn, @Alabama, Arkansas).
It's not a big stretch to say LSU finishes with two losses. If they can beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, that will give them the boost to get to Atlanta.
South Carolina is well documented as returning the most important starters on their team.
Their schedule is very manageable. If they can beat Georgia the second week of the season (which I believe they will), they will have a good chance at emerging from the East with two SEC losses. They don't have Alabama or LSU on their schedule. They get Auburn at home.
They do have a tough four game stretch (@Miss State, @Tennessee, @Arkansas, Florida), but they get a bye week between Miss State and Tennessee.
If they can get out of that stretch only losing twice, they're still in great contention to win the East.
A more in depth preview of other teams will come soon. However, keep in mind that Florida has a new head coach with a struggling quarterback and a very difficult schedule especially for their inexperience. Georgia has had a tumultuous offseason, and their first two games of the year have a good chance at ruining their motivation for the season. Tennessee is still struggling with their depleted roster and Dooley is still very young. Not to mention, while Tennessee does get many games at home, are they ready to win against @Florida, Georgia, LSU, @Alabama, South Carolina, and @Arkansas? And are they prepared to only lose two or three of those SEC games?
LSU vs. South Carolina is my preseason prediction based on returning talent, coaching, and schedules.
What's yours?
43 Days.
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42 Days
LSU and South Carolina sit at the top of my preseason predictions.
How does the rest of the SEC turn out?
SEC East
1. South Carolina
2. Florida
3. Georgia
4. Tennessee
5. Kentucky
6 Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Auburn
4. Arkansas
5. Miss State
6. Ole Miss
What do I base all of this on? Well lots of thoughts that amount to nothing. Just a poor man's opinion.
42 Days.
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THS, I think you're pretty spot on in the East.
I would put the Hogs and bama 1a and 1b and LSU and Auburn 2a and 2b. The difference of new QB's being the difference and their performance. The deal breaker in my mind will be senior play followed by coaching. I have Auburn at least 3rd in the West. The IB will decide second, but the Hogs will play who is first.
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40 Days
What makes a successful season?
There are 120 FBS teams competing to win their conference championship; however, most fans understand that this is not possible every season.
It's extremely rare in the SEC for a team to win the conference two years in a row. Almost unheard of to do it three years in a row. It's a remarkable feat to win it two out of three years. It's downright respectable to reach the SEC championship game two years in a row.
So while the players are shooting for the stars, fans must have reasonable expectations.
Some schools struggle with that. Some schools expect championships every year, and if they don't reach their lofty goals, they pinpoint the problems and demand they be fixed.
Some schools are more levelheaded and understand that each season and each team has a personal goal that must be met.
Auburn is in a rebuilding year. After losing 17 starters from their undefeated 2010 championship team, it's going to be a struggle to get back to Atlanta. It would take a miracle to get to New Orleans.
So as fans, what are the expectations for this season? What would make it successful?
In 2009, Chizik arrived to rebuild a decrepit program coming off of a tumultuous season. Many consider his first season a success even though he lost 5 SEC games.
The success of that season relied on:
1. Staying competitive
2. Finding players who are driven and motivated to compete and win
3. Not fearing anyone
4. Playing with heart through the end of the game
5. Not allowing a setback to stop you
2009 was successful because Auburn:
1. Stayed competitive by keeping most losses close and winning games expected to lose
2. Found a core group of players who would return to win the BCS championship
3. Refused to lay down to powerhouses like Alabama and pushed them to wire
4. Played with heart even after a torrential downpour against an athletic West Virginia team and came back to win after a shaky start
5. Not allowing a 31-3 start against LSU to ruin the season (won two in a row after that debacle)
2011 has different goals, however.
What would make this season a success?
It relies on the following:
1. Competing in every game with confidence
- Auburn is the king of college football right now no matter what the media says or what the scoreboard ends up saying. Even if Auburn has lost four games going into the Iron Bowl, AU still has to play like defending champions.
2. Finding young talent to contribute and learn
- Auburn no longer has to find motivation. Auburn is in a position to hold intense, spirited competitions in practice to see which highly talented player can play in the game. Mental mistakes are not to be ridiculed as long as they are learned from.
3. No setbacks
- This is a more difficult expectation. In 2009, setbacks were allowed as long as they didn't ruin the season. This Auburn team has no reason to be blown out. They have no reason to give up. They have no reason to perform poorly. This should be a machine that is rebuilding. Not a broken machine that is trying to be fixed.
4. Beat two rivals
- LSU, Arkansas, Florida, and Alabama are all considered rivals in some form or fashion. It is imperative that Auburn use its talent and coaching to beat two of these teams. The team must send a message that no matter how much rebuilding we may need to do, we are still the force to be reckoned with during the season.
5. Respectable bowl game vs. respectable team AND the victory
- This is the SEC, and we pride ourselves as being the best. Auburn may take a few lumps in conference, but AU still has amassed more talent than just about anyone else. By the time the bowl game rolls around, the freshmen are experienced. The new starters are veterans. And it's time the coaching puts it together and heads into spring on a roll.
Because the expectations this year should set up for an explosive 2012 season.
40 Days
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40 Days
What makes a successful season?
There are 120 FBS teams competing to win their conference championship; however, most fans understand that this is not possible every season.
It's extremely rare in the SEC for a team to win the conference two years in a row. Almost unheard of to do it three years in a row. It's a remarkable feat to win it two out of three years. It's downright respectable to reach the SEC championship game two years in a row.
So while the players are shooting for the stars, fans must have reasonable expectations.
Some schools struggle with that. Some schools expect championships every year, and if they don't reach their lofty goals, they pinpoint the problems and demand they be fixed.
Some schools are more levelheaded and understand that each season and each team has a personal goal that must be met.
Auburn is in a rebuilding year. After losing 17 starters from their undefeated 2010 championship team, it's going to be a struggle to get back to Atlanta. It would take a miracle to get to New Orleans.
So as fans, what are the expectations for this season? What would make it successful?
In 2009, Chizik arrived to rebuild a decrepit program coming off of a tumultuous season. Many consider his first season a success even though he lost 5 SEC games.
The success of that season relied on:
1. Staying competitive
2. Finding players who are driven and motivated to compete and win
3. Not fearing anyone
4. Playing with heart through the end of the game
5. Not allowing a setback to stop you
2009 was successful because Auburn:
1. Stayed competitive by keeping most losses close and winning games expected to lose
2. Found a core group of players who would return to win the BCS championship
3. Refused to lay down to powerhouses like Alabama and pushed them to wire
4. Played with heart even after a torrential downpour against an athletic West Virginia team and came back to win after a shaky start
5. Not allowing a 31-3 start against LSU to ruin the season (won two in a row after that debacle)
2011 has different goals, however.
What would make this season a success?
It relies on the following:
1. Competing in every game with confidence
- Auburn is the king of college football right now no matter what the media says or what the scoreboard ends up saying. Even if Auburn has lost four games going into the Iron Bowl, AU still has to play like defending champions.
2. Finding young talent to contribute and learn
- Auburn no longer has to find motivation. Auburn is in a position to hold intense, spirited competitions in practice to see which highly talented player can play in the game. Mental mistakes are not to be ridiculed as long as they are learned from.
3. No setbacks
- This is a more difficult expectation. In 2009, setbacks were allowed as long as they didn't ruin the season. This Auburn team has no reason to be blown out. They have no reason to give up. They have no reason to perform poorly. This should be a machine that is rebuilding. Not a broken machine that is trying to be fixed.
4. Beat two rivals
- LSU, Arkansas, Florida, and Alabama are all considered rivals in some form or fashion. It is imperative that Auburn use its talent and coaching to beat two of these teams. The team must send a message that no matter how much rebuilding we may need to do, we are still the force to be reckoned with during the season.
5. Respectable bowl game vs. respectable team AND the victory
- This is the SEC, and we pride ourselves as being the best. Auburn may take a few lumps in conference, but AU still has amassed more talent than just about anyone else. By the time the bowl game rolls around, the freshmen are experienced. The new starters are veterans. And it's time the coaching puts it together and heads into spring on a roll.
Because the expectations this year should set up for an explosive 2012 season.
40 Days
Everybody says we're a 7-5 team AT BEST this year, most say 5-7 or worse. Bammers that is, and yes some prognosticators. It would be way out of the norm for Auburn to come off such a season as last, with the program healthy, a solid coaching staff in place for the 3rd year, coming off 2 solid recruiting years, and have a losing season. Auburn's losing seasons, typically have been the final year of a coach's tenure, or the first year of a coach's tenure. Auburn hasn't, in recent memory, had a losing season in the situation we're currently in.
Success can be defined many ways. How you win and lose is often as important has how many you win and lose.
One thing you can take to the bank is that all the bammer's currently predicting us to suck...when we don't suck and win 9 or 10 and are and express some joy over a decent season, they'll flip the script and say "see, you Aubs are content with mediocrity". Fuck 'em.
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39 Days
Yesterday marked the end of the NFL lockout, and many of us diehard football fans let out a collective sigh.
Although, louder sighs were heard from college campuses around the country as hundreds of potential NFL players saw the door to their lifelong dream reopen.
Auburn goes into this season with little experience, but make no mistake, there are a few potential NFL draft picks suiting up.
Here are the top five guys eligible for the draft this season:
5. Dee Ford (Jr. DE)
Call it a longshot (which it is), but Dee Ford has developed into a potential 3rd down nightmare for opposing teams. At 6'4 245 pounds, Ford will provide lightning quick pressure on quarterbacks. His play may be crucial for Auburn's success on defense, and if he lives up to his potential, his name may be in discussion come next April. Although, look for Ford to stick around for his senior year as he has little experience.
4. Onterrio McCalebb (Jr. RB)
McCalebb is the spark that makes the offense go. He was covered in depth in an earlier CtF entry. Make no mistake about his size - McCalebb is a tough runner. If he enters the draft next year, he will have one of the fastest 40 yard dashes in the combine. The NFL has been utilizing "hybrid" running backs the past few years - backs that can run the ball, run routes, catch well, and return punts/kickoffs. Much like Reggie Bush in New Orleans, McCalebb has the ability to be the player that defenses have to account for in multiple ways. If he has a good year, his versatility and speed could get him into the draft.
3. Emory Blake (Jr. WR)
Blake is the best possession receiver on Auburn's team. The son of a former NFL great, Blake should have a good understanding of what it takes to be successful in the NFL. He has excellent hands, great route running ability, the strength to break tackles, decent speed, and physicality to deal with man-to-man coverage in the NFL. However, Blake is rather young and will need a tremendous year to get momentum in the draft. With Malzahn's offense and Blake's potential, it's not out of the realm of possibility to see him playing on Sundays in 2012.
2. Brandon Moseley (Sr. LT)
At 6'6 310 pounds, Moseley is a mammoth of a player and returns the most experience of anyone on the team. He was shadowed by the four seniors last season and most especially Lee Ziemba, but this year, Moseley is in a position to shine. He has the opportunity to display leadership and be the anchor of a developing offensive line. With the quarterback position needing a few more seconds to throw now that Cam is gone, Moseley will have to play flawlessly. If he comes through, look for his name to be called out by Roger Goodell next April.
1. Philip Lutzenkirchen (Jr. TE)
Lutz is the only true NFL prospect on the team. The other four have potential, but they need to perform at a high level consistently to actually get on the radar. Lutz is already on the radar and fairly high up there. Tremendously athletic. Dexterous hands. Tall and strong. Lutz has all the tools the NFL wants in a pass catching tight end. His most coveted skill, however, may be his ball tracking skills. Lutz should have another great year, and most likely, it will be his last as an Auburn Tiger.
39 Days
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38 Days
Vanderbilt Preseason Preview
"The way I look at it is we have an opportunity to do something really special at Vanderbilt. "We have an opportunity to differentiate ourselves. I really believe there's very few schools that are going to be able to compete with us when it comes to recruiting because we have an opportunity to offer things that very few schools can." - James Franklin.
Franklin won the Spirit Award at SEC media days as no other coach entered Birmingham with as much enthusiasm as him. This is a coach that has taken over the nation's most difficult program and has made wild accusations that he may actually turn it into something special.
And he's absolutely on point when he says that Vanderbilt has the potential to do so.
Competing in the SEC is never easy. Even teams with a tradition of competing for championships go through stretches of time where they struggle to get 8 or 9 wins. Parity in the SEC is well known, but for Vanderbilt, one would think they are at a disadvantage because of their academic requirements.
But make no mistake. Vanderbilt could be in the perfect position to build their program.
They are in Nashville, TN - by far the most interesting, lively city to host an SEC school. They do provide the best academics out of any of the SEC schools. They do provide the chance to compete athletically against the best.
Sound familiar? Stanford nods in agreement.
There's reason to believe that if Vanderbilt can hire a great coach, they can make noise in the SEC.
I believe James Franklin has a chance to be that guy.
Three Questions about Vanderbilt
1. Who is Vanderbilt?
Vanderbilt returns every starter on offense, and from everything I've read, there's a chance not one of them starts again this season. That's how poorly they performed last season. While veteran players are good for leadership and experience, if they have no talent, what good can they contribute?
Vanderbilt has to find an identity especially at quarterback.
2. Who is James Franklin?
What kind of offense does he run? Is he more aggressive on defense, or does he like to play it safe? Will he be like Frank Beamer on special teams or more like Tommy Tuberville? Will his schtick actually work? Will his enthusiasm still be the same when he's down 42-0 against an SEC opponent?
Franklin is a likeable guy. He seems to genuinely believe in Vanderbilt. But there have been many coaches to believe in Vanderbilt, and only one of those in recent history has gotten them to a bowl game.
3. Will Vanderbilt regain the support from the fans?
In 2008, Vanderbilt put together a respectable season. They started 5-0, beat Auburn, held it close in many of their losses, and won a bowl game.
Fan support was at an all time high. In 2009 and 2010, Vanderbilt eked out 4 wins and lost that fan support they had developed the year before.
Franklin has to get that fan support back.
Most Important Game
10/15 Georgia.
Vanderbilt will face a tough stretch in week 4 and week 6 going to South Carolina and also going to Alabama. Luckily, they get a bye between those games.
Vanderbilt will most likely be blown out by both of those teams. However, it is crucial that Franklin keeps the team motivated, and in order to prove to them that early losses are not a big deal, he must have them ready to perform well against Georgia at home.
I'm not predicting a victory or even expecting one, but after those two difficult away games, if Vanderbilt can be competitive against Georgia, it could turn things around for the remainder of the season.
Realistic Expectations
Vanderbilt has a terrible team. Make no mistake about it. Excitement can be through the roof, but 2-3 wins may be all they can muster.
However, with Franklin's personality, I don't see why Vanderbilt can't expect a bit more. He seems like the kind of guy who will go after punt blocks. The kind that will try a hail mary just to see if they can get a spark. The kind of guy that will throw in a few trick plays to catch the opposing defense off guard.
He definitely doesn't seem like the kind of guy who will back down to any opponent.
Vanderbilt should set a goal to beat their nonconference opponents this season. That gets them to 4 wins with a respectable victory against Connecticut who played in a BCS bowl game last season.
Maybe they can squeeze out a victory against Ole Miss or Kentucky, but I wouldn't fault them if they couldn't.
This is Franklin's year to build. He's done well in recruiting. Let's see how he does on the field.
38 Days
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37 Days
Preseason Visions:
1. Opening night will be a let down.
Thursday night football has become a Week 1 tradition for the college football season. Usually, a decent matchup involving SEC teams kicks off the season with an interesting bang. Last season (if my memory serves me well), the Pac 10 had a late game on Thursday night making it one of the better opening nights in football history.
This season? Miss. State @ Memphis is your best option. Unless you're on the edge of your seat waiting on the UNLV@Wisconsin game which kicks off at the same time.
To compare, last year's opening night feature games with Ohio State, Miami, USC (at 11pm), and Utah/Pittsburgh which was a thriller.
2. You'll have free time from 2-6pm central on Saturday of Week 1
The morning games feature our local favorites including Auburn vs. Utah State to kick off the day. The afternoon games are duds unless you're hankering to see BYU and Ole Miss slug it out.
The evening games provide serious excitement. Two games to choose from - Boise/Georgia or LSU/Oregon?
One puts the reputation of the SEC on the line and also gives Boise the chance to truly assert itself as a college football power. The other has national championship implications and could really springboard a team through the season.
3. Names we've never heard of will be known.
A lot of talent left for the NFL last season.
The 2008 recruiting class was loaded with star power as juniors dominated the draft.
Patrick Peterson, AJ Greene, Julio Jones, Daquan Bowers, Marcel Dareus, Janoris Jenkins, Mark Ingram, and Michael Floyd.
Nick Fairley, Cam Newton, Ryan Mallett, Akeem Ayers, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, and Cam Heyward are also gone to the NFL.
Not to mention Terrell Pryor bolting from Ohio State amidst the turmoil.
Those players have been common names in college football the past few years, and many newcomers will have to step up to fill their shoes.
It will be interesting to see which unknowns have taken winter and summer workouts seriously and which unknowns create their own hype for future NFL drafts.
4. One player will win the Heisman Trophy in Week 7, and a second player will win the Heisman Trophy in December.
It was Denard Robinson's to lose by midseason. He was a lightning strike in a Michigan thunderstorm every week. No one could keep up. He was the only reason why Michigan was competitive, and he was a media-friendly, likable college kid with a cool nickname.
By season's end, it was no question Cam Newton was the Heisman Trophy winner. By season's end, Robinson wasn't even invited to New York.
37 Days
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By season's end, it was no question Cam Newton was the Heisman Trophy winner. By season's end, Robinson wasn't even invited to Atlanta.
Shit, that's bad considering the Heisman ceremony is in NY.
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It bin fixt.
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It bin fixt.
He he, but I memorialized your fuck up for all the world to behold! :poke:
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36 Days
Must Needed Preseason Speech Part 1 of 5
The newly awakened sun wipes it eye of the clouds that cover its view. Dew on the ground evaporates into the air. Sticky and thick. The young men struggle to take deep breaths. The weather is miserable heading into September.
"Take a knee," Coach says.
He's new. The players barely know who he is. They know what his workouts are like. They know his playbooks. They know what he sounds like when he yells. But they don't love him yet.
One player - a big lineman - leans on his helmet. He slightly sways on the grass excited that practices are over. All that's left is the team bus ride and the last of the meetings before kickoff. He can't believe how tired he is after a month of training camp. He can't believe how sweaty and grassy his orange and blue shoes are after what was supposed to be walkthroughs.
"Everyone get your eyes on me," he starts.
The players try to look at him, but the early sun is lonely. It desperately tries to show itself to the world.
"In just a few days, we begin the next step in our journey. You've worked hard these last few weeks, and we're proud of the effort. We're proud of the way you've worked. Proud of the intensity you've shown in practice," he says.
A distant bird stretches its call across the field. It too is surprised by the humidity.
"Florida Atlantic is the biggest game of our season. This is the team that will make or break your season," he says.
A few veteran players conceal their eye rolls. They're excited about stats.
"Now I want to know who understands this. I want to know who's excited about this season," he says.
A few reluctant young guys begin to shout. The shouts are quiet. They don't want to step out of line.
"I want to know," he says as he steps into the half moon formation of players, "who out here is going to take this season by the horns and gator chomp the hell out of it as we start on our road to Atlanta with Florida Atlantic."
More players begin to shout. They've seen their coach excited. They've laughed with him in the weight room. In the halls of the athletic department. But out here has been all business. Post practice speeches have been on possible improvements. Praise has been silent.
Now he is beginning to yell.
"You have been my dream. You guys are what I've worked so hard for for so many years. Years working at other places to get here. Right here in this spot. Standing here among men like you. Standing here wishing to God it was Saturday. Wishing to God it was 7pm in Ben Hill Griffin stadium. Wishing to God we were running out of that tunnel listening to the band play and the crowd scream," he says.
The entire team is nodding their heads. One loud familiar voice in the back - a linebacker - cuts through the noise.
"Yeah Coach! Get on it Coach!" he says.
The team laughs. Coach laughs.
He calms down.
"Guys, we've been out here in this heat and humidity for weeks. You've gotten to know each other better than you ever thought possible. I've gotten to know you more than ever thought possible. We've all beaten on each other, and quite frankly, I'm ready to beat on somebody else," he says.
Chirps of praise ring out from the team.
"We start with Florida Atlantic. We start with a team from right here in our state. You lost some respect in this state after last season, but I promise you that we've all worked hard to restore it. You worked hard in the weight room. On the field. In meetings. In conditioning. And soon, you'll work hard underneath the lights of Ben Hill," he says.
It is hot. The players begin to notice how much the sun is beating on their heads.
"Don't let nerves get to you. We're a new team, but to you veterans, we need leadership. Games are exciting and they go quickly. Make sure you stay focused and keep your composure no matter what happens. Break it down one last time on this practice field because this weekend, it's no longer just practice out here," he says.
The team huddles up. Coach walks away with barely any expression on his face. His eyebrows slightly raised as he stares at the grass in front of him.
He flashes a small concealed smile as he listens to the team captain giving one last pep talk before breaking it down.
Did he say the right things? Did he say too much? Will his pregame speech on Saturday be effective?
He realizes how overrated these pregame speeches are now that he's started giving them. He knows his team has to execute the plays and hit hard. Speeches don't make that happen.
And upon that realization does Coach truly get revved up for the start of the season.
36 Days
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35 Days
"Dude! Come check this out! Someone just posted 27 pictures of what looks like could maybe possibly be a serious or not serious NCAA violation by our rival!"
"Hang on, man! You first have to come look at this news story about a rumor of a secret source speaking through a 5th party to a local call-in radio show about a player being purchased for an exorbitant amount of money!"
The reactions to these statements are always the same. Excitement leads to expectations, and when those expectations aren't met immediately, vitriolic hate becomes the fuel for conversation.
By no means am I about to speak about why the NCAA should get rid of its rule book and let universities fight to the death to obtain the signatures of high school athletes. I'm also not going to explain why we should ignore the current allegations against numerous schools in the NCAA. I'm not even going to really blame the unofficial investigators who stumble upon this information.
This CtF edition is about us. It's about the fans. The people pulling for the schools. The fanatics rooting for their rival to lose.
Before opening up this thread to update the countdown, I listened to CBS's college football theme song. I got chill bumps. I saw memories of past games that involved CBS. When Auburn played Alabama in 2006. When Alabama and LSU played last season. When Auburn won the SEC championship last year. When LSU won against Florida the night of my birthday in 2007.
College football is the best cultural tradition we have in the South; honestly, I think it's the best we have in the entire country.
It's bigger and better than Christmas in my opinion.
So why do we as fans want to destroy it?
There's plenty of reasons to believe one side started it. It was the opposing fans' fault. They sent the first missile. They ordered the first attack.
Each side will have their own opinion.
But one thing that is set in stone - no matter what the allegations are or how they're brought up, one side believes they're 100% true and the NCAA should obliterate that program.
This is tearing college football apart.
I have never seen in all of my experience with football this level of desire to see the NCAA punish a school for trivial infractions or punish a school based on rumors and innuendo.
We've reached a point where one month before the start of the season, we aren't talking about football.
We aren't interviewing coaches and players about the season.
We aren't interviewing sports analysts to hear their opinions and predictions.
We're interviewing lawyers about the bylaws of the NCAA rulebook.
We're interviewing investigative journalists who sometimes seem like they don't even like football.
We're spewing vitriolic hate across the radio, blogs, and message boards just to ruining a school's reputation and hopefully lead to ruining a school's athletic department.
Why?
Recruiting has become the hottest topic for successful teams. Rivals and Scout have developed into mega-companies over the last few years, and luckily for them, most of their recruiting projections have been correct.
Every national champion has done very well on those websites at least one recruiting season before their championship.
And because of those sites, fans now understand how important recruiting truly is. And they also realize they have the power to influence it.
Maybe if enough people talk about outlandish rumors on a public radio show, recruits will second guess going to a school.
Maybe if enough websites mention baseless (see: super secret sources) allegations, recruits will decide to go someplace safer.
Most of this has been unsuccessful. Which has vamped up even more nasty rumors. Because it's not that recruits don't care. It's that the fans have yet to conjure up a harsh enough rumor to get their attention. At least, that's what the callers and posters think.
How exactly is this tearing football apart?
Well, for one, we enjoy football for the off the field discussion. It's already been mentioned that we aren't discussing football off the field. We're sitting in a courtroom hearing the prosecution.
Two, as the hate increases, the fun decreases.
It's not easy to figure out that if you go to an Auburn (or your favorite team) football game just because you want to see the other team lose, you aren't having fun. At least, not in a positive way.
The spirit of competition has a positive connotation. It's something that should be cherished and taught. It's something that should be engraved into our personalities at a young age. And it should involve supporting your team. Rooting for them to win. Shaking hands after the game is over no matter the outcome.
Focusing on rumors, allegations, and innuendo doesn't support the spirit of competition.
Now, by no means am I saying schools are innocent. Suitgate is fishy. If a "bagman" really exists, it's damning to Auburn.
Schools should not cheat to win. Athletic departments should run a clean, organized program that ensures academic success along with on the field success.
Those issues will hopefully be worked out sooner than later.
But let's be honest. If schools cheat to win, they get punished. It doesn't "ruin" college football.
But if the fans are going to insist on seeing nuclear bombs dropped, it's going to destroy everything.
35 Days
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I can't wait for the fruitless garbage talk to tail off and we start hearing about the daily progress of players like Reed and Coates.
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34 Days
Ole Miss Preseason Preview
"It didn't affect us. We had the best recruiting in the state of Mississippi. You know, the thing that I want to do, I want our staff and I -- I want to go to Atlanta. it's one of the greatest games, greatest venues, greatest environments there is to win a championship. Ole Miss has never been to Atlanta. That's all I really focus on. I don't really worry about it. Sometimes when coaches make a statement like that, I don't really worry about it. I don't concern myself with that because it all comes down to your body of work.
This is my 14th year here. So I know this. Alabama, LSU, those guys, Florida have been holding up this crystal ball in this conference for the last five years the SEC has won. I've been to Atlanta twice to experience that wonderful, wonderful atmosphere. So I feel like I know the roadmap to get there." - Houston Nutt in response to a question about Mississippi State's billboards in the state of Mississippi.
Houston Nutt's seat is warm. He was hired in 2008 to transition Ole Miss from doormat to middle tier SEC competitor. He was hired to give Ole Miss a chance at 7 to 9 wins a year, and his ultimate goal is to get Ole Miss to Atlanta at least once.
When Nutt was hired at Ole Miss, I along with many others thought it was the perfect fit. He's an excellent game day coach and has throughout his career found top notch talent to compete for his teams. Matt Jones, Darren McFadden, and Felix Jones are three SEC greats that all played for Houston Nutt at Arkansas.
The coach prior to Nutt achieved a 4-8 record in 2006, which would be his best season of his head coaching career.
Nutt in his first year at Ole Miss went 9-4 with wins @Florida(eventual BCS champs), @LSU(defending BCS champs), and Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.
He repeated his success in his second year by winning 9 games with wins against LSU, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.
What's not to like about Houston Nutt in Ole Miss? What expectations do Ole Miss fans and sports analysts really have for the once doormat in Oxford?
Even Tommy Tuberville couldn't get to 9 wins in his respectable tenure there. David Cutcliffe reached 10 wins once in his six year tenure there.
But Houston Nutt did it twice right off the bat. And last year, he only hit 4 wins.
No one denies that last season was terrible for Houston Nutt and Ole Miss. However, this is not uncommon for Nutt. At Arkansas where he experienced plenty of success, he would have a 6 or 7 win season smushed between his respectable 9 win seasons. I don't think anyone with a reasonable brain didn't expect to see Ole Miss struggle some years with Nutt at the helm.
Nevertheless, Ole Miss and Houston Nutt are being laughed at. Nutt is considered a joke. Washed out. Doormat status.
And for one reason only:
He can't beat Dan Mullen.
Miss State owns a two game win streak (both wins were executed impressively). Mullen has the Bulldogs going into next season with a tremendous amount of hype. Nutt's team looks shaky and undeveloped.
But don't be fooled. Don't be fooled again. Nutt has a history of coming through just when you think he's finished. Just when you think Miss State needs to get the easy win over Ole Miss in Starkville, Houston Nutt puts an energized team on the field to shock the SEC world.
He's done it plenty of times in the past.
Three Questions about Ole Miss
1. Who's going to play quarterback?
Nutt doesn't always have the luxury of a steady, consistent quarterback. He made it to the SEC championship game in 2006 with two young QBs. All he needs are athletes on offense and big play defense.
But if Nutt truly wants to get Ole Miss to Atlanta, he has to find a great quarterback. McFadden isn't in the backfield, and Ole Miss will be hard pressed to ever get a McFadden on campus. So who is going to step up?
2. How good can Branden Bolden be?
He's been a workhorse since his freshman year. It's hard to believe he's still there, honestly.
Last season, Bolden averaged 6 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns. He's the running back Ole Miss will rely on, and he has to come through. He's crucial for the young, new quarterback to have time to get the ball to a hopefully improved 6'7 Melvin Harris.
3. Will Kentrell Lockett return to form?
NFL-hyped Lockett is back from injury. He was supposed to anchor the defense last year, but tore his ACL. From what I've read, he seems ready to go for this season.
His presence on the outside will help divert attention away from the inexperience at defensive tackle.
Most Important Game
11/26 @Miss State
It's not hard to figure this one out. No one is expecting Ole Miss to challenge the SEC West. Losses to Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, and Alabama will be forgiven.
But it's time to reassert Ole Miss as the top team in the state.
Nutt has a better winning percentage than Mullen. He had a better two year start than Mullen. He's done much better in recruiting than Mullen.
But he can't beat Mullen on the field where it counts.
Realistic Expectations
The expectations are the same for Ole Miss as when Houston Nutt was hired.
Houston Nutt has to coach like Houston Nutt.
Ole Miss may struggle to make a bowl game. They may barely hit 6 or 7 wins.
But with the crazy ole preacher at the helm, it's not unreasonable to expect a big upset. It's not unreasonable to suddenly see Ole Miss upset Alabama. It's not unreasonable to suddenly see Ole Miss go into Auburn and perform perfectly.
Nutt has to be himself - a nut. And Ole Miss has to be the most feared underdog in the SEC.
And Ole Miss has to beat Miss State.
34 Days
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33 Days
The 10 Most Interesting Questions of the 2011 Season
10. Does the media argue that the SEC does not deserve a spot in the BCS championship game if that SEC team has one loss?
Thanks to NCAA investigations, sanctions, and doom hammers, numerous teams will struggle to put together a competitive team this year. The Pac 10 was once ruled by USC. The Big 10 was once ruled by Ohio State. Those two teams are most likely done. Oregon is facing serious NCAA investigations which may surface during the season. If they do, expect Oregon to falter.
That leaves the door open for a very good Stanford team to win the Pac 12. Not to mention, Wisconsin returns numerous starters from a team that almost went undefeated last year, so their path to the Big 10(+2) championship is relatively easy.
If Stanford, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and/or someone else to be named later go undefeated, will the media argue against the SEC despite the tremendously high level of competition in the conference?
9. Who emerges from the ACC?
I'm not one that believes the ACC sucks just because it's the ACC. Virginia Tech, Florida State, and Miami have all in the last 15 years proven to be national powerhouse programs.
It's not a stretch to see one of them return to the national spotlight.
My bet is on Florida State.
8. How many coaching vacancies will their be after this season?
Coaching changes are always a hot topic in December and January.
But this season is a whole new level of heat.
Already (if February begins the new year of college football), we have seen Jim Tressell, Butch Davis, and Bill Stewart let go from their head coaching positions.
All three were involved in serious controversies involving the NCAA, and all three were familiar, important faces in college football.
Also on the chopping block - Chip Kelly at Oregon.
Throw in the typical hot seats for not performing (Mark Richt, Paul Wulff, Greg Schiano, Rick Neuheisal) and you have a very large field of open positions at FBS programs.
Not to mention, who knows who will take off to the NFL or who else the NCAA finds to be unfit for their rulebook.
7. How good will Florida be?
Make no mistake about it. Florida's struggles last season were not indicative of their talent.
They have dominated recruiting for years, and they still have numerous NFL prospects all over the field.
Will Muschamp may be in over his head, but what if he's not?
Since 1990, Florida has had four seasons of poor performances. Three of those was due to an inept coach.
The point is that Florida knows how to win. They rarely make bad hires, and Muschamp doesn't face the issue of coming from Spurrier's or Meyer's staff. The expectations on him are not like Ron Zook who was expected to continue on Spurrier's program.
6. What's up with Texas?
Texas markets itself as the biggest name in college football.
Ask any Texas fan about recruiting. They have need to cheat because Texas players who are vastly more talented (their opinion) than any other state's are lining up to be a Longhorn. They cherry pick recruits.
They have the nicest facilities. They've recently expanded their stadium to accomodate over one hundred thousand people, and they reside in one of the nicest cities in the country.
They didn't make a bowl game last year.
Texas fans place higher expectations on their program than anyone else, and Mack Brown has always been a controversial topic. He has had consistent success with few down years, but fans have for a long time said he's unfit for the job. Many have credited his BCS championship to Vince Young who miraculously pulled out the victory in numerous games that season.
So what's up with Texas? Especially if they struggle again while making a push to go independent with their own television network.
5. How much more fun will the first Saturday in December be?
A few years ago, there was the SEC championship and the Big 12 championship.
Recently, the ACC added a championship game after their expansion.
And now, we have the Pac 12 championship and the Big 10 (+1) championship.
Although we lost the Big 12 championship game, it will be interesting to see new faces and new locations on December 3rd.
4. How important was Nebraska to the Big 12, and what do they do for the Big 10(+2)?
Nebraska made the Big 12 championship game 6 times (second most in the conference's history) and was an annual rivalry game for most teams.
They dominated the mid 90s and seem to be getting back on track to be a national team to deal with.
How much will their departure hurt the Big 12? And how much will they help the Big 10?
3. Does Lee Corso come back to College Gameday?
Admit it. You love College Gameday on Saturday mornings. You even love hearing "Coming to Your City" played over and over again throughout the broadcast.
You love Kirk's elitism, Fowler's smugness, and Corso's antics.
You even have grown to love Desmond Howard's analyses.
This show has been a constant for a very long time. It signals the start of college football, and while its talking points may be juvenile or ignorant, nothing else creates the atmosphere of a college campus like College Gameday.
And one of College Gameday's most important elements is Lee Corso.
Picking the mascot at the end. "Not so fast my friend!" "Yo!" The pencil in the ear.
Love him or hate him, Corso is familiar, sentimental face for Saturday mornings.
Last year, at the college football awards, Corso was presented with an oddly timed lifetime achievement award. Most football fans were choked up to see Corso's speech. After a recent stroke, Corso has struggled with articulation and has been rather absent minded.
Many have speculated that he may not be returning.
What a sad day that will be if he really isn't on campus come September 3rd.
2. Will bloggers, message boards, and the NCAA ruin the season?
I covered this more in depth a few days ago, but I feel like it's an important question going in.
I shouldn't blame the NCAA or bloggers or message boards.
But once the season starts, I really don't care about NCAA infractions. I don't care who's been cheating. I don't care about lawyers, Paul Finebaum's opinion, or Danny Sheridan's predictions.
I just want football. I want to see preseason predictions come true or fail. I want to watch all of the hyped up players meet expectations or fail. I want to discuss the world of football with my friends while drinking a beer on a Wednesday night - pretty much the only night you can't find some kind of football on.
What else will happen with rumors, innuendos, and the NCAA? We all saw what happened in the nation with the Cam Newton allegations. Nothing concrete ever came from that. Yet everyone but Auburn fans have a sour taste in their mouth because of it.
Let's hope that doesn't happen again to any team in football.
1. Who will put together the best team in football?
It's the number 1 question every year. Who has the talent, the coaching, the will, the determination, and the preparation to be the champion?
We have our preseason predictions. They rarely come true.
So who will it be?
It's the most interesting question of the 2011 season.
33 Days
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32 Days
Throw the record books out the window.
Turn off the seat warmer in Richt's office.
Forget the rivalry and forget anything you've said about non-AQ's competing in the BCS or the BCS championship.
Quiet your support of the blue turf.
Stifle your praise of Chris Petersen.
This is a battle for the front line. A campaign to protect what we all hold so dear despite how much we dislike our SEC brethren.
The reputation and prominence of the entire conference is on the line.
It's not hard to predict what will happen if Boise State defeats Georgia on September 3rd in the Georgia Dome.
In Atlanta, Georgia. In the venue of the SEC championship game. At night. On a Saturday. In front of a Georgia crowd.
It's the environment the SEC brags about. We're the first to establish a conference championship which changed college football. We brag about our hostile environments. We tout our tailgating. We live for Saturdays in the fall. We don't need Thursdays to help us get national attention, and we certainly don't need Thursdays to help us win games.
And don't even get us started on how we perform in night games.
So if Boise State leaves Sunday morning on a plane to Idaho with a victory in hand, the level of obnoxiousness will be impossible to handle for the rest of the season.
Tim Brando - if you listen to Finebaum - is a staunch supporter of non-AQ's and their field general Boise State.
He's made it a point to say that college football needs a playoff mainly because worthy schools like Boise State have been kept out of the big money games.
If Boise State wins, that's one sports analyst to jump on the Boise State train and off of the SEC train.
Kirk Herbreit - if you watch gameday - is another supporter of Boise State.
He's made the point numerous times throughout the last few seasons that Boise has the athletes to compete with anybody, and he's made the point that their linemen are just as dominant as linemen in the SEC.
If Boise State wins, that's one (actually three or four on Gameday) that will begin debating the relevance of Boise State in the face of the entire SEC.
The numerous national writers who despise the SEC - if you read the internet and message boards - is another medium we don't need against us.
There are predators out there. Predators who want to see the SEC go down. Predators who think the SEC is overrated. That we're hand-gifted championships because we have money in our TV contracts. Predators who think the SEC has shoved itself into the spotlight. Predators who think the SEC is full of cheaters.
"Wouldn't it be great if cheaters didn't win?"
This game has the potential to put has back in the 2004 era. Where the SEC begins to slip from its King of the Mountain status.
I already feel your incredulous grin as you begin to move your cursor towards the red x of the browser.
But before you go, remember this - The media is on the job 24 hours a day.
They have to have something to talk about.
This is not the kind of fuel for conversation that needs to be out there.
Not to mention, Georgia has a manageable schedule. God forbid they lose to Boise State and maneuver their way into the SEC championship game.
On September 3rd, remember, you aren't rooting for Georgia. You're rooting for Auburn in 2012 and 2013 when we begin the season ranked out of the top ten. You're rooting for Auburn in 2012 when we go undefeated. You're rooting for the SEC to continue its string of dominance.
32 Days
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31 Days
Kentucky Preseason Preview
"When we've had good defensive linemen ... that's when we've won eight games and had a chance to win eight, nine, 10 games," Phillips said.
The coach said he has high hopes about UK's defensive front this season.
"This defensive line we have this year is older and a year more mature," he said. "You'll see some major results this year."
Big quotes from Joker Phillips.
This team will need all it can get from their linemen as they lost their starting quarterback, starting running back, and top two receivers from last year's squad.
And that was a squad that went 6-7.
Joker Phillips is a Kentucky man. He was born in Franklin, Kentucky. He played football at the University of Kentucky. He began his coaching career coaching at Kentucky from 1988-1996. He returned to Kentucky to coach from 2003-2008. And in 2009, he was the head coach in waiting at the University of Kentucky.
But now, it's all his.
In his second year as head coach, he is going to have to prove that he is a suitable fit for the Kentucky program.
Kentucky doesn't have high expectations for their football program, but they definitely appreciated what Rich Brooks was able to build.
Many of Brooks's skill players are gone, and Phillips has to replace them very quickly.
Luckily for Joker, the schedule is very manageable. They missed out on Arkansas, Alabama, and Auburn this season. They get Florida, Miss State, and Tennessee at home. The first two weeks of October is their toughest stretch going to LSU and to South Carolina.
A young, inexperienced Kentucky team may see this schedule as a daunting challenge. But at least it's not Auburn's schedule.
Three Questions About Kentucky
1. How good can the offensive line be?
They return four starters on the line. However, they lost their starting quarterback, running back, and all world play maker Randall Cobb.
Morgan Newton has at least been in the program a few years, but he is unsteady and inconsistent. If he's going to grow up, he'll need the offensive line to give him plenty of time to do so.
Also, Kentucky lost their top three rushers from last season. It's imperative that the offensive line with all their experience and size give the young guys holes to sprint through.
2. Can Morgan Newton be the do it all guy Kentucky needs him to be?
Morgan Newton is big. He's tall. He's athletic. He has a cannon for an arm.
But he was too young to be thrown into the fire.
Kentucky needs big plays and sparks of motivation in order to keep up with the highly talented SEC.
Newton has the skill set to be the big play guy. Maybe not to the level of Cobb, but with the track stars at receiver and the gifted big guy in La'Rod King, Newton has a chance to shine especially when nobody is expecting him to.
3. Is the defensive line ready to win 8-10 games?
Exactly what does Joker Phillips see that no one else sees?
The defensive line last season was last in tackles for a loss. They were 11th in sacks. And they gave up 177 rushing yards per game.
They have a great middle linebacker in Danny Trevathan, but besides him, their defense lacks star power.
Perhaps this line has greatly improved. If so, that's the biggest question to answer for Kentucky's season.
Most Important Game
10/29 Mississippi State
Mississippi State is entering the season as the cinderella favorite. A perennial doormat, Dan Mullen has give new life and tremendous hype to this year's Bulldog team.
Talent wise, State and Kentucky are almost equal with Miss State having a slight edge.
At this point in the season, Kentucky will be fighting for a bowl game. There's no telling how bad it could get against Florida, LSU, and South Carolina. But those should still be the only losses before facing a Miss State team at home. A victory here will serve as a springboard to a bowl game.
Realistic Expectations
This is the most difficult team to predict. Even more so than a Houston Nutt team with its back against the wall.
Kentucky lost a lot of talent on offense, but all indications show they have the potential to replace it.
They return a lot of veterans who struggled on defense, but Joker Phillips is making bold statements about their improvement.
La'Rod King is a 6'4 receiver with big play ability. He should be a safe throw for the emerging Newton, but who will play running back? No running game equals no passing game which neutralizes King.
The schedule is very manageable if this team can keep their heads up.
The realistic expectation for this team is 7-8 wins.
Sure fire losses are Florida, @LSU, @SC, and @Georgia.
The make or break game is Miss St.
Their seven other games of the season should be victories if Joker Phillips is truly keeping Kentucky at the same level Rich Brooks had them.
Perhaps this year, Phillips will push Kentucky into new grounds if they can win their bowl game.
31 Days
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30 Days
Must Needed Preseason Speech Part 2 of 5
"Bring it in," Coach Mullen says.
His voice albeit calm is heard 100 yards away.
Players jog one last time across the practice field and take a knee in front of their head coach. Assistant coaches have begun meandering towards to the locker room to prepare for the late night coaches' meetings.
Some of the players slowly put their knee on the ground. Some have their mouths open. Coach Mullen notices this and perceives it as cockiness.
And he's proud of it.
"Guys, on Thursday night you kick off the college football season," he starts.
Chris Relf, one of Mississippi State's quarterbacks, straightens his back. He towers over the other players who are leaning forcefully on their helmets.
"You're the number one game on national television, and college football fans all over the world will be watching you compete against Memphis," he continues.
Visions of stardom play in the minds of 100 players most of whom will not play a snap on Thursday.
"I hope you understand what this season means to Mississippi State. I hope you understand what Thursday night means to Mississippi state. Most of all, I hope you understand what this means to you," he says.
There is no incredulity among the student-athletes. They have been reticent concerning the high expectations placed on them this year. While it is true that teams approach a season one day at a time, this year is full of pressure. The entire season will be judged after audacious actions and statements by their head coach.
"I hope you know that on Thursday night, everyone will see what we're about. And I hope you know how badly Memphis wants to ruin that for you," he says.
100 players lock their eyes on their coach.
"On national television - on ESPN - Memphis will be looking to ruin one of the SEC's best teams. And I mean that. We've prepared to be one of the best teams in the SEC, and I believe you are capable of that. But the most dangerous team killer is fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. You can't allow those things to get in the way of what you want to accomplish," he says.
A few veterans have quick reveries of when Dan Mullen first got there. Practices were sloppy. Effort was erratic. Losses and frustrations were common.
"Now I know how much you've prepared and how talented you are. So over the next few days, remember what you've learned. Review your playbooks and any notes you have from our meetings. Focus in on the task at hand, and let's enjoy being the spotlight of the season," Coach finishes.
The team breaks it down one last time, and they jog off of the field.
Coach Mullen understands the character of his team. It's not humble. He doesn't want them to be humble.
30 Days
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Only at Miss State is a coach so dramatic about an upcoming matchup with Memphis.
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Only at Miss State is a coach so dramatic about an upcoming matchup with Memphis.
Memphis, who won what...2 games last year?
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Memphis, who won what...2 games last year?
Mullins must realize that the laws of physics do not apply in parts of Memphis. Anything can happen. Touchdowns thrown. Boosters fall up steps. etc.
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/sniff
Anyone smell that t'aint the ass
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/sniff
Anyone smell that t'aint the ass
I thought it was that breakfast burrito from Hardees
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/sniff
Anyone smell that t'aint the ass
Oh it's coming... The smell resonates better when it's under 100 degrees.
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Oh it's coming... The smell resonates better when it's under 100 degrees.
The calling of the taint has begun.
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(http://www.tigersx.com/images/chiz2011.png)
(http://www.tigersx.com/images/trot2011.png)
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(http://www.tigersx.com/images/chiz2011.png)
(http://www.tigersx.com/images/trot2011.png)
That coach sure got some purdee legs. I wish I....wait.....nevermind.
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AWK, can we get a countdown thread?
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(http://www.tigersx.com/images/trot2011.png)
Damn, Trotter looks old as shit.
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AWK, can we get a countdown thread?
You are looking at it, Princess.
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You are looking at it, Princess.
:clap:
Best time of the year! I get anxious every morning thinking that I will see the official calling thread.
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Damn, Trotter looks old as shit.
The Burt Reynolds pornstache is awful.
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What if seeing those pictures, plus the one with the Freight Train, already had an effect on my taint?
I need a ruling.
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What if seeing those pictures, plus the one with the Freight Train, already had an effect on my taint?
I need a ruling.
Taint tingling does not equal a calling.
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What if seeing those pictures, plus the one with the Freight Train, already had an effect on my taint?
I need a ruling.
We're gonna need pichers for teh ruling.
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Taint tingling does not equal a calling.
Thanks, counselor.
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We're gonna need pichers for teh ruling.
Imma need a few more Buzzaritas before that happens, darlin.
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29 Days
I didn't realize that kickoff is less than a month away. It doesn't feel so far away.
I also didn't realize that....
1. Florida's stretch of tough games is worse than Auburn's October.
We've heard ad nauseum that Auburn faces the toughest schedule in the country. We've heard that October for Auburn is the toughest stretch of games in history with 3 out of 5 games being on the road against tough opponents. Does the fact that a month is easily measured (although an arbitrary measurement) affect the predictions for Auburn's demise?
Analyze this:
Sept. 24 @Kentucky
Oct. 1 Alabama
Oct. 8 @LSU
Oct. 15 @Auburn
Oct. 29 @Georgia
Nov. 5 Vanderbilt
Nov. 12 @South Carolina
Their bye week falls before the Georgia game, but make no mistake about it. No matter what section of the schedule you look at, it's daunting for the Gators.
Not to mention, Auburn doesn't have a three game stretch of away games.
The winner of that contest is Florida.
2. Florida only has 73 scholarship players.
Florida will be covered more in depth in their preview, but I didn't realize that combined with their tough schedule is the fact that they only have 73 kids on scholarship.
This is what happens when you don't oversign, which Florida did not do in Urban Meyer's tenure.
3. Arkansas versus Texas A&M.
Arkansas is a dark horse for the national championship race. They're also a grey horse for the SEC championship race.
Right smack in the middle of their schedule is a tough (seemingly meaningless) game against Texas A&M who has been dubbed by the USA Today Poll as a top ten team.
Not to mention, the game is again being played at Arlington. While Arkansas fans will show up to this game, the game is still played in Texas. Surely that has some kind of psychological advantage for A&M.
This game won't make Arkansas's season, but it could definitely break it. Don't forget that this game is one week after @Alabama and one week before Auburn.
4. Miss St plays LSU five days after playing Auburn.
On September 10th, LSU plays Northwestern State. On September 10th, Miss State plays @Auburn.
Five days later LSU and Miss State will play on ESPN in what will be dubbed a huge SEC matchup.
Exciting for pregame hype. Horrible for the actual game.
Make no mistake about it - teams do not prepare for a game for the full week.
In a seven day schedule, teams will prepare the first 3-5 days, take the 6th day off for easy walkthroughs and meetings and then play the game on the 7th.
This will give Miss State 2-3 days to prepare for what could be their toughest opponent just five days after playing one of their other most difficult opponents.
5. Tennessee only plays four road games.
Tennessee has stretches of home games. While some schools like Auburn and Florida are killed from the start with treacherous strings of road games, Tennessee will not play two road games in a row.
In fact, most of their road games are spread out.
They start easy against Montana and Cincinnati before travelling to Florida. Then they get three home games before Alabama. By the time November hits, Tennessee will have played only two road games.
29 Days
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28 Days
Ten Most Important SEC Games
10. Miss St @ Auburn 9/10
Miss State wants to say hello to the world. Auburn wants the world to take its new team seriously. This is also the opening conference game for the SEC West.
9. LSU @ Miss St 9/15
Thursday night on national TV. LSU plays three meaningless out of conference games including a trip to Dallas to face a top 10 Oregon team and a trip to Morgantown to play West Virginia. Smudged in between these games is an important SEC battle against Miss State. If Miss St beats Auburn, it could make a serious explosion in the SEC if they beat LSU just five days later. LSU can't get caught focusing on their tough nonconference slate and lose to a hungry Bulldog team.
8. Auburn @ Arkansas 10/8
With LSU and Alabama being the top two favorites to win the SEC West, this game in October is critical for Auburn and Arkansas. The loser of this game may find itself outside of the SEC title race.
7. Tennessee @ Florida 9/17
Tennessee has a cupcake of a schedule with only four road games. Florida is breaking in a new coach and hoping to find an identity after last season's debacle.
If Tennessee can get by Florida, they will be the favorite to win the SEC East.
6. South Carolina @ Arkansas 11/5
A game that has snuck past many people, this will be a big factor in determining the SEC championship. South Carolina can't afford to lose very many SEC games especially since the SEC East is full of parity this season. Arkansas is fighting to get to Atlanta and with Alabama and LSU predicted to be so good, they can't afford a late season loss.
5. Alabama @ Auburn 11/26
This game has had BCS implications the past few years. In 2009, Alabama rolled into Auburn to win a close game and remain undefeated. Last year, Auburn came back to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa by one point. This may again be a thrilling game that determines a championship appearance. If the SEC is as tough as it appears to be this year, Alabama may need this victory to get to Atlanta. Playing at Auburn against a young, talented team won't be an easy win.
4. Arkansas @ LSU 11/26
While the Iron Bowl may determine a participant in the SEC championship, the battle for the boot may also determine one. There is no telling how the season is going to shake up by the end of November, but the four best teams in the SEC West will be competing at the same time. Two rivalry games that may determine the SEC West champ.
3. South Carolina @ Georgia 9/10
Early in the season, a pivotal SEC East game will take place. South Carolina is my favorite to win the East, but if they can't get past Athens early on, they may find themselves struggling in the competitive SEC East.
Georgia is also a predicted favorite by some to win the East because of their quarterback and their defensive veterans. Whoever wins this game will have the early inside track to run the East as both play favorable schedules.
2. Arkansas @ Alabama 9/24
The SEC opener for both of these teams. Arkansas will have played three cupcake games to prepare for their biggest test of the season. Alabama must win this game to stay on top of the SEC, and if they lose, they could find themselves rooting against LSU to lose throughout the year. Arkansas must win this game to have any chance at getting to Atlanta. They came close last season. This will also determine if their defense has really improved.
1. LSU @ Alabama 11/5
The two highest ranked teams in the SEC. The two picked to win the SEC West and championship.
It's a lot of fun to see these two teams battle it out late in the season, and this one should be one of the more exciting games.
It could be a winner-take-all, and that's why it's #1 on the list of most important SEC games.
28 Days
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Good one T. I can't argue with any of that. I think the Vols could be a definite contender. Even though Dooley seems a bit quirky, I do think he's a pretty good coach. The first few games will be crucial for there confidence.
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27 Days
Tennessee Preseason Preview
"I don't have a theory other than to say I've been watching SEC football all of my life, as you guys know, and everything goes in cycles, it always does. Programs have their great runs. Programs have their bumps along the way. I don't think that's ever going to change. I mean, that's the competitive nature of our sport.
"So certainly the east looked a little different last year than it has in the past. But we'll see how it turns out this year," - Derek Dooley at SEC Media Days.
Derek Dooley has quickly become a coach known for his quirky explanations and odd analogies; however, most are reluctant to label him as a buffoon or a new, younger version of Les Miles.
Dooley proved himself in the realm of intelligence by obtaining his law degree, passing the bar, and working as a successful lawyer before making a drastic career change.
So while Dooley may still be in over his head and may produce laughable quotes from time to time, he has the intellect to make astute observations about college football.
And he is dead on with his quote at SEC Media Days.
Football is cyclical.
Hungry, passionate coaches who recruit well and coach well come in to light an early fire in a program and win games. They make the future look bright and instill excitement in the fanbase. Until a few years go by and the recruits get tired of his schtick, the assistant coaches leave, fatigue and complacency set in, and the fanbase grows weary of the performance on the field.
A coach comes in and dominates the SEC with high recruiting rankings and big time victories on national TV. Nothing seems to be able to stop his building of a dynasty until a detrimental injury to a vital player occurs. Then the season doesn't meet expectations. Then recruiting falters. Then the next big thing comes along and takes over the SEC.
If there's one thing Dooley doesn't have to worry about, it's knocking the big boys off the top of college football. Most often, they'll do that to themselves.
What Dooley does have to worry about is getting Tennessee prepared to compete when the SEC is seemingly at its toughest.
Three Questions About Tennessee
1. Are the young guys learning?
Tennessee started a lot of underclassman last season including four freshman offensive linemen, a freshman quarterback, and two freshman receivers.
How much have they grown since last season? How is the maturity level? What about their confidence level after losing so many games? What about the defense which will play more freshmen this season? Have they learned enough to compete in the SEC this year?
The youth of this team is exciting for the future. It could be dire for this season if they haven't progress a lot since last year.
2. Can the two young but talented receivers help the passing game enough to open up the running game?
This is a loaded question with three parts:
Tyler Bray has to perform well.
The receivers have to perform extra well.
The running backs have to take advantage of the passing game's success.
The third and last aspect of this question is the most important.
Tennessee has a talented runner in Tauren Poole, but he's not good enough to be the focal point of the offense.
Bray is ultra talented but inconsistent. The receivers are huge, fast targets but need Bray to get the ball to them.
That's the crucial part of the equation.
3. Can Malik Johnson be a Nick Fairley type of player?
The defense lacks star power. Janzen Jackson is back, but is he reliable? He may be ultra-talented, but he's been arrested and kicked off of the team. Then let back on. And then he quit in January, but he was let back on.
Head cases can't be the leader of a defense.
Malik Johnson was good enough to get playing time for Pete Carroll at USC and then transferred to Tennessee where he produced a good season last year.
Johnson is a bit undersized at 275 pounds, but perhaps he's put on weight. Either way, Malik Johnson has to be the star as he's the most talented guy they have.
Most Important Game
9/17 @Florida
Tennessee only plays four road games that are spread throughout the season.
The first is the 3rd game of the season against Florida. The second is the 7th game of the season against Alabama on Oct. 22.
Tennessee doesn't have high expectations, but they do have a very manageable schedule. Easily the easiest in the SEC with no nonconference games worth worrying about.
Florida is rebuilding with a new head coach. If Dooley and his young group of players can shock Florida at home, they have a possible path to only have 1 loss before facing Alabama in Tuscaloosa. They have to get the spark for the season from the Florida game.
Realistic Expectations
Make no mistake about Tennessee - this is a very young team with an unproven head coach.
While they do only play four road games, those road games are against @Florida, @Alabama, @Arkansas, and @Kentucky.
They also play Georgia, LSU, @Alabama, and South Carolina in a row.
If this season doesn't get off to a good start, it could get ugly for Dooley.
But I don't think it's going to be ugly for Dooley.
Tennessee was 6-7 last season, but they very easily could have been 8-5 with last second losses to LSU and North Carolina.
Dooley took over a headcase of a program after Fulmer was expelled from Tennessee and Kiffin ran out on Tennessee.
Tennessee has a chance to get better. They have a change to improve with their young talent.
It all depends on how they do at home. If their crowd shows up to these numerous home games, it will be very tough for the visiting team to win. Especially if Bray can get it going.
But how does Tennessee get the home crowd to show up in full?
Beat Florida. The season is riding on it.
27 Days