CLEMSON, S.C. -- So this is how the 17-game winning streak ends.With an Alabama guy sticking it to Auburn. With a Gus Malzahn clone out-Gusing his mentor. With a defense playing so horribly that it's finally impossible to resurrect the ghosts of Auburn dramas past.What started at the 2010 Outback Bowl when Auburn allowed 621 yards to Northwestern ended Saturday at Death Valley when the Tigers surrendered 624 yards to Clemson.This is reality for the defending national champions. Only now, after two weeks of escapes, it's officially here after 38-24 loss.For the first time in 60 years, Auburn has allowed 34 points or more in three consecutive games. Oh, by the way: That three-game stretch in 1951 also ended with a loss to Clemson -- the last time Auburn With a Lake defeated Auburn.It's one thing to struggle on defense with so much youth. It's quite another to give up 14-of-18 third downs. Or to allow teams to convert 64 percent of third downs on the season. Or to watch opponents run on average 32 more plays a game in 2011.Auburn is averaging 534 yards allowed per game. That's against Utah State, Mississippi State and Clemson, whose total offenses in 2010 ranked 84th, 42nd and 88th nationally, respectively.What in the world is Auburn going to look like in two weeks against Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery at South Carolina? Or the following week against Arkansas' vaunted passing game? Or for the entire month of October, for that matter?"We missed so many tackles," Auburn defensive back Ryan White said. "Maybe guys are dropping their heads, maybe taking bad angles. We're in position. We're getting hats to the ball."Not always. Clemson's incredibly-talented freshman receiver Sammy Watkins managed to sit in the middle of zone, make a routine, medium-range third-and-six catch, and sprint to a 65-yard touchdown.What SEC defense actually allows 10 consecutive third-down conversions? Try doing that in a video game, I dare you.Half of those Clemson conversions were by 6 yards or more. Auburn finally got off the field on third down only when a pass hit defensive back T'Sharvan Bell in the back of his helmet."I think we're getting lackadaisical on third down," White said. "It kills our spirits when we can't get off the field.Fittingly, the winning streak ended at the hands of new Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris, who is friends with Malzahn and runs his hurry-up offense. Malzahn's offense stopped picking up third downs just as Morris' kicked into gear.If this is how Auburn plays defense all year, the offense will be under incredible pressure. Barrett Trotter started well, but then was running for his life behind a new offensive line and got banged up."I'm good," Trotter said. "Just took some shots on my shoulder. They got after me pretty good. I'm going to go out there until they cart me off the field."Knock on wood, Barrett.That Auburn's winning streak, which started after the 2009 Iron Bowl, ended at the hands of an Alabama guy wasn't lost on Clemson coach Dabo Swinney."All the glory goes to God," Swinney said, in his version of Gene Chizik's "It's a God thing" quote that's apparently mandatory when Tigers play each other. "He has a funny sense of humor. It's only fitting that an Alabama grad would be in charge of the team that ended the winning streak."Auburn won 10 games in the 17-game streak by one possession. The Tigers deservedly pulled those out with resilience, but that only lasts so long, even if the opponent looks karma in the eye one more time for the heck of it.There was a moment Saturday when that Auburn magic appeared to be kicking in again. Clemson dropped an interception for a sure touchdown and then lost a fumble in the Auburn red zone.But there were no frantic moments in the waning seconds. Clemson took a knee inside the Auburn 20-yard line.That's finally how the 17-game winning streak ends. And how reality in 2011 begins.
Eat shit and die, Jon Solomon. Writing with an erection is not recommended. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/09/winning_streak_ends_and_realit.html
I want to stick a hot poker up his ass. Really hot.
And really far. I want to whiff the burning skin, hair and dingleberrys over his screams of agony.
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