Can Auburn Repeat?

[dallaswareagle]

That's another thing to be noted.  The few wins they have? All are close.  Several are OT. 

As a recruiter, Nick Saban Al-Betar does a tremendous job.  He's instituted a mafia-like organization that cheats with impunity and blatant disregard for possible consequences.

As a coach?  He's below average.

 

[wesfau2]

The game that I do think should be considered a semi-difficult matchup is Florida.  Florida's defense will be salty, and if Alabama's Jesus Coker doesn't live up to the hype (he won't), they could be in a close game deep in the 2nd half.

That's the game I have penciled in for the first of up to 4 SEC losses for the mighty tahd.

As a recruiter, Nick Saban Al-Betar does a tremendous job.  He's instituted a mafia-like organization that cheats with impunity and blatant disregard for possible consequences.

As a coach?  He's below average. 

Been saying this for years.

[AUChizad]

Been saying this for years.

Same. Been called a delusional barner every time I bring it up.

Perception is reality these days. If ESPN never shuts up about him being a God, so it is written and so it shall be.

His "dominance" is a function of a #1 recruiting class for all seven years since he's been there.

How is he consistently landing those? How is he selling playing time to recruits after seven consecutive #1 recruiting classes?



It also didn't hurt that Slive has been "randomly" selecting the easiest possible schedule for them over the last three years until they "figured out" how to truly rotate the schedule after expansion.

He's a paper tiger. A self-fulfilling prophecy.

Try telling anyone this, even when equipped with that long list of facts K just dropped and you'll be called a delusional loon that just can't see past your anti-Bama bias.

[Kaos]

you'll be called a delusional loon that just can't see past your anti-Bama bias.

I freely admit this.  BUT, the bias is so strong that you can't get far enough to the other side of it to even find balance.  It's sort of like not being a Nazi. 

[WiregrassTiger]

Same. Been called a delusional barner every time I bring it up.

Perception is reality these days. If ESPN never shuts up about him being a God, so it is written and so it shall be.

His "dominance" is a function of a #1 recruiting class for all seven years since he's been there.

How is he consistently landing those? How is he selling playing time to recruits after seven consecutive #1 recruiting classes?



It also didn't hurt that Slive has been "randomly" selecting the easiest possible schedule for them over the last three years until they "figured out" how to truly rotate the schedule after expansion.

He's a paper tiger. A self-fulfilling prophecy.

Try telling anyone this, even when equipped with that long list of facts K just dropped and you'll be called a delusional loon that just can't see past your anti-Bama bias.

^^^The gay racist makes a lot of sense with this. I do not hate Alabammer. Never have. I hate a lot of their fans but I have some friends there. So, I'd like to think that I didn't have any jealousy or bias when I came to the conclusion that Sabear isn't the end all coarch.

He's really good and his record indicates. But, it's mostly at managing, hiring, recruiting, etc. It's smoke and mirrors with a lot of it.

I had a guy tell me that the first REC club meeting that he went to after Sabears hire, Mal Moore told a group of them that Saban asked him (Mal) after the hire, if he thought that he had hired the best coach in the country. Before Mal could answer, Saban told him that he didn't but that he had hired the best recruiter.

Napoleon complex?  As my grandpappy used to say, he sure is full of hisself. But it's hard to argue the recruiting results. The on the field coaching is a different story.

Gus has/will do more to challenge and/or exploit his x's and o's than anyone in the SEC

[Townhallsavoy]

It also didn't hurt that Slive has been "randomly" selecting the easiest possible schedule for them over the last three years until they "figured out" how to truly rotate the schedule after expansion.

I'm going to go full conspiracy tin foil hat here, but what was Slive's job prior to getting involved with the conference headquarters?  He was a lawyer that defended colleges against NCAA investigations. 

As commissioner, it's obvious his number 1 focus is the business aspect of things.  He wants to make money.  His goal is create the richest conference in college athletics, and he's succeeded.

What sports program makes the most money of any of the SEC schools?  What fanbase is moronic enough to donate their entire trailer savings just to buy a ticket to a football game?  Buy a jersey signed by a 2nd string guard?  Buy a commemorative coin with a coach's face on it? 

[Snaggletiger]

Corch Superior has made a believer out of me with what he's done at a place nobody has been able to be successful.  But, I used to think he and Lord Saybinz had a similar M.O. in many respects.  Whether it was him or the staff he hired, Spurrier was a recruiting machine.  During his run at UF, he could cherry pick anybody he wanted.  His fun and gun style attracted some of the best athletes available but as far as a game manager, he sucked.  Lost to AU twice simply because he wouldn't stop flinging the ball around the field, thinking the better athletes would eventually come out on top. 

Certainly, Spurrier and LS have different styles, but I get that same impression about Saybinz.  When they lose, you can always point to several glaring coaching decisions that cost them the game.  It seems he thinks his superior talent will win out no matter what.   

[Godfather]

Corch Superior has made a believer out of me with what he's done at a place nobody has been able to be successful.  But, I used to think he and Lord Saybinz had a similar M.O. in many respects.  Whether it was him or the staff he hired, Spurrier was a recruiting machine.  During his run at UF, he could cherry pick anybody he wanted.  His fun and gun style attracted some of the best athletes available but as far as a game manager, he sucked.  Lost to AU twice simply because he wouldn't stop flinging the ball around the field, thinking the better athletes would eventually come out on top. 

Certainly, Spurrier and LS have different styles, but I get that same impression about Saybinz.  When they lose, you can always point to several glaring coaching decisions that cost them the game.  It seems he thinks his superior talent will win out no matter what.

Kinda like how you lawyer?

[jmar]

In spite of the perception, I wouldn't trade Gus for Saban and not so sure our guy wouldn't be a better NFL HC with minimal pro experience as a coordinator. No lack of respect for Saban...it's just that Gus is a much better tactician who can get results even when he is outmatched. Still IMO,  if Saban were head of player personnel for say Dallas, I think they would be in the playoffs even with Jones and Garrett.

[Tiger Wench]

On top of being a good recruiter, I think Sabinz is also a good motivator.  He gets the megatalent, and then somehow manages to get these kids to buy into his process without questioning him in the least.  That's why I always refer to them as the Turd Reich.  He is a short Messianic megalomaniac who expects perfection and requires unquestioning loyalty and dedication to his scheme.  His players are robotic, unemotional, and executed the game the same way.  His coaching is unimaginative but most of the time (got a second?) is executed flawlessly by top talent players. And they win.  Then that leads to better recruiting and "I told you this works" as a motivation technique, and you get more buy in...

If it is not executed flawlessly?  Somebody's ass is on the bench or gets processed.  Hard to beat that kind of coaching...

Hard to beat, that is, UNLESS you can disrupt the flawless execution.  Which is what Gus has done with his scheming and the HUNH.  It's like the British soldiers marching in a square and firing and then kneeling down to reload while row two does the same thing.  That worked great in European combat until the American rebel army started with the sniping and the guerilla tactics.  The British couldn't undo their brainwashed training and react quickly enough.  They complained about how the rebels didn't fight in a civilized manner.  Sounds like Sabinz complaining about how the HUNH isn't fair, doesn't it?  It upsets his plan, and he can't react.  That's where the not a great coach comes into play.  If he can't  - or won't - react and adjust his way of doing things, bammer will lose.  That simple.

[Godfather]

Hard to beat, that is, UNLESS you can disrupt the flawless execution.  Which is what Gus has done with his scheming and the HUNH.  It's like the British soldiers marching in a square and firing and then kneeling down to reload while row two does the same thing.  That worked great in European combat until the American rebel army started with the sniping and the guerilla tactics.  The British couldn't undo their brainwashed training and react quickly enough.  They complained about how the rebels didn't fight in a civilized manner.  Sounds like Sabinz complaining about how the HUNH isn't fair, doesn't it?  It upsets his plan, and he can't react.  That's where the not a great coach comes into play.  If he can't  - or won't - react and adjust his way of doing things, bammer will lose.  That simple.

Great use of examples...I give you a 105.  A+

[jmar]

Great use of examples...I give you a 105.  A+

She's mine and she's brilliant!

[Tiger Wench]

Great use of examples...I give you a 105.  A+

[dallaswareagle]

In spite of the perception, I wouldn't trade Gus for Saban and not so sure our guy wouldn't be a better NFL HC with minimal pro experience as a coordinator. No lack of respect for Saban...it's just that Gus is a much better tactician who can get results even when he is outmatched. Still IMO, if Saban were head of player personnel for say Dallas, I think they would be in the playoffs even with Jones and Garrett.

Good freaking god, Please no. Although it would be fun to watch the meltdown.

[AUChizad]

In spite of the perception, I wouldn't trade Gus for Saban

You know, this goes back to the bias thing.

If Saban were at Auburn, there is no way he would be considered as successful.

And it's not for any reason that bammers may have in their head about them being magically more conducive to greatness than Auburn.

First and foremost, he would not be getting the benefit of the doubt he gets. There is no fucking imaginable way that we would get a re-match against LSU in 2011 had it been Auburn in the identical situation. Absolutely no chance it would happen.

Similarly, the local media wouldn't be tripping over their dicks fawning over him. There wouldn't be that desperation to compare him to the Bear, and to relive it as some sort of nostalgic tie to what the see as the Glory Days football. There wouldn't be the willingness to crown him GOAT before he had even really accomplished anything.

And instead of fawning over what a great recruiter he is, the story would absolutely have gravitated to Tom Albetar, Fluker, Clinton-Dix, Hot Wheelz of Mobile, etc. much, much faster than it did for them. It would have been national headlines after his first #1 recruiting class. And once it was uncovered, people would actually have given a shit. There would be national outcry to strip us of any accolades we had accumulated during his tenure and demand at his resignation. Auburn would be considered the poster-child for all that is wrong with college football. There would be serious debates about whether or not the death penalty should be applied, and 90% of the nation would think it should.

There is no level playing field. It's just fact. To deny everything I said above is to be laughably naive. But don't let that stop 90% of college football fans, including a significant portion of our own fan base.

[WiregrassTiger]

You know, this goes back to the bias thing.

If Saban were at Auburn, there is no way he would be considered as successful.

And it's not for any reason that bammers may have in their head about them being magically more conducive to greatness than Auburn.

First and foremost, he would not be getting the benefit of the doubt he gets. There is no fudgeing imaginable way that we would get a re-match against LSU in 2011 had it been Auburn in the identical situation. Absolutely no chance it would happen.

Similarly, the local media wouldn't be tripping over their richards fawning over him. There wouldn't be that desperation to compare him to the Bear, and to relive it as some sort of nostalgic tie to what the see as the Glory Days football. There wouldn't be the willingness to crown him GOAT before he had even really accomplished anything.

And instead of fawning over what a great recruiter he is, the story would absolutely have gravitated to Tom Albetar, Fluker, Clinton-Dix, Hot Wheelz of Mobile, etc. much, much faster than it did for them. It would have been national headlines after his first #1 recruiting class. And once it was uncovered, people would actually have given a shoot. There would be national outcry to strip us of any accolades we had accumulated during his tenure and demand at his resignation. Auburn would be considered the poster-child for all that is wrong with college football. There would be serious debates about whether or not the death penalty should be applied, and 90% of the nation would think it should.

There is no level playing field. It's just fact. To deny everything I said above is to be laughably naive. But don't let that stop 90% of college football fans, including a significant portion of our own fan base.

This question came up before we hired Gus and one of my most fervent AU friends said he'd love to have Saban. I countered that he'd be a terrible fit and that even if it could happen, I would not want it to.

It's an interesting thought. Pat Dye is not my favorite personality among former coaches but I loved him whilst he was the man. I guess ultimately, it does come down to wins and losses  but I couldn't see myself ever liking Saban. Ever.

[Snaggletiger]

This question came up before we hired Gus and one of my most fervent AU friends said he'd love to have Saban. I countered that he'd be a terrible fit and that even if it could happen, I would not want it to.

It's an interesting thought. Pat Dye is not my favorite personality among former coaches but I loved him whilst he was the man. I guess ultimately, it does come down to wins and losses  but I couldn't see myself ever liking Saban. Ever.

I think one of the biggest differences for me is that fans and administration of the Crapstoned were willing to sell their collective souls in order to get back to what they believe is their birth right.  They gave an egotistical control freak the keys to the city and have been groveling at his feet ever since. 

My impression is that while Auburn people want to win and demand at least a certain level of success, the Bama/Lord Saybinz scenario would never, ever happen at Auburn.  While our administration has a long history of doing unbelievably stupid shit concerning pay, buyouts, contract extensions etc. there are just too many in power that like to have a certain amount of control.  Too many Timmy's and Jimmy's and Bobby's. 

[Godfather]

I think one of the biggest differences for me is that fans and administration of the Crapstoned were willing to sell their collective souls in order to get back to what they believe is their birth right.  They gave an egotistical control freak the keys to the city and have been groveling at his feet ever since. 

My impression is that while Auburn people want to win and demand at least a certain level of success, the Bama/Lord Saybinz scenario would never, ever happen at Auburn.  While our administration has a long history of doing unbelievably stupid shit concerning pay, buyouts, contract extensions etc. there are just too many in power that like to have a certain amount of control.  Too many Timmy's and Jimmy's and Bobby's.

God damn you don't say many smart things...but Jesus Christ boy.  This still isn't one of them.  But I agree with ya.

[WiregrassTiger]

I think one of the biggest differences for me is that fans and administration of the Crapstoned were willing to sell their collective souls in order to get back to what they believe is their birth right.  They gave an egotistical control freak the keys to the city and have been groveling at his feet ever since. 

My impression is that while Auburn people want to win and demand at least a certain level of success, the Bama/Lord Saybinz scenario would never, ever happen at Auburn.  While our administration has a long history of doing unbelievably stupid shoot concerning pay, buyouts, contract extensions etc. there are just too many in power that like to have a certain amount of control.  Too many Timmy's and Jimmy's and Bobby's.

No Stevies calling shots anymore? When did this change? I guess coach Dye summed it up best with Alabama people loving Alabama football and Auburn people loving Auburn. Lotsa truth in that.

[Godfather]

I don't care what those pinko commies say, there is winning and nothing else!

You wanna lose, then go to Russia.