A look at Sunday's schedule
Hey everyone. I knocked out some Rock Band this morning with Wifey, so I'm rejuvenated and ready for another fun-filled day of Auburn football. These are Tommy Tuberville's halcyon days, huh?I'm headed up to Auburn around 1:30. I'm aiming to live blog Tommy's thing at 3 o'clock. Practice should be short. I should be able to get a players video up by 7 or so.
Campfire could be a possibility if there is interest.
Also, we're actively recruiting HOTTIES and associated briquets for the Facebook Commune. It's just something else fun to do while we're spinning around on this rock every day. If you think Facebook is silly or whatever, you may keep that opinion to yourself.
I'm jgtate@gannett.com on there.
Piece.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
12:20 PM
86 Comments:
Be sure to wear your boots to make your way through all that today, Jay G.
Facebook would be good if it were a closed group.
I have a question for coach Tuberville.
"Coach, if it weren't for the politically incorrect nature of the statement, would you like to just tell the fans to shut the heck up and let you do your job?"
I am sure the response would be next question, but Tuberville would probably appreciate the question:)
denny, what do you mean closed group. I am new to facebook, so I dont know all of the lingo
let's close it. How do we do that?
Jay,
Have you played Guitar Hero World Tour yet?
My wife and I bought it yesterday.
It would a group that you could only join by invitation only. That way it would be free of "people not like us" It would keep the lunatic fringe out, so to speak. Plus on facebook, you would have Bill from Gordo, the best tide fan in the world invading without closing or making it private. It could actually a place to engage in meaningful discourse.
Check this quote from Graham Harrell: “All we needed was a field goal, but a touchdown’s even sweeter,” Harrell said. “If you’re a quarterback and don’t want to be in that situation, you should probably change positions.”
That's bad A all the way.
I want Auburn to get one of those...
Mr. Sensible- I want that offense. They were running some great routes all night and Grahmn is one heck of a QB. Timing is the key.
Jay...you did it...I must admit I had to go to the dictionary and look up "halcyon". I must be slow today b/c I had to read the statement several times to get it.
It seems to me that there isn't anything left to spin or shovel. Probably just some good old fashioned mea culpa.
For comic relief and Phred's benefit...maybe a special "Zen Moment" wiil occur.
They ran the ball fairly well too against the vaunted Muschamp defense. 28 rushes-105 yds. to complement a 474 yd game from the QB.
Listen to these guys talk after the game.
That's what winners sound like. They aren't "me" guys. The QB talking about how no one can stop his WR and the WR talking about making a big play or getting his kicker in position (a kicker they got out of the stands no less).
We need that kind of swagger in the modern SEC.
Mr. Sensible, I agree. I liked Harrell's comments. He made them after being successful in a high stress situation, but a good quarterback wants that situation. He wants the chance to excell.
Denny Crum, The Habotn Hotties group is already a closed group I believe. I had to request an invite from a member to join. I am not really into exlusive clubs, but as long as it is just exclusive to people that express an honest opinion and don't get into personal attacks, I am good with it.
I think we thought we had one with Chris Todd. I think he is probably like that, however, his body let him down.
Speaking of risk analysis, I don't think that was done with Todd. It looked more like doing a retirement plan by playing the lottery or going to Vegas. From Jay G has put out, his type of shoulder injury was of a nature that one really get not get better.
The theme about Todd was that "we really didn't know how bad his arm was?" I guess college is not like the pros in that a physical wasn't done to see if he could play.
Me too.
In that case let me try to join. Keep in mind, I may have to "disguise" my facebook persona some. Iffn' you know what I mean.
I just now requested to join. Please somebody let me in.
I just have one question, and it's a dang important one to me. If CTT does get fired, does that mean I can stop wearing orange? If this is true, then I am for it.
Wearing urnge all the time does get old. I would like to have that freedom back. It limits my wardrobe selection. In fact, it is almost unAmerican.
We might as well wear all white the rest of the year and just wave the flag.
Sorry, but I am real close to burning my Tubs Apologist All Is Well card.
In spite of this, I still don't expect big changes.
Mr. Sensible, you bring up some good points, especially when you say "That's what winners sound like". In Auburn's last two undefeated seasons there was a common theme. Both teams believed they would find a way to win. Both teams had that attitude. Both teams won games that were dependent upon one play. Both teams had players that believed in their teammates.
Just as winning is an attitude, loosing is too. How many times have you seen teams on long winning streaks, but as soon as the loose one, things change. Suddenly the loses come quick.
Football is as much about mental attitude as it is playing ability. People laughed when Satan brought in a motivational speaker for his team, but I think he was changing that attitude, that belief, that confidence factor that makes the difference when games are on the line.
I have repeatedly asked myself if Tuberville did the right thing firing Franklin because it sent a message to the team that we don't believe in this offense. Whether right or wrong, that is what the players had to believe. To some extent, I think the comments after the Vandy game made it clear that the players were already getting that feeling. Franklin himself mentioned that, that he was loosing them. I can't really judge Tuberville's decision because I don't know everything that happened, but I can judge the effect.
We got worse after Franklin was let go. We didn't just get worse on offense, we got worse overall as a team. I think it is due to the attitude you are talking about more than the X's and O's.
This is what must be addressed with this Auburn team.
Excellent observations SteveFC.
Predictions on the rest of the year. I just don't think we can score enough to keep up with GA and as much as I hate to say it...I don't what coaching tricks can be used to beat UAT if the players don't execute, i.e. QB mainly.
You know, a coach can make a mistake about offensive linemen, TEs, a RB or two, a Wide out or two, but screw up getting a QB, well, that is devastating. Brandon Cox brought a whole lot more to the table than people realized.
Steve- Very good post. I concurr.
I agree about getting worse as a team. However, a series of poor decisions got us there. Bringing in CTF without giving him meaningful control, i.e. his own people, playing a long shot at QB (todd) and hoping that Todd would beat the odds with his shoulder, CTF not modifying "his" offense to suit the talent he had, not making position coaches go along with the program, etc.
On another note, Texas Tech, while not running all over Texas last night, sure ran enough to win over the vaunted Will Muschamp defense. Sure looked like they had been coached how to block effectively out of a two point stance.
Please no more Will Muschamp as Auburn Head coach. No to the tenth power. Not ready, now or in the reasonable future.
I bought one orange AU hat and otherwise kept "doing the blue". Just old fashioned I guess.
I love the AU blue with orange accents in the stands. Full stands and the noise/support make more of an impact than a sea of orange.
Mr. Sensitive- I know you believe that you believe Tubs is safe, but I saw the comments as being a dejected Tubs who seems like he as his wits end. I think he is starting to believe it is over for him and apparently Scarbinsky believes the same thing. Here is his latest article:
Tubs Knows???
I do agree wholeheartedly with Steve by the way.
Eddie,
I read that earlier. I'm not a big Scarbinsky fan though he makes some interesting points.
I'm starting to open my mind about these changes.
I did make the facebook group closed but not private. In other words, you have to request to be in it and approved, or you have to be invited, no one can see the wall or discussion except for members, but you can search for it.
Private meant you the only way you could join would be to be invited and you couldn't search for it. I thought that would be a hassel trying to find everyone to nivite them so I just went with closed over private.
Search for the group and request membership or make friends with my alias, Kristina Wareagle, and I will invite you.
Mr. Sensible- I just would like to know what direction we are going. Patience is a virtue, but when it comes to Auburn Football, I have none :).
Urnge does look better on TV.
I really believe CTT did not see this coming. I believe he also believes that he did not get involved enough early enough.
Now having said that. I think he also realizes now how much good will he used up last year before the Alabama game by not squelching rumors of "am I going or am I staying."
I don't believe that his situation is untenable, but CTT hasn't done anything to make it stronger. That is other than be a consistent winner, run a quality program, and get rid of trouble makers.
Oh and btw, Scott Van Pelt can kiss my A$$. Did everyone hear that audio? Til he follows the program like some on this blog, he should go back to the golf channel or drunk dialing girls he tries to pick up.
Great day of College Football yeserday btw.
""I knew we were going to struggle, and I told everybody before we started the season," Tuberville said.
That is not accurate at all!
That's it. I'm done defending a guy who thinks he's ten times more into this program than anyone else.
Mr. S- I saw where you deleted your comments, but it is statements like you referred to that drive me freakin crazy. He says stuff like this when it is not going his way and tries to say we were idiotic in believing what he said in the "preseason." I will say this about Tubs, he can say some pretty remarkable things at times.
Here, here. ScottATL.
Scott Van Pelt can take a flying leap at a rolling donut on a gravel driveway for all I care.
Just refined my language a bit, Eddie.
Trying to stay cool. It's just a game.
And Tubs is an idiot if he think any fan is behind him now.
Well, as for me, I'm done waving the Save Tubs flag.
Thanks for the clean program and the 6 in a row. Have a nice retirement and wish you good health.
Just let it end quickly...
what did van pelt do?
I do see some of your frustrations with Tuberville, but I think he is in a rough situation at the moment. We as fans want answers. He is searching for answers, but he is continuously bombarded with questions constantly. I do think he needs to consider a different approach to dealing with the media.
I do recall Tuberville warning us before the season that about us being the favorite to win the SEC West when we have two new coordinators and an inexperienced quarterback. His warning wasn't nearly what he implies though.
Yeah, What did Scott Van Pelt do? Could you summarize it?
Scott Van Pelt basically said message board and blog people who wanted Tubs gone were stupid and shortsighted. He said no one else would come to Auburn because we weren't even the biggest deal in our own state. He also said that Auburn fans should just be happy with what Tubs has done.
Here is the way I look at this situation.
In 1997 All the hacks stated that Terry Bowden was doing a great job, kept bringing up 20 in a row etc. And while we made it to ATL that year (b/c of D Craig), real fans knew the program was falling apart as was evident in 1998.
Fast forward to present day. All the hacks are saying CTT is 'just having a down year' and bring up his recent record. However, if they follow the program like us and real beat guys like JGT, they would know that something else is going on. I dont think we are in 1998 territory but I dont want to get anywhere close to that again.
I like Scott Van Pelt a lot, but he over stepped his boundry on this situation.
ScottATL, that's exactly what I was thinking. Well posted.
Everyone thought Jeff Fisher was nuts this year when he benched Vince Young. You see what a difference that has made for the Titans.
what about that is offensive?
The content is much more harsh if you could hear his condescending tone.
It was on Finebaum a couple of days but I can't remember when exactly or I'd link to it so you can hear it.
van pelt is entitled to his opinion, and i understand where he is coming from, but we should care about his opinion about as much as someone else whose opinion we don't care about.
Anyway, I still say keep Tubs, even if we lose to Georgia and Bama. I am thinking I am in the minority here these days, but nothing happened yesterday that wasn't expected. Why would it change my mind?
yeah i guess i would have to hear his tone but i tend to agree with what you paraphrased he said.
There has been a slow decline in offense since 2004 and I believe it is less talent and not so much a coaching issue.
The problem with Tubs is he wants it both ways(don't we all). He talks at times about winning national championships, how many games the program has won, etc. Then when the team struggles he tries to downplay what the expectations were that he helped to build up. And while I am not sure there is a better choice out there I think his time at AU is about up. As I posted yesterday(and I am not trying to beat a dead horse), apathy is replacing anger in the fanbase and that spiral is hard to overcome.
Also, Van Pelt called out Pat Dye, Big Time
Here's the AUDIO Ron.
It starts at the 17:30 mark of the audio.
As was posted before, the talent on the 2003 team is way above what's out there now.
Our team has moments, but they are struggling to be consistent in a big way and that is a coaching problem.
Denny Crum, we had the number one offense in the SEC in 2005.
My frustrations are on both sides.
I now think it's time for a change, but I am still not convinced we can do any better.
Thus is the life of the Auburn fan.
I know that, but look at the numbers and the talent from 04 to 05 to 06 to 07 to now.
Mr. Sensible, while there are some coaching issues, you have to look at this team and how young it is. Some of this actually has to do with Jetgate and the players we got then. It wasn't an impressive class.
This is a very young team. Coaching matters, but experience does too.
I am for keeping Tuberville and I don't believe I am in the minority. I don't view our situation as a steady decline.
If I do have a knock on Tuberville it is not being able to get coordinators that will stick with Auburn. The reason for that is clear. He has chosen some very good coordinators that have risen in the coaching ranks quickly.
I have that audio edited to just his Auburn comments.
If you would like me to email it to you, send me an email to mr_sensible_auburn@yahoo.com and I will send it to you.
I hope that Jay has some nuggets this afternoon or pearls of wisdom about what is going on. I have to imagine he is talking to his contacts and feeling them out.
Steve- I don't see where we have hardly the talent in 2003. I don't see any play makers out there. I know that 2003 impacted it, but 2004 should have boomed it.
I am not saying that the offensive decline is a reason to make a HC change. But if you look at the seasons, since 2005, when have we been able to win a game that was a scoring contest? Georgia 05 was the last one. That's all I am saying.
Denny Crum, I don't think we are seeing a drop off in talent other than some results from Jetgate on our senior class. We have talent, but it is young talent.
I don't mean to preach here because I do see issues with our receiving and quarterback coaching, but I don't see talent as the issue.
There is a difference between talent and star players. Talent is potential and I see potential on this team.
I'm not feeling anyone up, Eddie.
Stop that kind of salacious innuendo.
I just listened to it. Thanks for the link.
I completely agree with everything he said, and didn't think he was being nearly as derrogatory as he was truthful. But I want tuberville to stay mainly because I don't think the next guy will be a step up. There are better coaches out there, but i just don't think we get one.
And Auburn did cheat under Pat Dye's watch.... can't throw someone under the bus when you say something that truthful.
SteveFC, ScottVP's comments are indiciative of Auburn's national reputation at this time.
We tried to run the coach, boosters were involved, and the lingering memories of that are on the sidelines each week.
Auburn legend Pat Dye is considered a "cheater" to the outside world. Not a good reputation no matter how you cut it.
Auburn has beaten Alabama and been good in the SEC only because those programs were down.
Those are large image problems and let's face it, in modern D-1 ball, it matters what your national image is.
It's the image that Auburn is second tier and second rate and we should be okay with that and the occasional big win over a higher ranked team that bugs me.
Anyways, thanks for the good posts and stuff, Ron. Glad this didn't turn nasty and we can share strong opinions without getting nasty.
The HABOTN - a place for cool fans.
I think there are 20-25 coaches who could do as good as Tubbs has done.
Mr. Sensible, I don't in any way think Tuberville is content to have a second tier program and I don't think our success is tied to other programs being down. If anything, I think other programs were down due to our success. Tuberville said he was changing to the spread because he felt we needed it to reach the next level. That is not a coach who is content.
I agree with you other than semantics I guess. I mean that. I am just pointing out some things that got us to where we are. I think WR coaching has been our weakness for the last 3 years. I am not trying to trivilize getting rid of coaches because you are talking about livlihoods here.
On another note,,,does anyone remember their first Auburn game. Mine was October 12, 1974 against Kentucky, Auburn was number 5 in the nation and won 31-13. I was hooked since then.
hip-hopanonymous, I find it hard to believe that there are 20 or 25 coaches out there that could be one of the top 2 or 3 coaches in the SEC this decade. You underestimate SEC coaches.
What up with only ONE tweet yesterday!
P.S. I got gas for 1.96 !!!! in MS yesterday
I love Auburn, but I will probably live my entire life with Alabama being the number one program in the state. It sucks but it's true.
Our image is definately bad these days and we are not a very attractive job opening for big name coaching prospects. That's why i say we have a "damn fine" (channeling my inner Les Miles) football coach in a contract that's not easy to get out of and we should hold on to him. That being said I don't think he will be here next year.
Are you running down your sources Jay G?
My advice is to follow the money.
Sorry Jay. I meant to keep that private :)!!!
Denny Crum, I don't recall my first Auburn game, but I do recall the first one I remember vividly. That was the Punt Bama Punt game. I was listening to it on the radio and was upset even after we blocked the second punt because I thought it was just a replay and the game was over. Since then, I have missed very few Auburn games, whether it be on TV, in person, or on the radio.
Jay G. Tate, what type of salacious innuendo would you prefer?
And I think people overestimate what Tubbs has done here. Outside of 04 we have been an average team under his tenure. Them's the facts.
I always tell people that I was a Auburn fan during the Barfield days. Now that is saying something.
Hip-Hop- I don't believe that their are that many coaches that can do a better job. Tubs has done an excellent job for Auburn at a time when Auburn needed someone like him the most. He just doesn't seem to be able to get over the hump and get us to elite status and consistently playing for championships. 2 games in 2 years is not as good as I would like or most Auburn fans would like.
hip-hopanonymous, an average team by definition doesn't win 70% of their games.
New thread folks. CTT comments.
Denny Crum- I remember my first game. It was the Georgia Tech game where Aundry Bruce intercepted the ball at the end and ran into the locker room. I was probably around 8 years old I believe. Not sure of the year.
Eddie, what exactly do you mean when you say "someone like him"? Not trying to be difficult I just dont get what that means.
Average is relative. Average by defenition is .500 every year or the same numbers but with results that give the same numbers over time. 4-8 and 8-4 5-7 and 7-5 all the time.
I don't see that and in today's football world, I don't overestimate what CTT has done. I marvel at it.
Ron, that may be a reality (image-wise) but Auburn has shown it doesnt translate to the football field. It doesnt matter if Bama is up or down. Auburn can consistently beat them.
I agree and i think tuberville has had a whole lot to do with that.
We just can't compete with the history and fan base. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't reverse the fan bases for one second. people are Auburn fans for a reason not just a bunch of bandwagon jumpers like the other team.
Thanks for the link Sensi. Ladies and gentlemen, Scott V. P.; while very condensending in tone summed up the "little brother syndrome" we all have come to hate. He scoffed at Pat Dye's accomplishments saying he cheated. Cheated? Comon loser...700 bucks to a player that did absolutely nothing...what about Reggie Bush's parents living for free in an upscale mansion in So. Cal? Where has that investigation gone? What about Al Del Grecko's third field goal against Michigan that somehow left the only team in the top three to win their bowl game out of the top spot? This moron is why we got left out of the championship game in '04...no respect. Sure Tubbs has given us plenty to crow about during his tenure, but why can't we expect more than what we are getting? What does three million per buy? If indeed we are only "just Auburn" as he suggested, why in the hell would we pay anyone that kind of money? Why does our stadium seat 86k plus? Why are we one of a handfull of universities that can claim more than one Heisman Trophy winner? I'll tell you why....because we are Auburn and if I see your Ichabod Crane looking a** on the lovliest village I will knock your freakin teeth out.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home