Ben Tate holds his ground
Hey everyone. Remember how Ben Tate told a reporter in Georgia a few months back that he was better than Mark Ingram?Yeah, the Mark Ingram who won the Heisman Trophy?
Tate seemed to back off those comments a tad prior to the Iron Bowl, but he's not hiding anymore. Tate told the Birmingham News on Friday -- for the newspaper's first-person reportage from the NFL Combine -- that he's not confused about who's the better back.
"If you go back and break down film, he's a great running back," Tate said. "Don't get me wrong ... but I just feel I'm a better running back. Of course you're going to get more publicity. That's the way it is when you're on an undefeated team, a team's that's been undefeated for the last few years."
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
5:08 PM
79 Comments:
I won't back down, either. Mark Ingram is still the worst Heisman winner in a long time.
...but I will admit that he's better than Ben Tate.
Bringing the substançio.
Hey JGT, I found it interesting this morning that you're not a homer for Homer.
Makes sense to me. Players on winning teams are naturally high profile and get more publicity. Did Ingram shine in the Iron Bowl? NO but that doesn't make him a worse Tailback. Was Tate given the ball as much as Ingram during the year I don't think so. Both are excellent backs.
I'd be interested in seeing a comparison of stats for both backs...both rushing and receiving.
I have no idea who touched the ball more or had more yards per attempt, etc.
I could look it up but I'm way too lazy.
Brought this forward from last thread. Don't want PK to miss it
Peter Frankenschmidt- yes I read your post. In fact your post promted my question. I meant really they have started it and are going door to door. I have seen nothing or anyone around here.
To me, Ingram and Tate are comparable, but I don't think either are close to being the best backs around. I don't even believe Ingram was the best back on his team.
Let me amend my 2nd post:
Mark Ingram is better unless he's playing Auburn.
digger,
I heard Spann on the radio this morning. He was saying that there is a chance of significant snow accumulation up this way on Tuesday. Said they would know with more certainty by Sunday...
People will go nuts if that is the case.
Ingram is better. There I said it.
BTW ....Ben Tate can play on my team anytime.
I predict that Ben will make a pro team, methodically get better each year and have a good pro career.
Tate will be solid contributor in the pros, similar to Heath Evans in stature. He won't be the star, but he is someone who can play. He won't be a Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, or even Rudi Johnson.
Anyone know what happened to Brad Lester and Tristan Davis. Somehow I assime Tristan Davis would get injured while putting doing jumping jacks in warmups.
I'm outta here! Have a nice weekend, errybody.
War Eagle and U-S-A, U-S-A!
Brad Lester, at the end of his career, had no heart. None. The NFL doesn't want players like that.
From Wikipedia:
Tristan Dion Davis (born May 5, 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Auburn.
Lester never really seemed to live up to his potential. I always heard he was obsessed with working out, or something like that. He is one of those players that seemed to be almost there.
Nice to hear Tristan Davis is getting his shot. He was one of the most unlucky players that I have seen. I kept waiting for him to get healthy and have a huge game with his speed, but the only huge game was really that one game against Kentucky, and he didn't have a huge number of carries in that one.
Actually, Fannin seems to be likely to become sort of a Lester or Davis, a player that just never quite lived up to the hype. He has brief shining moments. I am hoping he shows he can carry the load this season, but I can't say I am confident in him.
Scott choc - you're first 2 posts are spot on.
PF is probably giddy with excitement at the substance contained therein.
take the "you're" out of the above post, put it in the post from this morning. take the 'your" out of that post and put it in the above post.
then all's right with the world.
My thoughts about the Heisman are this:
1. No offense to Jay G, there are way too many voters.
2. Ingram was as deserving as the other finalists, other than Tebow.
3. With 45 other awards, and the DAC having gone bankrupt, the award isn't as prestigious as it used to be.
The SEC Star Wars mascots linked earlier was hilarious, and so true.
Canadian women about to win gold in curling.
Tay Waller quotes were promised.
I don't think they deserve their own thread. Still, here they are:
On his current approach: ``I have no conscience right now. If I get a glimpse of the basket, I'm going to put it up. I'm confident like I always wanted to be. This is the way I wanted to play at Auburn the whole time. At least I've got this last stretch."
On his plans for LSU: "I don't want to think about anything right now except defense and getting open outside," Waller said. ``When I'm like this, I know it's best to keep shooting. It's bound to rub off on my teammates. If they start hitting, we'll be unstoppable."
Waller in AU's last eight games: 20.9 ppg, 52.2% from the floor, 44% from three.
Not too shabby.
oops, big choke by the Canadian captain. Swedes tie it up to go to extra "innings"
"If they start hitting"
That "if" ain't candy, but it sure is nuts.
yeah, if we had more people like scott de choco in the world, it'd be awesome. I give props.
I for one don't have a problem with Tate saying that he feels that he is better than Ingram. It's really tough to compare two players on completely different teams. I would take either player any day.
Tristan is with the Dolphins as Luv posted, but he is a practice squad player. I know this because I am a huge Dolphins fan and I was really happen to see them sign him.
FSJ, you can't compare Tate's and Ingram's stats (especially catching) because they are in two totally different offenses.
happen=happy
I don't follow skiing very much, but I have been watching the Olympics. To me Vonn is somewhat over hyped. I know she has two medals, but it seems it's hit or miss with her.
poor Canadian ladies choked away the curling gold. I hope the Canadian hockey men take a cue tonight in their semifinal.
Wow...I just saw where D. Bates has moved from Safety to LB.
Yeah. Saw that, too.
B-Matt, no longer with Rivals, is hittin' the twitter world.
Yeah I got that info from his blogger site. Says he is going to start his own site. Is it going to be a pay site?
Ingram was not even the best RB on his own team. Richardson is a better runner.
I don't know what to make of the move. I liked what he brought to the safety spot.
JGT...
Do you get along with BM? What are your thoughts on his new venture?
I think by the move to LB, it means that he was very young last year and has grown a good bit in the offseason...
I also think it signifies how confident they feel in the health and ability of Mike McNeil, who is a Jr. and has tons of experience, and should provide a 'coach on the field' leadership this fall.
I think if you had put Tate behind the line that Alabama had the past two years he would have huge numbers. If you allow him to get to the 2nd level untouched he is an animal.
I missed the previous thread but the picture of Jay's ex with the pistol is pretty creepy.
if you put ben on bammer's team and ingram on AU's for 2009, i believe you get virtually identical results from each. ingram benefitted from more offensive players around that were a "threat" and a much better ol than AU that never got called for holding. tate proved to me this year he is much better than i had come to believe. he really does have some speed when he gets going north and south.
beat me by a few minutes wake.
Excellent assessments, Wake and chip chip!
I agree with Chocolate that Ingram was the most Uninspiring winner in the last ..... I don't know ... Ever?????
I am not sure what to think of Bates as a LB. He is definitely a hitter, but I didn't see this coming. I suppose they are looking for the depth with experience at LB.
The next minute I see of the Olympics will be my first..... Sorry, But I Couldn't Care Less about the winter games.
In my mind ...
Winter Games > Summer Games
And it's not even close.
I enjoy the hockey, the speed skating, the downhill, snowboard, bobsled, skeleton, luge, ski jumping.
The winter sporting events are fun to watch. If I ever tried any of that stuff, I would totally rule.
I agree, Jet, although I was getting a little burnt out and had to break from it this week. But, I watched a lot of the hockey game today and have been watching NBC's coverage all evening.
Huge win for the Baseball Tigers tonight! Walk-off HR by Fletcher in the 10th to beat BC 6-5.
LOL, ehyou! If I tried any of them, I would literally break my neck!
so we get a bronze in that short track relay.
I best get some sleep since I get to be at work in 8 hours.
Sweet AU dreams, Hotties!!!
Thanks D Miller. There's a serious lack of Auburn baseball coverage in the blogosphere. Even AUPPL has nothing, and that looks to be their whole purpose for existence.
I wish Jay G liked baseball more and recruiting less. People would get beihind the team if he covered it.
This hockey game has gotten interesting in a hurry.
Well, we get the good show for the gold medal.
USA v. Canada.
Slovakia made it very interesting at the end.
@HABOTN series opener?
I might be touched by this Apollo Ohno piece, but he takes himself way too seriously. Plus, he called Colbert a jerk...I have similar feelings about Michael Phelps due to an interview he had with Dan Lebotard.
PF, AUPPL has a Twitter feed that he updates regularly during games. And AUBaseball has it's own Twitter feed.
This isn't a series vs BC, it is some kind of mini round robin thing hosted at AU between Auburn (obviously), Mizzou, BC, and FAU.
Mizzou and FAU played earlier today (Mizzou won).
Twitter is not enough. That's the microblogoosphere (watch as I run to twitter and follow those two).
I guess I would kinda expect to see actual articles on the games from AUPPL. I'm just now finding out about them, though, and maybe should reserve my judgement for SEC season. I'm getting what I pay for, though. :-)
He usually has recaps. I think.
Ben Tate may or may not be better than Ingram, but Anthony Dixon was probably better than both of them.
Have a great Saturday morning, Hotties. I'm heading to the store to work for the man.
WARRRR EAGLE!!!
Morning, Hotties. It is good to be in Auburn. Hope the baseball and basketball teams do better than the gymnastics team. They were just a step off all night.
My father-in-law got sick yesterday so we stayed at the condo last night. Wish we could live here full time. We are going to get to use their scholarship tickets tonight.
Anyone else going tonight?
stuck in knoxville today. have fun for me today Cincy!!!!!!!!
Awesome. Man City 3-1 over Chelsea right now.
Morning Hots!
I love Ben Tate and for the longest time I agreed with him that he was a better back than Ingram. Then I thought about how many times Tate has fumbled the ball in key situations where we could have either kept the momentum going for a comback (Ark 09) or ended the game (NW 09). And those were just this year. It hurts to say it but I think Ingram>Tate :(
I might be there Cincy. Not sure yet. Gotta work on my honey-do list this morning.
Just finished an easy 11 mile tun. Headed to the gym for some weight training and then time to clean out the storage room (#1 on the list).
I'm at the gum burning 2000 calories and watching Chelsea get dismantled 4-1.
well Eddie, i'm at work and i'm buzzing after 2 large mugs of coffee.
get some!
;)
Awesome Scottie. Saturdays Rock!!!!
PS- I Got Some and going back for Second Serving!!!
rumor is i have a free ticket to the UT-UK game in knoxville in 2 hours. sweet! go cats!
PUNT BAMA PUNT!
That's, ummmm, an incredible workout.
i could hit the gym, but i choose the UT-UK game instead. :)
keep it up eddie!
Just an FYI for the Tate vs Ingram Deal:
Tate: GP:12; Att:243; Gain:1296; Loss:42; Net:1254; Avg:5.2; TD: 8; Long:60; Avg/G:104.5
Ingram: GP:12; Att:249; Gain:1562; Loss:20; Net:1542; Avg:6.2; TD:15; Long:70; Avg/G:118.6
The stats are straight from the SEC football website....by these stats I would have to say that Ingram was better...but yet I think we all know that Richardson is better than Ingram....but Auburn should be pretty solid in the backfield this year! WDE
About to get coffee cup No. 2, contemplating work.
WTC will remember an annual event known as "A Night to Remember," which I never forget because Mrs. Jet makes me write large checks to the school's athletic program during the silent action, where she traditionally bids against herself.
If karma indeed exists, there is a large sofa with my name on it tonight.
I am right there with you wtc ha - ha, just finished my mile and half walk in 31 minutes did two push-ups, 10 squats, 16-1/2 sit-ups. Made and ate breakfast now going to the store. Tate = Ingram if all things considered.
See you guys and gals later.
New thread UPZ.
@91: I think your numbers speak for themselves, no doubt.
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