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7.27.2010

Auburn: Soon to be a second-time champion?

Hey everyone. So Tommy Tuberville, he of Texas Tech fame, has been talking in recent months that Auburn should become the 2004 national champions if Southern Cal is forced to vacate wins from that era.

That happened. The NCAA took action against the Trojans this summer.

So what now? Though the AP said it won't take any retroactive action, the Football Writers Association of America is open to changing its 2004 champion.

The group's director said yesterday that he's going to talk with several former FWAA presidents and see what they think.

"I'm sensing that people, when they look at the situation, that is a distinct possibility that Auburn thing can come into play," FWAA president Steve Richardson said. "I haven't had anyone convince me why we shouldn't do it."

I know what you may be thinking. The FWAA title?

It's at least as good as Parke Davis, Houlgate and the College Football Researchers Association.

276 Comments:

FSJ said...: #1; 9:05 AM
Seanzie said...: Championship substance.; 9:05 AM
Seanzie said...: eff.; 9:05 AM
Seanzie said...: Titans Sue Lane Kiffin, USC; 9:06 AM
Aubie said...: I'll take it!; 9:09 AM
FSJ said...: And who is the Football Writer's Association of America?; 9:09 AM
Norm said...: If I'm not mistaken, this is the same organization which has said UAT was champion. I'm sure UAT had no issues in claiming it.

Whatever.

Keep Hate Alive.; 9:10 AM
Jay G. Tate said...: I think it's pretty legit.; 9:12 AM
Aubie said...: This actually excites me.; 9:12 AM
AUnMobilz (CAM-"Da Man") said...: If they give it to us take and and go get another one this year
"Eight ain't it"!; 9:12 AM
AUnMobilz (CAM-"Da Man") said...: JGT,
i got your tweet and had to come comment on the 2005 Title Possibility!; 9:13 AM
AUnMobilz (CAM-"Da Man") said...: Oops 2004 MNC Title!.....i'm so confused this am!; 9:13 AM
wtc said...: I'll claim it.

JayG-I know we are about to kick off football coverage ina strong way, but can you find out if the basketball recruits that Barbee signed have enrolled or will ewnroll. Specifically Cothran and Kemp?; 9:14 AM
Jay G. Tate said...: It happens, MOBILZ!!; 9:14 AM
Jay G. Tate said...: I'll work on it, WTC.; 9:14 AM
Scott M. Brannan said...: RETROACTIVE TITLE?

i'll take it.

if a Bammer media relations guy can award retroactive titles why can't the FWAA?

hang me a banner!; 9:15 AM
WarEagleRK said...: I'll take it. Raise the banners, build a Tubs statue.; 9:15 AM
Scott M. Brannan said...: so, if this comes to pass, does Jacobs owe Tubs a bonus for winning a NC?; 9:16 AM
ehyou said...: What's up Aubie. THT is gonna love your pic.; 9:16 AM
Jay G. Tate said...: Unrelated Tweet from Shaq that I find hilarious.

THE_REAL_SHAQ: I was at a justin bieber concert he had dat mug jumpin 50 thousand people dat kids a star, and I got his autograph thanks justin

Thanks, Gribbs!; 9:17 AM
FSJ said...: I've said all along to claim them...Claim 83 and 93 as well.

But you can't have it both ways.; 9:18 AM
Norm said...: FSJ's not the boss of me. I can have my cake AND eat it too.; 9:22 AM
Seanzie said...: What does having it both ways mean exactly?; 9:22 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Aubie is indeed an Excitable Boy. Go get the pot roast!; 9:25 AM
Sarah in the Suburbs said...: I'm sorry, but does it really matter at this point? I'm worried we'll start doing like those guys up the road and claim 13 when clearly ESPN credited them with 9 this past season.

On an unrelated note, Shaq's tweet wins the genius award for the day.; 9:25 AM
Scott M. Brannan said...: i can handle Bama have 13 if we have 4.; 9:26 AM
FSJ said...: Seanzie,

I'm not certain but I think it means saying 8 is legit and 12 or 13 or whatever is not, and then hopping on this wagon.

With that said....I'm a proponent of claiming them all. In my book, Auburn has five.

1913 (by all accounts a helluva team), 1957, 1983,1993, and 2004 (courtesy of George Brown's poll currently...with FWAA pending); 9:27 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: 2004 we beat ua-t. That's the only championship I care about. The 2004 AU team wasn't even remotely similar to the team USC beat the year before. AU would have beaten anyone they played in '04. But most importantly, we beat ua-t.; 9:28 AM
WarEagleRK said...: In my book, Auburn has all of the National titles ever.

Sadly nobody will publish my book on NCAA Football history.; 9:29 AM
Commish of Old Pimps said...: A step up from Golf Digest!! The louder the chorus and hardware, the more pressure on the BCS to give us our just desserts!

Waldoff: I wouldn't order any confetti just yet, sonny!; 9:33 AM
Seanzie said...: I disagree with you on beating UAt, THT. They were less than mediocre that year and we beat about 5 teams better than them. Don't make it all about them when clearly that season was way bigger than UAt.; 9:37 AM
chip chip said...: its been legit for almost 6 years now. once the bush stuff came to light in 2005, everyone knew the jig was up. it just took a long time to drag the truth into daylight.

the only thing that might be sweeter than an AU mnc is watching bammer's 2009 mnc get taken away in a few years.; 9:57 AM
Scott M. Brannan said...: you saw it here first:

API, 1913 NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!!!

thanks FSJ.; 9:58 AM
martini35504 said...: Oooooh gross, THT is one of those!; 10:00 AM
AUnMobilz (CAM-"Da Man") said...: Scottie,
I'm liking the sound of this also:

FWAA 2004 NCAA Football National Champs!; 10:04 AM
dan dan the AU fan said...: I say take it and hang the banner also. I believe the 2004 team could have and would have beaten USCw that year. Just like CGC came up with defensive scheme in 2005 to beat them, he would have done it in 2004 if given the chance.; 10:05 AM
Unknown said...: Hmmm, championships award by a Bamer. Now that is interesting.

This really is much to do about nothing. I will stick with having the best football team. Having a MNC means nothing to me.; 10:10 AM
Unknown said...: Besides, why are we settling on a nation championship. Lets go for the world championship and possibly the championship of the universe. Yes, I proclaim the 2004 Auburn Tigers Champion of the Universe!!! Screw those piddlie national championships!!!; 10:12 AM
Anonymous said...: I like JG fueling some discussion with the retroactive award issue.

Not surprisingly, I disagree with the resident Bammer(no offense FSJ). For me, meh ....Do it ...get recognized that year ...and move on. I'm old school in most ways, but chest pounding about days gone by is arrogant. Discussing "what if" can be fun as long as it doesn't smell of whine.

I grew up a Bammer and even while afflicted with that disease, always hated the old school arrogance that came with it.; 10:15 AM
WarEagleRK said...: I think we could have beaten USC in 2004, but I'm not convinced that we would have.

It would have been a good game.; 10:15 AM
Anonymous said...: What was Shaq doing at a concert with 15 year olds?; 10:16 AM
Seanzie said...: Justin Bieber sucks. I had to watch 2 of his music videos at the bowling alley on Sat night. Awful, awful, awful. Between that and the 4 Lady Gaga videos, the night was almost ruined.; 10:21 AM
ehyou said...: My 8 yr old says Justin Bieber is totally dreamy. I'm not allowed to have an opinion.; 10:25 AM
Baldy said...: I saw a Shaq reality tv show advertisement, so it's probably related to his upcoming show. Putting Justin Bieber on your TV show = teeny bopper viewership galore.; 10:25 AM
WarEagleRK said...: I know of Justin Bieber from seeing his name on some music web pages. Thankfully I've never heard any of his music or know nothing about the kid.; 10:27 AM
Norm said...: Who knows whether AU would've won that game in '04? I have absolutely zero doubt that it would've been a better contest than what we were treated to with USCw v OU.; 10:28 AM
Seanzie said...: Yep and remember, Norm, everyone said it was going to the best one yet and that the two teams there were the ones that were going to put on the show everyone wanted to see. HA!; 10:29 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: one of "those"? whatever those are, yep, I'm one.; 10:29 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Hanson concert coming up somewhere around here; get your tickets now!; 10:30 AM
Norm said...: Justin actually lives not too far from me from what I'm told. We have friends with young daughters and I hear quite a bit about him from them. Hot Wife and I are trying to raise F4* as most boys are likely raised - to play sports, do well in school and all that stuff. Some other friends in the neighborhood are raising their 5 y/o son to be the next Justin. I just can't fathom this concept.; 10:31 AM
WarEagleRK said...: You heard it here first Norm lives in an exclusive neighborhood with celebrities.; 10:35 AM
dan dan the AU fan said...: I know "would have" is impossible to guarantee. I am admittedly being a homer. My "logic" is that since our current HC was DC that year and DC at Texas the next year when UT defeated USC, AU would have won the game in 2004.; 10:36 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Brother Jet - it's come to my attention that there are some hate-deficient Hotties who may need to be reacquainted with the teachings from the Good Book.; 10:39 AM
michael said...: I knew we were champions!; 10:40 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Although both are correctly answered in the affirmative, it's important to ask the right question.

The question is not "Would AU have beaten USC?", but "Would AU have beaten OU?"; 10:43 AM
Unknown said...: Ut oh!!! Look out!!! Michael is going to sing some Queen!!!; 10:47 AM
dan dan the AU fan said...: There is no doubt, in my mind, AU would have beaten OU.; 10:51 AM
Unknown said...: Auburn would have totally decimated Okrahoma. There children's children would rue the day Okrahoma ever played the 2004 Auburn Tigers. We would have burned their homes, stole their women, and scattered their livestock to the four corners of the globe. Okrahoma would have been declared a national disaster area. People from Okrahoma would have been fleeing to Gaza for a safe existence. Yea, I think we would have beaten Okrahoma. I don't know about the Trojans, but those Swooners would have went down hard.; 10:52 AM
dan dan the AU fan said...: OU squeaked by in three games that year all because of really big mistakes by the other teams.; 10:52 AM
Scott Chocolate said...: ScottieB - interesting question at9:16.

I don't need no preachin'! I'm a'hatin"!; 10:53 AM
FSJ said...: I agree that Auburn would have beaten OU. However, it is much less clear that Auburn would have beaten USC. Possible, but not certain.

That was a helluva professional team in Southern California.; 10:53 AM
Unknown said...: The poop on Louisian campaign has heated up with this latest action. I have been saving the word poop to use in a post on here for a long time.; 10:55 AM
FSJ said...: Totally OT, but how's this for planning for retirement?

Ohhhh yeahhhh; 10:56 AM
Seanzie said...: Yeah but it doesn't matter if we could have beaten USC. At this point that team is N/A in the discussion.; 10:59 AM
FSJ said...: Well Seanzie, it kinda does matter. Part of the argument against OU is that they were DESTROYED by USC.

If Auburn had played USC and lost by say 10 or so and OU won their bowl game against an overmatched team well you see where that argument is going.

Even though OU in my mind wasn't as good as that AU team there's no way of knowing.; 11:02 AM
Unknown said...: This really calls for a redo. The 2004 Auburn and Okrahoma teams need to get together and settle this.; 11:05 AM
FSJ said...: Steve,

I agree...

While we are at it can we get the 1966 and 1977 UA teams to play the Notre Dame teams of that year?

Heck even let them play last year's Notre Dame team too.; 11:05 AM
Aubie said...: I just checked my basement... no long lost Ansel Adams negatives anywhere. Dangit.; 11:10 AM
FSJ said...: Yeah Aubie,

Closest thing I have are works of art by my three year old.; 11:12 AM
ehyou said...: Commercial BBQ sauce nowadays is nothing more than flavored hyper-sweet syrup. Blech.; 11:17 AM
Unknown said...: Don't forget Auburn beat a very good Virginia Tech team in the bowl game. That team lost to USC early in the season and had one slip up against one of the NC schools, but they had one of the best defenses in the nation. They were no pushover.; 11:18 AM
Unknown said...: By the way, we really should ban Warren Zevon avatars.; 11:23 AM
Unknown said...: In polygamist news, this guy gets a new trial? I though the first was pretty cool. I mean a sentence of 5 years to life is pretty cool. That is one heck of a deterrent to crime. Will I be in jail five years or life? Well, we really aren't sure. We will let you know in five years.; 11:28 AM
Seanzie said...: But it doesn't matter in that, if these guys look at it like they have in all of CFB history, which they can, they're not bound by the rules like say, the BCS and it's components are, they'll see a team that lost by 40 and another that didn't lose a game and played stiff competition, so they can award it however they want. Bottom line is, all the games we played, we won. Oklahoma didn't. End of story.; 11:29 AM
Unknown said...: USC vacated the win, but they didn't forfeit the game. In other words, nobody won, but Oklahoma lost. Yea, sucks to be them.; 11:34 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: SteveFC = Mr. Bad Example in regards to 11:23 post.; 11:35 AM
Unknown said...: And besides, why aren't we hearing a big ground swell from Okrahoma saying they should be awarded the 2004 national title. After all, they were the other team in the NC game. Why haven't you seen this? Because it would break the world record for simultaneous spit takes.; 11:36 AM
FSJ said...: ehyou,

Agree 100%. It's way too thick too.

I like my sauce to have a good kick to it and enough vinegar so that it is thinned out enough.; 11:36 AM
Miller said...: Anybody would have beaten Chokahoma in that game. USC wasn't really that impressive. UO fumbled 3 times inside their own 20 and threw 2 other bad interceptions on their half if the field. That's a pretty easy 35-0 right there.
I give UO more credit for handing USC that game on a silver platter than I give to $C for taking it.; 11:40 AM
ehyou said...: FSJ...

Bingo; 11:40 AM
ehyou said...: Y'all are forgetting that winning a championship and being the best team have nothing to do with each other.

A championship is all about circumstances, which didn't work out for us. Oh well.; 11:44 AM
Unknown said...: That USC team was very good, the best that money could buy.; 11:44 AM
Unknown said...: How about a more reasonable solution to the 2004 NC question. Tuberville and Stoops in a celebrity death match for all the marbles.; 11:46 AM
Scott Chocolate said...: Well, what a surprise:

Cody; 11:53 AM
ehyou said...: I don't like that dude. I'm pretty sure it's because he went to Bama.; 11:56 AM
Jet said...: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/07/former_alabama_star_terrence_c.html

In other news, sun rises in east this morning and Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.; 11:58 AM
Scott Chocolate said...: It's about time for the THT / Scottie B combo.; 11:58 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: I can't spare any dislike. All my dislike is saved up and nurtured until it becomes unbridled HATE for ua-t.; 11:59 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: well, I knew better.; 11:59 AM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: btw, BEASLEY!!! hates ua-t, too!; 12:00 PM
CHB said...: I think the difference in Auburn's right to claim 83/93/2004 is that they had a legitimate claim. If you look at some of the bammers 13 they are not legit. Some of the years they lost their bowl game. I think in one case they got whipped by Texas and then still claimed a title over them. So there is a big difference.; 12:01 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: ua-t can claim 20, I don't care. I stick with the facts. And the fact is, ua-t sucks. Big time.; 12:03 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: But I still <3 Bart Starr.; 12:03 PM
michael said...: I finished the last thread for your guys.; 12:08 PM
ehyou said...: You're a fine human being Michael.; 12:11 PM
michael said...: Thanks, ehyou. Thanks.; 12:15 PM
FSJ said...: All that matters to me is that we won the last one. That makes this discussion much more palatable for me.

:-); 12:15 PM
CHB said...: Weird but fine.; 12:16 PM
Scott Chocolate said...: MJT, excellent job. I say you continue the story over here until we get to 200. It was a real page-turner, if you know what I mean.; 12:16 PM
CHB said...: Bammers have every right to be happy and boastful about last years. I say live it up, but please stop talking about 13.; 12:17 PM
FSJ said...: THT,

Bart Starr is as nice a guy as you'd ever want to meet. I've seen him in Missy Myra's BBQ in Cahaba Heights several times. Always takes time with anybody that speaks to him.; 12:17 PM
Norm said...: I've met Bart Starr, even got to spend a bit of time in his house. He was definitely nice then.; 12:20 PM
Scott M. Brannan said...: Norm, i just don't know who you are anymore.; 12:21 PM
FSJ said...: scottie,

Bet he hates the Braves too...; 12:22 PM
michael said...: SC, I can't tell my stories unless it is for a gratuitous page turn. Dems are da rules.; 12:25 PM
ehyou said...: Hates the Braves?!?

Don't you blaspheme in here!!; 12:25 PM
Norm said...: Nope, I've been a Braves fan since I was old enough to appreciate baseball.

scottieb - there are a couple of nice Bammers out there. Bart Starr being one of them. I'll even go so far as to include FSJ on that very short list. I've had lunch with the misguided fellow and I'd eat with him again. You know, if I have nothing better to do.; 12:25 PM
Scott M. Brannan said...: hates the Braves too?

wouldn't surprise me.....bammer.

39 days till....and the HATE flows strooonnngggg through me.; 12:27 PM
FSJ said...: Forget this prehistoric national title talk......

Here's my predictions for the upcoming season:

West:
1) Alabama
2) Auburn
3) Arkansas
4) LSU (Bye Les...)
5) Miss. State (I'll believe they are better when I see it)
6) Ole Myth

East:
1) Florida
2) UGA
3) South Carolina (see Miss. State)
4) Kentucky (will they finally beat UT?)
5) Tennessee
6) Vandy; 12:27 PM
ehyou said...: FSJ...
Alabama winning the west is just crazy talk. You just destroyed any cred you had.; 12:29 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Auburn doesn't have enough depth, doesn't have as much talent, blah blah blah.

Ok, that should work.

AU wins west.; 12:32 PM
michael said...: Auburn will be undefeated; 12:36 PM
chip chip said...: nuisntpu%f7U^I^Fkjrov6Y6ytys58wo58by uihiuyhgn eyryt6r6rRSu6E^*U6; 12:37 PM
Baldy said...: Is Bama planning to start a true freshman punter and kicker this year? If that's the case and they're starting something like 8 or 9 newbies on defense, how can there be so much love out there for Bama this year? They obviously had a great season last year and are still full of talent, but that's a lot of "unproven in the SEC" talent out there on the field to be getting as much hype as they seem to be getting.; 12:37 PM
FSJ said...: I do think Auburn is undefeated going into the Arkansas game.; 12:40 PM
michael said...: And also after the National Championship game, FSJ.; 12:42 PM
FSJ said...: Baldy,

We heard the same things last year about UA. How are they going to replace their starting LT, their starting center, their starting QB, their starting RB, etc?

It worked out fine. I have no doubt that we will be tough to beat this year too. Is that enough to win a National Championship? We will have to see.; 12:43 PM
Eddie McCoy said...: I'm glad that Bama can replace 8 defensive starters and not miss a beat.

Offense better be in gear all year IMO. Defense saved bama last season until the Offense got its legs. Offense will have to do the same if they want to repeat.

No SEC team is winning the NC this year. Just don't see it happening.; 12:46 PM
Unknown said...: Tuberville is laying down the law in Tubbock.; 12:46 PM
michael said...: Face it FSJ, bama is going to suck.; 12:47 PM
Eddie McCoy said...: Tubs did that when he came to Auburn and I think it worked out quite well for him. Makes sense.; 12:48 PM
FSJ said...: Something tells me that Texas is gonna make Tubs "fear the thumb" at some point during his tenure.; 12:49 PM
Jet said...: I've said before I'm not in to ex post facto national titles. It cheapens the banner to me.

Plus, my concern is 2010, not 2004. Here's 10 things (in no particular order) to worry about.

1. Consistency at QB
2. DL play
3. Safeties
4. LB depth
5. RB situation
6. Depth in OL
7. Special teams play
8. Additional production at WR
9. Pass rush
10. Penalties

I think we'll get most of them worked out, but who knows? They're all big issues.; 12:51 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: who is Tubs?; 12:52 PM
Baldy said...: FSJ, I didn't realize you guys had as many to replace last year. It seems Bama is getting the benefit of the doubt. The NC and coaching pedigree has a lot to do with that, but it seems a little odd to me given half the team hasn't taken a snap. Preseason is for bupkus anyway, but there just seems to be little or no noise about the loss of PROVEN talent they have to replace when talk of this year's contenders comes up on the radio.; 12:52 PM
Unknown said...: The west is wide open this season. While Bama is the obvious favorite, I can see Auburn, Arkansas, or LSU making a run.

In the east, this should be the year South Carolina moves to second. Georgia will be starting an inexperienced QB and they play South Carolina early at South Carolina, if I remember correctly.

MSU is improved and they showed it last season. They stomped a mud hole in Ole Nutt, the preseason west favorite. The only problem is, a vastly improved MSU will only be 5th in the west unless LSU implodes, which is possible. Then they get 4th.; 12:53 PM
Scott Chocolate said...: Nah, FSJ...he'll probably beat Texas, but there will be some lower-tier team that will have his number most of the time.; 12:54 PM
Eddie McCoy said...: Jet- Where is 2 minute offense...that is an area that needs to be addressed sorely. The last drive against bama was pathetic with a capital P, especially for a no huddle team.; 12:54 PM
Eddie McCoy said...: Watch out for Georgia when they are perceived to be down. They bite and bite hard. Bulldogs will challenge for the East IMO and USCe will flop like always.; 12:55 PM
Unknown said...: Jet, I don't think we have any issues with depth on the offensive line. The other points are valid. Consistency at QB and solid DL play are my two main concerns. We just gotta stop that inside trap.; 12:56 PM
Unknown said...: I do expect Georgia to be much improved by the end of the year, but they make the mistake of playing the cocks early. With an inexperienced QB and a new defensive scheme, that doesn't bode well for them.

By the way, what is the over/under on the number of games until Lattimore is injured. There offensive line has trouble pass protecting, but on the other hand it sucks at run blocking. Throw in that they seem to be putting the entire running game on Lattimore's back and I see disaster coming.; 12:59 PM
Commish of Old Pimps said...: Good stuff here from NFL agent, and former NFL player, Ralph Cindrich:

"What does Cindrich think of Saban's wondering how agents are "any better than a pimp"?

Cindrich: First off, that's taken a little bit out of context, because he said, "some of them." Certainly, I would agree with him in some respects. At the same time, any time Nick Saban wants to put his record up against mine, I'm happy to do that in any form.

Is there a difference between how college coaches and agents recruit players?

Cindrich: No. And old Nick knows that. I've seen him out on the road a time or two. He's maybe contacted a client of mine, or a family member of a client of mine. I know what goes on out there, and he knows that I know. The bottom line is that to stand up on a pulpit and start preaching that way – and maybe I'm doing it, take a shot at me – that bothers me, especially when it comes from a guy like Nick Saban.

Look, this is a billion dollar business, college sports, and it has an unbelievably strong congressional lobby. You're not going to change it, and there's no empathy for the agents, nor should there be."

Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/2010-07-26/nfl-agent-be-competitive-agents-cant-operate-within-framework-all-rules#ixzz0uuFMdBQT; 12:59 PM
Jet said...: Eddie ... I restricted it to essentially personnel questions.

My sense is that more personnel will help reveal what issues we have, if any, with coaching on the defensive side of the ball. I think we did what we had to do last year -- for better or worse -- and I believe Roof was unduly criticized by some.

Offensively, the last possession vs. UAT was a disaster. My greater concern is overall play calling. I think Gus is a brilliant play designer.

I am looking to see if the play calling -- particularly in the red zone improves. Our answer seemed to be throw the fade to Darvin every time we got to the 20 -- or put Kodi in.

I'm hopeful that's because we were limited -- Darvin was our only receiver, and we just believed that an athletic Kodi was our only hope inside the 10.; 1:01 PM
Unknown said...: Roof was definitely short handed last season and he gets a pass. This season we better see significant improvement or he will be on the hot seat, but I expect to see the improvement.

Our short yardage offense was terrible last season. I hope we see significant improvement and stop using the RFYLK offense in those situations.; 1:07 PM
WarEagleRK said...: Jet,

We see your concerns, but the real question is, how do you measure success?; 1:08 PM
Unknown said...: Zachery and Fannin were decent receivers last season, but I do agree we need others to step up. There were a couple of games it seemed like Adams was the only receiver out there.; 1:08 PM
Unknown said...: How do you measure success? It depends upon who you are. If you are Vandy, six wins is success. If you are Auburn this season, eight wins in the regular season is probably success, although a bit disappointing. With a 12 game schedule, in general 9 wins a season is success at Auburn.; 1:11 PM
Jet said...: RK ...

"Eight ain't enough."; 1:12 PM
Unknown said...: Seven wins this season would likely have the fans looking for changes. I don't think it is fair, but that is how I see it.; 1:13 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: we'll have to ask digger and IV, but I doubt people were clamoring for heads to roll after Shug slipped from 5-5 his first year to 2-8 his second year.; 1:16 PM
FSJ said...: I hope you all will take this in the manner which it is intended. I thought for the most part that Gus was brilliant. HOWEVER, there are parts of some games where he left me scratching my head. For instance the last drive in the Iron Bowl after UA took the lead puzzled me.

I agree that Roof was short handed.; 1:18 PM
FSJ said...: Dadgummit, should have read Jet's post first.; 1:19 PM
WarEagleRK said...: THT,

Quite a different atmosphere from Shug year 2 and Chiz year 2.; 1:19 PM
WarEagleRK said...: I do like Gus' offense, I just really really hope the play calling and execution part of the game gets greatly better.; 1:21 PM
Jet said...: RK ...

To expound ... fewer penalties, more production at receiver, production at RB positive turnover ratio, fewer three and outs. I don't see the 50 points a game behemoth (particularly in league games) some are forecasting, but we should be productive.

Doing those things (and covering kicks adequately) will help the defense. Look at the games we could have won -- those things above killed us, and would have helped against Arkansas, too.

That's how we get from seven regular season wins to the 10 win season I think we "can" get.; 1:21 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Jet - re: your 1:10pm post... spot on.

FSJ - re: your 1:18pm post... typical bammer, you have no idea what you're talking about.

no, it doesn't matter that y'all said essentially the same thing ;-); 1:28 PM
Unknown said...: 10 wins is certainly possible, but I will stick with my guess of 9, and guess is the word for it. It all depends upon if Cam can be as good throwing as Todd and if the defense shows significant improvement. I feel pretty confident about the defense, but Cam worries me. He supposedly had accuracy issues at Florida. If that is a problem, it will cost us games. Not making mistakes is much more important for a QB than making great plays.; 1:32 PM
Unknown said...: Cutting down on penalties would be huge too. They have really hurt us the last couple of years.; 1:33 PM
Jet said...: Jack Tatum, one of the meanest $@&s to ever play football, died today.; 1:33 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: was he the one called the assassin?; 1:35 PM
Jet said...: Yes, he was.; 1:35 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: there was also a real mean one with the Chiefs from that era. I think one of the Packers knocked him out cold in SB I. Ah yes, Fred "The Hammer" Williamson.; 1:36 PM
Norm said...: Be that as it may, do you think he shot Buckwheat?; 1:38 PM
WarEagleRK said...: Jet,

It shocks me anytime an SEC game has a team that scores 50. So I'd never expect us to roll 50 in the SEC at all.; 1:40 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: when was last time AU scored 50 in SEC game?; 1:45 PM
WarEagleRK said...: THT,

I don't recall any off the top of my head.; 1:50 PM
WarEagleRK said...: I remember giving up 50 a couple of times under Bowden.; 1:52 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: me neither. Seems like we had 52 on one of the MS schools.

we had 49 & 48 against KY & SC in '05; 1:54 PM
dan dan the AU fan said...: I do believe the defense will be much improved(1.There will be some depth as opposed to basically none last year.(2. Although Roof is said to be good, Chiz is a great defensive mind and we have seen what he can do when he has talent.

Offensively,the o-line will provide time for Cam to settle in. I believe T.Zach will be a great second option, especially if D. Adams draws double teams. The other receivers: Q. Carr, Benton, Blake, E. Smith will collectively provide a good third option. I think the running backs will handle their business, none may be spectacular, but they have the talent to be.

Special teams will have to be improved,because they stunk last year. D. Washington didn't start returning kicks until late in the season and ended up leading the league. Whoever is returning punts(T. Reed?) will provide better field position than last year.

All that being said, Arkansas is a game that concerns me.; 1:54 PM
WarEagleRK said...: There may be an 80's Vandy game where we got to 50.; 1:56 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: 1990 we put 56 on Vandy.

Lots of high 40s since, mostly against the MS schools.; 1:57 PM
Jet said...: 1990 ... Auburn 56, Vandy 6.

The Tristan Davis Memorial Game in Kentucky we got to 49.; 1:57 PM
dan dan the AU fan said...: There were probably some games they could have scored fifty if the Tubershell offense had not been implemented.; 1:59 PM
FSJ said...: Heck i thought y'all were gonna score fifty in the first half of the 2005 Iron Bowl.; 2:00 PM
WarEagleRK said...: So we've done it once in 20 years and now people are saying we'll do it more than once this year with a much stronger SEC?; 2:01 PM
chip chip said...: it takes defensive scores to hit 50 in sec play. even against vandy and teams having poor seasons. that said, i watched that breakdown of the malzahffense and how the lbs and safeties reacted. even bammer was totally confused at how to handle the plays that were coming. todd's inability to be any type of serious running threat and the relative lack of threats at wr gave bammer's d a few less things to worry about. when the qb is able to see 10-15 straight up the field when all the lbs clear out to cover the outside run fakes and takes it, all of the sudden the outside runs become much more effective because someone has to cover that qb draw straight up the middle and not be on the edge chasing down a rb. my estimation is that the offense was about 50-60% as effective as it can be in 2009. scoring points, even quickly, makes the other team take more chances and makes your d look better than it is.; 2:03 PM
Norm said...: Shut up Bammer.; 2:03 PM
michael said...: I see us scoring 50 with ease in a few games.; 2:04 PM
chip chip said...: i was not too impressed in year one of chiz as dc in 2002. dramatic improvement was made in 2003 and into 2004 as well.; 2:04 PM
WarEagleRK said...: "is that the offense was about 50-60% as effective as it can be in 2009"

I agree.

5-10% in the LSU & KY games.; 2:06 PM
WarEagleRK said...: Michael,

Conference games?; 2:06 PM
Unknown said...: We did score 49 last year against MSU.

We scored 56 against Vandy in 1990.

In 1985 we scored 59 against FSU. No, it wasn't SEC, but it was impressive.

The most we have scored against an SEC team in the modern era is 63 against Florida way back in 1970.

The most we have scored period was 94 against Georgia Tech in 1894. Somehow I don't see that record being broken any time soon.; 2:08 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: I certainly was hoping, FSJ. Then doofus fumbled and there went every molecule of momentum.; 2:09 PM
Baldy said...: Norm, much like our national championship, some here would rather us just forget about the fact that Buckwheat got the shaft by Alfalfa. I for one will never forget.

Always remember, you can't spell Alfalfa without "AL". Duntduntduhhh; 2:09 PM
WarEagleRK said...: THT,

I've said that Prechae's fumble in that Iron Bowl was the end of our offense for 3 years.; 2:11 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: Yep, he shamed the famed 15 jersey previously worn by the great Mickey Zofko.; 2:13 PM
Scott M. Brannan said...: easy now. my cat is named Prechae.

don't ask why.; 2:15 PM
Scott M. Brannan said...: did he also ruin your opinion of the great Clifton Robinson too, THT?; 2:16 PM
Scott Chocolate said...: Why?; 2:16 PM
chip chip said...: prechae apparently took AU's offense with him to canada. attempts to have it returned have been unsuccessful to date.; 2:17 PM
chip chip said...: we all got glimpses of the offense operating at peak performance during the ut game and a few others last year. defenders with hands on hips looking like it is Q4 before halftime is what we want to see more of this year.; 2:19 PM
Scott M. Brannan said...: gggrr....

it started as a joke with my neighbor's cat. said neighbor then decided to take cat to pound. we couldn't bear the thought of that. thus, sucker scottie takes in Prechae the cat. the name kinda stuck.; 2:21 PM
Unknown said...: I want to see lots of playing time for this incoming linebackers. It is an excellent group and we should be in good shape once they have some experience.; 2:21 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: if our defense could just force some TOs, they wouldn't have to worry about being on the field so long.; 2:21 PM
chip chip said...: flipping field position 15-20 yards with a punt return would help too.; 2:29 PM
Scott Chocolate said...: Scottie, I picture your cat as catching very few mice, but when he does, it's a big one. However, he sometimes lets those big ones get away in your living room when you have guests over.; 2:31 PM
Anonymous said...: Re: Jet's 10 item Concerns List(in no particular order) posted at 12:51 pm.

Swap #3 and #4 and I'll take that as a list in order of importance.; 2:31 PM
chip chip said...: i don't think we have any rolando mcclain's in our lb class but we do have some good ones. mcclain was the best player on bammer's team as a true frosh in 2007. i just can't see any of them being that type of player we need this year. if they can just take the load off starters on special teams, they have done a great service.; 2:32 PM
chip chip said...: there is quite a bit of american football talk lately. i'm thinking the season must be getting close.; 2:33 PM
Unknown said...: I am hoping Owens will be the star of the new LBs, but there is potential there in several of them. All look to be solid contributors.

I will be very interested in how many of the new recruits end up on special teams. I suspect a lot. Trevon Reed will likely be involved there.; 2:35 PM
Unknown said...: McClain was one of the better linebackers I have seen in the SEC in recent memory. In my book, he was Bama's best player last season.; 2:36 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: that was funny, Chocolate!; 2:38 PM
Tar Heel Tiger said...: y'all go ahead and flip it. I got to get caught up here in the BuyMore.; 2:39 PM
chip chip said...: a recent quote i saw somewhere form trooper concerning trovon reed.

"trovon is not allowed to talk to thigpen or lolley."; 2:41 PM
WarEagleRK said...: Norm,

Are you getting warmed up?; 2:49 PM
Norm said...: I'd lost track of time, stupid work. Guess I should be thinking about it.; 2:49 PM
Scott Chocolate said...: Norm, do you flip pages right-handed, left-handed, or are you a switch-flipper?; 2:50 PM
Norm said...: Not really sure how I feel about this - yesterday I signed F4* up for his first "organized" soccer team.; 2:51 PM
Norm said...: He better learn quick that all I can be expected to do there is drive him to the games and watch.; 2:51 PM
Norm said...: Soccer is stupid.; 2:52 PM