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How about all these missionsecfootball.com interviewees moving on to bigger and better things.
First, it was Heath Shuler winning his Congressional election. In a few short weeks, he'll be heading to Washington and settling into his new gig.
Now, we'd like to congratulate 1971 Heisman Trophy Winner, Pat Sullivan, who was recently named the new Head Coach at Samford University. The coach will go back to his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama for his seconnd stint as a college football head coach.
We visited Pat in October when he was serving as the Assistant Head Coach at UAB, and we're glad to see he'll be the main man on the sidelines once again.
Time will only tell which other missionsecfootball.com guest will be movin' on up.
We recently interviewed Darren McFadden. Did you hear that...Heisman voters?
The formula for victory was a familiar one for the Auburn Tigers. Run the ball, run the ball, play some defense, and run the ball. Or in other words, a steady dose of Irons, both Kenny and David.
In the end, it was a good game and a great experience. The Tigers jumped out to a 14-3 lead with just under ten minutes left in the second quarter. It was basically Quentin Groves 14 - Alabama 3, as the Auburn defensive end blew past Alabama's right tackle, Chris Capps, and forced a fumble from quarterback John Parker Wilson on two consecutive possessions to set up the Auburn offense. First, Brad Lester ran it in to make it 10-3. Then after the second fumble recovery, Kenny Irons scampered in from eight yards out.
Play some defense. Run the ball.
Alabama could have put their heads down (Bobby Knight was nowhere in sight to "gently" raise them) and quit right there. But Mike Shula didn't let that happen. The Crimson Tide fans didn't let that happen. This is the Iron Bowl. It aint over 'til it's over. There was no quit in 'Bama today.
Continue reading "Auburn 22 - Alabama 15" »
This week's Auburn-Alabama game reminds me of Georgia-Florida - a rivalry game in which one team is regarded as being much better than the other. Just last week, Auburn (9-2 overall, 5-2 SEC) was a one-loss team still in contention for the BCS Championship game. But the Tigers will limp into Bryant-Denny Stadium after a crushing loss to face Alabama (6-5, 2-5). The Tide lost last week too, but showed encouraging signs of improvement against LSU. Usually in the Iron Bowl, the better team wins. Is Auburn really that much better than Alabama? I would say no.
Continue reading "Auburn-Alabama Preview" »
These Auburn and Alabama fans don't like each other.
They love each other.
Tonight we dined with a dozen "mixed couples" in the lovely Birmingham home of Joy and Price Kloess. Joy (Auburn '79) and Price (Alabama '79) hosted this party for husbands and wives that attended the rival universities that will do battle tomorrow in Tuscaloosa. The only rules are: these couples must be comprised of an Auburn grad and an Alabama grad, and they must bring food and sport attire from their alma maters.
Not only was the food delicious, it was creative and competitive. You haven't had dessert until you've had a "Bundt 'Bama Bundt" cake. But you can only eat that after your main course of Tiger Taters, or perhaps you'd prefer Tuberville's Thumbs Up Potato Pie. Fear the Thumb ... Not the Pie.
Continue reading "Can't We All Just Get Along? These People Can" »
Bad idea: Being an Auburn fan and living in Tuscaloosa.
Worse idea: Being a former Auburn player and living in Tuscaloosa.
Still, an even worse idea: Being not only a former Auburn player, but an Auburn legend, and living in Tuscaloosa.
David Langner is brave enough to do just that.
Nowadays, Langner works as a Finance Manager at Townsend Nissan. He sells cars regularly to Alabama fans. But 34 years ago, he was breaking those same fans' hearts.
Continue reading "Living in Enemy Territory" »
One state, two cities, two campuses, and three hours of driving have reinforced the theme of the week:
Auburn hates Alabama, and Alabama hates Auburn.
Today the crew packed into the Highlander and set out for the glorious state of Alabama, starting on campus at Auburn University and finishing in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama. Emily, an Auburn graduate, obviously represented her Tigers, so I felt the need to be a Crimson Tide supporter. It got pretty heated.
Glenn began the trip by, either wisely or foolishly (I'm still not sure), putting an Alabama flag and an Auburn flag on our car.
Nobody broke into it yet. So far, so good.
Continue reading "From One Campus to the Other..." »
Since the first time Emily and I talked about football, she has been describing the hatred that Auburn and Alabama fans have for each other.
I had always thought the Iron Bowl would be a great rivalry, but nothing too different than Florida-Florida State, Michigan-Ohio State, or the one I grew up on - Florida State-Miami. But Emily continues to insist that there is something different about Auburn-Alabama. She says no other rivalry compares.
After tonight's interview with former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix, I am starting to become a believer.
Continue reading "Let the Trash Talking Begin!" »
Good news and bad news for Auburn Tigers fans.
First, the good news: Today we sat in the living room of a future star linebacker for the Tigers, Fuller Crumley. The kid is big for his age, and he's been brought up to love Auburn and hate Alabama.
Now, the bad news: Fuller is two years old.
In a cozy Chattanooga house, we sat and talked with Damon and Alli Crumley while their young son napped. This is an Auburn household, where young Fuller is being brought up to be the next Tigers All-American.
Continue reading "Auburn Tigers: The Next Generation" »
Here are some things that have been on my mind since Saturday night:
- What is wrong the officiating this year? I have a theory. Instant replay has made officials worse. Obviously I'm not the first to say this so I won't call it my theory, but I believe that instant replay has made officials hesitate to make the calls they should be making.
Continue reading "Final Thoughts on UF-Auburn" »
A big win for Auburn is a big loss for the SEC.
No longer does the SEC have an undefeated team. No longer does the SEC have a chance of putting a team in the top two when the BCS standings are released tomorrow.
After another lackluster win by USC, and another lay-up on the schedule for Big East heavyweights West Virginia and Louisville (even though the Cardinals only beat Cincinnati by six), the SEC is left on the outside looking in.
Continue reading "Auburn 27 - Florida 17" »
Of course we all would have loved this game to be a battle of two unbeaten teams, but Arkansas had to come into Jordan-Hare Stadium and shock the world last week.
The atmosphere in Auburn today was exciting, but not overwhelming. I asked some Auburn fans if last week's loss hurt the mood of today. Here is a sample:
Continue reading "Auburn Fans Still Ready to Go" »
Auburn hasn't always been this good at football. Since 2000, the Tigers have the 12th best record in the country, but like any other university, there have been low points. In the late 1970s, the Tigers struggled mightily, regularly missing out on Bowl games. Then they hired Pat Dye as Head Coach in 1981.
If you are unaware of how he did on the job, all you need to know is that the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium is named "Pat Dye Field."
Continue reading "Auburn Legend Pat Dye" »
A rivalry that has been put on hold since 2002 resumes tomorrow at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. #11 Auburn (5-1, 3-1) hosts #2 Florida (6-0, 4-0). The last time the two teams met in Auburn, the Tigers beat the top-ranked Gators 23-20 in 2001. It will take a big effort from Tommy Tuberville's squad to knock off red-hot UF.
UF OFFENSE VS. AU DEFENSE
Chris Leak. Tim Tebow. We've heard about 100 times this week how good the quarterback tandem is for UF. Leak throws. Tebow runs. And lately Tebow has shown his ability to put the ball in the air as well. Urban Meyer has done a nice job keeping things simple for Tebow instead of putting the true freshman in situations where he could fail.
Continue reading "UF-Auburn...The Preview" »
Tommy Tuberville said what most college football fans wanted to hear. Last week, he gave his support for a playoff in NCAA football, basically because all SEC teams are doomed under the current format. Given the strength of the conference, it is quite a challenge to go undefeated in the SEC, therefore seriously jeopardizing an SEC team's chances to play for a national championship.
Today I asked some fans what they thought about Tuberville's comments and a playoff system in college football.
Continue reading "Playoffs? Tuberville Wouldn't Mind" »
The crowd was pumped up on a Thursday night while eating dinner at the Auburn Hotel Conference Center. About 100 people gathered, wearing orange and screaming "War Eagle" every 10 minutes or so. And this was for Coach Tommy Tuberville's radio show. Imagine what Jordan-Hare Stadium will be like on Saturday when the Florida Gators come to town.
"My daughter, Lisa, is pregnant," one Auburn fan revealed to Tuberville. "And she wanted me to tell you that she's only craving one thing. Gator!"
"It wasn't pickles," Tuberville joked. "I know that."
Continue reading "Tuberville Talks Auburn-Florida" »
Not 30 minutes after Auburn's victory did the trees at Toomer's Corner become completely covered in white, as students covered the trees with toilet paper to celebrate.
Continue reading "Auburn: Rolling Toomer's Corner" »
During today's defensive showdown, won 7-3 by Auburn, here are some players, and coaches, that any SEC, or college football fan, have got to be looking out for as we continue the football season.
Continue reading "Auburn: Players to Remember" »
Look at the stats, and it should've been different. LSU had 120 more yards, forced the only turnover of the game, and held Kenny Irons to 68 yards on the ground. However, when Auburn needed to make the long touchdown drive, they made it, and when LSU needed to answer, they couldn't.
Continue reading "Auburn: Incredible Game Just Falls Auburn's Way" »
Here are just a few general observations that I've seen from the first half of play, as LSU leads Auburn 3-0 at halftime.
Continue reading "Auburn: Halftime Thoughts" »
During a timeout of the Auburn/LSU game, I raced back behind me in the press box to catch a glimpse of the ongoing game between Arkansas, my alma mater, and Vanderbilt. Only two of us were watching the TV...one was myself, the other was SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.
Continue reading "Auburn: Hog Break with Mike Slive" »
A day before the huge SEC West showdown between #4 Auburn and #7 LSU, the city, as well as the campus of Auburn, appeared strangely quiet...awaiting the throng of fans who will arrive tomorrow for the nation's marquee matchup of the day.
Continue reading "Auburn: Calm Before the Storm" »
"When Auburn scored the first touchdown, the old eage broke free from its master and began to soar above the field. Auburn people looked skyward, saw the familiar figure, and shouted 'War Eagle'. At the end of the game, which Auburn won 10-0 (over Georgia), the old eagle collapsed and died, presumably having given his all in pursuit of victory for Auburn" - Auburn Media Guide
Continue reading "Auburn: Fly Like An Eagle" »
Today was the third interview with a Hall of Famer that I've had in the last week. We've interviewed a Hall of Fame player, and a Hall of Fame coach, and today, we took a tour of Jordan-Hare Stadium with Aubie, Auburn's Hall of Fame mascot.
Continue reading "Auburn: Aubie...and a Mascot Question" »
Two weeks ago, a group of middle school boys from Columbus, Ga. became America's baseball heroes. While Team USA suffered subpar results at soccer's World Cup and basketball's World Championships, this Team USA showed that a lot of sweat and a close-knit team could take on the world and finish on top.
Continue reading "Auburn: Little League Champ turns to Football, Tigers" »
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