Theres a tingling sensation running down my spine

Jordan Hare Stadium in NCAA 08


Im sure you all feel it. Its the sensation that one gets when football season is lurking. Today, marks the unofficial start of football season with the SEC media days. So in the spirit of the greatest sporting season known to mankind, I shall take a look at Auburn's depth chart and schedule, providing an attempt at a realistic view.

First, lets look at the offense

QB
Starter: Brandon Cox, SR
Backup(s): Tray Blackmon, RS SO

Ok, so Tray Blackmon obviously doesnt play QB. Its a good way of describing how great the backups are. I thought I would put someone back there who will make a play if put in a dire situation. Who wouldnt like to see Tray running the option, pitch to a RB and then lead block for him? Count me in. Going back to the actual backups, I do exclude Kodi Burns from the lack of talent. Im torn with this guy. I, personally, have not watched him practice. I hear many good things though. I would love to see him win the backup job, and play in some situations a la Tebow. But, then again, his talent excites me so much that Id like to see him redshirt so that we have 4 years to play him. (another thing to consider is dual threat QB Deron Furr has committed to sign with AU, I like where this is going). Anyhow, going in to Two-a-days, I assume Blake Field will begin as the number 2, to be taken over by either Burns or Caudle.

RB
Starter: Brad Lester, JR
Backups: 4 Horsemen of he Apocalypse
(aka Ben Tate, SO/Mario Fannin, RS FR/Tristan Davis, JR/Enrique Davis, FR)

We are loaded at RB. Period. Honestly, I feel bad for Coach Gran and Coach Borges. Chosing which running back plays and how often is gonna be a chore. All these guys could start at big name schools. We have lester who scores 1 TD every 10 times he touches the ball. Then there is Ben Tate, who has Bo Jackson Jr written all over him. He is big, fast, and strong. He catches, runs up the middle, over defenders, around them, etc. Next we have Mario Fannin. I had the pleasure of seeing him in the final scrimmage. All I will say is that he is gonna be rediculous. Tristan Davis, making a glorius return to the offense, will add some lightning speed. If he can improve at all the fundamentals, he will be just as good as he rest. As far as Enrique Davis goes, I dont know much about him, but should he live up to hiss billing, we will have a good young back. He should be redshirted though with the depth we have.

FB
Starter: Carl Stewart, SR
Backups: Mike McLaughlin, JR/Danny Perry, SR/Tate or Fannin

Carl Stewart is a stud that gets little recognition from outside his teammates and coaches. This guy, like all the other RBs, could start at RB anywhere else. Plus he looks like he can eat you for lunch. McLaughlin and Perry should be able to provide ample run blocking. Tate and Fannin can get in on the action in the 2 back sets playin the hybrid "F - back" position.

WR
Starters:
Rod Smith, JR
Montez Billings, RS SO
Robert Dunn, JR
Backups:
Tim Hawhorne, RS FR
Terrell Zachary, RS FR
Chris Slaughter, JUCO transfer
Alex Rose, RS FR
Prechae Rodriguez, SR
James Swinton, JR

These guys, saving Smith, are a bunch of untested, unexperienced bad asses. Billings had a great spring. Look for Hawthorne, Zachary, Slaughter (pending NCAA clearance) and company to get plenty of experience this year. They might be half decent. Every publication Ive read about them wont give them any shred of hope. I think they will surprise everyone.

TE
Starters:
Cole Bennett, RS SR
Tommy Trott, RS SO
Gabe McKenzie, RS SO
Backups:
Brent Slusher, FR
Bailey Woods, FR

Probably the best group of tight ends in the nation. Bennett returns with a medical redshirt to add experience and leadership for the exremely athletic Trott and McKenzie.

OL
King Dunlap, SR
Leon Hart, SR
Jason Bosely, JR
Tyrone Green, SR
Andrew McCain, JR
Backups: Too many and too inexperienced to name

These guys are a question mark heading into preseason. From what I hear, they are playing pretty solid. We have some freshmen that might get a look, most impressive of which is Ziemba. The starting lineup may look a little different come Sept. 1st. But, looking at last year, despite talent, the play of the big uglies as a unit has no where to go but up.

Defense

DL
Starters:
Quentin Groves, SR
Josh Thompson, SR
Pat Sims, RS SO
Sen' Derrick Marks, RS SO
Backups:
Antonio Coleman, SO
Tez Doolittle, SR
Mike Blanc, SO
Michale Goggans, SO

Quentin Groves is easily the best player on the defense, maybe the team. He brings the kind of leadership and selflessness to this team that will make a big impact on everyone around him. Marks was moved to end from the inside allowing Sims to get on the field. Overall, this group is very solid. Look for Quentin Groves to have an All American year, ending up as Auburn's career sack leader.

LB
Starters:
Craig Stevens, RS FR
Tray Blackmon, SO
Merrill Johnson, JR
Backups:
Steve Gandy, JR
Chris Evans, SO
Courtney Harden, SO

Although some might consider these guys a big question mark. The Auburn faithful know better. Anchored by "The Little Ball of Hate" this unit could be nothing short of spectacular. I fear for opposing offenses, becasue I know its only a matter of time before Tray Blackmon kills someone.

CB
Starters:
Pat Lee, SR/Jonathan Wilhite, SR/Jerraud Powers, SO
Backups:
Walter McFadden, SO/Zach Gilbert, SR

I dotn have much to say about these guys. Wilhite used to impress me, but had a lackluster season in 06. Jerraud Powers show promise. Im empcting a lot of rotating of players. I jut dont know much about them.

S
Starters:
Eric Brock, SR
Aarion Savage, SO
Backups:
Michael McNeil, FR
Zac Ethridege, RS FR

Savage and Brock are solid. Both are good hitters. Word on the street is that Freshman Michael McNeil is ready to play. He is big, fast, and like to hit.

Special Teams
K Wes Byrum or Ross Gornall
P Ryan Shoemaker
KR Tristan Davis and Mario Fannin
PR Mario Fannin

As far as kickers go, who knows how they will turn out. Gornall won the battle in the spring, but the position will be wide open next week. Byrum supposedly has a good leg. Shoemaker will be soild. Look for the return game to be one of the best in the nation once again. Tristan Davis will return a few all the way this year. He is due big time. He led the neation in return yardage last season.

Now a look at the schedule.

K-State I think Auburn wins easily, showing normal first game rust
South Florida Mark Slabach of ESPN, surprsingly picke SF for this one. I think not. It might be semi close, but Auburn wins. I saved the link from Slabach's story to rub it in his face.
Miss St. Win, no explanation neccessary
Mew Mexico St Win
Florida This one is tough. Playing at the swamp will be no cakewalk. But all the talent Florida lost last years makes me think Auburn can hang. Ill call it a Loss, but I think its a winnable game.
Vandy Even though they have some talent and will play hard, AU wins
Arkansas Very winnable. McFadden will get a taste of Blackmon. That will make for an intersting matchup: Manchild vs Manchild. I say AU triumphs
LSU Another tough road game. Winnable. Call me crazy, I think we win
Ole Miss Win
Tennessee Tech Not even gonna address this one, that doesnt mean the team shouldnt.
Georgia Its in Athens, so AU will win
Bammer All this tlk about Bama being back, but no one has seen them play or win a game yet. Only time will tell if they have the ability to break the streak. We can always expect them to play hard, but Im confident in that the game is in Auburn, and that we have more talent and less thugs who have been kicked off the team, AU gets the 6th straight.

That gives a 11-1 record. Be advised that this could be a 9-3 or 10-2. Less than 10 wins is a disappointment to me. This team has the talent to go to Atlanta, it just needs some luck in staying healthy and being the right situation at the right time, which ios true of every team, each year. No one is talking about Auburn this year, which makes me think they will over acheive, as they like being the underdog. Sooner or later this "dont rank me high" outlook has got to go and the team has to want high expectations from someone other than coaches and actually deliver. Thats when we become elite.


Also, I saw this picture earlier this summer of the new jumbo-tron being installed. Thats more like it!

Bammers are funny

Here's a funny story for you. Im living and working in Charleston, SC this summer. Its a great place, very classy, dignified, and beautiful. I have very much enjoyed living here, although I miss Auburn and Im ready to be back for some Auburn football (its good for the soul).

Anyway, this past Friday evening at midnight, I was at Books-A-Million for the midnight release of the final Harry Potter book (laugh if you want). Keep in mind, that for the summer, I have briefly escaped all of the "Bama's Back", "Got Saban?", yatta yatta yatta running of mouths. In its stead, has been a small amount of educated and well informed discussion of South Carolina football(and Auburn football in return) and SEC football in general. I have run into a few Florida fans, and when they find out my allegiance to the greatest school of all time, they immediately spout out their supposed greatness. I of course reply with a deflating stab of "who beat Florida last year? without any offensive touchdowns? Oh yeah, that was Auburn." Some of them throw out the "oh we got screwed, that called fumble was crap..." but most of them just kinda crawl back into the fetal position and say "yeah yeah". But for the most part, every Carolina, Florda, and SEC fan here has been pleasant to discuss football with. Ive tried not to be rude to Carolina fans, giving them their due for playing us exceptionally hard last year, as I have no reason to be rude to them.

But back to the story: I was in line at the book store, and who should end up behind me, but a large man who over hears me saying I was from Alabama. He then proceeds to tell me and the young lady whom I was speaking to that there is nothing good to do in Alabama. I answer with a quick, "not where Im going back to, I love Auburn." He replies, saying that he is an Alabama fan. A mixture of resentment and nausea swept over me, as I knew what was coming. He asked me how he thought "that new coach" would do. I told him how that coach did, was not of any concern to me, or any Auburn fan. It only matters one day a year.

He also went on telling me of the various memorabilia and Bear Bryant paraphernalia he had in his place of living (which Im sure must've. been a double wide). After his ramblings, which I tried my best to tune out, I asked if he went to UAT (knowing good and well the answer and I didnt even have to ask) to which he responded with a No. I fought every urge to make a clever comment about sidewalk alumni and I even left out the fact that we have won 5 straight over Bammer. By this time, I had reached the counter, where I received my book. It just made me laugh, you can always count on the to find a way to slightly taint such a nice place. No matter where I go, and how the place Im in changes, Bammers are all the same.


** Disclaimer** I am fully aware that there are educated Bama fans who can actually have a well informed discussion of anything. This story is mainly to confirm that there are those stereotypical Bammers, and they are everywhere, in large quantities.

Cody's runs

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This is the most amazing, ridiculous thing I have ever seen. Its like Tre Smith (only in the Bama game in 2002) on acid. This is PEE WEE football. Note to Tommy Tuberville: offer him a scholarship NOW.

Thoughts

Recently, there was an article out about Auburn's refusal to schedule big non conference opponents. I agree that Auburn has been pretty weak in this area. Our non conference games in the last few years: Citadel, LA Monroe, Ark St, Tenn Tech, La Tech, Tulane, etc. During football season I would wonder why non SEC games were so dull. Bingo, the light comes on. The most exciting non conference game recently I have experienced was last year's opener vs. WSU. I think most of the excitement came from ESPN and being the first game. We easily handled the cougars. If I think back further, the opener vs USC in '03 was pretty exciting, that is until the game started. While I see some improvement in scheduling with home and home series with West Virginia and Clemson in the coming years, and a slight improvement in caliber of teams (South Florida, New Mexico St, Kansas St.), they are still easy wins and uninteresting games for me as a fan. Sure, we lost big to USC in '03, but we almost beat them in LA in '02 with 2 freshmen starting at receiver, a sophomore Cadillac (who struggled with cramps) and an awful JUCO QB in Daniel Cobb. Give me a road opener vs a team that has done something. Tennessee opens with Cal, Arkansas played USC and soon Texas, Florida has Florida St and Miami, USC plays Notre Dame, etc. The bottom line is that the top tier, widely respected teams play top tier, widely respected teams. Until Auburn nuts up and decides to play some of them, we will never get the respect we feel that we deserve. Until then, all we really have to look forward to this year are untelevised home games at 1:30 PM against crappy teams that will send the crowds home early in the 4th quarter and likely will not gain any exposure or highlights on ESPN. We are banishing ourselves the the scroller at the bottom of the screen while Ohio St., Texas, USC and others alike get all the TV time, highlights, and gameday visits. Honestly, Im tired of these early afternoon snoozers. I want to go to a night game that is on TV and yell so hard that I get a migraine every week, not just when we play LSU or Florida or Bama. Every game should feel like the Auburn Florida game last year. It was the most intense, exciting, deafening game Ive ever been a part of and its one of my fondest memories as a student and Auburn fan. If we want gameday to come to Auburn, we need to give them more than just one chance when we play LSU or 'Bama. I always complain about no respect, but now Im thinking Ill quit complaining about ESPN and start with the Athletics Dept. The reality is that other than our SEC games, we do nothing to earn any respect. When I turn on Sportscenter, I dont like to see highlights of LSU murdering Tulane. I dont think other fans want to see Auburn handling the Citadel (not that there is any tape of it anyway). Its time to stop blaming ESPN and pollsters, and start looking inward.

Excuses (Scott)

If there is one thing I hate most in sports, it is excuses. (Actually I hate flopping to draw offensive fouls in basketball more, but for emphasis I will exaggerate [lie], and elevate excuses to number one.) Winning is expected – regardless. Losing is offensive – regardless. College football coaches are notorious for the amount of excuses they offer every year. Each football season I have to listen to coaches talk about their lack of experience, loss of seniors, tough schedule, difficulty in finding quality opponents, rule changes, …. The list goes on forever. Tommy Tuberville is no exception. Last year the Tigers finished 11-2, which is a good record; however, it was not good enough to take the Tigers to Atlanta, in my opinion a disappointment. The team played well pretty often, and I am proud of a lot of the games they played. Never-the-less, they loss two games they could have won. The team could have gone undefeated, no excuses.

First I need to address Auburn’s non-conference schedule. I have discussed this at lengths before, and I will continue to do so. It is embarrassing. Washington State is an average team. It has never been more than an average team. They are a team that finishes with a decent record, but is rarely a threat to win the PAC-10. The other teams were: Buffalo, Tulane, and Arkansas St. All pathetic. Whenever talking about Auburn scheduling I hear an unbelievable preponderance of excuses. There is a great variety but they break down into two categories. The first attempt to excuse our non-conference schedules is to deny the problem. People brought up Washington State as if that silenced the issue. There is some saying about one rotten apple not affecting all the other apples. I ignore clichés so I can not recall it to memory, but the inverse of the proverb is equally true, one decent apple does not exculpate all the rotten ones. For this years upcoming season I already hear fans speaking in a manner that I assume only intends to deceive themselves – fans talking as if Kansas State or New Mexico State might give Auburn trouble. That is ridiculous. Auburn might play down to one of those teams, and keep it close for a little while, but neither team has any shot to win. If you honestly believe that either team has a decent chance to win next year, then as a fan you should get your sack clothe and ash ready, because you believe Auburn will be terrible. Some say the non-conference is not an issue because Auburn plays such difficult conference games. Yes there are difficult conference games every year, but let us not be so snobbish as to believe that every SEC team is a great team. This year Auburn will play Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss. More often than not, Arkansas is mediocre, and Houston Nutt will find a way to completely destroy every bit of success they enjoyed last year. Sure, there are tough conference games, but scheduling a quality opponent, will not create a schedule so difficult that the entire season is hopeless. In fact, losing a non-conference game is far more forgivable than losing to an SEC opponent. The sooner Auburn teams and fans stop worrying about the elusive “national championship” and start winning attainable SEC championships, the more respect Auburn will have around the country. Attempting to preserve the undefeated season is not worth boring the fans with games against Southwestern North Dakota State Community College.

The second excuse, one that Athletic Directors love to deliver, is that they tried, but no team wanted to play. As if every team in the nation is deadly afraid of Auburn. The last few teams Auburn scheduled home and home games with fared pretty well (Georgia Tech, USC, Syracuse). If teams like Texas and Ohio State can play each other, then Auburn can find championship contenders to play. The truth is that the Athletic Dept. is either to lazy to do the legwork to find quality opponents, or unwilling to make the necessary away game – both unacceptable. I have heard the argument that fans (especially ones donating large sums of money) would rather have more home games. This is not logical. No sane person would rather get up to watch Auburn play Tennessee Tech in person than watch Auburn play Oklahoma on television. If that person is a rich contributor, all-the-better, they can afford to travel to the game. Play a home-and-home series with a championship contender, and play no Division I-AA teams, no excuses.

At the end of last season, Auburn won a News Year Day Bowl, went 11-2, and had beaten the “national champion.” Yet listening to Tuberville, one would have been amazed we scraped together a win against Tulane. Unless you believe the LSU and Florida games were enormous flukes, then Auburn was at least capable of beating any team. Yet Tuberville would have us understand that we should be incredibly thankful that the team did not play embarrassingly worse. There was a time when coaches gave players credit for winning and took blame for losing (see most articles quoting Bear Bryant after win or loss); those days are over, and coaches are now too media savvy, too self-promoting, and too easily fired. They are able to, enjoy doing, and need to take credit. It is difficult to justify a several million dollar yearly salary. What I could only wish hearing last year was, “Good season, but could have been better. It will be next year.” Do not justify losing or patronize fans, no excuses.

This year I am already trying to acclimate and desensitize myself to the inevitably upcoming excuses. ESPN has recently rated Auburn’s schedule as the fifth toughest, and expect Hugh Nall to say at least 37,905 times that the line is inexperienced (which is true). Yes we lost a lot of linemen last year, and a lot of other players, but so did every other team in the nation. That is the nature of college football. Every player leaves in a few years. Despite this great teams are expected to be good every year, not once in every four years. If this seems impossible to you as a coach, then you should let it be known that you have no intention of being a great team. It should be no surprise that great teams are great because they constantly bring in great recruits. There have been plenty of teams with rosters of underclassmen to play great. Losing experienced players is unavoidable. Attract great recruits, no excuses.

As to this year’s aforementioned difficult schedule, get over it. Auburn has won in Georgia, LSU, and Florida before. Auburn has lost in Auburn before. Home field is valued at only a few points by the guys in Vegas who get paid to know more about football than you and I. Unfortunately, the schedule will cause many people to doubt Auburn’s chances this year, and some coaches will inevitably bring it up to justify a record, if it disappoints. For fans like me who vomit up the excuses that coaches feed us each year, Will Muschamp is a coach after our own hearts. “I don’t care where you play, it’s tough,” he recently said when asked about this year’s schedule. “The schedule is an excuse. I don’t care. I don’t want to hear it.” Just win, no excuses.

Whats the Difference between Auburn and Alabama?

Auburn agrees to pay 92.5 million for a new basketball arena, Bama agrees to pay 92.5 million for a liar.

Im excited about the new arena. It is scheduled to hold 9600 fans and was modeled after Duke's facility. It looks awesome, and the eye sore that is Beard Eaves Memorial Coliseum will be demolished eventually. The new arena follows campus aesthetics and wont look like a typical cylindrical basketball facility.War Eagle