Football ScheduleRecord: 8-0 (5-0)
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 4 Arkansas State W 52-26
Sept. 9 at Mississippi State W 17-14
Sept. 18 Clemson W 27-24 OT
Sept. 25 South Carolina W 35-27
Oct. 2 Louisiana-Monroe W 52-3
Oct. 9 at Kentucky W 37-34
Oct. 16 Arkansas W 65-43
Oct. 23 LSU W 24-17
Oct. 30 at Ole Miss TBA
Nov. 6 Chattanooga TBA
Nov. 13 Georgia TBA
Nov. 26 at Alabama 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The Ole Miss Game
Auburn goes to Ole Miss 8 & 0 ranked first in the BCS standings. The coaches backed off contact work this week to keep the team fresh. Ole Miss is supposed to be improving but earlier in the year lost to Vanderbilt and Jacksonville State at home. Our defense continues to be disparaged, yet the defense won the LSU game, limiting LSU to 7 points in the second half. You can say they won the Arkansas game with three turnovers in the second half that turned that game around. Nobody give our defense the least bit of credit. The critics are waiting for us to lose. We'll see what happens in Oxford where the Tigers are favored by 7.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
From USA Today
Oct 24, 2010
Auburn takes over No. 1 spot in BCS standings followed by Oregon
Auburn's 24-17 victory Saturday against LSU vaulted the Tigers to the top of the Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday, even though they are third in the USA TODAY Coaches' Poll, behind Oregon and Boise State.
Cam Newton and Michael Dyer celebrate during Auburn's 24-17 victory over LSU on Saturday. The victory propelled the Tigers all the way to No. 1 in the latest BCS standings released Sunday night.
CAPTIONBy John Reed, US PresswireAuburn (8-0) replaced Oklahoma, which suffered its first loss Saturday at Missouri and dropped to 11th in the poll.
"I can only control how we proceed in this building," coach Gene Chizik said a few hours before the standings were released. "We just had a team meeting and we talked about being very grounded and understanding that every week is another new week and another opportunity."
Oregon (7-0), which demolished UCLA 60-13 Thursday night, is second in the BCS for the second consecutive week, despite being ranked first in the coaches' and Harris Interactive polls, which make up two-thirds of the BCS formula.
Boise State (6-0), which did not play Saturday, is again third in the BCS despite being ranked second in both polls. The Broncos are sixth this week in the BCS' computer ratings, which comprise the other one-third of the standings. That's an improvement of one position from last week but wasn't quite enough to move them past Oregon in the overall standings.
The Broncos play Tuesday against visiting Louisiana Tech. Auburn is at Mississippi next Saturday, and Oregon plays at Southern California.
TCU (8-0) moved up to fourth in the standings this week, and Michigan State (8-0) is fifth.
-- Jack Carey
Auburn takes over No. 1 spot in BCS standings followed by Oregon
Auburn's 24-17 victory Saturday against LSU vaulted the Tigers to the top of the Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday, even though they are third in the USA TODAY Coaches' Poll, behind Oregon and Boise State.
Cam Newton and Michael Dyer celebrate during Auburn's 24-17 victory over LSU on Saturday. The victory propelled the Tigers all the way to No. 1 in the latest BCS standings released Sunday night.
CAPTIONBy John Reed, US PresswireAuburn (8-0) replaced Oklahoma, which suffered its first loss Saturday at Missouri and dropped to 11th in the poll.
"I can only control how we proceed in this building," coach Gene Chizik said a few hours before the standings were released. "We just had a team meeting and we talked about being very grounded and understanding that every week is another new week and another opportunity."
Oregon (7-0), which demolished UCLA 60-13 Thursday night, is second in the BCS for the second consecutive week, despite being ranked first in the coaches' and Harris Interactive polls, which make up two-thirds of the BCS formula.
Boise State (6-0), which did not play Saturday, is again third in the BCS despite being ranked second in both polls. The Broncos are sixth this week in the BCS' computer ratings, which comprise the other one-third of the standings. That's an improvement of one position from last week but wasn't quite enough to move them past Oregon in the overall standings.
The Broncos play Tuesday against visiting Louisiana Tech. Auburn is at Mississippi next Saturday, and Oregon plays at Southern California.
TCU (8-0) moved up to fourth in the standings this week, and Michigan State (8-0) is fifth.
-- Jack Carey
The Polls
In all 3 regular polls, the Tigers are now 3rd, trailing Boise State and Number 1 Oregon. However, tonight we watch on ESPN the unveiling of this week's BCA standings, and Auburn is Number 1.
We know that this is only as good as the next game. We don't keep winning, it won't matter. Oklahoma was Number 1 in the first BCA rankings last week, and they lost to Missouri this week. Fame can be very fleeting.
However the season turns out, I think it's a milestone that this program is, even at this early point, Number 1 in the BCA standings. Who would have thought it when Gene Chizik was hired as the Auburn coach before last season that the program would rise this far so fast. Nobody!
Kirk Herbstreet says Auburn is a one-man show and that we have no defense. I laugh. Sure, without Cam Newton we probably wouldn't be 8 & 0, but that hardly means Auburn is a one-man show. The offensive line is pretty good. We have good receivers who help make Newton look good. Our defense is not a shut-down defense, but it has been strong in the second half of every game and especially strong in the 4th quarter. Herbstreet is oblivious to such gradations of the truth.
One thing's for sure: this has been an unexpectedly interesting season so far. Isn't this always the case with a good Auburn team?
We know that this is only as good as the next game. We don't keep winning, it won't matter. Oklahoma was Number 1 in the first BCA rankings last week, and they lost to Missouri this week. Fame can be very fleeting.
However the season turns out, I think it's a milestone that this program is, even at this early point, Number 1 in the BCA standings. Who would have thought it when Gene Chizik was hired as the Auburn coach before last season that the program would rise this far so fast. Nobody!
Kirk Herbstreet says Auburn is a one-man show and that we have no defense. I laugh. Sure, without Cam Newton we probably wouldn't be 8 & 0, but that hardly means Auburn is a one-man show. The offensive line is pretty good. We have good receivers who help make Newton look good. Our defense is not a shut-down defense, but it has been strong in the second half of every game and especially strong in the 4th quarter. Herbstreet is oblivious to such gradations of the truth.
One thing's for sure: this has been an unexpectedly interesting season so far. Isn't this always the case with a good Auburn team?
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The LSU Game (3)
Here we go again with two 7 & 0 teams at Jordan-Hare with a 2:30 kickoff. LSU has the number #1 defense in the conference. Auburn is first in offense. Most likely LSU will try and jam the box, single cover our receivers, and stop Cam Newton and our running game. LSU likes to run the ball. Let's hope our defense can at slow down their running game. LSU is supposed to be not as good throwing the ball. It's so good see that ocean of orange in our stadium on TV. There's so much talk about Cam Newton. Today will be a big challenge for him with their strong defense. Can Auburn play 4 quarters?
FIRST QUARTER
LSU wins the toss and puts AU on offense first.
Auburn starts on the 36 after a good return by Demond Washington.
The Tigers come up a yard short and have to punt.
After a good punt LSU starts on their 12
LSU mounts an impressive drive with continuous short gains, punching out first downs.
It's not flashy but effective so far mixing runs with short passes.
LSU is first down at the AU 37.
Auburn needs to start winning first down.
On 3rd and 8 Zac Etheridge gets the pick! The defense comes up with the first big play. And as Stan White says, "There are no penalities!"
AU is on their 47 after the big defensive play.
The Tigers drive for the touchdown in impressive fashion. Only one short pass in the drive.
From the 16 Dyer crashes down to the 1.
Newton runs it from there, running OVER an LSU defender at the goal line.
Auburn 7 LSU 0
LSU starts at the 28.
LSU is running the fooball. It's discouraging to see them running ball so well. If we can't stop their run we're in trouble.
Where is our run defense? LSU is not doing anything fancy.
3rd and 13 on the AU 33 and the gain is 2 yards.
LSU makes the 48-yard FG. We hold them to 3 with the long field goal. It turns out to be a win on defense.
Auburn 7 LSU 3
The quarter ends with AU driving again up 7 to 3.
SECOND QUARTER
The drive stalls at the 25 two yards short of the first and Byrum makes the 43-yard FG early in the second quarter.
Auburn 10 LSU 3
LSU starts a drive with Lee now their QB.
After a big sack from around midfield, LSU punts and the ball rolls to the one. Carr doesn't fair catch the ball and it rolls from the 16 to 1. Quindarius Carr makes a big mistake with 8:08 left in the half.
Newton runs to the 6.
Newton runs to the 9.
McCalebb picks up the first down to the 13. Good run.
Newton runs the QB draw to the AU 44.
The drive stalls at the LSU 22 and Byrum misses a 39 FG attempt. Tough.
Seven or three there would have great going into the half.
LSU tries to mount a drive from their 23.
Nick Fairly at least temporarily knocks Lee out of the game.
AU gets a facemask penalty to give LSU the ball at the AU 49.
Jefferson runs to the AU 35.
Fairly is hurt as he sacks Jefferson at the 40.
1:22 left.
LSU has a wide-open receiver but he drops the ball.
Jordan runs for the first down on a third and long. Bad, bad defensive lapse.
LSU threatens for the TD.
We give a third and long----how many times has AU yielded on third and long. We got good pressure but their QB escaped for a long first down run.
Jordan Jefferson runs right from the 2 with 19 seconds left as Bates misses what would have been a half-ending play for the touchdown. Bates does what so many Auburn defenders have done all year: he lunges at the opposing player rather than keeping his feet and making the tackle.
This happened as the play clcok stood at zero, but it's not reviewable. LSU gets lucky.
Stan White says, "How do you miss that?"
LSU will have all of the momentum and will get the ball to start the second half.
The TV clearly shows LSU starting that last play with the play clock at zero.
We go into the half tied. Auburn had their chances. We missed the 39-yd. FG. We let LSU off the hook on that last drive on a 3rd and 17, and Bates missed a tackle he should have made that would have kept LSU out of the end zone.
The thing I do not understand is Auburn's continued poor tackling. Just don't understand it because it seems to me it's a matter of proper coaching.
Auburn 10 LSU 10 at the half
THIRD QUARTER
We hold LSU on their first possession of the half. There's another good LSU punt.
The Tigers start on their 9. A penalty pushes the ball back to the 5. There is a good run by Mike Dyer, and THEN Cam Newton makes an electrifying 49-yd. run to the end zone. What a physical, twisting run for glory! If Cam Newton is not the best college football player in America, I should would like to know who is. That's a 3 play 91 yard drive.
Auburn 17 LSU 10
LSU goes 3 and out. The Tigers start on the 20.
I just the officials don't find a way to give this game to LSU.
3rd and 5 from the 25.
Complete pass to Darvin Adams to the 37.
Another complete pass to Zachary.
Fanin fumbles again and LSU has the ball at their 44.
Wow. Fanin fumbles AGAIN as the Auburn offense is moving the ball. Wow.
That's huge. Our offense is in rhythm and Fanin fumbles. I don't understand why he fumbles and why they give him the ball. It happens over and over again.
The thing too is that he wasn't hit hard.
We can move the ball on this defense. That is clear, but turnovers can negate everything.
Jefferson runs for 16 as our defense loses containment on their QB. It looks too easy. I don't understand how we cannot contain their scrmabling QB.
The Tigers hold at the AU 38.
LSU punts to the AU one yard line. The LSU player catches the ball at the two.
The Tigers are backed up at the two after a great punt.
Auburn punts from their 6. Dyer caught a pass at the 7 and was pushed back into the end zone and the officials place the ball at the one. A totally bizarre call by these officials.
LSU starts from their 47.
So far LSU has exactly one first down in the third quarter.
4 plus minutes left in the third.
LSU goes 3 and out. Our defense holds again.
LSU punts again.
LSU punts again to the Auburn one as LSU saves the ball from going into the end zone.
LSU's best weapon in this second half has been their punter.
3:10 left in the third as AU is on the one.
Newton gains 9 to the 10.
Dyer is stopped and it's 3rd and short.
Newton runs for the first. He's hard to stop without some kind of gain.
Dyer gains 9.
Wow! Dyer pushes and pushes and gains 10 when it should have been a 2-yd. gain.
The third quarter ends with our Tigers up 17 to 10.
FOURTH QUARTER
The final stanza starts with AU leading 17 to 10 with 2nd 7 from our 37.
But Auburn has to punt from the 35.
We had a 3rd and 2 and Newton goes does well not to lose a bunch. I don't understand that play. We try to catch LSU sleeping rather than pound for 2 yards. I don't understand it. Strange call to say the least.
We have a poor punt and LSU has good field position.
Auburn stops Auburn. LSU has not stopped us.
LSU has much better special teams play than us. This is the only phase of the game where they have beaten us.
13:29 left and LSU starts at midfield.
LSU runs to the AU 39.
LSU gets a 39-yd TD pass on a halfback pass.
LSU scores on some trickeration.
Auburn 17 LSU 17
Well, I suppose this is what we expected.
The last AU possession baffles me. 3rd and 2 and we try to throw?
Just when you think AU is in command, something happens.
Now our offense HAS to score again.
The Tigers start on the 20.
Dyer runs to the 27.
Newton to the 29.
Newton to the 33 for the first down.
10:55 to go with a TO.
Newton to the LSU 44.
Dyer for 1.
Newton is a yard short of the first down.
AU is called for holding---what a costly penalty on 3rd and short for the first down. Unbelievable.
Big call there.
Fanin to the 39.
4th & 6 and Auburn is going for it!
Incomplete pass. The ball goes over to LSU.
Adams was open but the pass was not good.
LSU is at their own 40.
They've only scored in this half on a trick play.
THIS IS A CRITICAL POINT IN THE GAME.
A holding call on a 3rd and 2 run for a first down stopped this drive. The officials stopped us again.
How many times have we had critical, critical penalities at crucial times.
LSU at their 40 with 7:51 left.
A big surge drops the LSU runner for a 3-yd. loss.
A complete pass and we've got 3rd and 6.
Fairly drops the LSU QB for a big loss.
Nick Fairly is a beast!
LSU punts!
Carr lets the ball go again and the ball rolls dead at the Auburn 10.
If LSU wins this game, they will have won it with their kicking game.
Newton runs to the 26.
Dyer runs to the 30 with 5:30 to go.
THEN MCCALLEBB TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE. 70 YARDS ON THE SPEED SWEEP WITH 5:05 TO GO.
The Tigers go 90 yards in 3 plays. McCalebb, McCalebb, McCalebb!
Auburn 24 LSU 17
Auburn answers LSU again. Auburn has over 500 yards total offense so far against the NUMBER ONE defense in the SEC.
Now it's up the defense to make one more stop.
LSU starts on the 25.
There a 4 yard completion.
No gain on a rush. Blue jersies everywhere.
Incomplete pass!
4th and 6 from their 30 and they go for it.
LSU looks terrible on the 4th down play and AU stuffs the QB on a short gain and the Tigers hold!!!
Newton for an 8 yard gain.
First down by Newton!
Newton to the 17 as the clock winds down to 2:07 and LSU's last timeout. Newton almost breaks it.
Newton to the 7 for the first down.
That's your game. This first down ices it.
The game ends with AU taking a knee at the LSU 3. Newton takes that knee and that does it.
Now there is only ONE undfeated team in the SEC. It's the Auburn Tigers.
LSU has exactly 115 yards rushing.
523 to 243 is the total yard difference.
The Tigers have 440 yards rushing to a team that was giving up only 83 per game.
All we heard this week was talk about the LSU defense. No more!
FIRST QUARTER
LSU wins the toss and puts AU on offense first.
Auburn starts on the 36 after a good return by Demond Washington.
The Tigers come up a yard short and have to punt.
After a good punt LSU starts on their 12
LSU mounts an impressive drive with continuous short gains, punching out first downs.
It's not flashy but effective so far mixing runs with short passes.
LSU is first down at the AU 37.
Auburn needs to start winning first down.
On 3rd and 8 Zac Etheridge gets the pick! The defense comes up with the first big play. And as Stan White says, "There are no penalities!"
AU is on their 47 after the big defensive play.
The Tigers drive for the touchdown in impressive fashion. Only one short pass in the drive.
From the 16 Dyer crashes down to the 1.
Newton runs it from there, running OVER an LSU defender at the goal line.
Auburn 7 LSU 0
LSU starts at the 28.
LSU is running the fooball. It's discouraging to see them running ball so well. If we can't stop their run we're in trouble.
Where is our run defense? LSU is not doing anything fancy.
3rd and 13 on the AU 33 and the gain is 2 yards.
LSU makes the 48-yard FG. We hold them to 3 with the long field goal. It turns out to be a win on defense.
Auburn 7 LSU 3
The quarter ends with AU driving again up 7 to 3.
SECOND QUARTER
The drive stalls at the 25 two yards short of the first and Byrum makes the 43-yard FG early in the second quarter.
Auburn 10 LSU 3
LSU starts a drive with Lee now their QB.
After a big sack from around midfield, LSU punts and the ball rolls to the one. Carr doesn't fair catch the ball and it rolls from the 16 to 1. Quindarius Carr makes a big mistake with 8:08 left in the half.
Newton runs to the 6.
Newton runs to the 9.
McCalebb picks up the first down to the 13. Good run.
Newton runs the QB draw to the AU 44.
The drive stalls at the LSU 22 and Byrum misses a 39 FG attempt. Tough.
Seven or three there would have great going into the half.
LSU tries to mount a drive from their 23.
Nick Fairly at least temporarily knocks Lee out of the game.
AU gets a facemask penalty to give LSU the ball at the AU 49.
Jefferson runs to the AU 35.
Fairly is hurt as he sacks Jefferson at the 40.
1:22 left.
LSU has a wide-open receiver but he drops the ball.
Jordan runs for the first down on a third and long. Bad, bad defensive lapse.
LSU threatens for the TD.
We give a third and long----how many times has AU yielded on third and long. We got good pressure but their QB escaped for a long first down run.
Jordan Jefferson runs right from the 2 with 19 seconds left as Bates misses what would have been a half-ending play for the touchdown. Bates does what so many Auburn defenders have done all year: he lunges at the opposing player rather than keeping his feet and making the tackle.
This happened as the play clcok stood at zero, but it's not reviewable. LSU gets lucky.
Stan White says, "How do you miss that?"
LSU will have all of the momentum and will get the ball to start the second half.
The TV clearly shows LSU starting that last play with the play clock at zero.
We go into the half tied. Auburn had their chances. We missed the 39-yd. FG. We let LSU off the hook on that last drive on a 3rd and 17, and Bates missed a tackle he should have made that would have kept LSU out of the end zone.
The thing I do not understand is Auburn's continued poor tackling. Just don't understand it because it seems to me it's a matter of proper coaching.
Auburn 10 LSU 10 at the half
THIRD QUARTER
We hold LSU on their first possession of the half. There's another good LSU punt.
The Tigers start on their 9. A penalty pushes the ball back to the 5. There is a good run by Mike Dyer, and THEN Cam Newton makes an electrifying 49-yd. run to the end zone. What a physical, twisting run for glory! If Cam Newton is not the best college football player in America, I should would like to know who is. That's a 3 play 91 yard drive.
Auburn 17 LSU 10
LSU goes 3 and out. The Tigers start on the 20.
I just the officials don't find a way to give this game to LSU.
3rd and 5 from the 25.
Complete pass to Darvin Adams to the 37.
Another complete pass to Zachary.
Fanin fumbles again and LSU has the ball at their 44.
Wow. Fanin fumbles AGAIN as the Auburn offense is moving the ball. Wow.
That's huge. Our offense is in rhythm and Fanin fumbles. I don't understand why he fumbles and why they give him the ball. It happens over and over again.
The thing too is that he wasn't hit hard.
We can move the ball on this defense. That is clear, but turnovers can negate everything.
Jefferson runs for 16 as our defense loses containment on their QB. It looks too easy. I don't understand how we cannot contain their scrmabling QB.
The Tigers hold at the AU 38.
LSU punts to the AU one yard line. The LSU player catches the ball at the two.
The Tigers are backed up at the two after a great punt.
Auburn punts from their 6. Dyer caught a pass at the 7 and was pushed back into the end zone and the officials place the ball at the one. A totally bizarre call by these officials.
LSU starts from their 47.
So far LSU has exactly one first down in the third quarter.
4 plus minutes left in the third.
LSU goes 3 and out. Our defense holds again.
LSU punts again.
LSU punts again to the Auburn one as LSU saves the ball from going into the end zone.
LSU's best weapon in this second half has been their punter.
3:10 left in the third as AU is on the one.
Newton gains 9 to the 10.
Dyer is stopped and it's 3rd and short.
Newton runs for the first. He's hard to stop without some kind of gain.
Dyer gains 9.
Wow! Dyer pushes and pushes and gains 10 when it should have been a 2-yd. gain.
The third quarter ends with our Tigers up 17 to 10.
FOURTH QUARTER
The final stanza starts with AU leading 17 to 10 with 2nd 7 from our 37.
But Auburn has to punt from the 35.
We had a 3rd and 2 and Newton goes does well not to lose a bunch. I don't understand that play. We try to catch LSU sleeping rather than pound for 2 yards. I don't understand it. Strange call to say the least.
We have a poor punt and LSU has good field position.
Auburn stops Auburn. LSU has not stopped us.
LSU has much better special teams play than us. This is the only phase of the game where they have beaten us.
13:29 left and LSU starts at midfield.
LSU runs to the AU 39.
LSU gets a 39-yd TD pass on a halfback pass.
LSU scores on some trickeration.
Auburn 17 LSU 17
Well, I suppose this is what we expected.
The last AU possession baffles me. 3rd and 2 and we try to throw?
Just when you think AU is in command, something happens.
Now our offense HAS to score again.
The Tigers start on the 20.
Dyer runs to the 27.
Newton to the 29.
Newton to the 33 for the first down.
10:55 to go with a TO.
Newton to the LSU 44.
Dyer for 1.
Newton is a yard short of the first down.
AU is called for holding---what a costly penalty on 3rd and short for the first down. Unbelievable.
Big call there.
Fanin to the 39.
4th & 6 and Auburn is going for it!
Incomplete pass. The ball goes over to LSU.
Adams was open but the pass was not good.
LSU is at their own 40.
They've only scored in this half on a trick play.
THIS IS A CRITICAL POINT IN THE GAME.
A holding call on a 3rd and 2 run for a first down stopped this drive. The officials stopped us again.
How many times have we had critical, critical penalities at crucial times.
LSU at their 40 with 7:51 left.
A big surge drops the LSU runner for a 3-yd. loss.
A complete pass and we've got 3rd and 6.
Fairly drops the LSU QB for a big loss.
Nick Fairly is a beast!
LSU punts!
Carr lets the ball go again and the ball rolls dead at the Auburn 10.
If LSU wins this game, they will have won it with their kicking game.
Newton runs to the 26.
Dyer runs to the 30 with 5:30 to go.
THEN MCCALLEBB TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE. 70 YARDS ON THE SPEED SWEEP WITH 5:05 TO GO.
The Tigers go 90 yards in 3 plays. McCalebb, McCalebb, McCalebb!
Auburn 24 LSU 17
Auburn answers LSU again. Auburn has over 500 yards total offense so far against the NUMBER ONE defense in the SEC.
Now it's up the defense to make one more stop.
LSU starts on the 25.
There a 4 yard completion.
No gain on a rush. Blue jersies everywhere.
Incomplete pass!
4th and 6 from their 30 and they go for it.
LSU looks terrible on the 4th down play and AU stuffs the QB on a short gain and the Tigers hold!!!
Newton for an 8 yard gain.
First down by Newton!
Newton to the 17 as the clock winds down to 2:07 and LSU's last timeout. Newton almost breaks it.
Newton to the 7 for the first down.
That's your game. This first down ices it.
The game ends with AU taking a knee at the LSU 3. Newton takes that knee and that does it.
Now there is only ONE undfeated team in the SEC. It's the Auburn Tigers.
LSU has exactly 115 yards rushing.
523 to 243 is the total yard difference.
The Tigers have 440 yards rushing to a team that was giving up only 83 per game.
All we heard this week was talk about the LSU defense. No more!
Friday, October 22, 2010
The LSU Game (2)
Some things I'm thinking about:
1) The people who think LSU will win this game seem to think that LSU will line up to stop the run and force Newton to throw and they think Auburn can't win with Cam Newton forced to throw the ball. My recollection is that Clemson did this and Newton was able to throw the ball effectively in the second half. Also, Newton IS leading the SEC in passing efficiency. And in addition, Newton's scrambling ability to make things happen can still be effective.
2) There's Les Miles's supposed luck. Maybe he is lucky, but I don't put much credence in this kind of thinking.
3)There is the factor of the weird and unexpected things that seem to happen in this series and the wild finishes. I do think there's something to this for I do always take history into account. If something weird happens, who knows what will happen.
4) I wish we had more going in the running game other than Newton. I wish our defense were more predictable. I wish we could play 4 quarter.
5) The game IS at Jordan-Hare. No one picking LSU seems to take this fact into consideration.
1) The people who think LSU will win this game seem to think that LSU will line up to stop the run and force Newton to throw and they think Auburn can't win with Cam Newton forced to throw the ball. My recollection is that Clemson did this and Newton was able to throw the ball effectively in the second half. Also, Newton IS leading the SEC in passing efficiency. And in addition, Newton's scrambling ability to make things happen can still be effective.
2) There's Les Miles's supposed luck. Maybe he is lucky, but I don't put much credence in this kind of thinking.
3)There is the factor of the weird and unexpected things that seem to happen in this series and the wild finishes. I do think there's something to this for I do always take history into account. If something weird happens, who knows what will happen.
4) I wish we had more going in the running game other than Newton. I wish our defense were more predictable. I wish we could play 4 quarter.
5) The game IS at Jordan-Hare. No one picking LSU seems to take this fact into consideration.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
A Different Kind of Rivalry
AuburnUndercover »
PremiumPhillip Marshall, Senior Editor
Auburn and LSU did not meet regularly until the Southeastern Conference split into divisions in 1992. But since then, the rivalry has become one of the more intense and unusual in the league.
Courtney Taylor catches pass that sinks LSU in 2004/Todd Van EmstIt started even earlier, with a 7-6 LSU victory in 1988 at Tiger Stadium that eventually cost Auburn a chance to play for the national championship. It’s been dubbed the “earthquake game” because the noise celebrating the winning touchdown registered on the campus seismograph.
From Jason Campbell’s touchdown pass to Courtney Taylor in Auburn’s 10-9 victory in 2004 to LSU’s winning touchdown pass with one second left in 2007 to the Sports Arena burning game was played in 1996, to Auburn returning three interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter in 1996, the series has been filled with the unusual and the bizarre.
Twenty games of Auburn-LSU:
2009, Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge: LSU dominates on both sides of the ball, hands Auburn its third consecutive loss, 31-10.
2008, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn: After Chris Todd gives Auburn a 21-20 lead on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Robert Dunn, LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee completes an 18-yard pass to Brandon LaFell with 1:03 left for the winning touchdown. Lee, who had an interception returned for a touchdown by Gabe McKenzie in the second quarter, returns to the game only after starting quarterback Andrew Hatch was knocked out.
2007, Tiger Stadium: In what would become typical Les Miles fashion, he almost blows the game in the final seconds, but LSU wins when quarterback Mike Flynn completes a 22-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Byrd with a single second left on the clock and LSU wins 30-24.
2006, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Quarterback Brandon Cox scores the game’s only touchdown on a 1-yard sneak in the third quarter as Auburn wins 7-3 in one of the more brutal games ever played at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
2005, Tiger Stadium: In swirling wind, John Vaughn misses five field goal attempts, including one to win the game and one to force a second overtime. LSU wins 20-17.
2004, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Jason Campbell hits Courtney Taylor for 16 yards on fourth down and for 12 yards and the winning touchdown as Auburn wins 10-9 on its march to a perfect season.
2003, Tiger Stadium: LSU takes a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and matches Auburn’s 31-7 victory from the previous season.
2002, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Auburn abuses the nation’s No. 1 defense and romps to a 31-7 victory.
2001, Tiger Stadium: With the West Division title at stake, Auburn is penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct on the opening kickoff for jumping on the LSU emblem, kicker Damon Duval gets in a shoving match with a band member at halftime and LSU wins 27-14.
2000, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Tim Carter returns a kickoff 100 yards and Auburn beats Nick Saban’s first LSU team 34-17.
1999, Tiger Stadium:Tommy Tuberville’s first Auburn team crushes LSU 41-7. Players smoke cigars after the game, some of them on the field, infuriating LSU fans.
1998, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Ben Leard has a career-best day throwing the ball, but LSU wins 31-19 as what would be Terry Bowden’s final season comes unraveled.
1997, Tiger Stadium: Cecil “The Diesel” Collins runs wild, but Dameyune Craig leads a late 80-yard drive and Auburn wins 31-28.
1996, Jordan-Hare Stadium: As the iconic Sports Arena burns to the ground, flames leaping above the stands, LSU wins 20-16.
1995, Tiger Stadium: LSU gets a safety when quarterback Pat Nix stops playing after a whistle is blown in the stands and LSU stymies Auburn’s high-powered offense to win 12-6.
1994, Jordan-Hare Stadium: In one of the more remarkable games ever played at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn intercepts five Jamie Howard passes in the fourth quarter, returning three for touchdowns, and wins 30-26 for its 14th consecutive victory.
1993, Tiger Stadium: Terry Bowden’s first Auburn team signals it will be force to be reckoned with, romping to a 34-10 victory.
1992, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Auburn blows a 27-7 lead, then wins 30-28 on a late field goal.
1989, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Greg Taylor’s fourth-quarter punt return sets up Auburn’s only touchdown in a 10-6 victory.
1988, Tiger Stadium: Auburn’s defense dominates the game until Tommy Hodson leads a late touchdown drive, hitting the game-winner to Eddie Fuller on fourth down, for a 7-6 LSU victory.
PremiumPhillip Marshall, Senior Editor
Auburn and LSU did not meet regularly until the Southeastern Conference split into divisions in 1992. But since then, the rivalry has become one of the more intense and unusual in the league.
Courtney Taylor catches pass that sinks LSU in 2004/Todd Van EmstIt started even earlier, with a 7-6 LSU victory in 1988 at Tiger Stadium that eventually cost Auburn a chance to play for the national championship. It’s been dubbed the “earthquake game” because the noise celebrating the winning touchdown registered on the campus seismograph.
From Jason Campbell’s touchdown pass to Courtney Taylor in Auburn’s 10-9 victory in 2004 to LSU’s winning touchdown pass with one second left in 2007 to the Sports Arena burning game was played in 1996, to Auburn returning three interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter in 1996, the series has been filled with the unusual and the bizarre.
Twenty games of Auburn-LSU:
2009, Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge: LSU dominates on both sides of the ball, hands Auburn its third consecutive loss, 31-10.
2008, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn: After Chris Todd gives Auburn a 21-20 lead on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Robert Dunn, LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee completes an 18-yard pass to Brandon LaFell with 1:03 left for the winning touchdown. Lee, who had an interception returned for a touchdown by Gabe McKenzie in the second quarter, returns to the game only after starting quarterback Andrew Hatch was knocked out.
2007, Tiger Stadium: In what would become typical Les Miles fashion, he almost blows the game in the final seconds, but LSU wins when quarterback Mike Flynn completes a 22-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Byrd with a single second left on the clock and LSU wins 30-24.
2006, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Quarterback Brandon Cox scores the game’s only touchdown on a 1-yard sneak in the third quarter as Auburn wins 7-3 in one of the more brutal games ever played at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
2005, Tiger Stadium: In swirling wind, John Vaughn misses five field goal attempts, including one to win the game and one to force a second overtime. LSU wins 20-17.
2004, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Jason Campbell hits Courtney Taylor for 16 yards on fourth down and for 12 yards and the winning touchdown as Auburn wins 10-9 on its march to a perfect season.
2003, Tiger Stadium: LSU takes a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and matches Auburn’s 31-7 victory from the previous season.
2002, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Auburn abuses the nation’s No. 1 defense and romps to a 31-7 victory.
2001, Tiger Stadium: With the West Division title at stake, Auburn is penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct on the opening kickoff for jumping on the LSU emblem, kicker Damon Duval gets in a shoving match with a band member at halftime and LSU wins 27-14.
2000, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Tim Carter returns a kickoff 100 yards and Auburn beats Nick Saban’s first LSU team 34-17.
1999, Tiger Stadium:Tommy Tuberville’s first Auburn team crushes LSU 41-7. Players smoke cigars after the game, some of them on the field, infuriating LSU fans.
1998, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Ben Leard has a career-best day throwing the ball, but LSU wins 31-19 as what would be Terry Bowden’s final season comes unraveled.
1997, Tiger Stadium: Cecil “The Diesel” Collins runs wild, but Dameyune Craig leads a late 80-yard drive and Auburn wins 31-28.
1996, Jordan-Hare Stadium: As the iconic Sports Arena burns to the ground, flames leaping above the stands, LSU wins 20-16.
1995, Tiger Stadium: LSU gets a safety when quarterback Pat Nix stops playing after a whistle is blown in the stands and LSU stymies Auburn’s high-powered offense to win 12-6.
1994, Jordan-Hare Stadium: In one of the more remarkable games ever played at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn intercepts five Jamie Howard passes in the fourth quarter, returning three for touchdowns, and wins 30-26 for its 14th consecutive victory.
1993, Tiger Stadium: Terry Bowden’s first Auburn team signals it will be force to be reckoned with, romping to a 34-10 victory.
1992, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Auburn blows a 27-7 lead, then wins 30-28 on a late field goal.
1989, Jordan-Hare Stadium: Greg Taylor’s fourth-quarter punt return sets up Auburn’s only touchdown in a 10-6 victory.
1988, Tiger Stadium: Auburn’s defense dominates the game until Tommy Hodson leads a late touchdown drive, hitting the game-winner to Eddie Fuller on fourth down, for a 7-6 LSU victory.
The LSU Game
The talk is about Auburn's league leading offense against LSU's league leading defense. Our offense is averaging about twice as much yardage as their defense is giving up. Some people think LSU will pack the box to stop the run and make Cam Newton win the game passing. Maybe so. But Cam can throw the ball, and we have receivers like Darvin Adams (whom most commentators seem to have never heard of), Emory Blake, and Terrell Zachary. Plus, CN can still scramble against a stacked defensive front.
One thing is that the Auburn-LSU game is known for close games and interesting things happening. Who can forget the fire in 1996?
We take them one game at a time and see what happens. At least so far it's been a nice ride. Who would have thought we would be 7 & 0 anyway?
One thing is that the Auburn-LSU game is known for close games and interesting things happening. Who can forget the fire in 1996?
We take them one game at a time and see what happens. At least so far it's been a nice ride. Who would have thought we would be 7 & 0 anyway?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
After Arkansas
With 14:09 left in the football game, Auburn trailed Arkansas 43 to 37. Arkansas had all of the momentum; Arkansas had the game in hand. The rest of that last quarter is the stuff of legend. The Auburn defense, maligned all game and indeed maligned all year, rose to the occasion like something out of fiction. A fumble returned for a TD and 2 interceptions that led to touchdowns and the Tigers beat Arkansas 65 to 43. Today the whole country should be marveling at Cam Newton. If he isn't the best college football player in the country then I sure would like to know who is.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
The Arkansas Game
Here we go again.
Auburn vs. Arkansas at Jordan-Hare.
Auburn is 6 & 0 and Arkansas is 5 & 1.
Auburn is ranked 8th and Arkansas is ranked 12th.
2:30 kickoff on CBS.
There is a lot riding on this game for the Tigers.
There is talk of an offensive shootout.
There is talk of Cam Newton vs. Ryan Mallett: two very good quarterbacks.
FIRST QUARTER
Arkansas receives and we hold them to one first down but the Hogs score first on their next possession after Auburn is denied a first down on a phantom holding call.
Arkansas 7 Auburn 0
After a good kickoff return, the Tigers respond with a smash-mouth drive, Newton bowling over a Razorback defender running the ball in from the 5. I love this smash-mouth football.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 7
The Tigers hold Arkansas to a 3 and out with great open field tackling. So far this is the best Auburn has tackled all year.
The Tigers start backed up but march down the field.
The quarter winds down with Auburn driving after a holding penalty. It's amazing how many penalities Auburn gets called for. We get called for penalities at crucial times. We've already had two holding penalities.
The Tigers will have 3rd down and 16 from the Arkansas 26 as the quarter ends.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 7
SECOND QUARTER
Newton overthrows an open Blake in the end zone.
Wes Byrum makes a 43-yd. FG!
Auburn 10 Arkansas 7
We'll take it.
Arkansas starts a drive.
The Hogs convert a 3rd and 9 on a toss sweep to the AU 23.
A pass takes the possession to the Auburn 7.
To the 2 on another run.
No gain.
3rd and goal from the 2.
Another bad call gives Arkansas a gift TD.
Interference call on Demond Washington that should not have been called. He barely touched the receiver, and the ball was uncatchable anyway. Ridiculous!
Auburn 10 Arkansas 14
The refs give one to Arkansas. You have to say it.
The Tigers drive right down the field. Newton runs for 40 yards to inside the 5.
Mario Fanin runs it in from inside the 5 but fumbles as he goes into the end zone.
The play is reviewed and the call on the field stands. It looked like a fumble to me. Auburn gets a break I think. Can you believe that!!!
If I were the Auburn coach, Mario Fanin would never touch the ball again ever.
Auburn 17 Arkansas 14
There is about 6:28 left in the second quarter.
Arkansas starts at their 24. It seems that on every play I look for a flag against Auburn.
Another QB is in for Arkansas for some reason. On a trick play, Ark is penalized for a block in the back.
T'Sharvin Ball is down on an incomplete pass.
Auburn forces the punt from the Ark 32.
Mallett is out of the game at this point.
AUBURN BLOCKS THE PUNT!
Auburn is on the Ark 25.
McCalebb runs it in from the 13. Touchdown Auburn!
Newton's runs up the middle opens up the outside for McCalebb.
With 4:03 left in the quarter Auburn extends its lead after the blocked punt.
Auburn 24 Arkansas 14
Arkansas runs the kickoff back to their 34.
The Hogs are still with the backup QB.
Ark moves to the Auburn 47.
On third down Ark complets the pass to an open receiver at the Auburn 30.
Ark runs to the 18.
Ark is penalized for unsportsmanlike.
The ball goes back to the 34.
TD pass over Thorpe. Neiko doesn't get his head around as he receives a little shove from the receiver but it's not a callable penalty. 7 plays. 66 yards. This game will go down to the wire. Auburn gives up a very disappointing drive as the first half winds down. Neiko never turned around. We had their QB on his heels but let him loose. This is the kind of game everyone expected.
New score.
Auburn 24 Arkansas 21
The kickoff goes into the end zone with 1:06 left.
What will Auburn do from the 20 with 1:06 left.
Newton runs to the 29 with 59 seconds left.
Fanin runs to the 34.
Newton to Burns to the Razorback 45.
Newton runs to the AU 18.
Timeout Auburn with one left.
From the 18 a complete pass to a measurement for the first down.
About a foot short for the first down around the 8.
But on the play AU is hit with a personal foul and the ball goes back to the 24. Another costly penality.
The play clock started on the play and we're down to one second to go after an interference call. We took too much time on the last play.
With 1:06 left starting on their 20 Auburn marches to the Ark 9 for a FG attempt.
Wes Byrum nails the FG and we go to halftime with Auburn leading.
Auburn 27 Arkansas 21
At the half it is obvious this game could go either way. Will Mallett return? The backup did well. We seem to be able to score but so does Arkansas. This is the game we all expected. Once again Cam Newton looks like Superman.
THIRD QUARTER
The Tigers get the ball first to start the second half. We can't have a meltdown like we did at Kentucky last week.
Starting from the 20, the Tigers drive for a FG running the football, trying to wear Arkansas down. We have a first down on the 9 but have to settle for the 3.
Auburn 30 Arkansas 21
Ryan Mallett is out of the game with some kind of concussion.
Ark starts from their 13 after good kickoff coverage.
We hold Ark on 3rd and 2 but we get called for ruffing the passer: another costly, costly, penalty against Auburn.
The Arkansas drive continues thanks to that penalty.
We get a team into 3rd and long and get a penalty so many times it seems.
Arkansas moves to another 3rd down---third and 15.
The pass is complete to the Auburn 43 and on 4th and 6 Ark will go for it.
Big play here.
4th and 6 but a complete pass and Ark gets the first down by an inch.
The play is reviewed and stands. We give up a 4th and 6.
It's a game of inches like they say.
There's a TD pass to an open receiver who runs right by Craig Stevens on a wheel route. Oh, boy. 37 yards.
Auburn 30 Arkansas 28
Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
This is what we expected. Somehow our defense is going to have to get a turnover. Somebody on our defense is going to have to make a play before this game is over.
On the kickoff McCalebb returns 99 yards to the Ark 1.
After a foolish delay penalty, Newton dives into the end zone from the 1.
Wow, wow.
Auburn 37 Arkansas 28
Now it's time for the defense to step up. Now is the time for a turnover or a big defensive play.
On the first play Ark gets a long pass from the 20 to the Auburn 26. Oh, my. We can't stop those guys.
After a 2 yard run, Ark gets the TD pass. That was too easy. Our defense has to do some soul searching. A backup QB is drilling our defense. Where is our defense. With a little over 3 minutes left in the third, the Tigers cling to a 2-point lead. Stan White says this is just poor defense leaving receivers wide open. Auburn is getting eaten alive by a backup QB. We just can't allow this.
Auburn 37 Arkansas 35.
Auburn goes to a 3rd and 7 at our 30.
Newton is sacked at the 29.
The Tigers go 3 and out.
This is a dangerous time in this game.
Arkansas has all the momentum as we are punting from our 29.
Fair catch at the Ark 36.
With 1:11 to go in the third it's gut-check time for our defense.
Something good needs to happen for this defense.
First and 10.
Second and 12.
First down pass to the Hog 47.
A run to the Auburn 28. Our defense if folding right now as the third quarter ends. Arkansas is driving with ALL the momentum.
Auburn 37 Arkansas 35
FOURTH QUARTER
There is a 5 yard gain. Arkansas runs the ball just enough to keep our defense honest. Incomplete pass after an all-out blitz. Third and 5. TD pass on a slant pass. Bad defense. A simple slant route and Thorpe can't cover. Their receivers are getting off the line of scrimmage without any hindrance from Auburn. Poor, poor defense. That's all there is to it. We knew Ark would score points but this is ridiculous. It's too easy. And from a backup QB!
The 2-point pass is good and we have a new score.
This will have to a bigtime rally for Auburn now to win this football game. Our offense went three and out last time and our defense has folded. Our defense has been whipped in every way.
Auburn 37 Arkansas 43
Auburn starts on the 32 down by 6.
Pass complete for 12 yards.
Fanin is stopped for a yard gain.
Complete pass to Burns to the Ark 43.
Complete pass to Blake to the Ark 30.
Fanin runs to the Arkansas 16 for 14 yards holding on to the ball with both hands.
2nd and 8.
TD pass to Blake for 15 yards on a fake to McCalebb on the speed sweep.
PAT good with over 11 minutes to go. The last team with the ball may win this thing.
Auburn 44 Arkansas 43
Arkansas fumbles and Zac Etheridge runs it in from 47 yards out.
Here is the big play the defense needed!
The play is reviewed AND THE CALL STANDS! Touchdown Auburn!!! A defensive TD.
Point after good.
Auburn 51 Arkansas 43.
What a football game. I knew there would be some scoring, but not like this with so many close plays.
The defense not only makes a big stop, but scores on the play.
But this ballgame is far from over with 9:44 to play.
It will still go down to the last play.
First play AUBURN INTERCEPTS. Bynes runs it down to the Ark 7. The pass went right to an "open" Bynes.
Newton to the 3. Newton runs it in. After the Bynes interception Auburn cashes in and extends its lead.
Auburn 58 Arkansas 43.
But still with over 8 minutes left this game is not over.
Quentin Riggins says Auburn was in the Tampa 2 defense and their backup QB Wilson held the ball too long. Auburn now has 2 straight turnovers.
Aaron Saviage is out with an injury.
Our defense still has to hold up with 8 minutes left.
Ark starts at the 18.
8:21 left.
First down just past the 28.
BYNES PICKS ANOTHER ONE!!! Their backup QB has imploded.
That's 3 turnovers in a row. Unbelievable.
Dyer for 9.
DYER RUNS FOR THE TOUCHDOWN right up the middle!!! 37 yards.
What a turnaround.
Auburn has EXPLODED. Our defense looked like it was finished and now we get 3 turnovers in a row.
Auburn 65 Arkansas 43
The last time Auburn scored over 60 was 63 against Florida in 1970.
The Hogs drive to the Auburn 30 before running out of downs.
What a football game.
Auburn scores 65 points.
Our defense looked it was dead.
Then boom! Three straight turnovers and this game turned quickly.
Auburn scores 28 underanswered points in the 4th quarter.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 65 Arkansas 43
What a game. What a 4th quarter.
566 yards of offense. Three turnovers in the final quarter that turned the game around. When it seemed that our defense was toast, they rose up and turned this game around.
We'll remember this one for a long time.
Auburn vs. Arkansas at Jordan-Hare.
Auburn is 6 & 0 and Arkansas is 5 & 1.
Auburn is ranked 8th and Arkansas is ranked 12th.
2:30 kickoff on CBS.
There is a lot riding on this game for the Tigers.
There is talk of an offensive shootout.
There is talk of Cam Newton vs. Ryan Mallett: two very good quarterbacks.
FIRST QUARTER
Arkansas receives and we hold them to one first down but the Hogs score first on their next possession after Auburn is denied a first down on a phantom holding call.
Arkansas 7 Auburn 0
After a good kickoff return, the Tigers respond with a smash-mouth drive, Newton bowling over a Razorback defender running the ball in from the 5. I love this smash-mouth football.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 7
The Tigers hold Arkansas to a 3 and out with great open field tackling. So far this is the best Auburn has tackled all year.
The Tigers start backed up but march down the field.
The quarter winds down with Auburn driving after a holding penalty. It's amazing how many penalities Auburn gets called for. We get called for penalities at crucial times. We've already had two holding penalities.
The Tigers will have 3rd down and 16 from the Arkansas 26 as the quarter ends.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 7
SECOND QUARTER
Newton overthrows an open Blake in the end zone.
Wes Byrum makes a 43-yd. FG!
Auburn 10 Arkansas 7
We'll take it.
Arkansas starts a drive.
The Hogs convert a 3rd and 9 on a toss sweep to the AU 23.
A pass takes the possession to the Auburn 7.
To the 2 on another run.
No gain.
3rd and goal from the 2.
Another bad call gives Arkansas a gift TD.
Interference call on Demond Washington that should not have been called. He barely touched the receiver, and the ball was uncatchable anyway. Ridiculous!
Auburn 10 Arkansas 14
The refs give one to Arkansas. You have to say it.
The Tigers drive right down the field. Newton runs for 40 yards to inside the 5.
Mario Fanin runs it in from inside the 5 but fumbles as he goes into the end zone.
The play is reviewed and the call on the field stands. It looked like a fumble to me. Auburn gets a break I think. Can you believe that!!!
If I were the Auburn coach, Mario Fanin would never touch the ball again ever.
Auburn 17 Arkansas 14
There is about 6:28 left in the second quarter.
Arkansas starts at their 24. It seems that on every play I look for a flag against Auburn.
Another QB is in for Arkansas for some reason. On a trick play, Ark is penalized for a block in the back.
T'Sharvin Ball is down on an incomplete pass.
Auburn forces the punt from the Ark 32.
Mallett is out of the game at this point.
AUBURN BLOCKS THE PUNT!
Auburn is on the Ark 25.
McCalebb runs it in from the 13. Touchdown Auburn!
Newton's runs up the middle opens up the outside for McCalebb.
With 4:03 left in the quarter Auburn extends its lead after the blocked punt.
Auburn 24 Arkansas 14
Arkansas runs the kickoff back to their 34.
The Hogs are still with the backup QB.
Ark moves to the Auburn 47.
On third down Ark complets the pass to an open receiver at the Auburn 30.
Ark runs to the 18.
Ark is penalized for unsportsmanlike.
The ball goes back to the 34.
TD pass over Thorpe. Neiko doesn't get his head around as he receives a little shove from the receiver but it's not a callable penalty. 7 plays. 66 yards. This game will go down to the wire. Auburn gives up a very disappointing drive as the first half winds down. Neiko never turned around. We had their QB on his heels but let him loose. This is the kind of game everyone expected.
New score.
Auburn 24 Arkansas 21
The kickoff goes into the end zone with 1:06 left.
What will Auburn do from the 20 with 1:06 left.
Newton runs to the 29 with 59 seconds left.
Fanin runs to the 34.
Newton to Burns to the Razorback 45.
Newton runs to the AU 18.
Timeout Auburn with one left.
From the 18 a complete pass to a measurement for the first down.
About a foot short for the first down around the 8.
But on the play AU is hit with a personal foul and the ball goes back to the 24. Another costly penality.
The play clock started on the play and we're down to one second to go after an interference call. We took too much time on the last play.
With 1:06 left starting on their 20 Auburn marches to the Ark 9 for a FG attempt.
Wes Byrum nails the FG and we go to halftime with Auburn leading.
Auburn 27 Arkansas 21
At the half it is obvious this game could go either way. Will Mallett return? The backup did well. We seem to be able to score but so does Arkansas. This is the game we all expected. Once again Cam Newton looks like Superman.
THIRD QUARTER
The Tigers get the ball first to start the second half. We can't have a meltdown like we did at Kentucky last week.
Starting from the 20, the Tigers drive for a FG running the football, trying to wear Arkansas down. We have a first down on the 9 but have to settle for the 3.
Auburn 30 Arkansas 21
Ryan Mallett is out of the game with some kind of concussion.
Ark starts from their 13 after good kickoff coverage.
We hold Ark on 3rd and 2 but we get called for ruffing the passer: another costly, costly, penalty against Auburn.
The Arkansas drive continues thanks to that penalty.
We get a team into 3rd and long and get a penalty so many times it seems.
Arkansas moves to another 3rd down---third and 15.
The pass is complete to the Auburn 43 and on 4th and 6 Ark will go for it.
Big play here.
4th and 6 but a complete pass and Ark gets the first down by an inch.
The play is reviewed and stands. We give up a 4th and 6.
It's a game of inches like they say.
There's a TD pass to an open receiver who runs right by Craig Stevens on a wheel route. Oh, boy. 37 yards.
Auburn 30 Arkansas 28
Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
This is what we expected. Somehow our defense is going to have to get a turnover. Somebody on our defense is going to have to make a play before this game is over.
On the kickoff McCalebb returns 99 yards to the Ark 1.
After a foolish delay penalty, Newton dives into the end zone from the 1.
Wow, wow.
Auburn 37 Arkansas 28
Now it's time for the defense to step up. Now is the time for a turnover or a big defensive play.
On the first play Ark gets a long pass from the 20 to the Auburn 26. Oh, my. We can't stop those guys.
After a 2 yard run, Ark gets the TD pass. That was too easy. Our defense has to do some soul searching. A backup QB is drilling our defense. Where is our defense. With a little over 3 minutes left in the third, the Tigers cling to a 2-point lead. Stan White says this is just poor defense leaving receivers wide open. Auburn is getting eaten alive by a backup QB. We just can't allow this.
Auburn 37 Arkansas 35.
Auburn goes to a 3rd and 7 at our 30.
Newton is sacked at the 29.
The Tigers go 3 and out.
This is a dangerous time in this game.
Arkansas has all the momentum as we are punting from our 29.
Fair catch at the Ark 36.
With 1:11 to go in the third it's gut-check time for our defense.
Something good needs to happen for this defense.
First and 10.
Second and 12.
First down pass to the Hog 47.
A run to the Auburn 28. Our defense if folding right now as the third quarter ends. Arkansas is driving with ALL the momentum.
Auburn 37 Arkansas 35
FOURTH QUARTER
There is a 5 yard gain. Arkansas runs the ball just enough to keep our defense honest. Incomplete pass after an all-out blitz. Third and 5. TD pass on a slant pass. Bad defense. A simple slant route and Thorpe can't cover. Their receivers are getting off the line of scrimmage without any hindrance from Auburn. Poor, poor defense. That's all there is to it. We knew Ark would score points but this is ridiculous. It's too easy. And from a backup QB!
The 2-point pass is good and we have a new score.
This will have to a bigtime rally for Auburn now to win this football game. Our offense went three and out last time and our defense has folded. Our defense has been whipped in every way.
Auburn 37 Arkansas 43
Auburn starts on the 32 down by 6.
Pass complete for 12 yards.
Fanin is stopped for a yard gain.
Complete pass to Burns to the Ark 43.
Complete pass to Blake to the Ark 30.
Fanin runs to the Arkansas 16 for 14 yards holding on to the ball with both hands.
2nd and 8.
TD pass to Blake for 15 yards on a fake to McCalebb on the speed sweep.
PAT good with over 11 minutes to go. The last team with the ball may win this thing.
Auburn 44 Arkansas 43
Arkansas fumbles and Zac Etheridge runs it in from 47 yards out.
Here is the big play the defense needed!
The play is reviewed AND THE CALL STANDS! Touchdown Auburn!!! A defensive TD.
Point after good.
Auburn 51 Arkansas 43.
What a football game. I knew there would be some scoring, but not like this with so many close plays.
The defense not only makes a big stop, but scores on the play.
But this ballgame is far from over with 9:44 to play.
It will still go down to the last play.
First play AUBURN INTERCEPTS. Bynes runs it down to the Ark 7. The pass went right to an "open" Bynes.
Newton to the 3. Newton runs it in. After the Bynes interception Auburn cashes in and extends its lead.
Auburn 58 Arkansas 43.
But still with over 8 minutes left this game is not over.
Quentin Riggins says Auburn was in the Tampa 2 defense and their backup QB Wilson held the ball too long. Auburn now has 2 straight turnovers.
Aaron Saviage is out with an injury.
Our defense still has to hold up with 8 minutes left.
Ark starts at the 18.
8:21 left.
First down just past the 28.
BYNES PICKS ANOTHER ONE!!! Their backup QB has imploded.
That's 3 turnovers in a row. Unbelievable.
Dyer for 9.
DYER RUNS FOR THE TOUCHDOWN right up the middle!!! 37 yards.
What a turnaround.
Auburn has EXPLODED. Our defense looked like it was finished and now we get 3 turnovers in a row.
Auburn 65 Arkansas 43
The last time Auburn scored over 60 was 63 against Florida in 1970.
The Hogs drive to the Auburn 30 before running out of downs.
What a football game.
Auburn scores 65 points.
Our defense looked it was dead.
Then boom! Three straight turnovers and this game turned quickly.
Auburn scores 28 underanswered points in the 4th quarter.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 65 Arkansas 43
What a game. What a 4th quarter.
566 yards of offense. Three turnovers in the final quarter that turned the game around. When it seemed that our defense was toast, they rose up and turned this game around.
We'll remember this one for a long time.
Friday, October 15, 2010
From USA Today
No. 13 Arkansas at No. 7 Auburn
The quarterback duel between Arkansas bomber Ryan Mallett and Auburn two-way threat Cam Newton is the headliner, but a couple of receivers named Adams could end up battling for top billing. The Razorbacks' Joe Adams is Mallett's primary target, and he gets help from Greg Childs and D.J. Williams. Tigers DT Nick Fairley and LB Josh Bynes will have to disrupt things up front to protect their backfield. When Newton doesn't take off, Darvin Adams is his principal catcher. TB Michael Dyer also has breakaway speed, giving Razorbacks LBs Jerry Franklin and Anthony Leon another worry.
The quarterback duel between Arkansas bomber Ryan Mallett and Auburn two-way threat Cam Newton is the headliner, but a couple of receivers named Adams could end up battling for top billing. The Razorbacks' Joe Adams is Mallett's primary target, and he gets help from Greg Childs and D.J. Williams. Tigers DT Nick Fairley and LB Josh Bynes will have to disrupt things up front to protect their backfield. When Newton doesn't take off, Darvin Adams is his principal catcher. TB Michael Dyer also has breakaway speed, giving Razorbacks LBs Jerry Franklin and Anthony Leon another worry.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Getting Ready for Arkansas
The Arkansas game brings back lots of memories---mostly bad! I remember the losses to this team much more than the wins. It seems like since Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992 this team has been our greatest nemesis, even more than Alabama.
If we lose, we'll think Arkansas again, one more time, beats us like they've done in the past. There is a feeling that sooner or later Auburn will lose a game. I can't imagine going undefeated thru this schedule. So if we lose people can say, well, it was inevitable that sooner or later this team would lose one.
If we win we'll go "whew!" and move on to LSU with still the feeling that we'll lose one eventually. We keep hearing that Auburn has yet to put together 4 quarter of quality football on both sides of the ball. This team has yet to put it all together. This team may never put it all together this season: there is no guarantee that this will happen. But maybe it will. This Saturday would be a good time to do so!
If we lose, we'll think Arkansas again, one more time, beats us like they've done in the past. There is a feeling that sooner or later Auburn will lose a game. I can't imagine going undefeated thru this schedule. So if we lose people can say, well, it was inevitable that sooner or later this team would lose one.
If we win we'll go "whew!" and move on to LSU with still the feeling that we'll lose one eventually. We keep hearing that Auburn has yet to put together 4 quarter of quality football on both sides of the ball. This team has yet to put it all together. This team may never put it all together this season: there is no guarantee that this will happen. But maybe it will. This Saturday would be a good time to do so!
Pick 'Em (7)
Pick the winner. Home team in CAPS.
1. Arkansas at AUBURN (3)
2. Ole Miss at ALABAMA (20)
3. Mississippi State at FLORIDA (8.5)
4. South Carolina (6) at KENTUCKY
5. Vanderbilt at GEORGIA (16.5)
6. UTEP at UAB (2)
7. Texas at NEBRASKA (9.5)
8. Missouri at TEXAS A & AM (3)
9. Maryland at CLEMSON (14.5)
10.Oklahoma State at TEXAS TECH (3.5)
11.Iowa (3.5) at MICHIGAN
12.California at USC (2)
Fred's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. Kentucky
5. Georgia
6. UAB
7. Nebraska
8. Missouri
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Michigan
12.USC
Moyna's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. SC
5. Georgia
6. UTEP
7. Nebraska
8. Missouri
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Iowa
12.USC
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Mississippi State
4. Kentucky
5. Georgia
6. UAB
7. Nebraska
8. Missouri
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Iowa
12.California
1. Arkansas at AUBURN (3)
2. Ole Miss at ALABAMA (20)
3. Mississippi State at FLORIDA (8.5)
4. South Carolina (6) at KENTUCKY
5. Vanderbilt at GEORGIA (16.5)
6. UTEP at UAB (2)
7. Texas at NEBRASKA (9.5)
8. Missouri at TEXAS A & AM (3)
9. Maryland at CLEMSON (14.5)
10.Oklahoma State at TEXAS TECH (3.5)
11.Iowa (3.5) at MICHIGAN
12.California at USC (2)
Fred's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. Kentucky
5. Georgia
6. UAB
7. Nebraska
8. Missouri
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Michigan
12.USC
Moyna's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. SC
5. Georgia
6. UTEP
7. Nebraska
8. Missouri
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Iowa
12.USC
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Mississippi State
4. Kentucky
5. Georgia
6. UAB
7. Nebraska
8. Missouri
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Iowa
12.California
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Time to Deal with Arkansas
Scarbinsky is right: it's time for Auburn to beat Arkansas in a big game that matters. We have too many memories of losing to the Razorbacks. It certainly won't be easy, not with with their great QB. I can't forsee anything but a high scoring shootout that will go down to the wire. How could it otherwise especially given how it's gone so far this season for Auburn.?
Sunday, October 10, 2010
It Makes Sense
Check out http://www.hobotn.com. Here is an excerpt. It makes sense.
The Tigers’ pass defense isn’t very good. You know that. We don’t need to go through this again. I will say, in Gene Chizik’s defense, that Auburn doesn’t concede long pass plays. That doesn’t happen. The reasoning is obvious — Auburn’s defensive backs play off receivers and basically let them catch balls. The good news for Auburn is that someone typically is in position to make a tackle almost immediately after the catch is made. The Tigers often miss tackles, sure, but what defensive coordinator Ted Roof is doing makes more sense to me now. These coaches have little faith in their cover guys to actually … cover guys. Might as well limit the damage you know is coming. I get that.
The Tigers’ pass defense isn’t very good. You know that. We don’t need to go through this again. I will say, in Gene Chizik’s defense, that Auburn doesn’t concede long pass plays. That doesn’t happen. The reasoning is obvious — Auburn’s defensive backs play off receivers and basically let them catch balls. The good news for Auburn is that someone typically is in position to make a tackle almost immediately after the catch is made. The Tigers often miss tackles, sure, but what defensive coordinator Ted Roof is doing makes more sense to me now. These coaches have little faith in their cover guys to actually … cover guys. Might as well limit the damage you know is coming. I get that.
The Polls
I don't normally pay much attention to the college football polls. However, I do take note of them today after Auburn beats Kentucky to move to 6 & 0 to become the highest rated SEC team at the moment.
Auburn moves up to No. 7 in the polls
Published: Sunday, October 10, 2010, 11:29 AM Updated: Sunday, October 10, 2010, 11:47 AM
Charles Goldberg, Auburn Bureau
Auburn moved up a spot to seventh in this week's AP poll, and holds the same ranking in the USA Today/Coaches' Poll as well.
The Tigers are now the highest ranked SEC team.
Ohio State is the new No. 1.
The Tigers used a last-second field goal to beat Kentucky 37-34 Saturday night for the slight nudge in the poll.
Alabama is eighth, LSU is ninth and South Carolina is 10th in the AP poll. The coaches have South Carolina at 12, followed by Arkansas at 13 and Florida at 22.
Auburn will play Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
AP Top 25
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 9, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote:
Rk Team Record;Pts;
1. Ohio St. (34) 6-0 1,453
2. Oregon (15) 6-0; 1,427
3. Boise St. (8) 5-1, 395
4. TCU (1) 6-0 1,304
5. Nebraska 5-0; 1,236
6. Oklahoma (2) 5-0 1,225
7. Auburn 6-0 1,104
8. Alabama 5-1 1,021
9. LSU 6-0 999
10. South Carolina 4-1 978
11. Utah 5-0 926
12. Arkansas 4-1 813
13. Michigan St. 6-0 806
14. Stanford 5-1 732
15. Iowa 4-1 548
16. Florida St. 5-1;547
17. Arizona 4-1 472
18. Wisconsin 5-1 410
19. Nevada 6-0 376
20. Oklahoma St. 5-0 348
21. Missouri 5-0 298
22. Florida 4-2 209
23. Air Force 5-1 187
24. Oregon St. 3-2 186
25. West Virginia; 4-1 141
Others receiving votes: Michigan 137, Miami 63, N.C. State 31, Virginia Tech 17, Northwestern 5, Texas 5, Kansas St. 1.
Auburn moves up to No. 7 in the polls
Published: Sunday, October 10, 2010, 11:29 AM Updated: Sunday, October 10, 2010, 11:47 AM
Charles Goldberg, Auburn Bureau
Auburn moved up a spot to seventh in this week's AP poll, and holds the same ranking in the USA Today/Coaches' Poll as well.
The Tigers are now the highest ranked SEC team.
Ohio State is the new No. 1.
The Tigers used a last-second field goal to beat Kentucky 37-34 Saturday night for the slight nudge in the poll.
Alabama is eighth, LSU is ninth and South Carolina is 10th in the AP poll. The coaches have South Carolina at 12, followed by Arkansas at 13 and Florida at 22.
Auburn will play Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
AP Top 25
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 9, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote:
Rk Team Record;Pts;
1. Ohio St. (34) 6-0 1,453
2. Oregon (15) 6-0; 1,427
3. Boise St. (8) 5-1, 395
4. TCU (1) 6-0 1,304
5. Nebraska 5-0; 1,236
6. Oklahoma (2) 5-0 1,225
7. Auburn 6-0 1,104
8. Alabama 5-1 1,021
9. LSU 6-0 999
10. South Carolina 4-1 978
11. Utah 5-0 926
12. Arkansas 4-1 813
13. Michigan St. 6-0 806
14. Stanford 5-1 732
15. Iowa 4-1 548
16. Florida St. 5-1;547
17. Arizona 4-1 472
18. Wisconsin 5-1 410
19. Nevada 6-0 376
20. Oklahoma St. 5-0 348
21. Missouri 5-0 298
22. Florida 4-2 209
23. Air Force 5-1 187
24. Oregon St. 3-2 186
25. West Virginia; 4-1 141
Others receiving votes: Michigan 137, Miami 63, N.C. State 31, Virginia Tech 17, Northwestern 5, Texas 5, Kansas St. 1.
The Kentucky Game (3)
The truly impressive thing was that game-winning drive of 19 plays that consumed the final 7:22 of the clock. I think I read where Cam Newton ran 11 times in that drive. We have the pleasure of watching a young man who could be the greatest QB in Auburn history. The other thing is that so far this team does what is necessary to win the game, whatever that turns out to be. There continue to be questions about the defense. We see stupid penalitites, players out of position, taking the wrong angles, poor tackling. This is not a tightly coached defense it seems to me. Whatever---it is what is is so far. The biggest thing to me is continued poor tackling. Maybe it will take some new players. Who knows. Chizik reiterates confidence in Ted Roof. Who knows if that will change.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
The Kentucky Game (2)
The Tigers play in Lexington. I remember the one time I went up there in 2005. We won but I didn't think the atmosphere was anything special. The game kicks off shortly after 6:30 on ESPN2. Auburn puts its 5 & 0 record on the line.
FIRST QUARTER
Kentucky starts at the AU 49 after a poor kickoff and a good return.
The Wildcats cruise down the field.
One first down after another.
Our defense is comotose.
The touchdown comes on a run from the 2 as defense is totally on its heels.
Kentucky starts the game with a dominating 49-yrd. drive. AU had no defense. Our defense was not ready for the start of this game. Auburn's defensive front gets knocked back. Kentucky opens with smash-mouth football. The drive takes 3:09
Auburn 0 Kentucky 7
Can Auburn answer with a drive of its own?
Yes, the Tigers answer.
With 6:44 to go in the quarter AU ties it on a nifty run by Newton. It looks Cam Newton will have plenty of opportunity to scramble in this game.
9 plays. 78 yards.
Auburn 7 Kentucky 7
The Tiger defense forces KY to 3 and out.
The punt rolls dead on the AU 20.
The Tigers mount a picture-perfect drive for the touchdown. Newton runs up the middle for 8 yards for the score. What a drive mixing the runa and pass.
Auburn 14 Kentucky 7
Kentucky starts on their 39
The quarter ends with Kentucky facing a 3rd and 6.
SECOND QUARTER
The Tigers force the punt from the Auburn 45.
We start on the 20 after the kick into the end zone.
The Tigers drive for another touchdown. Cam Newton is running wild. He completes one long unbeliebable pass to Kodi Burns. Cam runs it in from the 5. Auburn is rolling. Kentucky has NO answer for Newton. Cam Newton is spectacular so far.
Auburn 21 Kentucky 7
The running back Locke is stripped and AU recovers on their 47.
The Tigers march again!
Dyer fumbles but the ball goes out of bounds THANK GOODNESS.
Auburn goes to 4th down and a 38-yd. FG attempt.
It's good!
Auburn 24 Kentucky 7
Locke brings the return back to the Wildcat 45. He is most elusive.
Kentucky drives for the TD helped by 2 penalities---30 yards--- on Zac Etheridge. He is not playing well. Kentucky can score. This game is not over.
Auburn 24 Kentucky 14
Kentucky has seized the energy and momentum.
With 3:57 Auburn is looking at 3rd and 13 at our 17 after 2 running plays are stuffed.
The Tigers get the first down after a big league catch by Darvin Adams and despite a 15-yard penalty against Auburn after the play.
The Tigers move to a first down at the Wildcat 40.
Newton makes an amazing run to the Kentucky 5. This guy is a phenomenal athlete.
Newto runs it to the 3; on the next play Newton walks into the end zone around the right side. What a clutch drive!!! Cam Newton is a special football player.
Auburn 31 Kentucky 14
Kentucky drives smartly to the Auburn 25 with 14 seconds left.
The Wildcats get a 30-yd. FG.
Auburn 31 Kentucky 17
This Kentucky football team can move the ball and score, but so far they can't stop the Auburn offense.
THIRD QUARTER
At the half on the radio, Coach Chizik says this game will down to the wire. Cam Newton has 261 total yards at the half.
After one first down, Newton with plenty of time throws the pick.
Kentucky is on their 38 with the ball. This is Newton's first mistake of the game.
Quickly in one pass Kentucky is at the Auburn 40.
Kentucky punts from the 39 into the end zone.
From the Auburn 20 our offense seems out of sync after a brilliant first half.
The Tigers are 3 and out punting from the 21. Our streaky offense has stalled so far in the second half.
Kentucky starts at the Auburn 48: not a good punt.
Will the AU defense respond to help the offense?
On 3rd and 13 AU is called for pass interference on Mike McNeil.
This keeps the KY drive alive. We've had some costly, costly penalities tonight.
Our defense should be off the field. Costly, costly penalities.
KY drives to the AU 16 and a third and 6.
TD pass to their good back Cobb. Touchdown Kentucky.
Auburn 31 Kentucky 24
We have a ballgame just like Chizik said it would be.
The Tigers have not been the same team so far in the second half.
Auburn has to wake up because Kentucky is here to play.
Zac Etheridge is having a bad, bad game.
He wasn't there on that last TD pass.
From their 20 AU goes 3 and out. Kentucky is getting pressure on Newton
Yes, our offense is not in sync.
Kentucky starts on their 43.
Kentucky moves the ball again mainly on short passes as back once again play back.
Quickly KY is on the Auburn 30.
Behind the running of Cobb KY ties it up.
Auburn 31 Kentucky 31
The Auburn offense has GOT to get it going now. There is no choice. We are tied.
The Tigers start on the 25 with 3:56 to go in the third.
The Tigers move swiftly to the KY 8, but a loss takes it back to the 10. Newton runs it back to the 8 but it's 3rd and goal from the 8 as the third quarter ends.
FOURTH QUARTER
The game is tied 31-31 as the final quarter starts. Auburn 3rd and goal on the 8.
A short pass is good to the 2.
The 19-yd. FG is good.
Auburn 34 Kentucky 31
Can the Auburn defense step up?
So far this year our defense has been at its best in the 4th quarter.
Kentucky starts at their 30.
The Wildcats are helped by a questionable interference call of T'Sharvan Bell.
We continue to miss tackles in open space.
Kentucky is out-playing Auburn in the second half. That's all there is to it.
Neiko Thorpe is injured.
Too our defense is not very disciplined.
First down and 10 from the AU 16.
We stop two straight running plays up the middle.
3rd and 11.
The defense holds.
The 36-yd FG attempt is good and we are tied again with 7:31 to go.
Auburn 34 Kentucky 34
On the radio Quentin Riggins says that championship drives start right here.
The Tigers mount a drive from the 7 after a terrible attempt to reverse the ball on the kickoff.
Mainly with Newton running the football, AU goes to the Kentucky 15 for a 3rd and 2.
Newton runs for the first down with about a minute left. Cam Newton has been a superman tonight.
With 62 seconds left AU is first down on the Wildcat 11.
With 2 seconds to go Byrum kicks the winning FG from the 7. 37-34.
Auburn runs 18 plays and over 7 minutes off the clock for the last play to win this football game. This was a championship drive. Wow. We will remember this one for a long time. Let's enjoy it!
FIRST QUARTER
Kentucky starts at the AU 49 after a poor kickoff and a good return.
The Wildcats cruise down the field.
One first down after another.
Our defense is comotose.
The touchdown comes on a run from the 2 as defense is totally on its heels.
Kentucky starts the game with a dominating 49-yrd. drive. AU had no defense. Our defense was not ready for the start of this game. Auburn's defensive front gets knocked back. Kentucky opens with smash-mouth football. The drive takes 3:09
Auburn 0 Kentucky 7
Can Auburn answer with a drive of its own?
Yes, the Tigers answer.
With 6:44 to go in the quarter AU ties it on a nifty run by Newton. It looks Cam Newton will have plenty of opportunity to scramble in this game.
9 plays. 78 yards.
Auburn 7 Kentucky 7
The Tiger defense forces KY to 3 and out.
The punt rolls dead on the AU 20.
The Tigers mount a picture-perfect drive for the touchdown. Newton runs up the middle for 8 yards for the score. What a drive mixing the runa and pass.
Auburn 14 Kentucky 7
Kentucky starts on their 39
The quarter ends with Kentucky facing a 3rd and 6.
SECOND QUARTER
The Tigers force the punt from the Auburn 45.
We start on the 20 after the kick into the end zone.
The Tigers drive for another touchdown. Cam Newton is running wild. He completes one long unbeliebable pass to Kodi Burns. Cam runs it in from the 5. Auburn is rolling. Kentucky has NO answer for Newton. Cam Newton is spectacular so far.
Auburn 21 Kentucky 7
The running back Locke is stripped and AU recovers on their 47.
The Tigers march again!
Dyer fumbles but the ball goes out of bounds THANK GOODNESS.
Auburn goes to 4th down and a 38-yd. FG attempt.
It's good!
Auburn 24 Kentucky 7
Locke brings the return back to the Wildcat 45. He is most elusive.
Kentucky drives for the TD helped by 2 penalities---30 yards--- on Zac Etheridge. He is not playing well. Kentucky can score. This game is not over.
Auburn 24 Kentucky 14
Kentucky has seized the energy and momentum.
With 3:57 Auburn is looking at 3rd and 13 at our 17 after 2 running plays are stuffed.
The Tigers get the first down after a big league catch by Darvin Adams and despite a 15-yard penalty against Auburn after the play.
The Tigers move to a first down at the Wildcat 40.
Newton makes an amazing run to the Kentucky 5. This guy is a phenomenal athlete.
Newto runs it to the 3; on the next play Newton walks into the end zone around the right side. What a clutch drive!!! Cam Newton is a special football player.
Auburn 31 Kentucky 14
Kentucky drives smartly to the Auburn 25 with 14 seconds left.
The Wildcats get a 30-yd. FG.
Auburn 31 Kentucky 17
This Kentucky football team can move the ball and score, but so far they can't stop the Auburn offense.
THIRD QUARTER
At the half on the radio, Coach Chizik says this game will down to the wire. Cam Newton has 261 total yards at the half.
After one first down, Newton with plenty of time throws the pick.
Kentucky is on their 38 with the ball. This is Newton's first mistake of the game.
Quickly in one pass Kentucky is at the Auburn 40.
Kentucky punts from the 39 into the end zone.
From the Auburn 20 our offense seems out of sync after a brilliant first half.
The Tigers are 3 and out punting from the 21. Our streaky offense has stalled so far in the second half.
Kentucky starts at the Auburn 48: not a good punt.
Will the AU defense respond to help the offense?
On 3rd and 13 AU is called for pass interference on Mike McNeil.
This keeps the KY drive alive. We've had some costly, costly penalities tonight.
Our defense should be off the field. Costly, costly penalities.
KY drives to the AU 16 and a third and 6.
TD pass to their good back Cobb. Touchdown Kentucky.
Auburn 31 Kentucky 24
We have a ballgame just like Chizik said it would be.
The Tigers have not been the same team so far in the second half.
Auburn has to wake up because Kentucky is here to play.
Zac Etheridge is having a bad, bad game.
He wasn't there on that last TD pass.
From their 20 AU goes 3 and out. Kentucky is getting pressure on Newton
Yes, our offense is not in sync.
Kentucky starts on their 43.
Kentucky moves the ball again mainly on short passes as back once again play back.
Quickly KY is on the Auburn 30.
Behind the running of Cobb KY ties it up.
Auburn 31 Kentucky 31
The Auburn offense has GOT to get it going now. There is no choice. We are tied.
The Tigers start on the 25 with 3:56 to go in the third.
The Tigers move swiftly to the KY 8, but a loss takes it back to the 10. Newton runs it back to the 8 but it's 3rd and goal from the 8 as the third quarter ends.
FOURTH QUARTER
The game is tied 31-31 as the final quarter starts. Auburn 3rd and goal on the 8.
A short pass is good to the 2.
The 19-yd. FG is good.
Auburn 34 Kentucky 31
Can the Auburn defense step up?
So far this year our defense has been at its best in the 4th quarter.
Kentucky starts at their 30.
The Wildcats are helped by a questionable interference call of T'Sharvan Bell.
We continue to miss tackles in open space.
Kentucky is out-playing Auburn in the second half. That's all there is to it.
Neiko Thorpe is injured.
Too our defense is not very disciplined.
First down and 10 from the AU 16.
We stop two straight running plays up the middle.
3rd and 11.
The defense holds.
The 36-yd FG attempt is good and we are tied again with 7:31 to go.
Auburn 34 Kentucky 34
On the radio Quentin Riggins says that championship drives start right here.
The Tigers mount a drive from the 7 after a terrible attempt to reverse the ball on the kickoff.
Mainly with Newton running the football, AU goes to the Kentucky 15 for a 3rd and 2.
Newton runs for the first down with about a minute left. Cam Newton has been a superman tonight.
With 62 seconds left AU is first down on the Wildcat 11.
With 2 seconds to go Byrum kicks the winning FG from the 7. 37-34.
Auburn runs 18 plays and over 7 minutes off the clock for the last play to win this football game. This was a championship drive. Wow. We will remember this one for a long time. Let's enjoy it!
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Kentucky Game
Suffice it to say that this is a critical game for Auburn's season. We started 5 & 0 last year only to lose 5 of our last 8. This is kind of a hump game. Arkansas and LSU follow this one. We CAN win this game. Whether we will or not, we'll see. I think the key is turnovers. We don't turn the ball over, we'll win. We turn the ball over more than twice, we lose.
Pick 'Em (6)
Pick the winner. Home team in CAPS.
1. Auburn (8) at KENTUCKY
2. Alabama (7.5) at SOUTH CAROLINA
3. Tennessee at GEORGIA (11)
4. Arkansas (8.5) at TEXAS A & M
5. LSU at FLORIDA (7.5)
6. Florida State at MIAMI (8.5)
7. Mississippi (4.5) at HOUSTON
8. Pittsburgh at NOTRE DAME (5.5)
9. Clemson at NORTH CAROLINA (1)
10.Baylor at TEXAS TECH (1)
11.Eastern Michigam at VANDERBILT (23.5)
12.Southern Cal at STANFORD (7.5)
Fred's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Georgia
4. Arkansas
5. Florida
6. Florida State
7. Houston
8. Notre Dame
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Vanderbilt
12.Stanford
Moyna's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Georgia
4. Arkansas
5. Florida
6. Miami
7. Mississippi State
8. Notre Dame
9. North Carolina
10.Texas Tech
11.Vanderbilt
12.USC
Freddy's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
4. Texas A & M
5. Florida
6. Miami
7. Mississippi
8. Notre Dame
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Vanderbilt
12.Stanford
1. Auburn (8) at KENTUCKY
2. Alabama (7.5) at SOUTH CAROLINA
3. Tennessee at GEORGIA (11)
4. Arkansas (8.5) at TEXAS A & M
5. LSU at FLORIDA (7.5)
6. Florida State at MIAMI (8.5)
7. Mississippi (4.5) at HOUSTON
8. Pittsburgh at NOTRE DAME (5.5)
9. Clemson at NORTH CAROLINA (1)
10.Baylor at TEXAS TECH (1)
11.Eastern Michigam at VANDERBILT (23.5)
12.Southern Cal at STANFORD (7.5)
Fred's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Georgia
4. Arkansas
5. Florida
6. Florida State
7. Houston
8. Notre Dame
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Vanderbilt
12.Stanford
Moyna's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Georgia
4. Arkansas
5. Florida
6. Miami
7. Mississippi State
8. Notre Dame
9. North Carolina
10.Texas Tech
11.Vanderbilt
12.USC
Freddy's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
4. Texas A & M
5. Florida
6. Miami
7. Mississippi
8. Notre Dame
9. Clemson
10.Texas Tech
11.Vanderbilt
12.Stanford
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Kentucky Line
The line is Auburn favored by 8 and I'm surprised. I thought it would more like 3.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Northeast IS Different
Jonathan Chait
Senior Editor
The New Republic
How The Northeast Is Different Than The Rest of America
A Marist poll breaks down who is fans of college and professional football. 20% of Americans follow professional football "a great deal," compared with 12% who follow college football a great deal. A huge part of the gap comes from the Northeast. In every other region, between 13% and 15% of respondents say they follow college football a great deal. In the Northeast, it's 4%.
This is one way I've noticed that the Northeast really is completely different than the rest of America. College football is a major part of the cultural landscape everywhere else in America, but here it's totally invisible. There's almost no decent college football in the region, and most college graduates thus went to schools with terrible football, and many of them faintly (or not so faintly) look down on schools where football was a major part of the campus experience.
Senior Editor
The New Republic
How The Northeast Is Different Than The Rest of America
A Marist poll breaks down who is fans of college and professional football. 20% of Americans follow professional football "a great deal," compared with 12% who follow college football a great deal. A huge part of the gap comes from the Northeast. In every other region, between 13% and 15% of respondents say they follow college football a great deal. In the Northeast, it's 4%.
This is one way I've noticed that the Northeast really is completely different than the rest of America. College football is a major part of the cultural landscape everywhere else in America, but here it's totally invisible. There's almost no decent college football in the region, and most college graduates thus went to schools with terrible football, and many of them faintly (or not so faintly) look down on schools where football was a major part of the campus experience.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The La. Monroe Game
Here we go again with an early kickoff. We're talking about an 11 a.m. on ESPNU. Auburn at 4 & 0 takes on 1 & 2 La. Monroe. The 10th ranked Tigers are a 34-point favorite. I hope we don't slop around. I hope our guys aren't sleep-walking as the game begins. But I fully expect us to mess around and have to win this game in the second half. Every time we hear that Auburn should win easily and get to play a lot of people, it doesn't seem to happen.
FIRST QUARTER
Auburn receives and start scrimmaging from the AU 35. After a 15-yrd. pass completion to Zachary, Onterio McCalebb takes a handoff, turns the right corner, and he's gone! Auburn goes 65 yards in 2 plays. McCalebb runs 50 yards for the score.
Auburn 7 ULM 0
ULM reverses on the kickoff and takes the ball out to their 47. Auburn holds but ULM downs the punt on the Auburn 3 as Carr doesn't come up to make the fair catch.
On the second play of the possession Cameron Newton finds Emory Blake wide open on a post route for a 94-yrd. touchdown pass! This is the longest play from scrimmage in Auburn history. So much for my fear that Auburn wouldn't be ready to play!
Auburn 14 ULM 0
ULM starts from their 20. ULM start moving the ball with short passes. It seems that we have been vulnerable to short passes all year. We've got to play tighter on their receivers somehow. I don't understand why our defense isn't tighter. ULM is having success running an option play. Our Dbs are playing way too far off the line Stan White says. The Warhawks kick a 35-yrd. FG with 4:31 left in the first.
Auburn 14 ULM 3
Auburn starts at midfield with the help of a penalty on the kick return. Right down the half field the Tigers go. After a first down at the 4, the Tigers kick a FG from the 2. Should have been able to run it in with a first down at the 4. Instead we try 2 passes which are incomplete combined with one run by Dyer from the 4 to the 2.
Auburn 17 ULM 3
ULM starts at their 13 with 2:02 left in the first quarter. The first quarter ends with ULM in possession after one first down so far in this possession.
END OF FIRST QUARTER
Auburn 17 ULM 3
ULM continues to nickle and dime our defense. The Warhawks cross midfield. A pass takes the ball down to the AU 28. There's a sack and loss of 5. Now it's 3rd and long for ULM. The visitors go to 4th and 5. There's a fake FG attempt and Etheridge intercepts. Auburn ball.
The Tigers start at the 34. Fannin runs it to the AU 46. AU first down at the Warhawk 32. Fannin again carries for 12: he is running with some authority today. Dyer finishes the drive with a 3-yrd. run.
Auburn 24 ULM 3
The Tigers force a punt from the 15. Auburn starts from the ULM 49 with 4:22 to go in the half.
Down the field Auburn goes with almost no resistance. There's 16-yrd. TD pass to Quindarius Carr. Auburn scores quickly again in just 4 plays. The first half has gone exactly how we would wish. Cam Newton has not carried the ball a single time. I'm sure this is by design.
Auburn 31 ULM 3
Auburn substitutes liberally on defense. ULM has to punt.
Auburn starts on their 45 with 1:18 left. Cam Newton comes out again. Zachary runs for 35 on a reverse but a block in the back brings it back. Newton is dropped for a loss with 59 seconds left. There a good screen pass to Fannin for 8 yards. Fannin is running with power today. The Tigers go for it on 4th and 2. No, it's a quck kick by Newton. So the first half ends with Auburn's only poor possession of the half.
END OF HALF
Auburn 31 ULM 3
The Tigers roll in the third quarter taking a 38 to 3 lead with a first down on the ULM 2 as the 4th quarter opens. The Tigers recover 2 fumbles in the quarter. Mario Fannin is running well.
END OF THIRD QUARTER
Auburn 38 ULM 3
Fannin spins in from the 2 with his 16th career TD and Auburn builds its lead on the first play in the last quarter.
Auburn 45 ULM 3
The ULM punter drops the snap and Auburn is on the ULM 40. Trotter makes a nifty 15 dash for the TD. Trotter comes off limping---we have to hope he's OK.
Auburn 52 ULM 3
The game ends with ULM stalling, Auburn getting the ball back, and Clint Mosely finishing out the final AU possession.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 52 ULM 3
The Tigers do what they should have done: take an over-matched team out early and coast to a big win. Next comes Kentucky in Lexington. I see that Kentucky loses to Ole Miss today 45 to 28. All I know is that the Wildcats give up a lot of points. They beat us last year at home. It's time for revenge.
FIRST QUARTER
Auburn receives and start scrimmaging from the AU 35. After a 15-yrd. pass completion to Zachary, Onterio McCalebb takes a handoff, turns the right corner, and he's gone! Auburn goes 65 yards in 2 plays. McCalebb runs 50 yards for the score.
Auburn 7 ULM 0
ULM reverses on the kickoff and takes the ball out to their 47. Auburn holds but ULM downs the punt on the Auburn 3 as Carr doesn't come up to make the fair catch.
On the second play of the possession Cameron Newton finds Emory Blake wide open on a post route for a 94-yrd. touchdown pass! This is the longest play from scrimmage in Auburn history. So much for my fear that Auburn wouldn't be ready to play!
Auburn 14 ULM 0
ULM starts from their 20. ULM start moving the ball with short passes. It seems that we have been vulnerable to short passes all year. We've got to play tighter on their receivers somehow. I don't understand why our defense isn't tighter. ULM is having success running an option play. Our Dbs are playing way too far off the line Stan White says. The Warhawks kick a 35-yrd. FG with 4:31 left in the first.
Auburn 14 ULM 3
Auburn starts at midfield with the help of a penalty on the kick return. Right down the half field the Tigers go. After a first down at the 4, the Tigers kick a FG from the 2. Should have been able to run it in with a first down at the 4. Instead we try 2 passes which are incomplete combined with one run by Dyer from the 4 to the 2.
Auburn 17 ULM 3
ULM starts at their 13 with 2:02 left in the first quarter. The first quarter ends with ULM in possession after one first down so far in this possession.
END OF FIRST QUARTER
Auburn 17 ULM 3
ULM continues to nickle and dime our defense. The Warhawks cross midfield. A pass takes the ball down to the AU 28. There's a sack and loss of 5. Now it's 3rd and long for ULM. The visitors go to 4th and 5. There's a fake FG attempt and Etheridge intercepts. Auburn ball.
The Tigers start at the 34. Fannin runs it to the AU 46. AU first down at the Warhawk 32. Fannin again carries for 12: he is running with some authority today. Dyer finishes the drive with a 3-yrd. run.
Auburn 24 ULM 3
The Tigers force a punt from the 15. Auburn starts from the ULM 49 with 4:22 to go in the half.
Down the field Auburn goes with almost no resistance. There's 16-yrd. TD pass to Quindarius Carr. Auburn scores quickly again in just 4 plays. The first half has gone exactly how we would wish. Cam Newton has not carried the ball a single time. I'm sure this is by design.
Auburn 31 ULM 3
Auburn substitutes liberally on defense. ULM has to punt.
Auburn starts on their 45 with 1:18 left. Cam Newton comes out again. Zachary runs for 35 on a reverse but a block in the back brings it back. Newton is dropped for a loss with 59 seconds left. There a good screen pass to Fannin for 8 yards. Fannin is running with power today. The Tigers go for it on 4th and 2. No, it's a quck kick by Newton. So the first half ends with Auburn's only poor possession of the half.
END OF HALF
Auburn 31 ULM 3
The Tigers roll in the third quarter taking a 38 to 3 lead with a first down on the ULM 2 as the 4th quarter opens. The Tigers recover 2 fumbles in the quarter. Mario Fannin is running well.
END OF THIRD QUARTER
Auburn 38 ULM 3
Fannin spins in from the 2 with his 16th career TD and Auburn builds its lead on the first play in the last quarter.
Auburn 45 ULM 3
The ULM punter drops the snap and Auburn is on the ULM 40. Trotter makes a nifty 15 dash for the TD. Trotter comes off limping---we have to hope he's OK.
Auburn 52 ULM 3
The game ends with ULM stalling, Auburn getting the ball back, and Clint Mosely finishing out the final AU possession.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 52 ULM 3
The Tigers do what they should have done: take an over-matched team out early and coast to a big win. Next comes Kentucky in Lexington. I see that Kentucky loses to Ole Miss today 45 to 28. All I know is that the Wildcats give up a lot of points. They beat us last year at home. It's time for revenge.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Pick 'Em (5)
Pick the winner. Home team in CAPS.
1. La. Monroe at AUBURN (34)
2. Florida at ALABAMA (9)
3. Vanderbilt at CONNECTICUT (7)
4. Kentucky at OLE MISS (2)
5. Miami (3) at CLEMSON
6. Florida State (7.5) at VIRGINIA
7. Notre Dame (2.5) at BOSTON COLLEGE
8. Penn. State at IOWA (7)
9. Georgia (4) at COLORADO
10.Louisville (5) at ARKANSAS STATE
11.Texas Tech (8.5) at IOWA STATE
12.Tennessee at LSU (14.5)
Fred's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Connecticut
4. Kentucky
5. Clemson
6. FSU
7. Notre Dame
8. Iowa
9. Georgia
10.Louisville
11.Texas Tech
12. LSU
Moyna's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Florida
3. Connecticut
4. Ole Miss
5. Clemson
6. FSU
7. Notre Dame
8. Iowa
9. Georgia
10.Arkansas State
11.Texas Tech
12.LSU
Freddy's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Connecticut
4. Kentucky
5. Clemson
6. Florida State
7. Notre Dame
8. Iowa
9. Colorado
10.Louisville
11.Texas Tech
12.LSU
1. La. Monroe at AUBURN (34)
2. Florida at ALABAMA (9)
3. Vanderbilt at CONNECTICUT (7)
4. Kentucky at OLE MISS (2)
5. Miami (3) at CLEMSON
6. Florida State (7.5) at VIRGINIA
7. Notre Dame (2.5) at BOSTON COLLEGE
8. Penn. State at IOWA (7)
9. Georgia (4) at COLORADO
10.Louisville (5) at ARKANSAS STATE
11.Texas Tech (8.5) at IOWA STATE
12.Tennessee at LSU (14.5)
Fred's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Connecticut
4. Kentucky
5. Clemson
6. FSU
7. Notre Dame
8. Iowa
9. Georgia
10.Louisville
11.Texas Tech
12. LSU
Moyna's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Florida
3. Connecticut
4. Ole Miss
5. Clemson
6. FSU
7. Notre Dame
8. Iowa
9. Georgia
10.Arkansas State
11.Texas Tech
12.LSU
Freddy's Picks
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Connecticut
4. Kentucky
5. Clemson
6. Florida State
7. Notre Dame
8. Iowa
9. Colorado
10.Louisville
11.Texas Tech
12.LSU
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