Here comes Spurrier's Gamecocks, itching to beat Auburn in a big way after last years two losses to the Tigers especially in the SEC title game. I see that USC is a 10-point favorite, and I see nothing wrong with that.
I'll be surprised if we win. I have to go by what I've seenr so far on the field, and it doesn't look promising.
It would sure be nice if we somehow throttled Lattimore, but it ain't gonna happen. It would be good if we could rattle Gracia, but we haven't rattled an opposing QB yet. It would be nice if our offense would be consistent, but I have yet to see it.
Historically we play well against South Carolina. This is the best thing I can say about our chances.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Going Forward
Going forward, I say that it is inevitable that Chizik fires Roof. The problem is always that you have to replace someone you fire. I have NO idea who is out there who would be better; I just say it will eventually be done.
Kiel Frazier will be our starting QB next year. Trotter is an average SEC QB at best. He is obviously afraid to run the football, and in Malzahn's offense, you must have a running quarterback.
I am unsure about Jeff Grimes. Was last year a fluke or is he really a good offensive line coach? I don't know.
This team will not get much better if better at all in 2011. We have to live to fight another day.
Kiel Frazier will be our starting QB next year. Trotter is an average SEC QB at best. He is obviously afraid to run the football, and in Malzahn's offense, you must have a running quarterback.
I am unsure about Jeff Grimes. Was last year a fluke or is he really a good offensive line coach? I don't know.
This team will not get much better if better at all in 2011. We have to live to fight another day.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
2011 The Florida Atlantic Game
The Tigers are looking to rebound after last week's loss at Clemson against an 0 & 2 FAU team that has scored 3 points in its two losses. Their offense is obviously supposed to be terrible. Howard Schnellenberger is in his 52nd and last season. Auburn is about a 5-touchdown favorite. The game kicks off at 6 and on Fox SportsSouth.
FIRST QUARTER
The game starts on the radio before the TV picks it up. Auburn receives and from our 39 on the first play from scrimmage, Trotter throws an interception. After one first down, the Owls kick a 39-yd. FG.
Auburn 0 FAU 3
We'd better be taking this game seriously!
The Tigers drive 60 yards for the touchdown primarily throwing the ball as FAU tries to jam the line of scrimmage. The score comes on a 10-yd. strike to Emory Blake in the left corner of the end zone.
Auburn 7 FAU 3
After forcing a 3 and out, the Tigers drive for a 41-yd. FG. 10 plays 46 yards. Cody Parkey is 4 for 4 for the year in field goals.
Auburn 10 FAU 3
FAU starts from their 22.
Auburn is playing a lot of new players. There are some nagging injuries. Jonathan Evans is still out.
FAU makes a first down on a third and long. Once again we give up 13 yards on first down. We are not getting any pressure on their qb.
There is another first down pass on first down. The Owls are around midfield.
There was an uncovered receiver.
End of First Quarter
Auburn 10 FAU 3
SECOND QUARTER
Our defense is still loose and giving.
Our defense is porous even to these guys.
We get no pressure on their qb. You can't play defense without pressuring the qb.
On 3rd and 15 we give up the first down pass. How pathetic.
FAU is driving with 11:55 to go. We no assertiveness on defense.
The Owls get a 43-yd. field goal
Auburn 10 FAU 6
If our defense doesn't tighten up, this will be a ball game to the end.
It galls me to see such a soft defense. This is not Auburn defense.
This is not Auburn offense either.
From our 48 we go 3 and out. There is NO push from our offensive line whatsover.
The punt results in a touchback.
Auburn is sleep-walking. Either we are really bad or we are not taking this game seriously.
From their 20 FAU is moving the ball like the Green Bay Packers.
Into AU territory they go.
FINALLY we push them back but a dead ball penalty on the snap give them another snap.
The Owls are left with 4th and 5. Finally we do hold.
The Tigers start around the 10.
We continue to have no offense. There is an Owl with each of our ball carriers.
But now there is good pass to Blake to the AU 34.
There is pass to Blake to the AU 45.
McCalebb to the 49.
Incomplete short pass to Reed. Bad pass by Trotter.
Penalty on Auburn. 3rd and 11.
There is a short completion but the result is 4th down around midfield.
Here comes the punt team. This is a poor first half for the offense.
FAU will start on their 20 with 2:20 to go.
FAU came into this game giving 42 points per game but you couldn't tell it by our first half offense.
What has happened to our offense tonight?
Interception by Auburn near midfield!!! Holland got his head around to pick it off.
Trotter is sacked on the first play. Trotter holds the ball too long.
Frazier looked good on a first down run earlier. He looked very athletic. Put him in!
Stallworth drops a sliding pass.
AFter a run by Trotter we go for it on 4th and 1.
An open Blake can't come up with the pass on what would have been a tough catch.
Trotter could have easily run the first down but doesn't.
The half ends with FAU certainly in the game. Holy cow.
End of First Half
Auburn 10 FAU 6
THIRD QUARTER
On FAU's first possession Jermaine Whitehead gets the pick 6 from the 25.
Auburn 17 FAU 6
FAU drives but we hold them on a 4th down from our 34.
Frazier comes in and looks good on two runs.
Then Trotter hits McCalebb on a short pass and he takes it the distance for a 51-yd TD pass.
Auburn 24 FAU 6
Neiko Thorpe picks off a long pass and runs it back to the FAU 19, but we have to settle for the 31-yd. FG.
Auburn 27 FAU 6
Come on defense.
From the 22 FAU gets an 11-yd run. They are gashing our defensive line.
There's a big sack and a loss.
3rd and 23 and nothing doing.
The Owls have to punt.
The Tigers drive for a 37-yd. field goal.
Good but the offense still putters at times.
Cody Parkey has not missed all year.
End of the Third Quarter
Auburn 30 FAU 6
The third quarter was all Auburn.
The defense was better.
The offense scored 13 points and the defense scored 7.
We've had to settle for 3 field goals in this game.
Trotter seems reluctant to run the ball when he should at times.
FOURTH QUARTER
FAU drives to the Auburn 12 as we have all kind of new players on the field. Arm tackles won't work people. They mix runs with short passes. Those short passes always work against Auburn.
FAU has scored 9 points all year but no touchdown yet.
But there's a screen pass for the touchdown.
FAU gets their first TD of the year.
Going for 2 on the conversion.
They get it on a wide-open receiver in the end zone.
Auburn 30 FAU 14
That ends the scoring.
We miss a 47-yd. field goal.
Final Score
Auburn 30 FAU 14
FIRST QUARTER
The game starts on the radio before the TV picks it up. Auburn receives and from our 39 on the first play from scrimmage, Trotter throws an interception. After one first down, the Owls kick a 39-yd. FG.
Auburn 0 FAU 3
We'd better be taking this game seriously!
The Tigers drive 60 yards for the touchdown primarily throwing the ball as FAU tries to jam the line of scrimmage. The score comes on a 10-yd. strike to Emory Blake in the left corner of the end zone.
Auburn 7 FAU 3
After forcing a 3 and out, the Tigers drive for a 41-yd. FG. 10 plays 46 yards. Cody Parkey is 4 for 4 for the year in field goals.
Auburn 10 FAU 3
FAU starts from their 22.
Auburn is playing a lot of new players. There are some nagging injuries. Jonathan Evans is still out.
FAU makes a first down on a third and long. Once again we give up 13 yards on first down. We are not getting any pressure on their qb.
There is another first down pass on first down. The Owls are around midfield.
There was an uncovered receiver.
End of First Quarter
Auburn 10 FAU 3
SECOND QUARTER
Our defense is still loose and giving.
Our defense is porous even to these guys.
We get no pressure on their qb. You can't play defense without pressuring the qb.
On 3rd and 15 we give up the first down pass. How pathetic.
FAU is driving with 11:55 to go. We no assertiveness on defense.
The Owls get a 43-yd. field goal
Auburn 10 FAU 6
If our defense doesn't tighten up, this will be a ball game to the end.
It galls me to see such a soft defense. This is not Auburn defense.
This is not Auburn offense either.
From our 48 we go 3 and out. There is NO push from our offensive line whatsover.
The punt results in a touchback.
Auburn is sleep-walking. Either we are really bad or we are not taking this game seriously.
From their 20 FAU is moving the ball like the Green Bay Packers.
Into AU territory they go.
FINALLY we push them back but a dead ball penalty on the snap give them another snap.
The Owls are left with 4th and 5. Finally we do hold.
The Tigers start around the 10.
We continue to have no offense. There is an Owl with each of our ball carriers.
But now there is good pass to Blake to the AU 34.
There is pass to Blake to the AU 45.
McCalebb to the 49.
Incomplete short pass to Reed. Bad pass by Trotter.
Penalty on Auburn. 3rd and 11.
There is a short completion but the result is 4th down around midfield.
Here comes the punt team. This is a poor first half for the offense.
FAU will start on their 20 with 2:20 to go.
FAU came into this game giving 42 points per game but you couldn't tell it by our first half offense.
What has happened to our offense tonight?
Interception by Auburn near midfield!!! Holland got his head around to pick it off.
Trotter is sacked on the first play. Trotter holds the ball too long.
Frazier looked good on a first down run earlier. He looked very athletic. Put him in!
Stallworth drops a sliding pass.
AFter a run by Trotter we go for it on 4th and 1.
An open Blake can't come up with the pass on what would have been a tough catch.
Trotter could have easily run the first down but doesn't.
The half ends with FAU certainly in the game. Holy cow.
End of First Half
Auburn 10 FAU 6
THIRD QUARTER
On FAU's first possession Jermaine Whitehead gets the pick 6 from the 25.
Auburn 17 FAU 6
FAU drives but we hold them on a 4th down from our 34.
Frazier comes in and looks good on two runs.
Then Trotter hits McCalebb on a short pass and he takes it the distance for a 51-yd TD pass.
Auburn 24 FAU 6
Neiko Thorpe picks off a long pass and runs it back to the FAU 19, but we have to settle for the 31-yd. FG.
Auburn 27 FAU 6
Come on defense.
From the 22 FAU gets an 11-yd run. They are gashing our defensive line.
There's a big sack and a loss.
3rd and 23 and nothing doing.
The Owls have to punt.
The Tigers drive for a 37-yd. field goal.
Good but the offense still putters at times.
Cody Parkey has not missed all year.
End of the Third Quarter
Auburn 30 FAU 6
The third quarter was all Auburn.
The defense was better.
The offense scored 13 points and the defense scored 7.
We've had to settle for 3 field goals in this game.
Trotter seems reluctant to run the ball when he should at times.
FOURTH QUARTER
FAU drives to the Auburn 12 as we have all kind of new players on the field. Arm tackles won't work people. They mix runs with short passes. Those short passes always work against Auburn.
FAU has scored 9 points all year but no touchdown yet.
But there's a screen pass for the touchdown.
FAU gets their first TD of the year.
Going for 2 on the conversion.
They get it on a wide-open receiver in the end zone.
Auburn 30 FAU 14
That ends the scoring.
We miss a 47-yd. field goal.
Final Score
Auburn 30 FAU 14
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Mizzou set to join SEC
I read today that there is an informal agreement for Missouri to join the SEC and for Auburn to move to the East. This is utterly devastating. I hope that we grow to sixteen teams and the two additional teams are from the east, so Auburn stays in the West. I heard Virginia Tech is a possibility.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
About that Defense
It's been interesting to read the different takes on Phillip Marshall's blog about our defensive problems. Is it the players or the coaching? Is it Roof or Chizik? Which one is actually running our defense? Is this the kind of defense Ted Roof has put on the field in his past jobs? I don't have the answers, but I must agree with everyone (and it is everyone) who says that this defense is terrible and something radical must be done to correct the situation. What that something is I don't pretend to know. But I do say it is coaching rather than the players. We haven't tackled well for 3 years for example. All of our players do not tackle well. That's coaching. As for schemes, I am not qualified to say.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
2011 The Clemson Game
Like last year I don't have a feel for this game. I have always liked Clemson. Both teams are 2 & 0. If I had to predict the outcome of the game, I'd say that Clemson will get out to a lead like last year and we will have to come from behind to win just like last year. I would expect the home team to come out fired and take it to our freshman and sophomores. This our first road game of the year in an SEC type atmosphere. There is no way to know how our players will react.
We hear before the game from Quentin Riggins that for some reason Jonathan Evans is not available today. I guess we'll hear later the reason why this is the case. This is not good for our ability to stop the run. Eltoro Freeman needs to have a good game.
I'd like to go to a game at Clemson some day.
FIRST QUARTER
Auburn wins the toss and receives. Our Tigers start at their 25.
After one first down, Auburn punts from near midfield.
Clemson starts at their 13.
Clemson is 3 and out as we stop them on a third and short.
AU starts on their 31.
The teams have swapped possessions to start the game.
Our announcers say that Evans is injured which is why he is not playing.
AFter a passing first down, Mike Dyer sprints 52 yards down the right sideline.
Touchdown Auburn! Wow.
You couldn't ask for a better start to this game.
2 plays. 60 yards on our second possession.
Give TDs already this season for Dyer.
Auburn 7 Clemson 0
After another touchback Clemson starts on the 20.
Chris Davis is on the ground after a great tackle.
Clemson is 3 and out again.
That's two straight 3 and outs by our defense.
AFter a short punt AU starts on their 46.
AFter one first down we get a holding penalty.
Then going for it on 4th and short there's a TD pass to Blake!
Auburn 14 Clemson 0
Starting from their 20 Clemson converts on a 3rd and 6 and Clemson is at their 40.
But that's it. Clemson is punting again.
On the punt Trovon Reed catches the ball in the end zone and tries to run it out but he's dropped at the 5. Big mistake by Reed. Holy cow.
On a third down McCalebb runs it out to the 21 for the first down.
Auburn punts from around the 24.
They stop us for the first time.
Clemson starts on their 40.
Clemson tries to mount a drive.
Down the field they go.
The quarter ends with Clemson on our 5 yard line.
End of First Quarter
Auburn 14 Clemson 0
SECOND QUARTER
First play of the quarter there's a slant pass for the touchdown.
Auburn 14 Clemson 7
The runback by Mason is only to the 10. Good coverage by Clemson.
The Tigers drive mixing the run and pass.
Running that NASCAR as they call it.
This is a statement drive by Auburn playing smash-mouth football. Auburn is playing physical football. This is My kind of football. Nothing fancy: just dominating the line of scrimmage.
Dyer takes it in from the one in the Wildcat.
16 plays. 90 YARDS!
Auburn 21 Clemson 7
Clemson starts on their 19.
Clemson gets a big play on first down with the speed sweep to the Clemson 44. Their guy is fast.
Our guys say that Clemson is a second half team. This team will not give up.
Clemson is driving.
There's another 3rd down conversion that takes the ball to the AU 28.
We continue to give up first downs on third and long.
We come down to a third and goal on the 6.
There a toucdown pass to the back of the end zone.
We give another big play on third down.
We can't shake these guys.
Auburn 21 Clemson 14
With 5:06 to go in the first half the game tightens.
Auburn goes 3 and out.
Clemson gets the ball back on their 25.
We're stopping their run, BUT their completing pass after pass.
We can't stop their passing. I don't understand it. Poor coverage it looks like.
Clemson is driving down the field.
Stan White says Auburn is better than Clemson but our defensive players are not communicating on those passes.
Clemson has ALL the momentum as the first half winds down.
Clemson runs it in from the two.
Up 21 to 7 AU lets Clemson back into the game, giving up plays on third down, giving up pass after pass. Our defense looks discombobulated.
Auburn 21 Clemson 21 with 1:11 left in the half.
AU starts at the 21.
The half ends.
End of First Half
Auburn 21 Clemson 21
The Tigers started out strong, but Clemson came back and dominated the second quarter and they get the ball to start the second half. Auburn has to rally big time in the second half to win this football game. Can they do it?
THIRD QUARTER
The third quarter starts like Clemson is going to win going away.
There's a long TD pass. Clemson makes it look easy.
Auburn 21 Clemson 28
Clemson gets the ball back and starts another drive. But they fumble and Auburn recovers at the Tiger 18.
First play and there goes Dyer! Down to the Clemson 37.
First down at the 27.
Cody Parky ends up kicking the 38-yd. FG. Thank goodness for the Clemson fumble. Let's see what our defense can do now.
Auburn 24 Clemson 28
We seem to have a bead on their running most of the time, but we cannot stop their passing. It's galling to see this. It's more galling to see such poor, poor tackling. I don't understand it.
Clemson goes to 3rd and 2 at the AU 47.
Auburn cannot tackle as a missed tackle leads to the moving of the chains. There were 3 missed tackles on that one play.
Barring a turnover, Clemson will score easily on another long drive.
On another 3rd down Clemson picks up the first with at least 2 missed tackles.
All you can say is poor, poor, tackling. This is all there is to it.
This is a horribly coached defense. Clemson 10 for 13 on third down conversions. This is simply horrible. Just like last year. Our luck is about to run out.
On third and 9 from the 20 Clemson gets the easy TD pass on a pass over the middle. Big-time blown coverage. This is ridiculous. We had nobody covering the receiver. The receiver all but walked into the end zone, and this was their best receiver.
I don't get it says Stan White.
Poor defensive coaching. Unbelievable.
Auburn 24 Clemson 35
The nation's longest winning streak is about to end as the third quarter winds down.
Our defense simply cannot stop Clemson. They are 11 for 14 on third down conversions. Our defense has been atrocious today. When a defense gives up that many third down conversions you know it's awful.
End of Third Quarter
Auburn 24 Clemson 35
The cries are going to get loud: FIRE TED ROOF!
Since midway thru the second quarter Clemson has completetly dominated this game.
We are going to lose this game.
The Tigers are 3 and out with our defense struggling.
Clemson starts from inside their 20.
We can't stop them.
Auburn had to lose sometime and it will be today even though it's only early in the last quarter. We trail by 11 and have no life.
We've seen poor tackling and poor defense since the beginning of this coaching staff. When will it change? Apparently it won't change with Ted Roof.
It will take a miracle for Auburn to pull this game out, and, as Pat Dye used to say, there are no miracles on the football field.
Clemson drives agin. Now we can't stop the run.
Clemson drives for the 39-yd FG.
Auburn 24 Clemson 38
The thought occurs to me that we win in spite of Ted Roof. Poor tackling. Receivers who don't turn around for if they do, we might have some interceptions.
From the 20 there's a long pass to Benton.
Auburn is quickly moving the ball.
The Tigers are first and goal at the 8.
But now with first and goal at the 8 after a procedure penalty Trotter throws the interception at the 5: tries to force the ball into a slanting Blake. Poor throw. That's a critical mistake that takes away any chance we have. That should be lights out.
Clemson has the ball and once again we can't stop them as the clock winds down.
We started this game leading 21 to 7. Since then it's been 31 to 3 Clemson.
The sad thing is that I can't see this defense improving. There is the youth factor, but more important, the poor coaching and tackling we've seen from the beginning with this coaching staff. With Coach Chizik a defensive coach, I don't understand it.
As the game winds down after that interception, Clemson is running clock and our defense can't get off the field.
Again and again the galling thing is the poor tackling. I don't understand it.
Late in the game Clemson has 603 total yards!
It's one thing to lose; it's quite another thing to lose this badly with such poor play.
Auburn's 17-game winning streak will come to an end.
Auburn was sharp to start the game. We had 2 defensive 3 and outs and then the roof fell in (no pun intended).
Auburn doesn't touch the ball again after the interception as Auburn had first and goal at the Clemson 8 but now Clemson runs off more than 9 minutes to end the game. This is remarkable in and of itself.
Final Score
Auburn 24 Clemson 38
We hear before the game from Quentin Riggins that for some reason Jonathan Evans is not available today. I guess we'll hear later the reason why this is the case. This is not good for our ability to stop the run. Eltoro Freeman needs to have a good game.
I'd like to go to a game at Clemson some day.
FIRST QUARTER
Auburn wins the toss and receives. Our Tigers start at their 25.
After one first down, Auburn punts from near midfield.
Clemson starts at their 13.
Clemson is 3 and out as we stop them on a third and short.
AU starts on their 31.
The teams have swapped possessions to start the game.
Our announcers say that Evans is injured which is why he is not playing.
AFter a passing first down, Mike Dyer sprints 52 yards down the right sideline.
Touchdown Auburn! Wow.
You couldn't ask for a better start to this game.
2 plays. 60 yards on our second possession.
Give TDs already this season for Dyer.
Auburn 7 Clemson 0
After another touchback Clemson starts on the 20.
Chris Davis is on the ground after a great tackle.
Clemson is 3 and out again.
That's two straight 3 and outs by our defense.
AFter a short punt AU starts on their 46.
AFter one first down we get a holding penalty.
Then going for it on 4th and short there's a TD pass to Blake!
Auburn 14 Clemson 0
Starting from their 20 Clemson converts on a 3rd and 6 and Clemson is at their 40.
But that's it. Clemson is punting again.
On the punt Trovon Reed catches the ball in the end zone and tries to run it out but he's dropped at the 5. Big mistake by Reed. Holy cow.
On a third down McCalebb runs it out to the 21 for the first down.
Auburn punts from around the 24.
They stop us for the first time.
Clemson starts on their 40.
Clemson tries to mount a drive.
Down the field they go.
The quarter ends with Clemson on our 5 yard line.
End of First Quarter
Auburn 14 Clemson 0
SECOND QUARTER
First play of the quarter there's a slant pass for the touchdown.
Auburn 14 Clemson 7
The runback by Mason is only to the 10. Good coverage by Clemson.
The Tigers drive mixing the run and pass.
Running that NASCAR as they call it.
This is a statement drive by Auburn playing smash-mouth football. Auburn is playing physical football. This is My kind of football. Nothing fancy: just dominating the line of scrimmage.
Dyer takes it in from the one in the Wildcat.
16 plays. 90 YARDS!
Auburn 21 Clemson 7
Clemson starts on their 19.
Clemson gets a big play on first down with the speed sweep to the Clemson 44. Their guy is fast.
Our guys say that Clemson is a second half team. This team will not give up.
Clemson is driving.
There's another 3rd down conversion that takes the ball to the AU 28.
We continue to give up first downs on third and long.
We come down to a third and goal on the 6.
There a toucdown pass to the back of the end zone.
We give another big play on third down.
We can't shake these guys.
Auburn 21 Clemson 14
With 5:06 to go in the first half the game tightens.
Auburn goes 3 and out.
Clemson gets the ball back on their 25.
We're stopping their run, BUT their completing pass after pass.
We can't stop their passing. I don't understand it. Poor coverage it looks like.
Clemson is driving down the field.
Stan White says Auburn is better than Clemson but our defensive players are not communicating on those passes.
Clemson has ALL the momentum as the first half winds down.
Clemson runs it in from the two.
Up 21 to 7 AU lets Clemson back into the game, giving up plays on third down, giving up pass after pass. Our defense looks discombobulated.
Auburn 21 Clemson 21 with 1:11 left in the half.
AU starts at the 21.
The half ends.
End of First Half
Auburn 21 Clemson 21
The Tigers started out strong, but Clemson came back and dominated the second quarter and they get the ball to start the second half. Auburn has to rally big time in the second half to win this football game. Can they do it?
THIRD QUARTER
The third quarter starts like Clemson is going to win going away.
There's a long TD pass. Clemson makes it look easy.
Auburn 21 Clemson 28
Clemson gets the ball back and starts another drive. But they fumble and Auburn recovers at the Tiger 18.
First play and there goes Dyer! Down to the Clemson 37.
First down at the 27.
Cody Parky ends up kicking the 38-yd. FG. Thank goodness for the Clemson fumble. Let's see what our defense can do now.
Auburn 24 Clemson 28
We seem to have a bead on their running most of the time, but we cannot stop their passing. It's galling to see this. It's more galling to see such poor, poor tackling. I don't understand it.
Clemson goes to 3rd and 2 at the AU 47.
Auburn cannot tackle as a missed tackle leads to the moving of the chains. There were 3 missed tackles on that one play.
Barring a turnover, Clemson will score easily on another long drive.
On another 3rd down Clemson picks up the first with at least 2 missed tackles.
All you can say is poor, poor, tackling. This is all there is to it.
This is a horribly coached defense. Clemson 10 for 13 on third down conversions. This is simply horrible. Just like last year. Our luck is about to run out.
On third and 9 from the 20 Clemson gets the easy TD pass on a pass over the middle. Big-time blown coverage. This is ridiculous. We had nobody covering the receiver. The receiver all but walked into the end zone, and this was their best receiver.
I don't get it says Stan White.
Poor defensive coaching. Unbelievable.
Auburn 24 Clemson 35
The nation's longest winning streak is about to end as the third quarter winds down.
Our defense simply cannot stop Clemson. They are 11 for 14 on third down conversions. Our defense has been atrocious today. When a defense gives up that many third down conversions you know it's awful.
End of Third Quarter
Auburn 24 Clemson 35
The cries are going to get loud: FIRE TED ROOF!
Since midway thru the second quarter Clemson has completetly dominated this game.
We are going to lose this game.
The Tigers are 3 and out with our defense struggling.
Clemson starts from inside their 20.
We can't stop them.
Auburn had to lose sometime and it will be today even though it's only early in the last quarter. We trail by 11 and have no life.
We've seen poor tackling and poor defense since the beginning of this coaching staff. When will it change? Apparently it won't change with Ted Roof.
It will take a miracle for Auburn to pull this game out, and, as Pat Dye used to say, there are no miracles on the football field.
Clemson drives agin. Now we can't stop the run.
Clemson drives for the 39-yd FG.
Auburn 24 Clemson 38
The thought occurs to me that we win in spite of Ted Roof. Poor tackling. Receivers who don't turn around for if they do, we might have some interceptions.
From the 20 there's a long pass to Benton.
Auburn is quickly moving the ball.
The Tigers are first and goal at the 8.
But now with first and goal at the 8 after a procedure penalty Trotter throws the interception at the 5: tries to force the ball into a slanting Blake. Poor throw. That's a critical mistake that takes away any chance we have. That should be lights out.
Clemson has the ball and once again we can't stop them as the clock winds down.
We started this game leading 21 to 7. Since then it's been 31 to 3 Clemson.
The sad thing is that I can't see this defense improving. There is the youth factor, but more important, the poor coaching and tackling we've seen from the beginning with this coaching staff. With Coach Chizik a defensive coach, I don't understand it.
As the game winds down after that interception, Clemson is running clock and our defense can't get off the field.
Again and again the galling thing is the poor tackling. I don't understand it.
Late in the game Clemson has 603 total yards!
It's one thing to lose; it's quite another thing to lose this badly with such poor play.
Auburn's 17-game winning streak will come to an end.
Auburn was sharp to start the game. We had 2 defensive 3 and outs and then the roof fell in (no pun intended).
Auburn doesn't touch the ball again after the interception as Auburn had first and goal at the Clemson 8 but now Clemson runs off more than 9 minutes to end the game. This is remarkable in and of itself.
Final Score
Auburn 24 Clemson 38
Friday, September 16, 2011
The Clemson Game
Here we go again playing Clemson. I remember the overtime game last year, and I remember the overtime game in Atlanta, which seems such a long time ago.
Clemson is a 3 or 4 point favorite. I have no problem with that.
Both teams are 2 and 0. Both teams have suspect defenses. Auburn's offense, I hope, is better than Clemson's.
The game is at Clemson. It's an early kickoff. Those things have to favor Clemson.
I just read where Chizik got a master's degree from Clemson. I didn't know that.
I see that we have a grand total of 7 seniors on our traveling roster. That is amazing.
I'd like to see a game at Clemson some time
I see that Clemson has not beaten Auburn since 1951. This is quite amazing.
Clemson is a 3 or 4 point favorite. I have no problem with that.
Both teams are 2 and 0. Both teams have suspect defenses. Auburn's offense, I hope, is better than Clemson's.
The game is at Clemson. It's an early kickoff. Those things have to favor Clemson.
I just read where Chizik got a master's degree from Clemson. I didn't know that.
I see that we have a grand total of 7 seniors on our traveling roster. That is amazing.
I'd like to see a game at Clemson some time
I see that Clemson has not beaten Auburn since 1951. This is quite amazing.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
So Far
2011 Football ScheduleOpponent Date Tickets Result Record: 2-0 (0-0)
Utah State Sep. 3 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets 42 - 38 1-0 (0-0)
Mississippi State Sep. 10 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets 41 - 34 2-0 (0-0)
at Clemson Sep. 17 Clemson, S.C. Buy Tickets 11:00 AM -
Florida Atlantic Sep. 24 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets 6:00 PM -
at South Carolina Oct. 1 Columbia, S.C. Buy Tickets TBA -
at Arkansas Oct. 8 Fayetteville, Ark. Buy Tickets TBA -
Florida Oct. 15 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets TBA -
at LSU Oct. 22 Baton Rouge, La. Buy Tickets 7:00 PM -
Mississippi Oct. 29 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets TBA -
BYE WEEK
at Georgia Nov. 12 Athens, Ga. Buy Tickets TBA -
Samford Nov. 19 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets TBA -
Alabama Nov. 26 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets TBA -
SEC Championship Game Dec. 3 Atlanta, Ga. 3:00 PM
Utah State Sep. 3 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets 42 - 38 1-0 (0-0)
Mississippi State Sep. 10 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets 41 - 34 2-0 (0-0)
at Clemson Sep. 17 Clemson, S.C. Buy Tickets 11:00 AM -
Florida Atlantic Sep. 24 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets 6:00 PM -
at South Carolina Oct. 1 Columbia, S.C. Buy Tickets TBA -
at Arkansas Oct. 8 Fayetteville, Ark. Buy Tickets TBA -
Florida Oct. 15 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets TBA -
at LSU Oct. 22 Baton Rouge, La. Buy Tickets 7:00 PM -
Mississippi Oct. 29 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets TBA -
BYE WEEK
at Georgia Nov. 12 Athens, Ga. Buy Tickets TBA -
Samford Nov. 19 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets TBA -
Alabama Nov. 26 Auburn, Ala. Buy Tickets TBA -
SEC Championship Game Dec. 3 Atlanta, Ga. 3:00 PM
Sunday, September 11, 2011
It's About Winning
Phillip's blog: It's about winning
Phillip Marshall
Auburn’s football team is inconsistent. For two consecutive weeks, the defense has had a hard time getting off the field on third down. The offense, as coordinator Gus Malzahn said Saturday, hasn’t been all that great on third down either.
Senior Editor Phillip MarshallThese Tigers, with so many young players in key roles, look great at times and look lost at times. They’ve given up 560 rushing yards in two games. They’ve given up big plays.
But after the second Saturday of the college football team, there’s still one thing does better than anybody. It wins.
Say what you want about the defense, about the inconsistency, about two harrowing escapes. Auburn, the defending national champion, has won 17 consecutive games. And, in the end, the game is not about yards gained or third-down conversions allowed. It’s not about how you look. It’s about winning.
And there’s a funny thing about winning. It really is contagious. Most of the players who played for Auburn in Saturday’s 41-34 victory over Mississippi State are freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores. None of those players have ever lost a game in an Auburn uniform.
When Utah State took a 38-28 lead with 3:34 left in the opener, it seemed Auburn’s winning streak was surely over. Instead, Barrett Trotter threw a touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen, Emory Blake snared Chandler Brooks’ perfect onsides kick and Mike Dyer scored with 30 seconds left. Auburn won 42-38.
Saturday, Mississippi State was a yard away from sending the game to overtime or going for two points and the win. But Jake Holland and Neiko Thorpe stuffed Vick Ballard for a 1-yard loss and Ryan Smith made the play of a lifetime to stop quarterback Chris Relf inches short of the goal line on the game’s final play. Auburn won 41-34.
And the Tigers marched on toward their first road test next Saturday at Clemson, which had its hands full with Wofford before winning 35-27.
Phillip Marshall
Auburn’s football team is inconsistent. For two consecutive weeks, the defense has had a hard time getting off the field on third down. The offense, as coordinator Gus Malzahn said Saturday, hasn’t been all that great on third down either.
Senior Editor Phillip MarshallThese Tigers, with so many young players in key roles, look great at times and look lost at times. They’ve given up 560 rushing yards in two games. They’ve given up big plays.
But after the second Saturday of the college football team, there’s still one thing does better than anybody. It wins.
Say what you want about the defense, about the inconsistency, about two harrowing escapes. Auburn, the defending national champion, has won 17 consecutive games. And, in the end, the game is not about yards gained or third-down conversions allowed. It’s not about how you look. It’s about winning.
And there’s a funny thing about winning. It really is contagious. Most of the players who played for Auburn in Saturday’s 41-34 victory over Mississippi State are freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores. None of those players have ever lost a game in an Auburn uniform.
When Utah State took a 38-28 lead with 3:34 left in the opener, it seemed Auburn’s winning streak was surely over. Instead, Barrett Trotter threw a touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen, Emory Blake snared Chandler Brooks’ perfect onsides kick and Mike Dyer scored with 30 seconds left. Auburn won 42-38.
Saturday, Mississippi State was a yard away from sending the game to overtime or going for two points and the win. But Jake Holland and Neiko Thorpe stuffed Vick Ballard for a 1-yard loss and Ryan Smith made the play of a lifetime to stop quarterback Chris Relf inches short of the goal line on the game’s final play. Auburn won 41-34.
And the Tigers marched on toward their first road test next Saturday at Clemson, which had its hands full with Wofford before winning 35-27.
Mississippi State Recap
So what happened is that Ryan Smith hit Relf so hard in the legs that Relf went straight down rather than falling forward. This is a tackle that I will always remember as we beat a team and a coach that we NEEDED to beat.
Phillip Marshall
AUBURN – The capacity Jordan-Hare Stadium crowd was up and screaming as the scoreboard clock rolled inside the final minute Saturday. And Mississippi State drove relentlessly, intent on snatching a victory away from the defending national champions.
Chris Relf comes up short on the final play of the game/Todd Van EmstWith 24 seconds left, Mississippi State faced second-and-five at the Auburn 8, trailing 41-34. Tailback Vick Ballard sprinted to his right and drove for the end zone. He went airborne, coming up just short. It was first-and-goal at the 1. Eighteen seconds remained.
What happened in those 18 seconds sent the Jordan-Hare crowd into full celebration mode. It was a goal line stand that will live in Auburn lore.
On first down, Ballard got a handoff, but sophomore linebacker Jake Holland and safety Neiko Thorpe hit him hard. They were joined by teammates and Ballard went down at the 2. Ten seconds remained.
After an Auburn timeout, it was down to one play. Mississippi State needed just six feet to send the game into overtime or maybe even win. Chris Relf, Mississippi State’s 6-foot-4, 245-pound quarterback, took the snap, went to his left and turned hard upfield.
But sophomore Auburn safety Ryan Smith cam even harder. He threw himself into Relf’s legs so hard that Relf went straight down, helmet first, and hit the ground inches short of the goal line. As the noise from the crowd grew louder and louder, the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Auburn had won 41-34.
The defending national champions, stung by being dropped out of the Associated Press poll days earlier and by being labeled an underdog on their home field, had made their point against No. 17 Mississippi State.
Nothing approaching perfection had come to this party. Mississippi State had run 97 plays, 38 more than Auburn, had made 31 first downs, rushed for 333 yards and had 531 yards total offense. Auburn gave up 11-of-20 third-down conversions, many of them long-yardage.
But the longest yard was the one the Bulldogs couldn’t make at the end.
“That was a brawl out there today,” Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. “It was hot. It was physical. Both sides were tired. It became one of those old heavyweight fights. It was the last man standing.”
And for the 17th consecutive time, it was Auburn that was standing at the end.
Relf said he thought he had enough room to get into the end zone. He was wrong. Barely.
“I was looking at the corner coming upfield, so I was going to take it in,” Relf said. “The guy (Smith) came back-side and chopped me. It was just a matter of inches. I had the option to pitch, but the corner came upfield. I just didn’t get it in.”
The Tigers, who beat Utah State 42-38 with a miraculous rally a week earlier, found another way to beat Mississippi State. But they moved to 2-0 and surely are poised to climb in the coaches poll and move back into the Associated Press poll.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled with a win against an extremely good football team,” Chizik said. “That was a very confident team, a very productive team, very well-coached, a lot of veterans. We beat a good football team today. It’s that simple.”
Mississippi State came to town as a media darling, a 7-point favorite over a team it had beaten once in 10 years.
Auburn jumped out 14-0 on a 35-yard Mike Dyer run and a 43-yard interception return by Demetruce McNeal. Mississippi State went up 21-14, the go-ahead touchdown coming on an interception of an ill-advised Barrett Trotter pass. But from that point until the final half of the fourth quarter, Auburn’s defense gave better than it got. Trotter hit Emory Blake for a 46-yard touchdown and Dyer ran two yards for a touchdown. Cody Parkey kicked the first two field goals of his college career. After Trotter hit Philip
Lutzenkirchen with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 14:03 left in the game, it was 41-27 and the Tigers were in control. Or so it seemed.
But Mississippi State charged 83 yards in 12 plays to make it 41-34 with 4:51 left. Auburn’s offense couldn’t the first down it needed to put the Bulldogs down for the count, and they went marching again from their own 33, setting the stage for the drama in the final seconds.
Dyer ran for 150 yards for Auburn. Relf, who played at Montgomery’s Carver High School but attracted no interest from Auburn, ran for 106 yards on 27 tough carries.
Trotter, in his second start, completed 16-of-23 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Ballard ran for 135 yards, most of them late, for Mississippi State. Blake caught seven passes for a career-high 108 yards. Auburn’s special teams came up big for the second consecutive week. Freshman Tre Mason had 172 yards on four kickoff returns. Cody Parkey kicked his first two career field goals from 43 and 37 yards and four touchbacks on kickoffs. Steven Clark averaged 45.7 yards per punt.
But in the end the game wasn’t about numbers. It was having what it took to make a play when it had to be made.
Auburn had it. And Auburn won the game.
Phillip Marshall
AUBURN – The capacity Jordan-Hare Stadium crowd was up and screaming as the scoreboard clock rolled inside the final minute Saturday. And Mississippi State drove relentlessly, intent on snatching a victory away from the defending national champions.
Chris Relf comes up short on the final play of the game/Todd Van EmstWith 24 seconds left, Mississippi State faced second-and-five at the Auburn 8, trailing 41-34. Tailback Vick Ballard sprinted to his right and drove for the end zone. He went airborne, coming up just short. It was first-and-goal at the 1. Eighteen seconds remained.
What happened in those 18 seconds sent the Jordan-Hare crowd into full celebration mode. It was a goal line stand that will live in Auburn lore.
On first down, Ballard got a handoff, but sophomore linebacker Jake Holland and safety Neiko Thorpe hit him hard. They were joined by teammates and Ballard went down at the 2. Ten seconds remained.
After an Auburn timeout, it was down to one play. Mississippi State needed just six feet to send the game into overtime or maybe even win. Chris Relf, Mississippi State’s 6-foot-4, 245-pound quarterback, took the snap, went to his left and turned hard upfield.
But sophomore Auburn safety Ryan Smith cam even harder. He threw himself into Relf’s legs so hard that Relf went straight down, helmet first, and hit the ground inches short of the goal line. As the noise from the crowd grew louder and louder, the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Auburn had won 41-34.
The defending national champions, stung by being dropped out of the Associated Press poll days earlier and by being labeled an underdog on their home field, had made their point against No. 17 Mississippi State.
Nothing approaching perfection had come to this party. Mississippi State had run 97 plays, 38 more than Auburn, had made 31 first downs, rushed for 333 yards and had 531 yards total offense. Auburn gave up 11-of-20 third-down conversions, many of them long-yardage.
But the longest yard was the one the Bulldogs couldn’t make at the end.
“That was a brawl out there today,” Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. “It was hot. It was physical. Both sides were tired. It became one of those old heavyweight fights. It was the last man standing.”
And for the 17th consecutive time, it was Auburn that was standing at the end.
Relf said he thought he had enough room to get into the end zone. He was wrong. Barely.
“I was looking at the corner coming upfield, so I was going to take it in,” Relf said. “The guy (Smith) came back-side and chopped me. It was just a matter of inches. I had the option to pitch, but the corner came upfield. I just didn’t get it in.”
The Tigers, who beat Utah State 42-38 with a miraculous rally a week earlier, found another way to beat Mississippi State. But they moved to 2-0 and surely are poised to climb in the coaches poll and move back into the Associated Press poll.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled with a win against an extremely good football team,” Chizik said. “That was a very confident team, a very productive team, very well-coached, a lot of veterans. We beat a good football team today. It’s that simple.”
Mississippi State came to town as a media darling, a 7-point favorite over a team it had beaten once in 10 years.
Auburn jumped out 14-0 on a 35-yard Mike Dyer run and a 43-yard interception return by Demetruce McNeal. Mississippi State went up 21-14, the go-ahead touchdown coming on an interception of an ill-advised Barrett Trotter pass. But from that point until the final half of the fourth quarter, Auburn’s defense gave better than it got. Trotter hit Emory Blake for a 46-yard touchdown and Dyer ran two yards for a touchdown. Cody Parkey kicked the first two field goals of his college career. After Trotter hit Philip
Lutzenkirchen with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 14:03 left in the game, it was 41-27 and the Tigers were in control. Or so it seemed.
But Mississippi State charged 83 yards in 12 plays to make it 41-34 with 4:51 left. Auburn’s offense couldn’t the first down it needed to put the Bulldogs down for the count, and they went marching again from their own 33, setting the stage for the drama in the final seconds.
Dyer ran for 150 yards for Auburn. Relf, who played at Montgomery’s Carver High School but attracted no interest from Auburn, ran for 106 yards on 27 tough carries.
Trotter, in his second start, completed 16-of-23 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Ballard ran for 135 yards, most of them late, for Mississippi State. Blake caught seven passes for a career-high 108 yards. Auburn’s special teams came up big for the second consecutive week. Freshman Tre Mason had 172 yards on four kickoff returns. Cody Parkey kicked his first two career field goals from 43 and 37 yards and four touchbacks on kickoffs. Steven Clark averaged 45.7 yards per punt.
But in the end the game wasn’t about numbers. It was having what it took to make a play when it had to be made.
Auburn had it. And Auburn won the game.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
2011 The Mississippi State Game
Here we go again with another morning kickoff. We are the SEC game of the week.
State is favored by 7. They may be simply better than Auburn this year. They have an experienced offensive line and far more experience on defense. I assume they will try and run the ball down our throats. I assume further that they are bigger and more powerful physically than us. State must think they can run right through us. We shall see.
Before the game, Stan White predicts play action by State given that AU will probably try and stack the box.
FIRST QUARTER
State receives and starts on their 8 yard line.
State goes 3 and out! Our defense looks good on their first possession
The Bulldogs punt from their 5 after 2 penalities.
Auburn has good field position starting on the Bulldog 36.
After a first down but moved back by a penalty Mike Dyer dashes 35 down the right sideline for a touchdown. A dazzling run! We are off to a good start.
Auburn 7 MSU 0 with 12:37 left in the first.
State is held to the 15 but we are flagged for unsportsmanlike to move the ball out to the 30. Poor, poor call. Absolutely ridiculous celebration penalty.
Demetruce McNeil intercepts and runs it back 43 yards for the touchdown! We are penalized AGAIN for I'm not sure what and will be penalized on the kickoff. The referee said #27 personal foul and our announcers wonder if 27 was even in the game. What is going on with these officials??? Lots of flags so far---eight!
Auburn 14 MSU 0 with 11:39 left in the first.
With the advantage of the penalty State starts on their 38.
The Bulldogs start a drive.
Quickly State gets a long TD run of 40 yards from Ladarius Perkins down his left sideline. Whoosh! The Bullies started with good field position helped by a penalty on the Auburn kickoff on the last touchdown play.
Just like that State is back in the game.
This is going to be a wild and crazy game. Despite our big start, you couldn't expect a runaway.
Auburn 14 MSU 7 with 10:38 left in the first.
Auburn starts on their 21.
The Tigers go to the 29 before having to punt.
State has the momentum now.
State starts on their 32 after only a 39-yd. punt.
State comes out with QB Reif running effectively.
Auburn is getting pounded at the line of scrimmage right now as Relf runs like Cam Newton.
The QB option and trip is killing us. Their QB is more comfortably running than throwing. This is what I feared: State running the ball.
We aren't getting any pressure on their QB as a pass play takes the ball to our 15
Now a TD pass to a wide-open receiver in the end zone. AFter a blazing start by Auburn, the game is quickly tied.
Auburn 14 MSU 14
The Tigers need to regain the momentum.
Auburn starts on the 24.
Auburn needs to control the line of scrimmage.
Auburn is 3 and out after Dyer is stuffed on a 3rd and 1. Bad play call our announcers say. The play is too slow in developing.
The punt dies at the Bulldog 11. Big roll. We have them backed up. Gotta keep them there.
Once again we can't tackle Reif.
There's a first down by a half the length of the football.
It's all their QB running up the middle and we can't tackle him until there's a good gain.
On 4th and 6 after we drop Perkins for a big loss Auburn starts on their 30.
Auburn must move the chains.
AFter one first down the Tigers have to punt.
END OF FIRST QUARTER
Auburn 14 MSU 14
The punt rolls dead on the MSU 1. After two first downs with Relf running ball each time on third and long, our defense finally gets off the field. It seems that Reif is not comfortable throwing the ball but he's been hurting us running the ball.
The Tigers start on their 23 with 10:48 to go in the half.
On the second place disaster strikes. Trotter throws an easy pick and TD to the State DB.
Auburn 14 MSU 21
After a great return by Mason to near midfield, Trotter strikes back on a 46 yd strike to Emory Blake. What a game!
Auburn 21 MSU 21 with 8:37 left in the half.
MSU goes 3 and out. Auburn starts on their 41. Right down the field to the Tigers. The score comes on an incredible short 2-yd run by Dyer. He stretches and won't go down till the ball crosses the goal line. Great individual effort by Mike Dyer! Dyer is runs hard on every play.
Auburn 28 MSU 21 with 4:51 left in the half.
State drives for a 27-yd. FG. Our defense plays well until 3rd down. We give up third down after third down conversion.
Auburn 28 MSU 24 with 40 seconds left in the half.
Auburn is on their 30 with seconds left but a penalty moves the ball back on the kick. The Tigers move down the field adroitly for a 43-yd FG by Cody Parkay leaving only 5 seconds on the clock. We get the three back. Our offense is showing rhythm. The kickoff is in the end zone and the half ends in Auburn's favor.
This game will go the distance. It's anybody's game, but Auburn seems to have momentum at the half.
END OF HALF
Auburn 31 MSU 24
The Tigers receive to start the second half.
Tre Mason takes the kickoff back to midfield.
Dyer starts running down the field but we have to settle for a 37-yd. FG.
Auburn 34 MSU 24
State starts on their 20 after Parkey puts the kickoff into the back of the end zone.
The Bulldogs start moving the ball after we give up an inital 3rd and long from their 20.
We go from having them 3rd and long on their 20 to their moving the ball with relative ease.
On 4th and 4 from the 15 MSU gets the FG. At least we hold them on a third down. We have given up SO MANY first downs on third and long today. Our defene plays well for two downs but then give up the first.
Auburn 34 MSU 27 with 9:12 to go in the third.
The Tigers move to the MSU 45 but have to punt. Trotter was indecisive on a third and 6.
State starts on their 17.
Relf is running again. If we lose this game it's because we can't contain their QB.
Reif running and short passes are killing us.
No pressure right now on Reif.
Our defense needs a stop or better yet a turnover.
Now here's a 3rd and 4 from near midfield.
Once gain there's a pitch back to Ballard the running back and another State first on third down.
We hold on a third and long.
The punts dies on our 8.
Our defense needs to move the chains.
But we are a rhythm offense and barring a big play I doubt we get it done from our 8.
The third period is winding down.
Here is the big play!
Dyer runs for 52 yards!
At the Bulldog 31 Auburn is 4th and 1.
Wow! The Ref all but gets on his knees before giving the signal for the first down!
On a third and 3 on the 24 the quarter ends.
END OF THIRD QUARTER
Auburn 34 MSU 27
We begin the 4th quarter and it's anybody's game.
Trotter rolls out and hits McCalebb. First down Auburn!
THERE'S THE TD PASS TO LUTZ! Two great play calls by Malzahn.
The Tigers take a 2-touchdown lead early in the 4th.
Auburn 41 MSU 27 with 14:03 left in the football game.
The Bulldogs move out to midfield and on 4th and 10 they punt.
From their 18 there is long run by McCalebb and a roughing penalty on top it but on the first down play the Dogs drop Trotter for a big loss---a loss of 12.
The Tigers shoot themselves in the foot and have to punt but it's a good punt to the Bulldog 17.
The Dogs get a first down on another third down play to the 34.
There's another running first down.
State is on their 45.
If we could only tackle their QB we'd be OK.
MSU mauls their way down the field to score with 4:53 left as they physically manhandle our defense.
Auburn 41 MSU 34 with 4:51 to go.
Alot of time left. This is getting hairy.
Mason makes a good return to the AU 33.
The Tigers go 3 and out and have to punt with 3:04 left.
Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
State starts on their 33 with 2:52 to go.
The last time they physically gashed our defense. This is scary.
AS the game winds down I have to run Doo-Rail over to the vet and watch the final, exciting play over there.
State drives to the one yard line and we stop them with 10 seconds left.
Ryan Smith stops their QB at the one---hits him and drops him right there and the clock expires! This is an amazing tackle! Our defense saves the day. The offense does it last week and the defense does it today.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 41 MSU 34
Usually I don't take much pleasure in beat Mississippi State because Auburn is supposed to beat these people, but this one is special because they were favored and then there's the Cam Newton hangover and besides, I despise Dan Mullen. This is the best team MSU will ever have and they can't beat us when this is clearly a rebuilding year for us. Enough said.
State is favored by 7. They may be simply better than Auburn this year. They have an experienced offensive line and far more experience on defense. I assume they will try and run the ball down our throats. I assume further that they are bigger and more powerful physically than us. State must think they can run right through us. We shall see.
Before the game, Stan White predicts play action by State given that AU will probably try and stack the box.
FIRST QUARTER
State receives and starts on their 8 yard line.
State goes 3 and out! Our defense looks good on their first possession
The Bulldogs punt from their 5 after 2 penalities.
Auburn has good field position starting on the Bulldog 36.
After a first down but moved back by a penalty Mike Dyer dashes 35 down the right sideline for a touchdown. A dazzling run! We are off to a good start.
Auburn 7 MSU 0 with 12:37 left in the first.
State is held to the 15 but we are flagged for unsportsmanlike to move the ball out to the 30. Poor, poor call. Absolutely ridiculous celebration penalty.
Demetruce McNeil intercepts and runs it back 43 yards for the touchdown! We are penalized AGAIN for I'm not sure what and will be penalized on the kickoff. The referee said #27 personal foul and our announcers wonder if 27 was even in the game. What is going on with these officials??? Lots of flags so far---eight!
Auburn 14 MSU 0 with 11:39 left in the first.
With the advantage of the penalty State starts on their 38.
The Bulldogs start a drive.
Quickly State gets a long TD run of 40 yards from Ladarius Perkins down his left sideline. Whoosh! The Bullies started with good field position helped by a penalty on the Auburn kickoff on the last touchdown play.
Just like that State is back in the game.
This is going to be a wild and crazy game. Despite our big start, you couldn't expect a runaway.
Auburn 14 MSU 7 with 10:38 left in the first.
Auburn starts on their 21.
The Tigers go to the 29 before having to punt.
State has the momentum now.
State starts on their 32 after only a 39-yd. punt.
State comes out with QB Reif running effectively.
Auburn is getting pounded at the line of scrimmage right now as Relf runs like Cam Newton.
The QB option and trip is killing us. Their QB is more comfortably running than throwing. This is what I feared: State running the ball.
We aren't getting any pressure on their QB as a pass play takes the ball to our 15
Now a TD pass to a wide-open receiver in the end zone. AFter a blazing start by Auburn, the game is quickly tied.
Auburn 14 MSU 14
The Tigers need to regain the momentum.
Auburn starts on the 24.
Auburn needs to control the line of scrimmage.
Auburn is 3 and out after Dyer is stuffed on a 3rd and 1. Bad play call our announcers say. The play is too slow in developing.
The punt dies at the Bulldog 11. Big roll. We have them backed up. Gotta keep them there.
Once again we can't tackle Reif.
There's a first down by a half the length of the football.
It's all their QB running up the middle and we can't tackle him until there's a good gain.
On 4th and 6 after we drop Perkins for a big loss Auburn starts on their 30.
Auburn must move the chains.
AFter one first down the Tigers have to punt.
END OF FIRST QUARTER
Auburn 14 MSU 14
The punt rolls dead on the MSU 1. After two first downs with Relf running ball each time on third and long, our defense finally gets off the field. It seems that Reif is not comfortable throwing the ball but he's been hurting us running the ball.
The Tigers start on their 23 with 10:48 to go in the half.
On the second place disaster strikes. Trotter throws an easy pick and TD to the State DB.
Auburn 14 MSU 21
After a great return by Mason to near midfield, Trotter strikes back on a 46 yd strike to Emory Blake. What a game!
Auburn 21 MSU 21 with 8:37 left in the half.
MSU goes 3 and out. Auburn starts on their 41. Right down the field to the Tigers. The score comes on an incredible short 2-yd run by Dyer. He stretches and won't go down till the ball crosses the goal line. Great individual effort by Mike Dyer! Dyer is runs hard on every play.
Auburn 28 MSU 21 with 4:51 left in the half.
State drives for a 27-yd. FG. Our defense plays well until 3rd down. We give up third down after third down conversion.
Auburn 28 MSU 24 with 40 seconds left in the half.
Auburn is on their 30 with seconds left but a penalty moves the ball back on the kick. The Tigers move down the field adroitly for a 43-yd FG by Cody Parkay leaving only 5 seconds on the clock. We get the three back. Our offense is showing rhythm. The kickoff is in the end zone and the half ends in Auburn's favor.
This game will go the distance. It's anybody's game, but Auburn seems to have momentum at the half.
END OF HALF
Auburn 31 MSU 24
The Tigers receive to start the second half.
Tre Mason takes the kickoff back to midfield.
Dyer starts running down the field but we have to settle for a 37-yd. FG.
Auburn 34 MSU 24
State starts on their 20 after Parkey puts the kickoff into the back of the end zone.
The Bulldogs start moving the ball after we give up an inital 3rd and long from their 20.
We go from having them 3rd and long on their 20 to their moving the ball with relative ease.
On 4th and 4 from the 15 MSU gets the FG. At least we hold them on a third down. We have given up SO MANY first downs on third and long today. Our defene plays well for two downs but then give up the first.
Auburn 34 MSU 27 with 9:12 to go in the third.
The Tigers move to the MSU 45 but have to punt. Trotter was indecisive on a third and 6.
State starts on their 17.
Relf is running again. If we lose this game it's because we can't contain their QB.
Reif running and short passes are killing us.
No pressure right now on Reif.
Our defense needs a stop or better yet a turnover.
Now here's a 3rd and 4 from near midfield.
Once gain there's a pitch back to Ballard the running back and another State first on third down.
We hold on a third and long.
The punts dies on our 8.
Our defense needs to move the chains.
But we are a rhythm offense and barring a big play I doubt we get it done from our 8.
The third period is winding down.
Here is the big play!
Dyer runs for 52 yards!
At the Bulldog 31 Auburn is 4th and 1.
Wow! The Ref all but gets on his knees before giving the signal for the first down!
On a third and 3 on the 24 the quarter ends.
END OF THIRD QUARTER
Auburn 34 MSU 27
We begin the 4th quarter and it's anybody's game.
Trotter rolls out and hits McCalebb. First down Auburn!
THERE'S THE TD PASS TO LUTZ! Two great play calls by Malzahn.
The Tigers take a 2-touchdown lead early in the 4th.
Auburn 41 MSU 27 with 14:03 left in the football game.
The Bulldogs move out to midfield and on 4th and 10 they punt.
From their 18 there is long run by McCalebb and a roughing penalty on top it but on the first down play the Dogs drop Trotter for a big loss---a loss of 12.
The Tigers shoot themselves in the foot and have to punt but it's a good punt to the Bulldog 17.
The Dogs get a first down on another third down play to the 34.
There's another running first down.
State is on their 45.
If we could only tackle their QB we'd be OK.
MSU mauls their way down the field to score with 4:53 left as they physically manhandle our defense.
Auburn 41 MSU 34 with 4:51 to go.
Alot of time left. This is getting hairy.
Mason makes a good return to the AU 33.
The Tigers go 3 and out and have to punt with 3:04 left.
Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
State starts on their 33 with 2:52 to go.
The last time they physically gashed our defense. This is scary.
AS the game winds down I have to run Doo-Rail over to the vet and watch the final, exciting play over there.
State drives to the one yard line and we stop them with 10 seconds left.
Ryan Smith stops their QB at the one---hits him and drops him right there and the clock expires! This is an amazing tackle! Our defense saves the day. The offense does it last week and the defense does it today.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 41 MSU 34
Usually I don't take much pleasure in beat Mississippi State because Auburn is supposed to beat these people, but this one is special because they were favored and then there's the Cam Newton hangover and besides, I despise Dan Mullen. This is the best team MSU will ever have and they can't beat us when this is clearly a rebuilding year for us. Enough said.
Auburn president Jay Gogue wouldn't object to Tigers moving to SEC East
By Jon Solomon
The Birmingham News
9 September 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Auburn University President Jay Gogue said Thursday he would not be bothered if Auburn shifted to the SEC East as conference realignment plays out.
"If that's what it took, if you ever went to 14 (SEC members) and needed to make it work, that wouldn't be something I would be upset about," Gogue said. "I don't see any real difference. We already play Georgia, a longtime rival."
Gogue said a benefit would be Auburn renewing annual games against old rivals Florida and Tennessee. If Auburn went to the East, Auburn would pick Alabama to be an annual cross-division partner, Gogue said.
That's still speculative, of course. Because what happens next after Texas A&M's conditional acceptance into the SEC remained unclear Thursday, and it could be cloudy for a while.
The SEC approved Texas A&M as a member Tuesday if the other nine Big 12 members reaffirm they won't sue the SEC. Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri have not publicly waived their rights.
The Dallas Morning News reported Baylor has no plans to waive its legal rights as long as there is Big 12 instability. Oklahoma has publicly said it is considering changing conferences, perhaps to the Pac-12.
Tennessee Athletics Director Dave Hart said he is more convinced than ever that a "massive explosion" of conference realignment is coming.
"If it's A&M or if the Pac-12 moves, somebody is going to push the start button," said Hart, who had been running Alabama's athletics department on a daily basis. "I can't predict the timing of it. But it's potentially coming quicker than people would have imagined a couple years ago.
"Everybody's posturing right now, as you can well imagine. They better be. They've got to have ducks in a row. They've got to play out the contingencies. We have great leadership in (SEC Commissioner) Mike Slive. Everybody is extremely confident that Mike will lead."
Gogue said he doesn't believe the SEC would rush to add a 14th member if Texas A&M officially joins.
"I don't think there'd be any real push to get to 14, at least there wouldn't be from my perspective," Gogue said. "We could really easily say, 'Texas A&M, we want you to meet all the schools in the Southeast, so this year you'll play in the West, next year you play in the East.' If a 14th came around and everybody was all excited, that would be fine."
Alabama President Robert Witt declined to be interviewed for this article.
Gogue did not attend the SEC presidential meeting Tuesday in Atlanta. He arrived in Atlanta for the meeting, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday morning but got delayed. The evening start time conflicted with Gogue's schedule. Gogue said he privately told Slive he supports adding Texas A&M.
The SEC decided to vote by taking the position that Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe had released any legal claims by his members in a Sept. 2 letter. Prior to the vote, Beebe clarified that the Big 12 Conference, Inc., would not sue, but the waiver could not bind the individual institutions' governing boards to waive their rights.
Gogue said he believes Beebe's interpretation is accurate. Asked whether the SEC's lawyers understood that nuance before Beebe's clarification, Gogue replied, "I'd be surprised if they didn't understand."
SEC presidents are "sympathetic with any league," Gogue said. "You hope the Big 12 is viable. If they decide this causes huge issues for them and legal actions are involved, I don't think the Southeastern Conference should be part of that."
Hart, who went through a turbulent ACC expansion in 2003 while at Florida State, said confusion is inherent with the expansion process.
"While a lot of people have been anxious, I have not been," Hart said. "I've seen nothing in this process that has been surprising. It's a delicate process and it has to be handled the right way."
Gogue said Auburn believes the current conference alignments make sense but realizes times change.
If larger conferences emerge, "then we'll be excited and figure out how to be successful in a new alignment," Gogue said. "Your perspective is different from whatever school you're at. When I looked at our ballgame vs. Utah State (last week), we had all the competition we needed. Nearly lost the thing. Should have lost, probably. You look at that and start looking at Texas A&M -- I saw they're ranked in the top 20 -- we've got plenty of competition where we are."
Assuming the SEC expands, Hart said the most contentious issue will be scheduling. Hart said Slive has not formally discussed scheduling options, which will have to factor in equity and rivalries.
"He's right not to do that. That's ahead of the train," Hart said. "There's going to be a lot of turns and frustrations in this. Mike is a great planner and always has a direction to go."
The Birmingham News
9 September 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Auburn University President Jay Gogue said Thursday he would not be bothered if Auburn shifted to the SEC East as conference realignment plays out.
"If that's what it took, if you ever went to 14 (SEC members) and needed to make it work, that wouldn't be something I would be upset about," Gogue said. "I don't see any real difference. We already play Georgia, a longtime rival."
Gogue said a benefit would be Auburn renewing annual games against old rivals Florida and Tennessee. If Auburn went to the East, Auburn would pick Alabama to be an annual cross-division partner, Gogue said.
That's still speculative, of course. Because what happens next after Texas A&M's conditional acceptance into the SEC remained unclear Thursday, and it could be cloudy for a while.
The SEC approved Texas A&M as a member Tuesday if the other nine Big 12 members reaffirm they won't sue the SEC. Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri have not publicly waived their rights.
The Dallas Morning News reported Baylor has no plans to waive its legal rights as long as there is Big 12 instability. Oklahoma has publicly said it is considering changing conferences, perhaps to the Pac-12.
Tennessee Athletics Director Dave Hart said he is more convinced than ever that a "massive explosion" of conference realignment is coming.
"If it's A&M or if the Pac-12 moves, somebody is going to push the start button," said Hart, who had been running Alabama's athletics department on a daily basis. "I can't predict the timing of it. But it's potentially coming quicker than people would have imagined a couple years ago.
"Everybody's posturing right now, as you can well imagine. They better be. They've got to have ducks in a row. They've got to play out the contingencies. We have great leadership in (SEC Commissioner) Mike Slive. Everybody is extremely confident that Mike will lead."
Gogue said he doesn't believe the SEC would rush to add a 14th member if Texas A&M officially joins.
"I don't think there'd be any real push to get to 14, at least there wouldn't be from my perspective," Gogue said. "We could really easily say, 'Texas A&M, we want you to meet all the schools in the Southeast, so this year you'll play in the West, next year you play in the East.' If a 14th came around and everybody was all excited, that would be fine."
Alabama President Robert Witt declined to be interviewed for this article.
Gogue did not attend the SEC presidential meeting Tuesday in Atlanta. He arrived in Atlanta for the meeting, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday morning but got delayed. The evening start time conflicted with Gogue's schedule. Gogue said he privately told Slive he supports adding Texas A&M.
The SEC decided to vote by taking the position that Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe had released any legal claims by his members in a Sept. 2 letter. Prior to the vote, Beebe clarified that the Big 12 Conference, Inc., would not sue, but the waiver could not bind the individual institutions' governing boards to waive their rights.
Gogue said he believes Beebe's interpretation is accurate. Asked whether the SEC's lawyers understood that nuance before Beebe's clarification, Gogue replied, "I'd be surprised if they didn't understand."
SEC presidents are "sympathetic with any league," Gogue said. "You hope the Big 12 is viable. If they decide this causes huge issues for them and legal actions are involved, I don't think the Southeastern Conference should be part of that."
Hart, who went through a turbulent ACC expansion in 2003 while at Florida State, said confusion is inherent with the expansion process.
"While a lot of people have been anxious, I have not been," Hart said. "I've seen nothing in this process that has been surprising. It's a delicate process and it has to be handled the right way."
Gogue said Auburn believes the current conference alignments make sense but realizes times change.
If larger conferences emerge, "then we'll be excited and figure out how to be successful in a new alignment," Gogue said. "Your perspective is different from whatever school you're at. When I looked at our ballgame vs. Utah State (last week), we had all the competition we needed. Nearly lost the thing. Should have lost, probably. You look at that and start looking at Texas A&M -- I saw they're ranked in the top 20 -- we've got plenty of competition where we are."
Assuming the SEC expands, Hart said the most contentious issue will be scheduling. Hart said Slive has not formally discussed scheduling options, which will have to factor in equity and rivalries.
"He's right not to do that. That's ahead of the train," Hart said. "There's going to be a lot of turns and frustrations in this. Mike is a great planner and always has a direction to go."
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Mississippi State is Next
After a dramatic win over Utah State, the Tigers entertain Mississippi State. The Bullies are a 7-point favorite. This should be treated as an insult. Auburn should NEVER be an underdog to State. We have NO love for Dan Mullen. It's not like we take State seriously, but feelings run high right now. I will take more than the usual pleasure if we beat them.
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Start We Unexpectedly Expected
We expected to beat Utah State but we certainly did not expect to have to win the way we did in the very last seconds in a desperate comeback. The 21-point favored Tigers score 14 points in the last two minutes to win 42 to 38.
This will be quickly forgotten by Saturday when Mississippi State comes to town. Tiger fans are nervous now. We can see visions of a big losing season or we can conjure up a vision of a team correcting its mitakes from Saturday and going on to a respectable season. If we beat the Bulldogs, the ship will be righted at least for a week. If we lose a close game, then well, we'll see. But if we lose big it will be a bad feeling.
Next Saturday will be most interesting.
This will be quickly forgotten by Saturday when Mississippi State comes to town. Tiger fans are nervous now. We can see visions of a big losing season or we can conjure up a vision of a team correcting its mitakes from Saturday and going on to a respectable season. If we beat the Bulldogs, the ship will be righted at least for a week. If we lose a close game, then well, we'll see. But if we lose big it will be a bad feeling.
Next Saturday will be most interesting.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
2011 FIRST GAME VS. UTAH STATE
This wasn't what we expected. I mean we expected to win; we did not expect to have to win in this fashion.
The Tigers have to rally late to beat Utah State 42 to 38. Whew!
Freddy's home. We are there watching at Jordan Hare with our friend Ben.
The Aggies take a 10 point lead with about 3 and half minutes left. The Tigers score quickly, recover an onside kick, and score again. That's 2 TDs in a little over 2 minutes. Amazing to recover the onside kick and an amazing rally to win this game.
Phillip's blog: Disaster averted
Phillip Marshall
4 hours ago
AUBURN – There was no leaping for joy, no sprints to celebrate with the students who stayed until the bitter end at Jordan-Hare Stadium. On the first Saturday of the 2011 football season, the prevailing emotion for Auburn’s defending national champions was relief.
Utah State, with its fearless true freshman quarterback, came to town intending to win. The Aggies had come close at Oklahoma last season. When running back Robert Turbin scored from a yard out with 3:38 left in the game to make it 38-28, it seemed the Aggies would break through, that they would beat a ranked team for the first time since 1991.
Barrett Trotter and friends had other ideas. Trotter hit Philip Lutzenkirchen for 1`5 yards and a touchdown with 2:07 left. Chandler Brooks – Chris on the Auburn roster – executed a near-perfect onsides kick and Emory Blake went high to bring it in.
Trotter, playing like a veteran, calmly took the Tigers 56 yards in eight plays. Mike Dyer’s 1-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left won it. What would have been a disastrous loss was averted.
For the fifth time in 15 games, the Tigers wiped out a double-digit deficit to win. This day, they did it twice. But the cast of characters was so different and the opponent came armed mostly with heart and freshman quarterback Chuckie Keeton, who ought to be very proud.
Yes, Auburn won in dramatic fashion. That was worthy of a smile. A wise coach one time told me “All wins are good. All losses are bad. And that’s really all that needs to be said.”
True enough, but the road ahead looks ever so daunting. A performance like Saturday’s will lead to a beatdown by Mississippi State next Saturday and against the revenge-hungry powers waiting down the road.
There were some shining moments.
Trotter directed the last two drives with calm and cool.
Freshman Tre Mason’s electfifying 97-yard kickoff return in the second quarter made it possible for Auburn to come back at the end.
Brooks’ onsides kick was a thing of beauty.
Cody Parkey had four touchbacks on kickoffs, three of which sailed through the end zone in the air.
Receiver Travante Stallworth made play after play.
Receiver Emory Blake made big plays on offense and the biggest play when he went high to snare the onsides kick.
But …
With seven minutes left to go in the second quarter, the offense had one first down.
The defense gave up touchdown drives of 16, 15, 14 and 14 plays.
The offensive and defensive lines struggled even more than might have been reasonably expected with so many new faces. Auburn ran fpr 78 yards. Utah State ran for 227.
“No excuses,” said Auburn coach Gene Chizik. “No excuses” said defensive coordinator Ted Roof. “No excuses,” said offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, though in the end, his unit put up five touchdowns.
Is Auburn really as shaky as it looked? Probably not. I suspect it was a combination of wide-eyed young players and older players who probably didn’t expect so much from Utah State. But regardless, as Chizik said, this Auburn team is a long way from being ready to win games against good teams and time is running out.
The old adage says teams make improve most from the first game to the second. Auburn’s team, winner now of 16 consecutive games, fervently hopes it turns out that way.
38
Final 1 2 3 4 T
Utah State 14 7 3 14 38
23 Auburn 7 7 14 14 42
42
Preview | Box | At the Stadium | PBP | Recap
Scoring Summary
First Quarter UtahSt Auburn
UtahSt TD 10:30 Kerwynn Williams 43 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 7 0
Auburn TD 8:59 Emory Blake 56 yd pass from Barrett Trotter (Cody Parkey kick) 7 7
UtahSt TD 1:32 Chuckie Keeton 3 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 14 7
Second Quarter UtahSt Auburn
UtahSt TD 7:58 Robert Turbin 1 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 21 7
Auburn TD 7:46 Tre Mason 97 yd kick return (Cody Parkey kick) 21 14
Third Quarter UtahSt Auburn
Auburn TD 11:14 Michael Dyer 11 yd run (Cody Parkey kick) 21 21
UtahSt FG 4:52 Josh Thompson 34 yd FG 24 21
Auburn TD 1:57 Travante Stallworth 39 yd pass from Barrett Trotter (Cody Parkey kick) 24 28
Fourth Quarter UtahSt Auburn
UtahSt TD 11:20 Chuckie Keeton 7 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 31 28
UtahSt TD 3:38 Robert Turbin 1 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 38 28
Auburn TD 2:07 Philip Lutzenkirchen 15 yd pass from Barrett Trotter (Cody Parkey kick) 38 35
Auburn TD 0:30 Michael Dyer 1 yd run (Cody Parkey kick) 38 42
Team Stats
Utah State Auburn
First downs 27 17
Rushing 14 6
Passing 12 11
Penalty 1 0
3rd Down Efficiency 10-17, 59% 3-9, 33%
4th down efficiency 3-3, 100% 1-1, 100%
Rushes-Yards 53-227 30-78
Passing Yards 221 286
Return Yards 56 270
Completions-Attempts-Int 22-31-0 18-24-0
Sacks-Yards Lost 1--3 2--15
Punts 3 4
Punts-Average 50 43.5
Fumbles Lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties - Yards 6-38 7-60
Time of Possession 37:41 22:19
Scoring Summary
Scoring Summary (Final)
NCAA Football
UTAH STATE vs AUBURN (9/3/2011 at Auburn, AL)
UTAH STATE (0-1) vs. AUBURN (1-0)
Date: 9/3/2011 Site: Auburn, AL Stadium: Jordan Hare
Attendance: 85245
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
UTAH STATE.......... 14 7 3 14 - 38
AUBURN.............. 7 7 14 14 - 42
Scoring Summary:
1st 10:30 USU - Williams, Kerwynn 43 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
3 plays, 64 yards, TOP 1:03, USU 7 - AU 0
08:59 AU - Blake, Emory 56 yd pass from Trotter, Barrett (Parkey, Cody kick)
3 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:31, USU 7 - AU 7
01:32 USU - Keeton, Chuckie 3 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
15 plays, 80 yards, TOP 7:27, USU 14 - AU 7
2nd 07:58 USU - Turbin, Robert 1 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:52, USU 21 - AU 7
07:46 AU - Mason, Tre 97 yd kickoff return (Parkey, Cody kick)
USU 21 - AU 14
3rd 11:14 AU - Dyer, Michael 11 yd run (Parkey, Cody kick)
11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:46, USU 21 - AU 21
04:52 USU - Thompson, Josh 34 yd field goal
5 plays, 28 yards, TOP 2:16, USU 24 - AU 21
01:57 AU - Stallworth, Travante 39 yd pass from Trotter, Barrett (Parkey, Cody kick)
7 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:55, USU 24 - AU 28
4th 11:20 USU - Keeton, Chuckie 7 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:37, USU 31 - AU 28
03:38 USU - Turbin, Robert 1 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
14 plays, 65 yards, TOP 6:24, USU 38 - AU 28
02:07 AU - Lutzenkirchen, P. 15 yd pass from Trotter, Barrett (Parkey, Cody kick)
6 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:31, USU 38 - AU 35
00:30 AU - Dyer, Michael 1 yd run (Parkey, Cody kick)
8 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:37, USU 38 - AU 42
The Tigers have to rally late to beat Utah State 42 to 38. Whew!
Freddy's home. We are there watching at Jordan Hare with our friend Ben.
The Aggies take a 10 point lead with about 3 and half minutes left. The Tigers score quickly, recover an onside kick, and score again. That's 2 TDs in a little over 2 minutes. Amazing to recover the onside kick and an amazing rally to win this game.
Phillip's blog: Disaster averted
Phillip Marshall
4 hours ago
AUBURN – There was no leaping for joy, no sprints to celebrate with the students who stayed until the bitter end at Jordan-Hare Stadium. On the first Saturday of the 2011 football season, the prevailing emotion for Auburn’s defending national champions was relief.
Utah State, with its fearless true freshman quarterback, came to town intending to win. The Aggies had come close at Oklahoma last season. When running back Robert Turbin scored from a yard out with 3:38 left in the game to make it 38-28, it seemed the Aggies would break through, that they would beat a ranked team for the first time since 1991.
Barrett Trotter and friends had other ideas. Trotter hit Philip Lutzenkirchen for 1`5 yards and a touchdown with 2:07 left. Chandler Brooks – Chris on the Auburn roster – executed a near-perfect onsides kick and Emory Blake went high to bring it in.
Trotter, playing like a veteran, calmly took the Tigers 56 yards in eight plays. Mike Dyer’s 1-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left won it. What would have been a disastrous loss was averted.
For the fifth time in 15 games, the Tigers wiped out a double-digit deficit to win. This day, they did it twice. But the cast of characters was so different and the opponent came armed mostly with heart and freshman quarterback Chuckie Keeton, who ought to be very proud.
Yes, Auburn won in dramatic fashion. That was worthy of a smile. A wise coach one time told me “All wins are good. All losses are bad. And that’s really all that needs to be said.”
True enough, but the road ahead looks ever so daunting. A performance like Saturday’s will lead to a beatdown by Mississippi State next Saturday and against the revenge-hungry powers waiting down the road.
There were some shining moments.
Trotter directed the last two drives with calm and cool.
Freshman Tre Mason’s electfifying 97-yard kickoff return in the second quarter made it possible for Auburn to come back at the end.
Brooks’ onsides kick was a thing of beauty.
Cody Parkey had four touchbacks on kickoffs, three of which sailed through the end zone in the air.
Receiver Travante Stallworth made play after play.
Receiver Emory Blake made big plays on offense and the biggest play when he went high to snare the onsides kick.
But …
With seven minutes left to go in the second quarter, the offense had one first down.
The defense gave up touchdown drives of 16, 15, 14 and 14 plays.
The offensive and defensive lines struggled even more than might have been reasonably expected with so many new faces. Auburn ran fpr 78 yards. Utah State ran for 227.
“No excuses,” said Auburn coach Gene Chizik. “No excuses” said defensive coordinator Ted Roof. “No excuses,” said offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, though in the end, his unit put up five touchdowns.
Is Auburn really as shaky as it looked? Probably not. I suspect it was a combination of wide-eyed young players and older players who probably didn’t expect so much from Utah State. But regardless, as Chizik said, this Auburn team is a long way from being ready to win games against good teams and time is running out.
The old adage says teams make improve most from the first game to the second. Auburn’s team, winner now of 16 consecutive games, fervently hopes it turns out that way.
38
Final 1 2 3 4 T
Utah State 14 7 3 14 38
23 Auburn 7 7 14 14 42
42
Preview | Box | At the Stadium | PBP | Recap
Scoring Summary
First Quarter UtahSt Auburn
UtahSt TD 10:30 Kerwynn Williams 43 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 7 0
Auburn TD 8:59 Emory Blake 56 yd pass from Barrett Trotter (Cody Parkey kick) 7 7
UtahSt TD 1:32 Chuckie Keeton 3 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 14 7
Second Quarter UtahSt Auburn
UtahSt TD 7:58 Robert Turbin 1 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 21 7
Auburn TD 7:46 Tre Mason 97 yd kick return (Cody Parkey kick) 21 14
Third Quarter UtahSt Auburn
Auburn TD 11:14 Michael Dyer 11 yd run (Cody Parkey kick) 21 21
UtahSt FG 4:52 Josh Thompson 34 yd FG 24 21
Auburn TD 1:57 Travante Stallworth 39 yd pass from Barrett Trotter (Cody Parkey kick) 24 28
Fourth Quarter UtahSt Auburn
UtahSt TD 11:20 Chuckie Keeton 7 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 31 28
UtahSt TD 3:38 Robert Turbin 1 yd run (Josh Thompson kick) 38 28
Auburn TD 2:07 Philip Lutzenkirchen 15 yd pass from Barrett Trotter (Cody Parkey kick) 38 35
Auburn TD 0:30 Michael Dyer 1 yd run (Cody Parkey kick) 38 42
Team Stats
Utah State Auburn
First downs 27 17
Rushing 14 6
Passing 12 11
Penalty 1 0
3rd Down Efficiency 10-17, 59% 3-9, 33%
4th down efficiency 3-3, 100% 1-1, 100%
Rushes-Yards 53-227 30-78
Passing Yards 221 286
Return Yards 56 270
Completions-Attempts-Int 22-31-0 18-24-0
Sacks-Yards Lost 1--3 2--15
Punts 3 4
Punts-Average 50 43.5
Fumbles Lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties - Yards 6-38 7-60
Time of Possession 37:41 22:19
Scoring Summary
Scoring Summary (Final)
NCAA Football
UTAH STATE vs AUBURN (9/3/2011 at Auburn, AL)
UTAH STATE (0-1) vs. AUBURN (1-0)
Date: 9/3/2011 Site: Auburn, AL Stadium: Jordan Hare
Attendance: 85245
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
UTAH STATE.......... 14 7 3 14 - 38
AUBURN.............. 7 7 14 14 - 42
Scoring Summary:
1st 10:30 USU - Williams, Kerwynn 43 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
3 plays, 64 yards, TOP 1:03, USU 7 - AU 0
08:59 AU - Blake, Emory 56 yd pass from Trotter, Barrett (Parkey, Cody kick)
3 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:31, USU 7 - AU 7
01:32 USU - Keeton, Chuckie 3 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
15 plays, 80 yards, TOP 7:27, USU 14 - AU 7
2nd 07:58 USU - Turbin, Robert 1 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:52, USU 21 - AU 7
07:46 AU - Mason, Tre 97 yd kickoff return (Parkey, Cody kick)
USU 21 - AU 14
3rd 11:14 AU - Dyer, Michael 11 yd run (Parkey, Cody kick)
11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:46, USU 21 - AU 21
04:52 USU - Thompson, Josh 34 yd field goal
5 plays, 28 yards, TOP 2:16, USU 24 - AU 21
01:57 AU - Stallworth, Travante 39 yd pass from Trotter, Barrett (Parkey, Cody kick)
7 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:55, USU 24 - AU 28
4th 11:20 USU - Keeton, Chuckie 7 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:37, USU 31 - AU 28
03:38 USU - Turbin, Robert 1 yd run (Thompson, Josh kick)
14 plays, 65 yards, TOP 6:24, USU 38 - AU 28
02:07 AU - Lutzenkirchen, P. 15 yd pass from Trotter, Barrett (Parkey, Cody kick)
6 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:31, USU 38 - AU 35
00:30 AU - Dyer, Michael 1 yd run (Parkey, Cody kick)
8 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:37, USU 38 - AU 42
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Day Before the Start of the 2011 Season
Auburn seems to be about a 22-pt. favorite over Utah State. I hope that's right.
Historically Auburn does not play so well in the first game of the season. I remember too many losses and slow starts.
I expect the same thing this year in particular with such a young team. I expect us to score a lot of points but give up a bunch of points. At times the offense will look brilliant. At times it will look foolish. The same with the defense.
I'll say Auburn 48 Utah State 27.
Historically Auburn does not play so well in the first game of the season. I remember too many losses and slow starts.
I expect the same thing this year in particular with such a young team. I expect us to score a lot of points but give up a bunch of points. At times the offense will look brilliant. At times it will look foolish. The same with the defense.
I'll say Auburn 48 Utah State 27.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Two Days Away
We are 2 days away from the start of another Auburn football season. Everyone is predicting a tough season ahead for the Tigers, and it's hard to argue with that assessment. As best I can tell, we will start only 4 seniors including only one of defense: Neiko Thorpe. The schedule is brutal with so many tough road games. Most people think Auburn will win between 5 & 7 games. Historically Auburn does well when expectations are low. Who thought we would go undefeated in 2004? Who thought we would to unbeaten and win the NC last year? Let's hope it's another unexpectedly great Auburn football season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)