2023 The Cal Game

 So here we are late on a Saturday night kickoff in Berkeley at approximately 9:30.  I think Auburn is a slight favorite but I am not sure.  Both teams won their first game.  Before our game kicks off we have the pure pleasure of seeing Texas bludgeon Alabama 34 to 24.

FIRST QUARTER

Auburn 0 Cal 3

On our ensuing possession we are punting from just outside out goal line.

The Bears start on about our our 33.

Not a good start on the road.

FG attempt no good.

Auburn ball.  One first down.

But now punting from our 38.  

I get the feeling early on that we should win this game but who knows.

Punt nullified due to Cal penalty.

Somehow Cal ball around their 20.

Auburn ball after their punt on our 33.

Auburn 0 Cal 3

SECOND QUARTER

The Tigers recover a fumble, but the play is reviewed and overturned.  Auburn ballon their 12.

Touchdown on third down from a short pass!

Auburn 7 Cal 3

11:50 in the second.

The Tigers return their punt to our 39.

Alsston fumbles.  The play is reviewed.  Cal ball on their 35.  That hurts.

First down Cal on about our 30.  This is hard to watch because I think Auburn is the better team.  They are completing short passes.

TD run from our 16.  This is disturbing.  

Auburn 7 Cal 10

44:47 left.

No go offense.  Cal ball on about their 17.

Auburn 7 Cal 13   

Disappointing half of football. Two very ordinary mediocre college football teams.  

THIRD QUARTER

Slow start to the quarter neither offense showing anything.

Late in the third Cal misses a FG attempt still leading 10-7.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Tigers get a late touchdown and our defense.

Defense strong all game.  Offense struggles all game.

Final Score

Auburn 14 Cal 10

2023 The UMASS Game

 Auburn receives good runback from the end zone.  Running the ball the Tigers quickly cross midfield. We move to a first down in the red zone.  First down to the three.  Touchdown rush by Damari Alston.  Smartly down the field Tigers gash UMASS running the football.

11:28 in the first Auburn 7 UMASS 0

UMASS starts moving the ball advancing to their 45.  

On a nifty run their QB runs to the Auburn 24.  Our defense cannot stop their run.  First and goal  at the AU 7.  To the AU one.  Yikes!  Touchdown UMASS.  The visitors drive 89 yds for the score.

Auburn 7  UMASS 7

We are in for a long afternoon and we let them run the ball lie they did in their first drive.  No good.

The Tigers march completing a few short passes and still running ball well.

At the UMASS 22 Thorne runs for 9 but Auburn is called for holding.  Back to the 20.  An unnecessary  holding penalty costs us a touchdown.

2:52 timeout Auburn.

We move to 4th and 7.FG good.

Auburn 10 UMASS 7

2:11 in the first quarter.

Huge punt return.

Auburn is in business at their 16.

SECOND QUARTER

Ashford runs it in untouched.  Two plays 16 yds.,

Auburn 17 UMASS 7

UMASS punts.   Auburn starts on their 40.  Holding on the first snap.  Second snap Thorne scramble and pass for the first down.  To their 32.  To their 14.  To their 2.  Ashford walks in.

Auburn 24 UMASS 7

FUMB;E!  AUBURN ON THEIR 35,

FIRST AND GOAL.

Third and goal from the four,  Ashford runs it in again around right end.,

Auburn 31 UMASS 7

UMASS drives against our depth but all for naught as they miss a 42 yd FG attempt.

HALF Auburn 31 UMASS 7

THIRD QUARTER

At the half I am chuckling.  Thorne won the starting yet Ashford has been the star so far as he has scored three touchdowns.

Auburn kicks short and out of bounds apparently like an onside kick but an Auburn player has no change to run under the ball.  Strange call with such a lead.

SECOND PLAY FROM THEIR 44 A PICK SIX BY JAYLON SIMPSON.  

Auburn 38 UMASS 7

Let's not get sloppy now.

The Minutemen are quickly 4th and 13 from their 6,

Punt OOB to their 30.

First play 30 yd TD pass to Jay Fair.

Auburn 45 UMASS 7

UMASS punts.  Auburn punts after a rash of penalties erupts.

The Minutemen misfire on fourth and three.

First play from their 43 BAM! touchdown run by Cobb.  He can motor!

Auburn 52 UMASS 7

FOUTH QUARTER

Tigers up 52 to 7 UMASS facing fourth and 3. Incomplete pass.  Auburn ball.

The Tigers drive to the UMASS 46.  

But on fourth and six we go down on downs.

Then the Minutemen get a long TD run.

8:50 left.

Auburn 52 UMASS 14

Grenier is in the game.

Sean Jackson breaks a big one for a touchdown.

Auburn 59 UMASS 14

7:02 left

Auburn runs out the clock.

FINAL SCORE

AUBUN 59 UMASS 14

2023 Season

 A new college football beckons.  So much change is happening.  Teams are leaving one conference for another.  Will the historic PAC 12 survive.  Geography doesn't matter anymore.  There's NIL.  Will NCAA fold?  We are moving into a new world of college football.

The Tigers begin  the Hugh Freeze era.  I have no idea what will happen, but I can say Auburn people seem to be united.  The new transfer rules mean lots of Tigers will play key roles this year who were not here last year.  A common thought is that Auburn will go something like 7& 5.  I can't argue with that.

 Arcadia sandcrab: I read an article predicting we finished 12th in the conference. 6-7 wins. Seems like on the lower end of things. Thoughts?

I agree. I do believe that’s where Auburn will be predicted, but I think this team is 7-8 wins and could get to 9 if they can stay healthy in a few spots. To me getting to 9 wins all hinges on the early trip to Texas A&M. I think that’s the pivotal early game for this team and one that could really propel them in the first year for Hugh Freeze.

A - Day 2023

 A - DAY

It’s raining in Auburn as it is in Pelham.  I watch the game on ESPN +.  Cold and rainy.  Coach Freeze says they were going to air it out but not on this rainy day.  Before the scrimmage he wants to see assignment football and effort.  The game is structured with the defense up 24 to 

0 so the offense has to score more than 24 to win.

FIRST QUARTER

The offense scores on its first possession all on the ground with one pass batted down.  Robbie Ashford looks quick scrambling just like last year running for the touchdown.  On the other hand, not much defense.

24 - 7

Hunter and Alston are noticeable but Sean Jackson looks tough.  TOUGH day for passing and it shows.  All running so far.  You are not going any passing today whether the weather of it’s just not there.

END OF FIRST QUARTER

Short FG on the last play of the second half.

24 - 10

Sean Jackson looks a bona fide power runner.  We’ve got four talented running backs.

One nice Ashford completion to Dawson.  Ashford certainly looks like the fall starting QB.

END OF SECOND QUARTER

The scrimmage moves quickly with 10 minute quarters and seldom clock stoppages.

THIRD QUARTER

24-13

24-21

No fourth quarter

COMPETITIVE  GAME

LAST PLAY OF THE GAME FG

24 - 24

NCAA Auburn vs. Houston Game 2

 From Legacy Arena the Tigers take on Houston in game 2.  The Cougars are favored by 5 !/2.  They have only lost three games all year.  Auburn comes in 21 and 12.  They spent a number of weeks ranked #1.

FIRST HALF

Early on it's a game.  It looks like Auburn has come to play but Houston is quick and good.

Midway thru the first half 21-19 Houston.

Halftime Score: Auburn 41 Houston 31 So far so good.

SECOND HALF

46-46  11:57 left

50-50 inside of 10 minutes

AS the game winds down the game slips away from us.

The Tigers get steam-hollered in the second half.

Final Score : Houston 81 Auburn 64

NCAA Auburn vs. Iowa

 The Tigers enter the NCAA tournament at Legacy Arena perhaps a slight favorite over Iowa. Auburn is seeded #9 with Iowa #8.   Good draw starting in Birmingham although we should face highly ranked Houston if we win this game.  Auburn has been up and down this season.  We lost the first game of the SEC tournament with a slow, slow, start, finishing fast although not fast enough to beat Arkansas.  Iowa is supposed to be a high scoring team.  Auburn is not high a high scoring, strong shooting team.  I expect us to lose particularly if we have a slow start.

FIRST HALF

Very early on the energy level seems to be about the same on both teams but no doubt Iowa is the better shooting team.  First time out Auburn 8 Iowa 6.

Midway first half: Auburn 14 Iowa 12

21 - 14

Half : Auburn 31 Iowa 26

SECOND HALF

Halfway thru the second half: Auburn 58 Iowa 41

FINAL Auburn 83 Iowa 75