THINGS GOING SOUTH FOR AU...

Hard to believe what's going on with Auburn...

   

Malzhan's got problems

     With no disrespect to my Auburn friends, what the hell is going on with your football program? The Tigers were a preseason favorite to win the SEC West. That's not going to happen. Plus, the Tiger fans and media believed that Jeremy Johnson was going to win the Heisman Trophy. He's no longer the starting quarterback. I never really understood how a player who couldn't win the starting job last season could win the Heisman the next season.  That shows just how unrealistic Auburn fans can be. The problem that AU cannot escape, and it is not their fault, is that they are competing against the University of Alabama. That's a tough task. In the long run it is a task you just can't win regardless of how hard you try, and how much you love your team. Give credit to Auburn fans - they love Auburn. 

      It seems to me that even when the Tigers win it comes tainted in some way. The Cam Newton title was rife with allegations that Auburn had bought the best quarterback money could buy. For most people, who aren't Auburn fans, it seemed like the Tigers got away with one. The rationale he had no personal knowledge of what is father was doing seems pretty flimsy to me on several levels.  That's all over, but I bet anytime an Alabama hears about that national championship they all thought about cheating. Privately, a number of Auburn fans have told me that's what they think as well. Beyond what Auburn may or may not have done, it left a stain on a great season. Don't get me started about the hypocrisy of the NCAA enforcement division. 

     I think that Gus Malzhan is a pretty good coach. I don't like all the trick plays. In my opinion the best teams just line and knock you silly. Auburn spent a ton of money to get Boom, and his defense prove my point. If you can't man up to your opponent you can never be a great team. You might win some, you might trick people for a while, but in the long run the line of scrimmage will always catch up with you. One thing that I've always thought was that Auburn teams played tough. Last season and through to season this year you can see Auburn players actually avoid contact. That's not what Auburn has been. Heck, that's not even real football. It seems that the only licks passed by an Auburn player occurred in a bar fight. 

     Auburn is in for a long season in my opinion. The unsettled question at quarterback doesn't set the stage for success. The defense isn't playing gut check football. Finally, there seems to be a lot of stuff going on off-field as well. Duke Williams was given his walking papers. Rumors of lack of team unity are coming to light. I have no idea of exactly what is happening. One thing seem obvious. Auburn just isn't very good. They are not even close to good. That's not to say that the Tigers won't win a few more games. They could do that. But being a dominant SEC Western division program just isn't on the menu this year. We all know that AU should be in the Eastern Division, from a geographical view point,  anyway.