W ith every mediocre performance, win or loss, Auburn University is slowly shutting the door on the public’s perception that its football program is a nationally competitive BCS performer. On the other side of the State, the University of Alabama – under the guidance of Nick Saban – is winning hearts and gaining the nation’s respect with each passing game.
The memory of Auburn’s magical 2004 undefeated season is getting further in the rearview mirror, and the momentum it created is fading fast. Head coach Tommy Tuberville has been unable to sustain the dominance his team displayed that year, and the Auburn “family†continues to take a wrecking ball to its own program.
This past Spring Tubby made a seemingly desperate move by converting to a “high school†offense (the spread) and hiring a small college coach to run it against big time competition.
Couple that with the fact that Alabama’s Nick Saban is proving that the “process†is for real, the pressure to win may be wearing on the Tiger’s head honcho. Tommy knows that Nick’s plan seems to be progressing at break-neck speed, and the Crimson Tide’s return to prominence may be a year or two ahead of schedule.
Auburn has had its chances to rid itself of the image that it is Bama’s little stepbrother and the second-rate status that comes with that title. Yet, they can’t seem to escape their self-created nightmare.
Once again, the Tide is aiming high and in a position to meet the legendary expectations that form the base of its winning tradition. National and SEC championships are now realistic goals and will surely come in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Auburn nation self-imposes its own barrier to any type of championship by allowing their ultimate accomplishment to be beating Alabama. Did their last six years of dominance over an NCAA-crippled Crimson Tide mean anything last Saturday when LSU came to their house (The Jungle), and took the lead in the race to appear as the 2008 western division champion in Atlanta?
Actually, the rest of this year’s campaign could go up in smoke for the Tide, but the evidence on the field doesn’t suggest that will be the case. Alabama has developed a team personality that exudes toughness, consistency, and a relentless nature. If the team continues to sustain its high level performance, it has a chance to be great. This Saturday in Athens against highly-ranked Georgia will provide the ultimate test and will serve as an excellent barometer of the near future for this year’s Crimson Tide.
In direct contrast, down on the Plains Tommy Tuberville has to be second-guessing his radical off-season maneuvers – at least the entire Tiger fan base is voicing its doubts and displeasure with the new system.
Coaches rarely like to leave their comfort zone, in terms of how they approach the game of football and manage their team. They make changes only when they suspect that they may need to do something different to gain an advantage. This is a sign of fear.
Georgia’s Coach Richt (black-out) and Auburn’s Tuberville (spread eagle), both balked on Bama when they initiated changes that simply do not fit their normal character. If they weren’t apprehensive, then why did they make the changes?
Every SEC football program benefited from Alabama’s years in the wilderness, but that is about to come to an end. Saban has Alabama back in the game and the big elephant is getting his feet back underneath him. Once the big bull gets rolling at full power he will be very hard to stop.
Finally (no pun intended), Tommy Tuberville and his nagging wives (ex-coaches, trustees, boosters) are locked in a bad marriage. With rumors that he wants out churning during every off-season and the water cooler talk of bad blood between Tubby and some members of the Auburn “familyâ€, it’s a miracle that he finds time to prepare his team to win.
Of course only time will tell if the situation has truly changed, but Saban appears to be walking on water, while Tubby holds the weight of the world on his back.
Correction: Kentucky is playing Western Kentucky, not Temple. They’ll still win.
Sixdown: I never said anything about Bama “being back”. And your statements have some truth as well. I think an Iron Bowl win for Bama would really help that perception of them “being back” more than most anything else. But what you say about UA you could say about UGA, they really haven’t played anyone themselves. Certainly not a top ten ranked team (overrated or not) and they absolutely have not faced a D as fast as Bama’s. So that will be the deciding factor. Also, you know that Clemson is back in the top 20. We’ll see how “overrated” they are at the end of the season.
I am still one who doesnt judge MY team by the teams we beat/lost.. Its just not a Logical assumption,Just look at USC.
How many points were they giving?
Sixdown, are you on crack? What makes you think Alabama with our history would ever compare ourselves to a team with no history. Get real idiot.
Sixdownwannabe, keep in mind YOU are on our website with your pathetic aubsessed self, not the other way around.
Ok, I thought I may be the first to post after the UGA v. UA game. I couldn’t help myself. I think everyone who talked shit about Bama and insulted them or picked them to lose better be rethinking what you said. Anybody think they’re overrated now? I wonder how many mindless dip-shit’s will come in here and say “Oh, Georgia’s just not as good as we thought…they are overrated”. Or “Bama just got lucky, they’ll get there’s”. Here’s a nice Roll-Tide to all those who said CRAP like that! Anyone disagree that a nine win season is a reasonalbe goal? Bama is sittin’ mighty pretty for a chance at the SEC West and a shot at the SEC CG. Thats probably lookin’ to far ahead but the way they just dominated the #3 team in the country, I don’t think there is a team left on there schedule (except for LSU) they can’t handle, and I mean really handle. By the way, all you hatin’ Aubie’s out there. Number one, Roll-Tide to ya. Number two, if you didn’t pick ‘em or picked them to get killed…didn’t really think it through did you?
On another forgotten note: Have to eat my words on the Clemson statement. I thought they may be pretty good at seasons end and they recently got back in the top 20 but they got upset today, so I guess everyone was right. They are overrated but I’ve never seen such a waist of talent. Bowden will be lucky if he has a job next year. Then again, they could win the rest of there games with that schedule!
WELL, US AUBS SKINNED BY ON ANOTHER ONE. BAMA, YOU LOOK LIKE YOUR IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT NOW. GREAT GAME OVER THE DOGGS. BY THE WAY, UA4LIFE, AUBS WERE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THE DOGGS WOULD WIN. TRY YOUR SHANE AND FBOMB. GREAT JOB BAMA
I’m was impressed !! Pound your chest some more !!
I was impressed !! Pound your chest some more !!
Hey Jimbo, I know that Aubies weren’t the only ones to say that the Dog’s would kill Bama. They were the ONLY ones I was talking about in the post because they are the most fun to target. I did that on purpose moron. If I wanted to list everyone who said it, I would have to post one of my long-winded and unwanted reads. Nobody wants that.
After this weekends preformance, I agree that the MO might be conference wide and not only Alabama wide. However, comparing Alabama to Auburn might be clouding the view Alabama fans of the Big Picture. I would feel good too if I was a Neck fan, but I would be cautious.
There still is a long ways to go and much can happen. 1989 and 2005 come to mind. Alabama should be #1 IMO. Geogia was a great road win. Clemson, not so much. They other opponents were great warm up games.
Comparing Bama’s preformance to date to Auburn’s preformance only reveals that Bama fan still has an AUBcession. Alabama has accomplished much in the first 5 weeks of the season. The fact still remains, UA and AU comparison is only BIG TALK!
When the determination is made on the field, I am sure you BammerNecks can console yourselves over the great start BAMA had to start this season.
Congrats and Go Wildcats!
sixdownnow7,
I’ll have to assume that your handle refers to 16 oz. Budweisers?
RTR!!!
Sixdown, who was comparing? Where did you see such a comparison? I did you just pull that out of your ass? Comparing UA and AU right now would be kinda pointless don’t your think? I can see one comparison though. Alabama’s offense is much, much better than Auburns. Thats a fact…not a comparison. Three SEC games and only three offensive touchdowns, that hurts no matter who you are. I’ll say this too, being worried about Vandy wasn’t a thought at the beginning of the year was it? I think (right now) that Auburn will still pull it out with exceptional D though.
4life,
I am referring to the original premise of this article. Things have changed since Shane luckily pulled this prospective from his backside. Bama does have something going and the UGA game is proof that Alabama must be taken very seriously. No need to get concerned about Alabama returning next season. They are here and
Bama fan should feel confident!
Caution! Bama fans need to take one game at a time. Claiming Bama is Back would be a big mistake. The remaining competition is not going to fear Alabama. The team will have the respect of the competition, but no one is going to mail it in. Bama fans do not deserve respect. They are the most arrogant fans in existence. The team on the other hand has done better than I honestly expected.
Bama fan has a reason to be excited! Alabama is 5-0 and #2 in the nation. Don’t expect the competition or the fans to join you in the celebration. They are going to do their best to bring Bama fan’s ego back down to earth.
Leave Otis alone, the spread will come through. I see the Aubie’s winning a National Championship with Otis. Leave Otis alone PEOPLE!
Shane, it’s amazing to me how you get these General Robert E. Lee cockroaches out from under their rock’s.
I wonder Sixdown, what fans you are talking about? You have to be the most idiotic, know-nothing about football if you are an “arrogant” Bama fan. For the past 10 years (excluding the lucky ’05 season) to be arrogant about anything. I don’t know who you talk to sixdown, but your perspective about Bama fans is really out of wack. It’s probably combined with a bad experience from a Bama fan (and all teams have bad fans which I’m sure you know) and the simple fact that you just hate Bama. Nothing more. You do realize you contradict yourslef when you say “No need to get concerned about Alabama returning next season. They are here and
Bama fan should feel confident!” Then you say “Bama fans do not deserve respect. They are the most arrogant fans in existence”. I think predicting an Auburn win already (in your own post name) is pretty arrogant. You call Bama fans arrogant but your own post name claims a win in the Iron Bowl by AU months and months before it happens. Thats not arrogant, thats just stupid.
I want to know where Ballplay, Omni, and all those other Aubie’s are that talked about how Bama was going to get the crap beat out of them last Saturday. Atleast have the stones to come back and talk about the week that was. Auburn did win, I still don’t see anything out of you guys.
UA4Life,
Leave them alone, their just getting use to being Auburn again.
Shane, it’s amazing to me how you get these General Robert E. Lee County Cockroaches out from under their rock’s.
Crimson, I’ll leave them alone, but you need to leave the Robert E. Lee comment alone too…it’s gettin’ a little old buddy.
UA4 Huh?
I am having trouble following your dribble.
Bama fans are the most arrogant fans in all of sports. Bama is ahead of schedule, but overtaken the SEC or the state, I think not!
Apparently, your arguement is that BAMA IS BACK. Therefore you are a dumbass!
SIXDOWN is a fact. Now 7 is the next step. You Bammer Necks have to beat Auburn on the field before you can run your loud ass mouths.