By Shane from Centerpoint
With the kick-off of the 2009 college football season less than 70 days out, most of the questions that remain for the state’s “powerhouse†universities – Alabama and Auburn (sorry Troy and UAB) – are about to be answered on the field of play. I would suspect Crimson Tide fans are anxious to see if Alabama head coach Nick Saban can produce a championship this year. Meanwhile, Auburn Tiger fans don’t know what to expect. They’ve been left with a team coming back from a losing season that is void of depth and talent. They have a new head coach (5-19) and completely new system, and they face the specter of being trapped in the recruiting “triangle of death†between Saban, Meyer, and Richt. The main question for Tiger fans has to be, “How did we get this deep in the hole?†In my opinion the Auburn family can point their fingers directly at one man – Thomas Hawley Tuberville.
One thing is for sure, intentional or not, Tuberville got the last laugh. He left Auburn in a confusing mess while he drove off into the sunset with over $5 million. Tommy set himself up well by using contract savvy and left the very same people who tried to overthrow him in 2003 (see Jet Gate) with no cards left to play.
It’s now pretty clear for most that Tuberville basically lost a great deal of his passion for coaching – especially his love for Auburn football – during those excruciating weeks after the 2003 campaign when his career and everything else he had built was threatened with destruction. It is also now evident that he held a grudge over the deal.
The experts preach that recruiting is the most important aspect of fielding a competitive team every year. Signing the best players year after year creates an advantage on the gridiron.
Tuberville must’ve taken a hunting trip for the last three or four years when other SEC coaches were courting the “blue-chip†players, because he left nothing down on the Plains. In fact I think that, when his lazy attitude toward recruiting manifested itself on the field last year, Auburn fans were embarrassed.
I also think Tubby’s lame recruiting effort is the main reason he got fired – not that he cared. However, if he truly set out to destroy Auburn from the inside he should be elated because his plan worked to perfection. On the other hand, if those athletes he put on the field last year are the best he can sign, he is one lousy coach.
I agree that what the “Jet Gate†people did to Tuberville is classless, and they actually inflicted heavy damage to Tiger recruiting with that entire fiasco themselves, but Tommy hit Auburn with his own form of a “death-penalty†that might take four or five years to reconstruct.
The damage was never more evident than when the Auburn Family – who held a six game winning streak over main rival Alabama – had to watch the Tigers get manhandled by a Tide team with far superior athletes.
This year the Tide is rising, loaded with talent, speed, and depth. Across the state, Auburn is desperately trying to find some way to rebuild the program, regain national respect, and restart a winning tradition. I’ve got a feeling the damage Tuberville left in his wake will take years to overcome.
—Shane writes a weekly column for the Call News and the Capstone Report.
Yeah Suxs and balls I been to abarn a few times, but I’m sure after the the u.s world news has recognized it for all its greatness, many new companies and retirees will be clamoring for a piece of the next cow pasture that is available. Due to facts you listed above I guess thats why russell corporation and the wheel mill have moved out.
Ya’ll do something right now to mooo about since the future is not very bright for the war buzzards.
SUXS and BALLS,
I took a long hard look at university of abarn’s schedule today, along with their opponents and although I said earlier the aubs might win 6 or 7, after careful review I don’t for the life of me see how they will win more than 5, probably 4.
WDB!
Russell Corp.= textiles=cheaper from China=no one in America can compete with that (right now, anyway.) Wheel mill……have you heard about the car industry lately????
For every company you can name moving away from Auburn, I can name you 10 that are moving in. Nice try, however.
Carl, list your Auburn losses. Here goes mine….@ arkansas, @ lsu, @ georgia, and maybe olemiss. We’re looking at 8-9 wins.
My bammer losses are….va tech, @olemiss, lsu and auburn. And, of course, your bowl game if it’s against the UTES!!!
ok, you agreed with 2 that are moving out, employing how many 3 to 4 thousand between them? ok your turn, you said 10 for 1, so name me twenty that will employee 200 each, let alone the thousands that were lost, or pay anything like those two. You know it doesn’t do much good to replace a twenty something an hour job with one at Wal*Mart.
It would be much easier for me to name the 4 or 5 wins, and I believe you could figure those out. Since you already named 4 losses try adding Miss. St., the SUX VOLS, West Virginia, and Bama to the lose column and I believe that would bout do it.
Come on SUXS, you can’t really believe aubie is going to beat Bama this year. Then again I can believe you think that because you live in a dream world most of the time.
You all really have the perfect coach now though, a cheeser in cow country, what could be more fitting.
And yeah, I have heard of the auto. industry, Tuscaloosa County has quite a few manufacturing plants directly tied to that, and while they have had a down turn, none are moving out. (Not yet anyway)
Plays With His Balls,
One thing you and I do agree on is aubie is a joke. Bet you thought we couldn’t agree on anything, did ya?
I should have said I’ll name 50 employers for every one that leaves/closes. My bad. Start at page 24.
http://www.auburnalabama.org/ed/PDF/CommunityProfile.pdf
Back to football. Seriously, miss st and suxvols are losses for Auburn?? We’ve owned them, and even beat them both during our worst year in over a decade (2008.) You can’t really believe that. Your west va and bammer pick is a little more reasonable, but west va comes here, minus pat white, early in the season while the defense is fresh. Don’t see it.
As for an Iron Bowl loss, don’t underestimate home field. I know that’s never been an advantage for bammer until last year, but at Auburn it’s made quite a difference in the past.
I really don’t see either team in Atlanta this year.
YO! Anytime someone starts making predictions, I HAVE TO CHIME IN! So here we go. First, DIXIE’S FOOTBALL PRIDE, the Crimson Tide. Game 1: UA Vs. Virginia Tech. This should be a close game, possibly a nail-biting defensive struggle. I hate to say it, but ‘Bama might start the ’09 campaign with a loss. Va. Tech, 19-17. Game 2: UA Vs. FIU. The Tide will take out their frustration on these guys…UA, 49-0. Game 3: UA Vs. North Texas. The Tide rolls, 33-7. Game 4: UA Vs. Arkansas. Arkansas will be better, but the Tide D will slow down the Hogs. UA, 31-14. Game 5: UA Vs. Kentucky. Tide wins, 24-6. Game 6: UA Vs. Ole Miss. The Tide travels to Oxford and will face a very good team. Once again, the Tide D rises and possibly wins the game with a well-timed INT or fumble recovery. ‘Bama, 24-23. Game 7: UA Vs. South Carolina. Tide QB Greg McElroy could really shine in this one…Alabama 35, South Carolina 14. Game 8: UA Vs. Tennessee. ITS ALWAYS GREAT TO BEAT THESE GUYS. ‘Bama…27-10. Game 9: UA Vs. LSU. Former UT DC John Chavis is now at LSU. Their D will be improved, BUT LSU must come to Tuscaloosa. I believe the home-field advantage will be BIG in this one. Alabama, 28-13. Game 10: UA Vs. Miss. State. The ‘Bama D is just TOO STRONG. Alabama, 34-0. Game 11: UA Vs. Chattanooga. UA 56, Chattanooga 0. Game 12: UA Vs. AU. This game could be close going into the 4th Qtr. Alabama wins 25 to 14. Of course, THIS IS ONLY 1 BAMMER’S OPINION, but our D will be the key. I’ll even predict Auburn’s schedule. Stay tuned.
YO! As promised, here’s AU predictions. Game 1: AU Vs. La. Tech…AU 29-7. Game 2: AU Vs. Miss. State…AU 26-14. Game 3: AU 24-20. Game 4: AU Vs. Ball State…AU 22-10. Game 5: AU Vs. Tennessee…UT 22-15. Game 6: AU Vs Arkansas…Arkansas 32-22. Game 7: AU Vs. Kentucky…AU 32-14. Game 8: AU Vs. LSU…LSU 27-20. Game 9: AU Vs. Ole Miss…Ole Miss 27-10. Game 10: AU Vs. Furman…AU 37-8. Game 11: AU Vs. Georgia…Coach Gene Chizik “becomes an Auburn Man!” AU 20-10, in Athens, no less! Game 12…AU Vs. UA. Once again, game will be close going into the 4th, but the Tide PREVAILS 25-14. There you have it. ‘Bama goes 11-1, AU finishes 7-5. Later!
You’re dreaming. Wake up.
I think wee will lose a game we shouldnt , but win a couple that we shouldnt. I can see us beating Georgia , and Ole Miss ( nat buying the hype)…..I think we will have a legit shot at W Virginia. If we could win those three. That would make for an outstanding season. To me ,,,,,,7-5 mildly disappointed……8-4 expected…..9 wins , ecstatic….
Ball Play,
If,if,if,……………. Seems your thinking is about like mine. IF,they win those 3 my prediction would be 7-5 as well, mildly surprised and totally unexpected. Oh but only IF…………………….
Ballplay—-you stepped into Carl’s pet peave……he hates “imagining” and “iffing” as IF their is anything else we can do at this time of the year. This is all speculation….some based on empirical evidence….most based on bammer wishful thinking.
(Just F-ing with you Carl) I still don’t understand you picking Auburn to lose to miss st and suckyvols.