More photos » by Rich Pedroncelli - AP

Browse more photos »

With respect to Scarbinsky I will cite him here, although I had already started this piece before he posted it this morning. 

What the hell is Charles Barkley thinking?  Normally I like him, he is great for television and it is fun to listen to him and have people know he is from Auburn.  He and Shaq are the two best athletes to watch on TV.  Anyways back to my point.  For him to come out and say that he thinks that Auburn should have gone with Turner Gill is beyond me. 

How can you fault Chizik after what he has done in Auburn in about 365 days.  He has the fan base abuzz with recruiting.  We have never seen the top tier talent have Auburn on their radar… much less in the verbal commitment category.

Do you think that Turner Gill would have been able to pull in the assistant coaches that Chizik did?  I can answer that… No Freaking Way.  Well I don’t guess I can say that… we will never know, but I cannot believe at this point in time that any Auburn Alumni or Fan can complain about Chizik.  If things are not remarkably better for Auburn in three or four years, we can start wondering, but today all Auburn should be proud of our coaches.

What about the fact that Auburn was supposed to be a sub .500 team and we are 7-5 and heading to a New Years Day Bowl?  No coach has had a winning season in their debut other than Bowden (except we were on probation so no Bowl).  Auburn was only a few plays away from being a possible 9-3 team.  That is remarkable with the lack of depth the Tigers had this season.  

Let us not forget that Chizik and his staff are doing all of this while Alabama is at a place that they have not been since the Bear walked the sidelines.  They are a powerhouse once again.  Let us not forget that the 2009 team was supposed to be the rebuilding season.  They should be even better in 2010. 

I for one am proud of Auburn and its staff for doing what they are doing.  They are going after recruits like we have never seen before.  If we can actually get them on campus and keep them there, we will be just fine.  Even against the "Alabama Machine" as Barkley calls it.

Normally I love you Charles, but in this case you need to take your racial blinders off.

War Damn Eagle

Not much to report since all the news is about Alabama heading to the National Championship Game.

It is fitting that seven Bama players are All SEC Members.  The only first team Tiger is Antonio Coleman.  He earned it playing through injuries all season and still becoming a sack machine.  Ben Tate, Ryan Pugh, Walt McFadden, and Lee Ziemba all made second team. I thought that Darren Bates might have a chance for Freshman of the Year, but Warren Norman was fantastic for Vandy.

The SEC is getting love in Vegas.  The only two teams that are not favored are Tennessee and LSU.  Both are slight dogs.  Auburn is an eight point favorite over Northwestern in the Outback Bowl.  I would expect that number to lower as the game draws nearer.  Northwestern is not a bad team.  I watched some of their game against Iowa.  They have a pretty potent offense… but the defense is not all that.  The total score could be in the 60s. 

WEA posted the question about if Auburn Fans would be pulling for Bama.  That is a tough question.  I am typically for the SEC, no matter what.  I am sure that I will be this time as well, but damn it is so hard.  It is becoming extra hard this year because I have really seen the "closet" Bama fans come out of the woodwork.  I am not a huge Facebooker, but I have an account with a few friends.  After the Bama game, every status update was about Alabama.  Now I think that is great for them, but where I have to wonder what is up is when most of them say something to the effect of, "…The Auburn Gators," or "… I bet Auburn is crying now…"  I don’t get it.  Let Auburn be Auburn and Alabama be Alabama.  Why do the two have to interact with each other at this point in the season.  Bama fans should be happy, as should Auburn fans.  We got what we wanted, a New Years Day Bowl.  Let just leave it at that.

Speaking of the Outback.  I sure hope that the Tigers sell out their allotment of tickets.  Auburn lobbied for the invite, and we as fans should really step it up.  I wish I could go, but it is not in the cards this season.  Tampa is a cool place, if you have not been there before you should check it out.  Ebor City is the bar scene down there and it can get crazy (at least a few years back).  If you do go, cheer like hell.  You can bet that I will be doing it from home.

Finally… while Mark Ingram has been my front runner for the Heisman, I think that the Auburn game hurt his chances.  Colt McCoy was my second place, but the Nebraska game hurt him.  In my view, Toby Gerhart should win it although he has been out of the spotlight most of the season.  He has carried Stanford all season.  We shall see how it all pans out.

Well, it looks like WEA is taking the crown this season, Jay made a vailant effort to comeback, but like Auburn a few times this season... time just ran out.  Enjoy the games Saturday!!!

Alabama at Florida (Atlanta)

WarDamnZach – Florida 24-20

Jay Coulter – Florida 31-26

Acid Reign – Florida 30-17

War Eagle Atlanta – Alabama 24-21

Season Standings:

War Eagle Atlanta 80-15

Jay Coulter 78-17

WarDamnZach 76-19

Acid Reign 74-21

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

Browse more photos »

With all the "moral victory" talk and "Bowl" talk I thought I would throw my two copper pieces in about Auburn this season. I do not believe in moral victories, a win is a win and a loss is a loss.  What I do believe in is a fan base believing in what a coach and a program are doing. No one really gave this Tiger team a chance in the Iron Bowl, but the staff got the players prepared and ready to fight. That shows me that Chizik and the boys have that never give up attitude, and that was not the case last season. In my view, Auburn has a lot of great things going for them as a program.

Gene Chizik was not my first choice as a coach for "my" Auburn Tigers. I could not tell you who my first choice was, but Chizik was not it.  Some members of his staff on the other hand were my first choice. Gus Malzahn has been great for Auburn, Trooper Taylor as well. Curtis Luper has been a surprise for me. I thought that Eddie Gran should be retained, but I guess it is good that he was not. No chance of dissention in the ranks. Ted Roof took a lot of heat from me and others, but he did a lot with very little. It will be a great thing that our young players got serious playing time this season. They will be veterans next season, although they might only be sophomores. 

As far as the bowl situation, it really should not matter to the fans where Auburn ends up. The players will have the ability to practice for another month because they are bowl eligible. That is huge, especially for the younger guys… and for next years starting QB. I have no idea who it is yet, but it will not be Chris Todd, so someone is getting extra practice time. Auburn and its players will also get the goodies that go with going to a bowl game. Besides the extra practice time, I think the best thing about going bowling this season is it is a reward for a team that came together and overcame their short roster and coaching changes. I think that there are too many bowls… I bet I have said that at least 100 times, but this Auburn team deserves one this season. 

Being selfish, I was hoping that Auburn got to play Georgia Tech in the Chic-fil-A Bowl so I could attend, but I think that it will be UGA and Clemson playing in that game. I though that would have pushed Auburn into Shreveport to play Texas A&M, but somehow Tennessee got out of playing the Outback. Just goes to show you that no one really has a clue when it comes to bowls.   Too bad it is a 10am kickoff.

If you have not read AubTigerMans fan post you should.  It just goes to show you that playing with the heart of a champion can bring everyone closer together.  Auburn fans are the best, and I am proud to be one.

War Damn Eagle

I will have to say that I am shocked over this, but here is the story...

http://blog.al.com/goldmine/2009/12/auburn_set_to_play_in_outback.html

Sorry for the lateness… I am still whipped from all the turkey and pies.  Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday, now it is time to pull the shocker.  

Alabama at Auburn

WarDamnZach – Auburn 24-23

Jay Coulter – Alabama 28-22

Acid Reign – Auburn 27-13

War Eagle Atlanta – Alabama 17-13

Arkansas at LSU

WarDamnZach – LSU 31-27

Jay Coulter – LSU 24-20

Acid Reign – Arkansas 34-31

War Eagle Atlanta – LSU 31-28

Clemson at S Carolina

WarDamnZach – Clemson 28-20

Jay Coulter – Clemson 35-14

Acid Reign – Clemson 30-17

War Eagle Atlanta – Clemson 24-23

 Ole Miss at Miss St

WarDamnZach – Ole Miss 27-17

Jay Coulter – Ole Miss 35-31

Acid Reign – Ole Miss 31-20

War Eagle Atlanta – Ole Miss 34-28

Florida State at Florida

WarDamnZach – Florida 45-14

Jay Coulter – Florida 42-30

Acid Reign – Florida 45-6

War Eagle Atlanta – Florida 41-17

Tennessee at Kentucky

WarDamnZach – Tennessee 17-13

Jay Coulter – Tennessee 24-21

Acid Reign – Tennessee 16-14

War Eagle Atlanta – Kentucky 24-21

Georgia at Georgia Tech

WarDamnZach – Georgia Tech 34-21

Jay Coulter – Georgia Tech 31-17

Acid Reign – Georgia Tech 31-24

War Eagle Atlanta – Georgia Tech 38-21

Season Standings:

War Eagle Atlanta 77-11

Jay Coulter 74-14

WarDamnZach 73-15

Acid Reign 72-16

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

Browse more photos »

With a couple of days to go, I have some serious waffling going on in my mind.  On the one hand, it appears that Bama is a well oiled machine, and will roll over the Tigers.  On the flip side of that, Auburn is coming into this Iron Bowl with "no chance" to win.  The last time I can remember that it was 1989.  Nothing will compare to that game and the atmosphere in Jordan-Hare will not be that electric again, especially in this 2009 matchup.

Here are my thoughts as of this moment… ask me ten minutes from now and I am sure they will have changed, at least slightly.  First and foremost is that Chris Todd will have to have a career day.  I mean a Tre Smith type of career day, one he will be remembered for.  He will have to make the perfect passes over the middle, and be able to complete the deep ball.  The Alabama secondary is not all that, but neither is Todd’s deep ball.  Terrell Zachery and Darvin Adams will have to make the plays. 

 Auburn will not be able to pound the ball up the middle.  Onterio McCallebb is still nursing the high ankle sprain and Ben Tate could not get free on Georgia’s defense and for sure will not be able to do it on the Tide.  The play action will be just for show, as the Tide will be to stout up front.  I also have a feeling that the Alabama blitz will be on every play.  That is assuming that they will have to blitz to get pressure on Todd.  That brings me to my next point.

The offensive line is going to have to give Chris the time to go through his reads.  The line is also going to need to keep its composure and discipline.  No penalties.  None.  When they get one it always seems to be at a drive killing moment.  So in my mind they cannot have any.  No false starts, no holds, no nothing.  Personally, I think the screen pass could be the Tigers best weapon on Friday.  Again that is assuming that the Tide blitzes on every play.

Offensively Auburn should be able to move the ball.  I think that Gus will have some tricks up his sleeve and Auburn will score on some sort of BIG play.  Alabama seems to give up plenty of yards, but locks down when they have to.  If Auburn can make it through the game with no turnovers, the game can stay relatively close.

Defensively Auburn is just plain weak.  No Eltoro at the Linebacker spot will hurt us, but with the previous bye week, Josh Bynes, Craig Stevens and Adam Herring should be well rested.  The defensive line will have to get pressure on Greg McElroy.  He is the weak link to the machine that is the Alabama offense.  If Auburn can rattle him he has been known to make the bad decision, and kill a drive.  Auburn will have to cause a least two turnovers to win, maybe one will have to be a score as well.  Mark Ingram does not fumble, so the turnovers will have to be off of McElroy. 

Speaking of Ingram, I am thinking he is going to make is Heisman push against the Tigers.  Saban is not only going to want to blow Auburn out at home, but get Alabama their first Heisman winner in the process.  Auburn’s line is going to have to "get big" and plug up the holes.  Ted Roof is not going to be able to keep a LB or Safety spying on Ingram.  While in the past, I have thought that the secondary of Auburn was okay, watching Neiko Thorpe get beat deep on damn near every play against UGA is a major problem.  Walt McFadden is going to have to line up with Julio Jones, because Thorpe will get beat like a dog… again.  So Marquis Maze will be the go to guy for Alabama, especially lined up against Neiko.  Lastly, Bynes or Stevens will have to be out in coverage against Colin Peek, the Tight End of the Tide.  Neither of these guys is very good in coverage, so they will have to step up huge.  Peek is one of McElroy’s favorite targets. 

Special teams will have to be just that… Special.  No turnovers!  On the cover teams, they are going to have to play better then they have all year.  Javier Arenas is amazing; I would not punt it to him under any circumstances.  Clinton Durst is going to have to earn his scholarship this week.  I hope he has been practicing his directional punts.  Wes Byrum has had a good year, if he can make some big kicks against Bama it could be a great year.  If Auburn can have a clean special teams game, it will go a long way to allowing the Tigers to pull the upset.

So as you can see, Auburn will have to have a near perfect game to hang with the Tide.  They are for real, but in my view they are still the "luckiest team in America."   Sometimes luck has to be on your side to remain undefeated.  It is well documented that the Alabama offense struggles in the red zone.  If Auburn can just hold on and keep them out of the endzone, Chris Todd and the offense could just pull out the upset.  Auburn is playing for pride and bowl position… All the pressure is on Alabama, if they win "they were supposed to."  If they lose, "they are finished when it comes to the National Championship." 

Auburn could really mess up the SEC in the BCS with a huge win in Jordan-Hare.  With a win over Bama and then Bama winning against Florida neither will be in the National Championship game, and it would be quite a remarkable feat for the Tigers to keep the Tide out of the big one. 

Can Auburn do it?  Damn right.  Should we as Auburn fans expect it?  No way.  Should we scream our collective heads off in attempt up pump up the players?  Count on it.

War Damn Eagle  

Here are the picks for the weekend… No Auburn, and no good games, minus the Ole Miss vs. LSU game.

LSU at Ole Miss

WarDamnZach – LSU 21-20

Jay Coulter – Ole Miss 27-24

Acid Reign – LSU 27-10

War Eagle Atlanta – LSU 27-21

Miss State at Arkansas

WarDamnZach – Arkansas 42-21

Jay Coulter – Arkansas 35-32

Acid Reign – Arkansas 45-34

War Eagle Atlanta – Arkansas 34-33

Chattanooga at Alabama

WarDamnZach – Alabama 48-0

Jay Coulter – Alabama 56-7

Acid Reign – Alabama 59-0

War Eagle Atlanta – Alabama 44-6

Vandy at Tennessee

WarDamnZach – Tennessee 27-17

Jay Coulter – Tennessee 24-14

Acid Reign – Tennessee 31-14

War Eagle Atlanta – Tennessee 24-13

Florida Int at Florida

WarDamnZach – Florida 45-3

Jay Coulter – Florida 42-0

Acid Reign – Florida 52-6

War Eagle Atlanta – Florida 51-9

Kentucky at Georgia

WarDamnZach – Georgia 24-17

Jay Coulter – Georgia 28-24

Acid Reign – Georgia 35-13

War Eagle Atlanta – Kentucky 24-21

Season Standings:

War Eagle Atlanta 72-10

WarDamnZach 69-13

Jay Coulter 69-13

Acid Reign 68-14

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

about 1 month ago: Georgia's Bacarri Rambo (18) is lifted onto a cart after he was injured in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Auburn in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. Georgia won 34-27. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Browse more photos »

Tune is to almost any game over the course of a season and you are almost guaranteed to see a few touchdowns, a turnover or two and one other thing… a timeout for a head/neck injury.  Is it that the players are bigger, faster, and stronger, or are the protective gear manufacturers behind the times?  Or possibly both?  I know that football is a contact sport, it has always been such, but it seems to me that things are getting out of hand. 

I conceded that players want to wear as few pads as possible so they can be less restricted.  If you look at the skilled positions in the NFL you will notice that few wear thigh or knee pads at all, most wear watered down versions of shoulder pads as well.  While this is a problem in its own right, this is not an option in the college ranks.  Pads are mandatory, and the most important piece is the helmet. 

The helmet has gone through a few changes over the years when it comes to football.  In the beginning there were no helmets at all that was followed by the leather helmet in 1893.  The leather helmet was made stronger are harder thru the 1940s.  In 1950s the traditional plastic helmet was born with the single bar facemask.  It has looked close to the same since then, with the added tweaks here and there.  In the early 2000s a "new" helmet was established by Riddell that some players choose to wear, it is supposed to be lighter and stronger.  Though that has yet to be determined.  So is the helmet protection enough?  Should there be some sort of tethering device which would keep the head from snapping back in such a violent manner?  If there was would anyone wear it?   

Look back in the 60s and 70s at some of the bigger hitters in the NFL.  Most wore that foam padded bolster which was affixed to the top of their shoulder pads to keep the neck from snapping back so far.  Auburn players Karlos Dansby and Donterrious Thomas both wore a new age look to them at Auburn, and Eltoro Freeman wears one today.  Should that be added in as a mandatory piece of equipment?      

Some can argue that the medical staffs are just working on the side of caution when it comes to head/neck injuries.  I agree with that… in every head/neck situation everyone should be a careful as possible.  But it seems to me that these injuries are happening at an alarming rate.  Please do not add another subjective penalty into the referees’ repertories; they are already having enough trouble getting calls correct.       

I am not saying that taking the time to evaluate the situation of any injury is a bad thing.  I also am not naive enough to think that we can eliminate injuries in sports all together, but it seems to me that players and teams could/should band together and see if manufacturers can come up with better options.  Players are too big and strong now.  The forces in which they hit each other are incredible nowadays. 

Maybe it is just the fact that I am getting older, but losing to UGA was not as big a deal to me as it could have been.  All I could think about was Baccari Rambo laying on the field for what seemed like 20 minutes, and watching Eltoro Freeman stagger off the field with an obvious concussion.  This after watching a couple of weeks before, Zac Ethridge lay on top of an Ole Miss Player.   

If it is affecting me as a fan, what does it do to the players on the field? 

War Damn Eagle

Here are the picks for the weekend… Acid is working (I think).  He will add his later (I think) :)

Auburn at Georgia

WarDamnZach – Auburn 31-28

Jay Coulter – Auburn 28-23

Acid Reign – Auburn 37-27

War Eagle Atlanta – Auburn 31-28

LA Tech at LSU

WarDamnZach – LSU 30-10

Jay Coulter – LSU 31-7

Acid Reign – LSU 31-10

War Eagle Atlanta – LSU 36-14

Troy at Arkansas

WarDamnZach – Arkansas 40-21

Jay Coulter – Arkansas 28-21

Acid Reign – Arkansas 45-24

War Eagle Atlanta – Arkansas 41-21

Alabama at Miss State

WarDamnZach – Alabama 23-17

Jay Coulter – Alabama 24-17

Acid Reign – Alabama 38-10

War Eagle Atlanta – Alabama 24-17

Tennessee at Ole Miss

WarDamnZach – Tennessee 24-20

Jay Coulter – Ole Miss 35-28

Acid Reign – Tennessee 31-17

War Eagle Atlanta – Ole Miss 24-20

Florida at S. Carolina

WarDamnZach – Florida 31-17

Jay Coulter – Florida 28-7

Acid Reign – Florida 31-13

War Eagle Atlanta – Florida 42-17

Kentucky at Vandy

WarDamnZach – Kentucky 23-17

Jay Coulter – Kentucky 21-17

Acid Reign – Kentucky 19-10

War Eagle Atlanta – Kentucky 28-21

Season Standings:

War Eagle Atlanta 66-9

WarDamnZach 64-11

Jay Coulter 64-11

Acid Reign 63-12