Posted by FRT on Nov 17, 2004 in
Uncategorized Here is another column I got from last year, and it tells of a similar story to Van Pelt’s. The difference is that I was present at the Tiger Walk Mr. Maisel is writing about. What a day. It was 15 years ago this Saturday…
I have never covered a riot. I have never covered the police beat. The mayhem I witness is contained between the white lines.
I have covered the Super Bowl, the World Series, the NBA Finals and the Final Four. I have covered the Olympics, Summer and Winter; the Opens, U.S. and British; the Bowls, Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange, Gator, and GMAC.
I have covered nearly every major college football rivalry. And on nearly 90 campuses, from Hawaii to Boston College, Washington to Miami; in six different countries, from Russia to Texas (It’s Like a Whole Other Country), only once have I genuinely feared for my safety.
That was at Tiger Walk in 1989.
In the beginning, in the 1960s — before Tiger Walk became “the most copied tradition in all of college football,” Auburn athletic director David Housel said with pride, not pique — it was just a bunch of kids running up to Donahue Drive to see the Auburn Tigers walk from their dorm to the game.
There are older pre-game walks at Stanford and at Williams College. But they don’t generate the passion that builds as the Auburn team makes the turn from Donahue onto Roosevelt at the south end of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Tiger Walk has become the signature event of Auburn’s pre-game ritual. It will be the highlight again on Saturday, when Alabama comes back to town. Those kids who lined Donahue Drive 40 years ago will be there again, and now they’ll have their children and grandchildren in tow.
Tiger Walk goes on the road. Tiger Walk is listed on the players’ weekend itinerary. Tiger Walk has spawned copycat walks at Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia Tech, and several other schools. Tiger Walk has spawned Tiger Walk Plaza, an enclosed courtyard paved with 6,000 bricks purchased by and inscribed for Auburn fans that serves as the entrance to the Tiger locker room.
Tiger Walk is also misnamed. It is no more a walk than a morning jog is the New York Marathon. A “walk” connotes peace, a stroll. But here, fans roll into Auburn on Friday night to park their cars on Donahue Drive for a prime viewing spot. They line up so deep that the street narrows to the width of a Venetian sidewalk. The Auburn faithful jam together so tightly that the university is concerned for public safety. They scream, they sing, they cheer, they fire up the Tigers and get fired up themselves.
Tiger Walk began to get legs a quarter-century ago, when coach Doug Barfield urged the fans to line the streets. Barfield, who now works at the Alabama High School Athletic Association, dismisses the notion that he has any ownership. But Tiger Walk didn’t become Tiger Walk until 1989, when Alabama came to Auburn for the first time in the history of the sport’s most fevered intrastate rivalry.
The rivalry between Auburn and Alabama is so passionate that the teams refused to play from 1907 until 1948. That year, the schools agreed to play every season … but only at Legion Field in Birmingham, a neutral site. At the time, Auburn was so remote and inaccessible, and its stadium so small, that the Tigers played only one game a season there. But as Auburn football grew stronger and the stadium got bigger, and as the university’s engineering graduates overtook the state highway department and built four-lane highways into the town, Auburn became a major university.
It was a major university, that is, everywhere but in Tuscaloosa. Coach Paul Bryant wouldn’t deign to bring his Crimson Tide to “that little cow college across the state,” as the Bear called it. After Bryant’s death in 1983, one of his protégés, Pat Dye, built Auburn into a national power. Dye, wanting the symbolism of equal footing with Alabama, promised an ugly judicial or legislative battle if Alabama didn’t agree to play home-and-home. The Alabama athletic director who agreed, former Tide All-American quarterback Steve Sloan, lost his job.
So on Dec. 2, 1989, No. 2 Alabama came to Auburn with a 10-0 record. The No. 11 Tigers were 8-2. Two hours before the game, an estimated 20,000 fans, nearly one-quarter of the 85,319 (a record that stood for 12 years), gathered on the east and west sides of Donahue Drive. A writer from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and I stood on the west side, about two-thirds of the way down the hill.
The Auburn fans roared, their eyes glazed with a mixture of fervor, pride, passion, and perhaps a touch of the Jack Daniels. We were five or six deep and couldn’t get any closer to the street. We were also hemmed in, and didn’t have the zeal-fueled adrenaline to ward off the elbows and other parts of the bouncing, heaving, deafening masses. I no longer had any interest in taking notes, which was just as well, because the noise and the lack of space made it impossible. My own adrenaline kicked in, and I worked my way into open space.
Tiger Walk is no longer spontaneous. It is now almost a production. But the height of emotion it reached in 1989 will be a watermark for years to come.
“You never will see that commotion again,” Housel says. “The Children of Israel entered the Promised Land for the first time only once.”
Auburn took the lead in the opening minutes of that 1989 game and pulled away in the second half for a 30-20 victory. But the victory on the field, while important, paled beside the victory off the field.
Because when Alabama arrived on campus, Auburn had arrived, too.
Posted by FRT on Nov 17, 2004 in
Uncategorized That a Maryland fan was better able to put his Auburn – UGA experience into words than I was. Here is something I stumbled across at The Plainsman’s messageboard, courtesy of someone else. It was apparently written by Scott Van Pelt of ESPN. He went to Maryland and his wife went to Auburn.
I’d say that he found our “Lovelist village on the Plain” pretty nice indeed…
**********************************************************
A different world – Non-Terps & a lenghty rambling mess …
———————————————————-
Imagine you have been married to the same woman for more than 30 years, you love her more than anything – nothing could ever change that. You have shared many of your best memories with her and would never leave her under any circumstances. Then you spend a day with a woman who in
some ways is more beautiful than your wife … you may never see her again … But you won’t forget her for a while either.
Maryland is my wife … Auburn is “the other woman.” If you all love college sports – and I assume you do – you really need to see a game there (in Auburn). I have been lucky to see a lot of places, I have not seen a lot of places like that. It’s an amazing scene in every respect. Granted, I was there for # 3 vs. # 5 … Auburn was 9-0
so it was bound to be good.
Some highlights:
I arrived at night with the stadium lit up like a Christmas tree. It sits dead in the middle of campus. A shrine… literally their church – only services are held on Saturday. Made me say….hmmmm…this is promising.
Gameday scene – tailgating in every available space…and not like some field full of RV’s – though they had that too. But literally people grilling and drinking in every available spot for as far as the eye could see. I lost count of the number of bands and stages and this was at 9 AM.
The Fans – I knew I was in a “red state” from all the Suburbans with “W” stickers, but the truth of it is, this part of Alabama is an orange state. Every man woman and child is in the same shade of orange. Not unusual I know… but THIS was…they are nice, friendly , and polite – to Georgia FANS. Nobody called anyone in Black and Red [censored] or *sshole..nobody told them they sucked nobody told them *uck you. These people are your friends, you don’t know it yet because you haven’t met them – but when you do – you have met a friend. you want a beer? some BBQ? grab some. Let’s talk for a while….war eagle…let’s have a good game. I saw this at tailgate after tailgate. Stragglers who
wander by are offered anything that’s available – didn’t matter what color they were wearing. This is the oldest rivalry in the South – they call it Brother vs. Brother and they mean it. Now there are certainly cliche’s about downhome country sensibilities – but these folks embodied
the best part of the notion of southern hospitality. Though many did admit it’s a tad LESS civil for the Iron Bowl.
Tiger Walk :
Impossible to describe. Im – possible. A human welcome mat for the team. The team walks through several blocks to Jordan – Hare through a sea of people. I asked somebody how many folks were there and was told they could never come up with an accurate head count but that they were certain it was “well in excess of 25,000 people.” That looked a little
light to me…I would have bought 40 grand. 2 hours before kick the streets in all directions were completely – and I mean COMPLETELY jammed. It was like a religious experience. If you can be in the middle of this – and I was lucky enough
to get to walk through it – and not be overwhelmed , you are dead my friend. (I just went Larry King on your [censored]- sorry )I was honestly in awe.
Gametime : The eagle circles as 87,521 people (less the UGA fans) cheer Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar EAGLE, HEY!!! The eagle pounces on some meat product and the hair on the back of your neck stands up…then if you are still unimpressed you get an F-16 flyover and were off and
running. Auburn dominates, the band plays, the fans hoot and holler louder than anywhere I have ever been ( and go Spinal tap and take it to volume 11 when UGa tries to audible ) 24 – 6 and it’s time for more food
and drink…but before that…
Toomer’s Corner :
Everyone converges on the intersection of college st. and whatever the other road is and they toilet paper every tree in sight. By the time it’s over, it looks like a blizzard has rolled through Alabama. There are no riots, no police, no cars set on fire. There are families from grandparents to infants chcuking rolls of toilet paper all over the
place. Again, i just shake my head at a loss…and maybe a little jealous.
It’s a special place, the best scene I have ever seen for college football. I have ZERO doubt “our” TEAM could someday be as good. As fans though, perhaps we should aspire to be as classy as those I was hosted by. The type of hostile, vile garbage we are subjected to on the road and are certainly guilty of at home is just embarrassing when you see how they do it elsewhere. Not preaching here – just some thoughts of one VERY proud Terrapin after seeing the light … Auburn style.
Posted by FRT on Nov 17, 2004 in
Uncategorized For those of you not from around these parts, Linda Schrenko WAS the State of Georgia’s Superintendant of schools. It seems that in recent years, instead of doing the people’s business, good ole Linda has spent her time stealing over 600 grand in Federal Education funds. She used it for various things, but the favorite is the nine grand she spent on a facelift.
Here’s a link to the story:
link
One thing that made me laugh is that she showed up at her indictment in a fur coat.
Ummm, am I the only one that learned anything from the Michael Irvin drug trial of the mid 90′s? You never EVER show up at court, especially facing indictment for stealing large sums of money, wearing a fucking FUR COAT!! Fake or not, you look like you’re rubbing the common man’s nose in it.
Schrenko is a scumbag and, although she won’t get any actual jail time, I hope the fine she pleads to is at least as much as what she stole. Otherwise, she’s learned nothing.
Remember when Michael Milken got busted, he was not forced to give up his secret accounts, and when the fine of 600 million was levied…HE PAID IT!! Hell, at his zenith, that’s what he made in ONE YEAR!!
“Um…how much, your honor? 600 large? Yeah, lemme just get my checkbook out of my diamond encrusted briefcase.”
Schrenko stole 20 times what Martha Stewart did, and I bet she won’t see the wrong side of a jail cell door, and that’s sad. Because it’s people like Schrenko for which jails were specifically designed…
Posted by FRT on Nov 17, 2004 in
Uncategorized You know, for the past five days and really for about the past fifteen or twenty days, I’ve been angry about the BCS rankings and why Auburn isn’t ranked higher and all of that business. Can someone tell me why one of my friends or family members hasn’t smacked me because of it?
I mean, here we are, 10-0 and staring down the barrell of a road game AT Tuscaloosa against our hated rivals, the Alabama Crimson Tide, and I’m bitching about how we better get to play for a national title? Really?
You don’t have to think back too far to find a similar scenario, only with the shoe firmly on the other foot.
In 1989, Alabama was 10-0, number two in the nation and coming into Auburn for the first time ever to play at Jordan-Hare Stadium. All the talk for the weeks leading up to the game was about “if Bama’s undefeated, they’ll play for it all in the Sugar Bowl” and other crap like that.
Well, “if or when” never happened because Auburn won 30-20 in one of the greatest Iron Bowl games ever, putting an end to Bama’s national title hopes for the year.
15 years later, the situation’s reversed. It’s Auburn that’s undefeated and facing the road game at the end of the season.
Suddenly, I’m about nauseous about this game too. Despite being riddled with injuries, Alabama has a ridiculously stout defense, recently ranked as the number one defense in the country.
Egad. Has all of the bluster and talking shown up on The Plains as well? I only hope that Coach Tuberville has been successful at keeping his players focused, motivated and thinking about ONLY the Alabama game.
Posted by FRT on Nov 15, 2004 in
Uncategorized So let me get this straight…
Auburn is 10-0, undefeated, and have beated three teams that were in the top ten at the time of the game, yet the Tigers are SOMEHOW still ranked BEHIND Oklahoma?!?!?!? What coaches and pollsters are voting this way? Did any of them even see the highlights of the Auburn – UGA game?
Yes, Oklahoma is good. Yes, they’re talented. But they only put 30 on Nebraska who gave up 77 to Texas Tech. TEXAS TECH!! And their conference sucks ass. Texas? Who’s Texas? They are the softest 9-1 team of the year, and possibly any year. They had to come back from an ocean down to beat Oklahoma State.
And who exactly are they going to play in their Conference Championship?
In all likelihood, it’ll be Iowa State. Wee. And if it’s not, it is very likely that the conference title game could feature mighty Oklahoma playing a team with five losses. That’s right. FIVE LOSSES! How’s THAT for strength of schedule?
Meanwhile, Auburn will have played (and hopefully beaten) Alabama and their top five nationally ranked defense, and then Tennessee (who beat Florida AND Notre Dame AND Georgia).
I know a lot of things can change between now and then. Hell, if the Irish grow a pair and get lucky, they could knock down USC and none of this would matter.
The bottom line is this:
Auburn will be as focused and prepared this Saturday against Alabama as they’ve ever been, and that could be a statement game.
War Eagle!!
Posted by FRT on Nov 15, 2004 in
Uncategorized to adequately describe my experience Saturday at the Auburn-UGA game, but I will do my best to convey them.
I am not, nor have I ever been, one of those 365 day a year-my college is great and your’s sucks guys. I’m just not. But I love Auburn. I love the town, the school and the people.
That said, I can’t tell you why I haven’t been back since the UGA game in 1994. Molly and I just seemed busy. We talked about going, but there was always something. While our friends were still in school or just out of school and still going back for all of the home games, we were busy trying to make it, working hard and playing hard here when time and funds allowed.
And like many other interests that fall by the wayside over the years, we just never seemed to have (or to make) time to do it. By the time we’d start thinking of football season, it would usually BE football season. If any of you have ever tried to get big game tickets before a big game, you know how tough and expensive that can be.
But I never lost my love for Auburn football in particular or Auburn in general. I often catch myself thinking back fondly of our time at Auburn and, during games, I usually wind up thinking back to big games we attended at Jordan-Hare.
One sidebar comment here. Why is it that so many people still mispronounce Jordan-Hare Stadium? I mean, you don’t hear people say Samford Stadium or Stanford Stadium or Nayland Stadium or Ben Hill Griffiths Stadium. So why in Christ’s name can people not say Jer-dun Hair Stay-dee-yum? Okay, back to my trip down memory lane…
I must first say thank you to my wife for giving up a Saturday of team parenting so I could go to the game. Combined with the fact that we would not be doing one of our favorite things (watching Auburn football games together), that was a pretty big sacrifice on her part. Lauren also chose not to take a nap that day which makes the task infinitely tougher. Thanks baby.
I would also like to thank my neighbor and friend Pete, who invited me to the game. Expect something in your stocking for Christmas, Pete.
Thanks also to young Pete, whose conflicting schedule allowed me to go.
Man, what a day it was.
We hit the road a little after 9am est for sides at WalMart and some gas and coffee. Let it be known that THIS was the day that my chronic over-packing might actually have cost us. I didn’t know the story of the folks we were to be tailgating with, so I took extra stuff: extra brats and sausages, I packed a case of water, a case of sodas and two cases of beer. The cooler weighed about 100ish pounds. Since we had to park about 3/4 of a mile from the tailgate site, this could end up being a problem.
We had a great ride, sharing stupid college stories and talking football. There is seldom a more enjoyable car ride than the one taking you to a game. The day is still full of hope and promise, there’s food to be eaten and drink to be drunk and all is right with the world.
We hit campus in time to drop off our stuff at the site next door to the library. We got parked (more than a little illegally considering I was in some trees on a sewer cap on the corner of a one way street and possibly pointing the wrong way) and headed into town for a little shopping.
Heading into J&M we passed a short line for autographs with Bill Newton and Coach Pat Dye. Newton (for those of you NOT from SEC country or the state of Alabama, Newton was the guy that blocked two punts that were returned for TD’s in the 1974 Punt Bama Punt game).
Anyway, the folks we tailgated with were very kind and very prepared, right down to the two flat screen displays hooked up to satellite dishes and mixing boards so we could keep up with all of the early games around the country.
It’s been 15 years since I was in college and 11 10 since I was at a game on campus at Auburn, but I just don’t ever remember a game where all the surrounding activity was so big. Not even the 1989 Alabama game where the Tide came to Auburn for the first time ever. It was just so big and so loud and so alive that it’s quite simply tough to accurately describe.
We headed for the stadium about an hour before kickoff. The atmosphere was absolutely electric. Walking to our seats I was literally having flashbacks from past games: The Florida game in Emmitt Smith’s last season at Florida where they lost here and he left the field under an ESPN banner that said:
Emmitt
Smith
Prefers
Nylons
The Alabama game in 1989 where they came in number two in the country and 10-0, only to lose 30-20, the UGA game with the fire hoses, the LSU game with the four interceptions for touchdowns, the Tennessee game where Quentin Riggins knocked an entire weekend of memories out of Reggie Cobb, and all of the memories that came with those games.
As the timer on the scoreboard ticked down until gametime, the adrenaline was absolutely shooting through my body. The whole thing was astounding. The band, the flight of Tiger, the AU formation with the players taking the field, all of it.
By the time kickoff came, I was ready to throw up. Really.
Then the ball fell off the tee, I gathered myself, and suddenly was overcome with a sense of calm.
UGA drove the length of the field, then stalled, and the result was a field goal attempt that an 8-year-old boy would laugh at. No good. Auburn ball.
Auburn drove the length of the field and finished the job by scoring on a nifty option pitch by Jason Campbell to Carnell Williams. 7-0 Auburn.
From that point on, UGA had nothing to offer. They looked tired, like a team playing seven consecutive games does. But they also looked outcoached, which surprised me.
Auburn is usually the team making mental mistakes and taking dumb penalties, but UGA did that this time. The had several 6 man on the line penalties, dumb personal fouls, and procedural penalties that they usually don’t incur.
They also never challenged Auburn by throwing downfield, which I think was their downfall.
Conversely, Auburn looked sharp, relaxed and focused, but as intense as I’d ever seen. Every play meant the game to them, and they won most of them.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Mark Bellhorn (Red Sox 2nd baseman) introduced as a former Auburn student. I have made the “if the Sox can win, why can’t we” analogy for weeks, and that made my point for me.
Besides the first drive and the last one (which resulted in a meaningless touchdown with just over two minutes to go), Auburn owned Georgia this day. If they played 10 games, UGA’d probably still win six. But on this day, Auburn was not to be denied.
Final score: Auburn 24 – Georgia 6.
First joke of the week:
When it’s 4:34 in Auburn, what time is it in Athens?
24 to 6.
I sat around some great folks who spent the entire day being very kind to an overwhelmed former student. They particularly enjoyed the following dialog:
Me (at our tailgate site): Where are we peeing?
Them: At the library next door.
Me: Where is the head in there?
Them: You know, halfway back on the left.
Me: To be honest, I don’t know. This’ll be my second time in that building, and the first time I was looking for someone.
I was awfully surprised that everyone brought beer into the library with them. I mean, yes it’s game day but this IS a college library. You’ll be happy to know that I poured mine out before entering.
With our post-coital smiles glued on our faces, we headed back to get more beer, food and head up to Toomer’s Corner. For those of you that don’t know, this is where folks gather after a win to roll the trees. In all of my years, I had only rolled Toomer’s once, and that was after the hoops team beat Kentucky AT Kentucky after a game winning three-point shot by John Caylor.
We headed up there, and it was packed. Hell, the band had walked up from the stadium and was playing. Folks were throwing their Auburn toilet paper (purchased outside of the stadium for a buck a roll) and covering everything in site.
After a while, we headed back, had another hot dog or three, got the car, loaded up and headed for home. We had a nice ride, it only took us 20 minutes to get to the highway and a little under two hours to get home from there.
Upon arrival, I was pleased to learn that young Pete had irritated his UGA neighbors immensely by playing War Eagle in the driveway ON HIS TRUMPET every time Auburn scored or made a big play. Pete, your dad was proud.
When I got home, I watched the game on tape, and it was still great.
I told Molly on Sunday that next year, even if it’s for a Northeast Louisiana State game, we HAVE to go back to Auburn for a game. I miss that feeling of being on campus with your friends and family. That school and that time were integral parts of of our lives, and being there again felt great.
I will write more about this and other stuff later. I told you this would be an odd post.
However, I will leave you with this:
War Eagle baby!!
Posted by FRT on Nov 12, 2004 in
Uncategorized It’s now just one day until I hop in the car and head back in time to the loveliest village on the Plains…Auburn, Alabama.
I haven’t been back since 1994 and when I was talking to my wife about the trip this morning, it seems like a lifetime ago. Hell, it’s been half my life since I was in school there and over two thirds of my adult life, assuming that people that know me think my adult life has actually started yet.
Anyway, enough nostalgia from me, at least for now.
The wife and I were watching SportsCenter this morning, and Lee Corso, Mark May and Trev Alberts were ALL picking Auburn to beat Georgia, and the last two were picking them to run the table for the right to play USC for the national championship.
Blurble….
Then, I open the Atlanta paper this morning, and EVERYTHING is pro-UGA. I mean, I knew it would be, but some of it was even based on facts.
Like this beauty: When Auburn and their opponent are both in the top ten, Auburn is 4-6-1 in those games. Auburn has lost the last three games that fit that scenario.
Blurble….
Auburn’s last defeat came at the hands of…UGA.
Blurble…
Auburn does lead the overall record in the series 51-46-8. However, the road team’s record in this series. AT Auburn, UGA is 11-8-2. At Athens, Auburn is 17-8. This trend was serious in the 80′s, with the road team winning about two-thirds of the time. The only time this changed recently really was when UGA decided to win in their place in 2003. Thanks Dawgs.
Blurble…
On the upside, Auburn has scored at least 33 points in the last six games. That’s a pretty nice run.
Auburn leads the SEC in scoring offense, scoring defense and rushing defense.
Auburn is second in the nation in scoring defense and seventh in pass defense.
Jason Campbell is 3rd in the nation in passing efficiency while David Greene is 10th.
Here are a couple of middle of the road stats:
Auburn’s Quentin Groves and Georgia’s David Pollack are tied for the SEC sack lead.
Here’s the biggest for what it’s worth stat as far as I am concerned: both teams are undefeated this year when scoring first. Auburn is 8-0 and UGA is 5-0. I’d say that’s the biggest stat right now.
Auburn’s offense is potent and efficient. UGA’s defense is relentless and contains a couple of the country’s biggest hitters, especially Greg Blue and Odell Thurman.
Auburn’s defense is fast and relentless and the DB’s are experienced and big. UGA’s receivers are leaders, with one of them a team captain.
Auburn’s two running backs are seniors and very experienced and dangerous, bruising backs. UGA’s two backs are smaller freshmen with less experience, but are dangerous as well.
In my mind, the game is going to turn on a few key points, some obvious and some not. Here goes the prediction machine:
- Turnovers (as always) will be critical.
- Special teams play and lack of special teams mistakes will tell the tale regarding field position.
- Both teams MUST establish the run to be successful. If Auburn goes for 150 between their two backs, they’re almost impossible to beat. Conversely, Georgia MUST be able to run the ball to set up play action and keep the pressure off of David Greene.
- Mark Richt has proven to be a better on the fly adjustment coach that Tommy Tuberville. Tubs is famous for taking chances, often unnecessary ones. That history is of concern to me. While it’s okay to try crazy shit when your team is under-rated or a serious underdog, it’s important not to give games away when you’re the favorite. Playing more “by the book” and a bit “closer to the vest” becomes the call for the day.
Considering all of these factors, I truly believe that this is Auburn’s year. They may not go undefeated and they may not get into the BCS title game, but they have enough talent, poise and experience to win this game.
Auburn wins 31-21.
And now that I have typed that prediction, I may just throw up in my mouth.
War…Blurble…Eagle!!
Added at 1:28pm on 11/12/04
Ack!!
David Greene is the winningest QB in NCAA division I history!! AND he’s 15-1 on the road!!
15-1 on the road???
UGA wins 24-21
Blurble.
Posted by FRT on Nov 11, 2004 in
Uncategorized For the past several weeks and even months, we have been in discussions with various people about what to do for the Auburn – Georgia game. That is, where are we going to watch it? Who is going to watch it with us? What are we going to cook for during the game? You get the point…
Well, plans have changed several times. Initially, Todd and a bunch of the guys were going to Panama City for an all-male tennis weekend. Can you say homo-erotic adventures? Anyway, that trip got called off for him due to the recent inclement weather and its affects on his business.
Last Friday night, one of our neighbors (and a fellow Auburn-ite) suggested that rather than picking someone’s house, we setup in the clubhouse with the 60-inch tv and the leather furniture.
DING-DING-DING-DING!! We have a winner.
So all week, I have been getting fired up and looking forward to our viewing party…until last night.
During the West Wing on NBC, the phone rings and it’s a number I don’t recognize. I nearly didn’t answer it (but I did) and it was my neighbor Pete (the guy I mentioned above).
I mentioned Saturday’s clubhouse festivities and Pete said “there’s been a slight change in plans.”
I was crushed. I have been looking forward to this game since last fall, and now everyone’s bailing at the last minute.
Pete then said “I came across two tickets to the Auburn game Saturday. One of them’s for me, and I was wondering if you wanted to go?”
Stunned silence, followed by “can I call you back in five minutes?”
Pete said “Sure, or tomorrow morning’s fine.”
I sprinted upstairs and stumbled over the story, followed by “honey, can I go?”
“Sure you can,” said my lovely wife.
So now, instead of figuring out which TV to watch the biggest Auburn game in ten years on, I will be AT the biggest Auburn game in ten years and maybe longer. I haven’t been back on campus since the 1994 Auburn-UGA game, and I’m very much looking forward to it.
Tomorrow, I will do my comparison of the two teams and my predictions for the weekend.
(By the way, the TP reference is regarding an Auburn Tradition you can read about here).
War Eagle everybody!!
Posted by FRT on Nov 10, 2004 in
Uncategorized until the Auburn-Georgia game. I don’t really have anything today. I just keep thinking “Red Sox…Tigers…Red Sox…Tigers” and wondering why CAN’T this be our year? No, we haven’t waited since 1918. We won a national title in like 1957 and went undefeated again in 1993 while on probation, so they weren’t eligible for TV or a bowl game or anything else.
But I keep asking myself over and over, why CAN’T we win it all?
We’ve got senior leadership in our quarterback. We’ve got two of the best running backs in the country. We have an offensive line that is working well together. We have a defense that plays like 11 angry lunatics all on the same page, and our defensive speed combined with the schemes have been great all year. Auburn has given up one measly rushing TD all year, and that was in mop-up mode against Kentucky.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. What we must first ask is “can Auburn beat Georgia on Saturday?”
The answer is certainly yes. But can UGA beat Auburn? Of course they can. Here are the factors as I see them today:
Auburn is at home. Ordinarily that is worth a lot, but in this series, the road team has a history of making trouble for their hosts.
The game is during the day, which I see as an advantage for Auburn. This game is usually at night, and that’s another factor in getting the visiting team fired up even more than they would be already.
In an odd twist, UGA has simplified their offense throughout the season, while Auburn has made theirs more complex.
UGA’s receivers are vastly better than Auburn’s. This could be neutralized, however, by Auburn’s defensive backs and the ability of the front four to put pressure on David Greene.
Auburn has more quality depth at running back than UGA, and the Tigers’ ability to keep their backs fresh in the third and fourth quarters will be key.
These are only a few of the factors to consider, and I will get into more of this tomorrow and Friday before I make my prediction for the weekend.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling a little nauseous about the game, and I may very well throw up a little.
War Eagle everybody.
Posted by FRT on Nov 8, 2004 in
Uncategorized It’s Auburn-Georgia week, ladies and gentlemen. After all the smack talk that’s gone on for the last 360 days, and all of the games that both teams have played and the hopes each had for the 2004 season, it’s come down to this.
To stay undefeated and alive for a chance at the BCS title game, Auburn must win this Saturday in it’s 3:30 EST game on CBS against the Georgia Bulldogs.
If they hope to move up from their current number five ranking and keep the hope alive of playing in the SEC Title Game in December, Georgia must beat Auburn.
This game is as good as it gets. Sure, Auburn’s in-state rival is Alabama, but year in and year out, this game, the Auburn-UGA game, seems like the one that matters more. I seldom if ever root for Bama, but I always root for UGA to be undefeated when the play Auburn. The game is big enough already, but it seems even bigger when one or both teams have something on the line.
Yes, both teams have other games left to play and yes, other teams’ results may affect what happens to both of these teams, but in just five days, these two teams will play the biggest and most important game of their season.
So now it’s time for all of the yapping and jawing and talking shit that goes with this game.
Except I don’t do that. I can’t do that. Anytime I try to talk shit, I get all nauseous and worry about what happens not if but WHEN we lose. I don’t know if it’s just me or if being this pragmatic is what it means to be an Auburn fan. I wonder if deep down THIS is what it feels like to be a Red Sox fan: regardless of where you are or what is happening to your team, deep down you don’t just think, you KNOW something bad is going to happen.
Anyway, I am flying my flag on my house with pride and I am looking forward to the game that, year in and year out, gives us the best hitting and mos entertaining football played on the highest level. It’s SEC football at it’s core.
War Eagle.