Friday, October 22, 2004
AU Preview: Kentucky
This will be the most half-assed preview ever. Here goes.
When Kentucky has the ball:
Kentucky has a mobile QB in senior Shane Boyd, but he has ball control problems (2TDs vs. 5INTs this year), and Auburn has contained rushing QBs so far this season. Kentucky RB Tony Dixon is too small for them to really try to hammer Auburn's quick, but somewhat smallish DL. If he goes outside, Auburn's LBs are fast enough to catch him.
When Auburn has the ball:
Kentucky has had problems getting pushed back by opposing offensive lines and have tackled poorly. Read that sentence twice. If they bring up safety help, Jason Campbell and Auburn's WRs have proven their ability to throw the ball.
Bottom Line:
Auburn hasn't eased up yet against a weak opponent this year. Get ready for UGA (after Ole Miss next week).
ESPN's Prediction: Auburn 37, Kentucky 10
This game is going to be a joke. I don't expect to stay past halftime, as this is merely the sports appetizer for Saturday. Barring Auburn pulling a 2004 New York Yankees *cackle*, this game will be a cakewalk. Then, at 6:30 PM CST, Game 1 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals will be on FOX. I will be watching at SB's apartment with whoever else is interested. Will is coming up for the weekend, as is Caroline, but I believe she has other commitments for Sat night. Anybody in the Auburn area is welcome to call me and drop by to watch the World Series that night.
When Kentucky has the ball:
Kentucky has a mobile QB in senior Shane Boyd, but he has ball control problems (2TDs vs. 5INTs this year), and Auburn has contained rushing QBs so far this season. Kentucky RB Tony Dixon is too small for them to really try to hammer Auburn's quick, but somewhat smallish DL. If he goes outside, Auburn's LBs are fast enough to catch him.
When Auburn has the ball:
Kentucky has had problems getting pushed back by opposing offensive lines and have tackled poorly. Read that sentence twice. If they bring up safety help, Jason Campbell and Auburn's WRs have proven their ability to throw the ball.
Bottom Line:
Auburn hasn't eased up yet against a weak opponent this year. Get ready for UGA (after Ole Miss next week).
ESPN's Prediction: Auburn 37, Kentucky 10
This game is going to be a joke. I don't expect to stay past halftime, as this is merely the sports appetizer for Saturday. Barring Auburn pulling a 2004 New York Yankees *cackle*, this game will be a cakewalk. Then, at 6:30 PM CST, Game 1 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals will be on FOX. I will be watching at SB's apartment with whoever else is interested. Will is coming up for the weekend, as is Caroline, but I believe she has other commitments for Sat night. Anybody in the Auburn area is welcome to call me and drop by to watch the World Series that night.
The Biggest Rivalry?
ESPN.com has an article asserting that the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry (to be renewed this weekend, 2:30 CT on CBS) may now be the nation's biggest, bigger than even the Iron Bowl. To add weight to that nonsense, they quote that bastion of idiocy, Paul Finebaum.
I'll grant that the rivalry may have surpassed Auburn-Bama temporarily, but wait until November. Regardless, Finebaum misses the forest for the trees. Bammer fans are enraged at Fulmer for being a whistle-blower, but they do not and cannot deny that their football team was indeed guilty of recruiting violations.
They are angry because they got caught.
At any rate, it's one thing to hype up a rivalry to get more viewers, especially when one once-successful program has suffered humiliation and defeat for so long (heh, heh), but it's wrong to propagate this big a lie.
Not to exaggerate, but if people actually believe this rivalry that has no name is greater than the Iron Bowl, then the terrorists have already won.
(And, on a more personal note, I've been extraordinarily busy the last few weeks/months, but I plan to post an entry or two over the weekend. Stay tuned.)
SEC football fans are the most passionate in the land, but this is something different. This is passion without the restrictor plates of perspective. This is poisoned passion.
Put it this way: Alabama-Tennessee is so vicious this year that it has temporarily demoted the nation's most all-consuming football rivalry (Alabama-Auburn) to second-string status.
"Auburn is a football game," said Alabama radio personality, newspaper columnist and all-around provocateur Paul Finebaum. "This is a cause. This is about principle and right and wrong -- in (the fans') minds."
I'll grant that the rivalry may have surpassed Auburn-Bama temporarily, but wait until November. Regardless, Finebaum misses the forest for the trees. Bammer fans are enraged at Fulmer for being a whistle-blower, but they do not and cannot deny that their football team was indeed guilty of recruiting violations.
They are angry because they got caught.
At any rate, it's one thing to hype up a rivalry to get more viewers, especially when one once-successful program has suffered humiliation and defeat for so long (heh, heh), but it's wrong to propagate this big a lie.
Not to exaggerate, but if people actually believe this rivalry that has no name is greater than the Iron Bowl, then the terrorists have already won.
(And, on a more personal note, I've been extraordinarily busy the last few weeks/months, but I plan to post an entry or two over the weekend. Stay tuned.)
Monday, October 18, 2004
Next Generation of Auburn Student
Well, My brother has now been accepted to Auburn for the Spring. He is trying right now to get his scholarship transfered from VMI (Virginia Military Institute). Here's hoping that he can actually stay at a school and not quit and want to transfer every 6 months.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Noteworthy Items
Auburn is still ranked #4 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, but the Associated Press has voted Auburn into the #3 spot over the University of Miami. Auburn even has two first-place votes in the poll. If you're not excited now, you're not a fan of Auburn football.
Another item of note is that The Broun Blog is now over 200 posts! I think it's safe to say that the little random idea that Bubba and I had one night earlier this year has worked out pretty well.
All times Central. War Damn Eagle.
Another item of note is that The Broun Blog is now over 200 posts! I think it's safe to say that the little random idea that Bubba and I had one night earlier this year has worked out pretty well.