Surprised you’d take Hawaii, though–4,000 miles is a hell of a long way to go.

As for the opposition, I’m not especially worried about any team but Alabama. I’ve seen the games (thank you SECDigitalnetwork!) and I think we can take any team on our schedule save the Tide.

However, It will be the Iron Bowl that will make/break this team. If the setting is two undefeated teams or even a one-loss team on either side AND we have relatively few injuries (especially on defense), the fact the game is played in Auburn will give me hope.

Besides, I am reminded of something US Grant wrote in his memoirs about his first battle encounter as a General officer:

“As we approached the brow of the hill from which it was expected we could see Harris’ camp, and possibly find his men ready formed to meet us, my heart kept getting higher and higher until it felt to me as though it was in my throat. I would have given anything then to have been back in Illinois, but I had not the moral courage to halt and consider what to do; I kept right on. When we reached a point from which the valley below was in full view I halted. The place where Harris had been encamped a few days before was still there and the marks of a recent encampment were plainly visible, but the troops were gone. My heart resumed its place. It occurred to me at once that Harris had been as much afraid of me as I had been of him.

This was a view of the question I had never taken before; but it was one I never forgot afterwards. From that event to the close of the war, I never experienced trepidation upon confronting an enemy, though I always felt more or less anxiety. I never forgot that he had as much reason to fear my forces as I had his. The lesson was valuable.”

So let the Tide come as they may. And let them fear us.

War Eagle!

Sullivan013

UT: Sort of worried, less than you’d think
ARK: A little more worried than about UT
UK: Not particularly worried
LSU: Still kind of worried, but mostly just because it’s Baton Rouge
MISS: Not all that worried until we see what they do this week
UGa: Second-highest level of worry, but Auburn can take them
‘Bama: Supremely worried; genuinely fearful

But it wasn’t all the receivers–they didn’t give Mallett a ton of help, true, but I’d still argue it’s been five quarters now since he looked like himself (or the self we thought we’d see). And this is a good match-up for Auburn–our secondary/pass-rush is a lot stronger than our run-stuffing at the moment.

Thanks for all the reading. Godd stuff.

that said, i have to be a little more cautious about Ark. bama took them to the shed, but i would say AT LEAST half of those incompletion were due to receivers having the heads up their rears than mallet not being as good a qb as thought. that is a much different ball game if those receivers make those catches. Now, i only watch football, i have never played, so i don’t know how much of receivers dropping balls you can put on the qb but i think that is something that can be corrected in a couple of weeks and a home game. that said, the ark D looked as bad at tackling as our boys did against west va, so we ought to be able to do what we do, but i just thought writing off that ark offense too much too quickly might be a little premature.

Alabama is having problems running the ball when teams like Arkansas give up on their Secondary and put 8 men in the box. (I might too if I were Petrino since they’ve suffered 3rd degree burns about 6 times in 3 games). I think Tiffin will prove to still be a liability for them.

Monte Kiffin is as salty as they come. Still, he isn’t coaching Crompton, who will be a target for Roof’s troops.

Jevan Snead = Hotty Toddy Favre Almighty