These are the kinds of games the underdog salivates over- a chance to be a true spoiler. Ideally, both teams would come in playing for the West or better. Now that would be something. The 89′ “First Time Evah” game was a lot like that.

Good luck. Play well. War Eagle.

JB

……We WERE a doormat, in the second half of last year’s Iron Bowl. No two ways about it! Gack up three quick turnovers against a good team, and it’s going to unravel!

…..A lot of folks forget that last year’s contest was fairly even in the first half. Auburn was set to cut it to seven at the half, till a crafty Saban timeout took a field goal off the board, and froze our backup kicker.

1. After re-reading my responses I realize that there’s a certain smug, smack talkishness to them that is inappropriate in an exchange like this. As you mentioned, we’ve had a pretty good relationship from way back when and my responses have a kind of “two guys jawing” familiar tone that we’d normally use in an e-mail exchange, but in this setting it’s not appropriate. I have a bad habit of forgetting that, when doing these kinds of exchanges, I’m writing for a blogger’s audience, not the blogger himself, so I do apologize to your readers if I came off as a condescending jerk. If ya’ll will go and listen to the Radio Hour linked above (which you should, ’cause Jerry was his usual magnificent self) you’ll hear that we do really feel like Auburn’s offense is something special and that this game isn’t a gimme in any way. I thought I was pretty clear in my respect for Malzahn’s offense and how it presents challenges for the Alabama defense that it hasn’t faced yet, but if I wasn’t, I’ll just emphasize it here in the comments.

2. This one is for you JBoggs: When I said “I’d rather Auburn be a solid football team than a doormat” I didn’t mean to imply that Auburn is CURRENTLY a doormat, though I do see how you could draw that conclusion. All I meant was that, unlike other members of our fanbase that would love to see Auburn lose every game they play, I want to see Auburn being as competitive as possible so that a win in the Iron Bowl means something on a conference/national scale instead of just between the fans. Poor wording on my part (and yes, JC, Jerry could write rings around me, that’s why we like him).

Anyway, just thought I’d throw those out there. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your readers and good luck on Friday.

Todd

JB

AU wins hands down on best writing on their team. Informative in such a creative way. Thanks T W E R.