Comments on: The Auburn AUghts: The Stories

By: The Auburn AUghts: Tubby | The War Eagle Reader

The Auburn AUghts: Tubby | The War Eagle Reader — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:59:32 +0000

[...] for Auburn’s fortunes of those previous 10 years. Previously: the Plays, the Players, the Stories, and the Games. [...]

By: J.D.

J.D. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:01:24 +0000

I would have put “the snub” at #2 as well. 2003-2007 was a hell of a time to be a student at Auburn. First semester there, they threaten our accreditation. Next fall, we run the table. 2005, we field a team almost as good. 2006 we (somehow) win 11 games.

By: WarBlogEagle

WarBlogEagle — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:01:14 +0000

Dammit, JT, I totally intended to mention that as its own thing in the Honorable Mention section. Guess I got distracted filing it under the ESPN cover. Oh well.

By: Jt3417

Jt3417 — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:44:29 +0000

You made a slight mention to one of the biggest stories of the decade, but it’s not listed otherwise. CTT decision to not replace Petrino and to give the offense over to Nallsminger was the dumbest move anyone making over a million dollars a year has ever made. Remember the discusions about how Rod B. would handle the call of the first touchdown in tribute to Jim Fyffe. It came in the 2nd half of the 3rd game against Vandy. QB was Jason C. had Cadilac and Ronnie B. in the backfield. I think this debacle hurt us badly.

By: TideDruid

TideDruid — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:55:10 +0000

In my opinion, the Tony Franklin debacle was bigger news than Chizik’s staff hires. It was the first cog in Tubby’s demise.

By: CD

CD — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:36:34 +0000

Ah. Top 10 off-field stories. OK.

By: WarBlogEagle

WarBlogEagle — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:36:10 +0000

Oh, re: The Streak, I filed it as an on-field thing and didn’t consider it for inclusion. Maybe I should have.

And Alex P makes my argument for me regarding ‘Bama in 2004. Remember: the media were talking up a USC-Oklahoma title game before the season even started.

By: WarBlogEagle

WarBlogEagle — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:32:59 +0000

Re: the Snub, I’ll agree you could easily make an argument for putting it No. 2. We’re going to be taking it to our collective grave, no question.

But in the end, I just don’t think it had as much practical impact as the coaching changes. Remember that we’re not talking about a national championship–we’re talking about a _shot_ at it. I don’t think a loss does anything more for the program going forward than the perfect season did, and even if we get that world’s best cherry-on-top of the SEC title and undefeated season, does it change the relationship between Tubby and the admin? Does it change recruiting all THAT much? What does it really DO for the team besides put a trophy on its shelf?

I’m aware that all those things are incredibly important … but I think the difference between 14-0 SEC/Sugar Bowl champs and 14-0 national champs isn’t so great as to outweight the combination of the shock-and-awe AND seismic practical direction-change in the program caused by the coaching changes. Just to illustrate my thought process here.

And Jetgate has to be No. 1. I mean, the university president had to resign. That’s as big as football stories can get.

By: JBoggs

JBoggs — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:21:07 +0000

Good point on the Iron Bowl streak. Huge. I only wish that we had hung a 36-0 or 41-0 on them at some point. All of those games were somewhat close. I’m being greedy but you could sort of fault Tubby for not “nuking Bama back to the stone age” when we had our boot on their throat.

Joe Blow, you’re likely correct on that (at my age I’m sort of lucky to remember what I had for breakfast) so I guess I owe all the Bowdens an apology. Sorry to all Bowdens.

By: Alex P in Smyrna G

Alex P in Smyrna G — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:20:03 +0000

Wow CD! How did we ALL miss that one?