How do you know when things are good in Auburn? When Ben Tate can roll up 128 yards on 25 carries and turn Eric Berry into a rag doll… when Chris Todd can outperform in a hostile environment Tim Tebow on his home turf… and fans are all ‘well, I’ll take it…’ That’s when.
Kevin Strickland shows that the can of whoop ass is mostly empty and the glass is half full.

Kevin Strickland talks Auburn-Tennessee ironies and subplots, reflects on the “punt, pathetic, punt” debacle of ’08, and asks whether pollsters will finally notice when the Tigers are 5-0.

The last Auburn team to make it to week five undefeated and unranked?
The 1963 team. Jimmy Sidle and Co. jumped to No. 5 after their sixth straight win and finished the season in the same spot at 9-2.
Kevin Strickland investigates the current psyche of college football pollsters to find out why the 2009 Auburn Tigers continue to be Dangerfielded out of the top 25.

Gene Chizik is 4-0 as Auburn’s head coach. Only 27 teams in Auburn history have started a season 4-0. Eight of those occurred after 1974.
Kevin Strickland takes a look at what a 4-0 start typically means for the Tigers.
Here’s a hint:
it’s good.

Ball State coach Stan Parrish has already coached against a Malzahn offense. When Hoke abandoned Muncie, Ind., for sunny California, Parrish stepped up to coach in the GMAC Bowl against Tulsa. With less talent than he has at his disposal at Auburn, Malzahn’s Golden Hurricane offense rolled up 632 yards and 45 points in a 45-13 win.
On Saturday, 45 would be merciful.

It’s not the Auburn football you grandparents remember. It’s not the Auburn football your parents remembers. It’s not even the Auburn football you remember.
Auburn 41, West Virginia 30.
This is Auburn football.

Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik stepped to the podium in the press room underneath Jordan-Hare Stadium moments after his Tigers survived the West Virginia Mountaineers 41-30 on Saturday night.
“First of all,” Chizik said “I wish I had 87,000 game balls.”

As Rocky begins his comeback, Adrian leaps to her feet and begins to chant “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky …”
As Auburn delivered the knockout blow, Tiger fans picked up the chant, “It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger.”
Are you all right Auburn? Never better… never better…

C is for Confidence

TWER’s Kevin Strickland was on the sideline Saturday night. And he had his camera. And he knew how to use it. Keep the reasons for hyperactive optimism fresh in your mind.
And bring on the Mountaineers.