AUght2win

I'm a devout Christian and I do think people need to be careful not to make it sound like their success in a game is because God loves them more than their opponent. Hey, I don't know everything, but my interpretation of the Bible (and just experience in life) doesn't lead me to believe the victory always goes to the most righteous. I also don't think that's what Chizik meant. I think the intention is to give glory and thanks for the opportunity and the ability to experience those special moments.

Difference is I think Dabo genuinely isn't a cornball. At least it seems that way to me. He is sincere and a man of faith, which Chiz was too and should be commended for. But just look at that pic @dyehardfanAU just posted. A man who wears that has no awareness of the human world.

Doing it in conjunction with a 1300 yard rusher is pretty impressive. McCallebb added 500 on the ground. Fannin and T-Zach had about 700 all purpose yards a piece, too. Malzahn utilized everyone that year and it was fun to watch.

Chiz deserves credit for the natty for sure. I love him as a man, and I know he truly loves Auburn. But I do have to say, I always thought he lacked awareness. He came off as a goofy cornball. I was on campus at the time. I even tried out to walk on. So I kept a close eye on the Chiz. The corny slogans. The terrible, matching outfits and hummer limos on the recruiting trail. I just remember thinking "there's no way his players can take him seriously".

In retrospect, did you or the people around the program see the fall coming? Could you guys see it start to get off the rails before it actually did? There were always whispers at that time that Dyer was a problem. Like a diet version of what Antonio Brown was in Pittsburgh.

I just flat disagree. Nine of the thirteen teams we faced finished with winning records. One was an undefeated national champion. Tate rushed for 1300 yards. Darvin finished 3 yards shy of 1000 and Todd broke the single season TD pass record. We were 17th overall in offense nationally. It was a very good offense.

Big difference. 2009 was very good within context. In 2008 we went 5-7 while averaging just 17 points a game. One of our 5 wins was the infamous 3-2 game. Tony Franklin was fired in the middle of the season in a total fiasco, as Tubbs tried to convert a downhill run scheme to the air raid. That 2008 offense was the worst perhaps in Auburn history. Even 2012 averaged more points per game. So within that context, the offense in 2009 was outstanding. They averaged 33 points a game (almost double the previous year) with pretty well the exact same players! 49 against Mississippi State, 41 against West Virginia, 26 in Knoxville, 33 against a ranked Ole Miss team, 24 in Athens, 21 against maybe the best defense Saban has ever had, and 38 in a bowl game win. The 2009 offense was very good and there really isn't an argument you can make otherwise.

The defense Chizik put on the field really was atrocious. Like how can the guy who coaches Dansby, Dontarrius Thomas, Herring, T-Will, etc. think Jake Holland and Kris Frost were acceptable linebackers.

Malzahn absolutely coaches worse in second halfs. He has his script, starts hot (sometimes) but then clenches up and has no answer for adjustments.

Also I do think 1983 is a special special year. Obviously not as much as 2010 because as luck would have it we were the undisputed champs. But I checked out the 1983 numbers the other day, that team was legit.

Look at Tubbs though. Or Bowden. Circumstances beyond any of their control prevented them from a natty. Same with Dye in 1983. I just don't like the idea of judging people by national titles. Because college football has never had a true national champion, and it may never have one. This sport is so uniquely stupid in its subjectivity.

Watching him throw in that Clemson game was impressive. He could chuck it and had no hesitation in doing so.

"There" isn't a real place. College national titles are entirely dependent on luck and the opinions of newspaper employees. Dye sustained success probably better than any Auburn coach in history.

I think what fascinates me so much about this game is that how it impacted both programs and both coaches. It was Dabo's first really big win. And Chizik's career would go on an unprecedented decline. If Auburn had held on, maybe 2012 doesn't happen the way it does. Of course, that means 2013 doesn't either. But winning cures a ton of problems. Just take a look at the Steelers and Antonio Brown. When you win, locker room problems just tend not to happen as much. After all, everybody is happy and there is no dissension. If Auburn wins this game, we would still beat FAU and a top 10 USC in Columbia. We would be 5-0, our streak would be at 22, and there would undoubtedly be buzz of a repeat title run. Barrett Trotter would likely stay in place as the starter, and in hindsight he may be the most overlooked Auburn QB in a long time. This young team would have had more time to grow up, and perhaps they gel. Maybe nothing could have stop Gene's total loss of the locker room. Maybe this would have just postponed the inevitable. Who knows? All I know is that looking back, this game ended up being historic.

Malzahn started to make too-cute calls on 3rd and short, despite Clemson having no answer for Dyer. Auburn tried to mount a comeback with 9 minutes left in the 4th. Ample time! But on 2nd and Goal Trotter threw an interception. That was all she wrote. Clemson would hold the ball for the entire 9+ remaining minutes. Ball game. Streak over. The beginning of the end for Gene Chizik.