UCF had eyes on winning. AU had eyes on NFL

[WarEagle1983 2,185]

4 hours ago, abw0004 said:

I really don't think you watch enough football or understand it...  I know that sounds mean, and I don't mean for it to, but the last few posts make absolutely zero sense. 

Thought i was the only confused. 

[WarEagle1983 2,185]

3 hours ago, WDE0007 said:

It seems I'm in the minority, but I fully support the players leaving early to get their coins. Carlton has a promising stock: all the distinctions he earned throughout the season. KJ has a promising stock: SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Holland may have benefited from an extra year, I'll give yall that. But in the end this isn't about what's best for the team or best for the fans. This is about what's best for him. Kam Pettway leaving early has everything to do with supporting his family: he has a daughter and wife. Though I'm sure not being able to stay out of the dog house played some part in it too, but that's not the point I'm going for.

If I had the opportunity to go make an NFL MINIMUM (MINIMUM!!!!!) of $450,000, I sure as heck would go after my dream of being in the pros. That minimum salary is more than I'll ever make. As a 21-year-old, I would take that chance. Besides, with all the connections they made through Auburn Football, if their NFL career doesn't work out, they can always come back and be part of the coaching staff. Just look at our current staff roster--a good majority of them were former players in recent years.

 

I'm with you. I personally think KP has long been decided and/or it was basically decided for him unless he wanted to leave the program. Carlton - DBs are in high demand in the NFL now. With how high he's rated...no way i come back. I was actually surprised by Jeff's grading (thought he'd be higher) but it's still a good grade and if he does very well at the combine he can see some good movement up in draft status. 

[keesler 5,924]

4 hours ago, aujeff11 said:

Hate to compare to Bama again but:

Ryan Anderson, Tim Williams, Jonathon Allen, and OJ Howard all say hi. All four could’ve left their junior and been at least a mid round pick. They stayed, and got an even bigger contract the next year.

Yeah, but their players are coached and educated early on about their career path and their potential NFL chances.  

They spend hundreds of thousands every year on player development in the form of psychologists, motivational speakers, leadership skills, financial advisers,  goal setting advisers, etc.    Those players and coaches are literally brain washed with constant reinforcement pumped into their heads over there.  Hell, Dr. Kevin Elko practically has his own office in their athletic complex he's in and out of there so much when he's not spending time with NFL teams.  He works with their basketball/golf/gymnastics, etc athletes as well.

News Flash:  Kirby Smart was part of that type of player development and HE has implemented the same for his staff and players.  He used an Elko hot point in his post-game interview on Monday, I've heard it several times through this season.  "Keep the main thing the main thing."

The mental training and development of a player should be nurtured and reinforced just as much as the physical.

 

 

[SumterAubie 3,031]

These guys going early can be used to Auburn's advantage. As in showing a current high school junior, that yes Auburn does develop players for the NFL.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

13 hours ago, Texan4Auburn said:

The fans. I wasn't there but all indications are that nobody else was either for the Peach Bowl which is practically in our backyard. You see Alabama players talk about the passion and support of that fan base all the time. I have no doubt that they would of loaded up the Peach Bowl.

The sad thing is, until this year, Auburn was one of the best traveling teams in the country. Unfortunately the rampant negativity that has been growing in our fan base has turned a lot of people into "what have you done for me lately" types who are uninterested if we aren't playing for a title. I don't think that was the key to the lack of numbers, but I think it was the reason for the lack of energy. I remember when we cheered no matter how the game was going and even cheered our boys in defeat. Now the moment we begin to struggle it's like everyone stops cheering and looks for someone or something to blame instead.

I think the lack of numbers came more from the fact that these games are freakin' expensive and it's not like anyone could justify going to the game as a destination trip when it's 2 hours down the road. Plus, we had just played in the same stadium a few weeks before, so that's even less incentive to spend the money, again. I have no doubt we would have owned the stadium during the SEC championship, had the timing and nature of how tickets are sold not dramatically favored Georgia fans.  I can't say that we would have kept the place rocking once the first fumble happened, however.

As for bama fans... there are A LOT more of them and they are all over the country. A large percentage of bama fans are fans because of that the Bear did, and have no actual connection to the school. When they play bowl games outside of the Southeast, it's often the only chance these fringe fans get to see them live. I know here in KC, Auburn fans are outnumbered 5-1, and that's just considering the bama fans who are active in their alumni group.

[Swamp Eagle 5,128]

I felt that Davis was looking out for his health more than dealing with it, but it was indicated to me that he had contact with an agent prematurely and disqualified himself from the bowl game. 

[WFE12 9,191]

11 hours ago, JDUBB4AU said:

Best thread of 18 so far . Saban is paying the Illuminati to entice our players to go to the pros to make big money . Bigfoot wouldn’t dance with Evans grandmother that’s why he didn’t come to AU. Loch Ness unplugged the fax when Cyrus kwonjo (whatever his name was) was sending over his NLI. Jimmy Hoffa stole the 2nd half adjustments so we couldn’t finish off LSU . Free porn in the dorm is why KJ hurt his shoulder and couldn’t play in the secc..... 

That's it!!! That's it! Idc if we're 4 days into the new year this is the best and will not be passed! You have it wrong though...Saban is the Illuminati. 

[BJCrawford 1,568]

I think the peach bowl being at the same place as the sec championship (which wasn’t fun) May have had an effect. I mean Auburn fans practically filled Legion field when we were 6-6. Talk about a meaningless game! I think this was unique....for the team and the fans.  I don’t live nearby but my family never misses. They simply could not get up for this game. Would have been better if it was s team like Notre Dame. Not making excuses, but I truly don’t think the fan base has deserted the team at all. Guess we will know when we see attendance for the Washington game. 

[DivisionN 102]

On 1/4/2018 at 1:08 AM, CleCoTiger said:

Pettway could have been a first round pick?  Running backs in the NFL are a commodity these days. Very, very few are first round picks.

Davis faked being sick? Your source on this is? 

I'm not sure on the exact numbers for AU players who declare early that do or do not make it.  I know that AU has quite a few players at the next level including players like Peyton Barber who left early and defied the expectations of message board gurus who said he was making a mistake.  

Any player that makes it in the NFL for even a single season can, in my opinion, hardly be said to have made a mistake. The NFL minimum is 450k/year.  That minimum will more than pay for a return to school to finish.

Instead of griping (which seems to be de rigueur among some of the folks on the forums these days), how about being grateful for the contributions these players made at AU and wishing them luck at the next level?

Yes, now we know for certain Davis faked being sick. That was obvious. He partied with the team all weak and called in sick to practice until Gus sent him home. 

[TAYLORKEETON 786]

I don’t fault the players for leaving...but I do fault them for playing like they could’ve cared less about the UCF game. That game is one of the most embarrassing losses, I think as a fan. Especially after seeing the way they’ve celebrated it. 

[alexava 6,973]

I can’t fault C Davis for saving his hide for $. I honestly don’t know how I would handle that situation for myself and never will. I have wondered if contact with an agent may have been what made the decision to send him back. I can’t blame Gus for not outing the truth because we don’t know what he was facing either. It is what it is. 

I wish Carlton the best but have a gut feeling he is not a first rounder. I’ve been wrong before and hope I am again. I think Holland is a first rounder. 

[Apraser99 168]

The difference between us and them is five star recruiting and coaches that can develop talent. IMO

[AUIH1 1,515]

15 minutes ago, Apraser99 said:

The difference between us and them is five star recruiting and coaches that can develop talent. IMO

We have been recruiting well enough. The difference in on the field coaching.  We go boat raced in the SECCG by a team we destroyed a few weeks earlier because our coaching staff failed to adjust on both sides of the ball.  The lack of adjustments were primarily on the O side of the ball,  but the D still wet the bed too.

wde

[CleCoTiger 1,957]

Never mind...I'm not gonna keep the complaining going by responding to any of it in particular. What's done is done.

[AUwent 3,747]

To think where we might've been if Pettway had just kept his head screwed on right. I say this because it seems he was healthy by the SECCG, but Gus refused to play him.