Mikey

Ouch!

The donors are not supporting programs because of the program's money-making potential. If that were the case they'd simply donate the money directly to the school.

That happened twice in the game. Lucky the first time didn't hurt us. Player positioning has got to be on the coaches. Something caused Lowe to call Dean out there. You could tell by her face that there was a problem. I fully expected a pitching change at that point. But no.....

RATZ!

My bad. The current collective is OTV. Because how much money they generate has nothing to do with an NIL collective. Again, a collective is not part of a school's athletic program. Because it would be fair to the partial scholarship athletes and since the collective is entirely separate from the school, economic principles do not apply.

I'll be disappointed with less than 8-4. Last year's team would have been 7-5 without the inexplicable loss to New Mexico State. I think to show any improvement the 2024 team will have to be a minimum of 8-4.

It shouldn't be about the revenue and I'm not sure it is. Remember the NTY collective is not part of Auburn University. The decisions are made by an independent board. Disproportionate funding should be given to those unfortunate athletes who are on partial scholarships. Those players who are already getting the full ride are being well cared for before they get the first dime of NIL money. I know it's not a perfect world but giving millions to one football or basketball player comes close to being criminal use of the donor's money. I think the speculation about who is getting how much is vastly overblown and not just at AU, but across the nation.

I agree. Also, Drinkwitz is proving to be a way above average coach.

I doubt the figures that are being thrown around. Also, last year baseball coach Butch Thompson was openly panhandling for $350,000 to keep his team together. I hope the board of directors of the NTY collective aren't giving one basketball player three times more than the entire baseball program gets.

Probably not for free. Also probably not for some of these atrocious amounts being tossed around. Nobody knows what these kids are or are not getting. One thing is certain, they are not getting 1st round pro money because they aren't first round pro material.

What makes you believe that?

AU vs. the bugs will be on the ACC channel starting at 6 PM Central time. Be there or be square!

Their regular catcher was pinch hit/pinch run for and this guy was brought in. I feel sorry for him but it was fun to see. His pitcher didn't help him out either. I record the games so I watched that bottom of the 9th four times. Three wild pitches/passed balls resulting in a walkoff loss. Probably won't see that again.

Eaves didn't leave AU for another coaching job. He developed heart trouble and followed medical advice to stop coaching. I find it hard to believe that becoming an AD is that much easier on the heart!

Sad but true. A&M has virtually unlimited NIL finds. I hope this guy can operate successfully in a more austere environment.

It gets harder and harder to become excited about any Auburn player in any sport. Then it gets harder and harder to become excited about any Auburn team. If something isn't done, and soon, the goose that lays the golden eggs will die from lack of enthusiasm. We may well be witnessing the demise of college sports as we have known them.

And that is exactly why I said "Major program". I liked following AU swimming in those years, but I don't consider swimming/diving to be a major program. Football, men's and women's basketball, the diamond sports would be the limit for major program and softball has just recently reached that level.

The difference is Chizik went nuts and lost that team. Thompson has done no such thing.

Your points are correct, I'm just not convinced that NIL is the problem. For instance, Kentucky is going to get 'em, NIL or not.

At AU, Terry Bowden was the best game day, play calling coach we've had. Obviously, other aspects of running a program were/are his downfall.

Pat Dye, Bruce Pearl, Butch Thompson, Shug Jordan, Tommy Tuberville. I could go on and on. Every successful coach at AU could have gone elsewhere at some point in their career. They didn't.

Yes, we're having a bad season. Sadly, it happens from time to time in every sport. The basketball team didn't make the tournament as recently as '20/'21.

Butch has had AU in two of the last four college world series. That's the final eight. That's better than Bruce Pearl has done. Pearl's team had a losing record in the '20/'21 season. Are y'all ready to fire Pearl? The answer is a firm NO. Thompson's record at AU is far above mediocre. You don't get rid of an outstanding coach for one unfortunate season.

Point was I think Widra should have had more pitching opportunities, particularly in the early non-conference games. Having a trusted 3rd pitcher would have been great this last third of the season.

Widra, while not a power pitcher, appears to be very effective. She was recruited partly as a pitcher. Why did we wear Penta out. It was worse while Lowe was injured.