TigerTennis80

41 minutes ago, cole256 said:

I really hope some of you don't start the jumping off the edge, we suck stuff. This happens every year bro. I'd think we would be tired of it by now.

First it's the people are angry when you critique the team. Then it's the people hype us to be on a level we aren't on. Then next it's those people are so disappointed that we have some bad games because they hyped the team up so, that now they are devastated and think we suck.

We are a young inexperienced team that's learning a bunch every single game......we are going to be fine.

Cole, I appreciate you saying we're going to be fine given what you know about BB. If we indeed learn, & if we can get past this shooting slump, then we will be fine indeed. The Final 4 team was sucking about this time in their season. We lost an ugly game at home to Ole Miss, then got destroyed by Kentucky at Rupp. And then we didn't lose again until UVa double dribbled. 1 difference is the 2019 team wasn't in contention for the regular season championship.. I, for 1, will just be sick if we don't win the regular season championship this season after leading the whole time. Consequently, today's loss really stings for me.

Here's what frustrates me. We played an awful 1st half but managed to only be down a point (& had 3 chances to take the lead but didn't get even shots off due to TOs & that horrid play just before half). I thought how we'd played poor 1st halves in other games & then came out & played a really good 2nd half. And that's how we began the 2nd half. For the 1st 10-11 minutes we not only played good ball but actually took control of the game, had momentum, were playing smart, looking confident. I thought, "this is my team!" So, we have a 6 point lead & the ball, & Cambridge made that terrible pass for another TO which led to a Florida 3 which turned all the momentum back in their favor. A 10-2 run later they've regained the lead, & I'm not sure we ever got the lead back. That's the kind of mistake you just can't make on the road. And that's the kind of play we weren't making earlier. We have to show more poise & smarts than that. Oh yeah, & we have to hit some shots!

14 hours ago, AUght2win said:

Ike has had some extremely contradictory takes. A couple of the Rapport guys have (I do enjoy their stuff though, by the way).

But they keep saying two things that are irreconcilable and contradictory to try to excuse all this stuff away.

1. The hiring of Coach Harsin is a departure from the old way of doing things. The PTB are no longer in charge. Therefore, with such a drastic change, we should expect some rough times. 

2. The coordinators and CBH's staff troubles are due to the fact that the PTB forced them on CBH, therefore, these rough times are actually still a product of the PTB.

Both those cannot be true. I'm not convinced EITHER is true. 

I don't think CBH had to tear everything down to the last brick as they've asserted so many times, and I also don't think the PTB are tying Harsin's hands in any way.

I think things aren't going well, and it didn't have to be this way. But it can also turn around.

Let's just not reach for every possible excuse to say it's all fine and nothing is wrong.

I particularly appreciate your last 4 sentences as describing where I am with the program also. I would add that I'd feel much better about a drastic culture change leading to lots of guys leaving if Harsin was also bringing in lots of guys who want to join what he's building. But he isn't. Zero signees yesterday. A good but small group on ESD. 5 guys from the portal where we totally whiffed on the OL & WRs we wanted (& need). SC & Ark outdoing us in the portal. SC & Missouri ahead of us in recruiting. That's just ugly. And then on top of that is the coaching drama. Yes, it can turn around. I am pulling for Harsin to be the guy. But I also find myself reaching for the word "demoralized" to describe how I feel about the football program right at this moment. Thank heavens I'm an Auburn fan & not just an Auburn football fan! Love the men's BB team, of course! Love the gymnastics team! Looking forward to softball season with hopes for significant improvement & steps toward another championship run in the near future. Hoping the baseball team will be better. I'm even enjoying the improvement of the women's BB team though it hasn't translated into many SEC wins yet. But Coach J has us moving in a positive direction. And that's my struggle with Harsin--right now I don't see that the football program is moving in a positive direction. As the weeks have passed since halftime of the Miss St game, we've had very few positives to celebrate. And that's become demoralizing.

Since we're looking for positives (& lord knows I'm among those who need something positive for & about the football team), I'll offer this. This time last year Tennessee was an absolute dumpster fire. I live in Memphis where UT is covered closely (lots of UT fans here despite the U of Memphis being primary in the city), & I can tell y'all that it's hard to overstate how bad things were for them. But Heupel has turned things around dramatically, & their fan base is more hopeful about the direction of the program than they've been in a long while. It's not perfect for them or anything, but it's a sea change from where they were a year ago. The point is, it's possible for a coach to turn things around dramatically in a year. So, we can hope it happens for us. 

Here's something I wonder: Is Harsin aware of how poor morale is among us Aubies? He hasn't given me the impression that he's terribly in tune to such things, but he needs to be. 

If Davis does step away from football, then this situation falls back on him, & we'll look less like a program in turmoil (though I agree with the poster who said that Harsin should only have hired a young & unproven coach for OC at Auburn if he was chomping at the bit to have the job, which today's statement does not indicate). On the other hand, if he takes another football job in a couple of weeks, then we look more like a program in turmoil since we've had 2 coordinators in a month "step away from football" only to take other football jobs quickly. Regardless of the truths of the situations, that looks like coaches getting the heck out of dodge, & we look like a program that coaches are running from. Sigh.

I'm just wondering how long it will take for AU students to moon Calipari (i.e., take off their shorts). It'll be so deserved!

With NIL money now available, I'm wondering if those who follow this kind of thing have any sense that players who are not considered a "sure thing" in the NBA will be more likely to stay in college another year? Take Kessler, for ex. To my non-expert eyes it appears he needs to add size & strength for the NBA. Might he be more likely to choose to work on that at Auburn & enjoy another year of playing in front of the Jungle since he can make NIL money? Barkley has long been an advocate for those players staying in college another year. I not only hope that's the case for Auburn basketball, I also think there are some things about the college experience that you won't encounter anywhere else, like the atmosphere in the Arena last Saturday or getting to do the "Crimson Crain" in Coleman Coliseum last week. If NIL money allows kids to make money AND have more of those experiences, I'd consider that a win for everybody involved.

9 minutes ago, TeamZero77 said:

You're exactly right about the Kentucky fans excuses. They are the Alabama fanbase of college basketball. And not only has Auburn won more games the last 5 years than any other SEC team but we've done that even with a sub .500 team thrown in there last year. If last season had been a normal year for us like we are getting with Bruce, we would have a big win advantage the past 5 seasons. WDE

I lived in Louisville for 8 years & encountered KY fans too up close & personal, & I've always said what you just said: Their basketball fans & Alabama football fans are the worst fans in college sports & for the same reasons!

On 1/20/2022 at 2:56 PM, jj3jordan said:

All my Tennessee friends are really unhappy that we have Bruce and they don’t.  They would take him back in a heartbeat. 

I live in Memphis, & I can assure y'all that this statement is true. Also, when he was at UT, Memphis fans hated him. But when a rumor started that he was being pursued by Memphis after Calipari left, Memphis fans got seriously excited & would have loved to have him. Aside from the NCAA issues, Bruce also seems to have 1 of those personalities that no one is ever neutral about. You love him or hate him depending on the colors you & he are wearing.

My sister saw a sign in "Pearlville" that read, "Kentucky, you're not special. You're just next!"  😂

I think we all know the OL needs a significant upgrade. I think we all know the WRs need to be better (though I'm encouraged with the improvement we're seeing with Kobe). So, yes there are talent & depth issues. And yes, Harsin deserves time to establish his culture, recruit his players, & build the program according to his vision. The recruiting improvement was encouraging, & I hope it'll improve still more in Feb. But with all of that, we were 6-2, had beaten Ark at their place & Ole Miss. Folks on here were starting to talk about getting a rematch with UGa & whether we could win this time (& get in the playoffs?). Even those of us who thought that was a stretch were still pleased & excited & hopeful. Even a poor showing at ATM was more of a come down to earth than a disaster. Next thing we knew we were up 28-3 against MSU, & then... What the hell happened? Even before Bo got hurt our 2nd half offense stagnated, & then got worse without him. We had leads & couldn't hold them. Could not make a play when we needed it. There were some questionable coaching decisions (going for 2 against MSU? fake punt? 4th & 1 call against SC? not going for 2 in the 1st OT against Bama--a questionable decision in the minds of many us; etc.). I want to be sold on Harsin. I want him to be the guy. I'm pulling for him. But I can only say right now that I have concerns. 

3 minutes ago, metafour said:

Here is the reality that some of you need to realize:

In today's coaching realm, "big time" OC's want to work for DEFENSIVE MINDED head coaches so that they have full autonomy over the offense. This is why Jeff Grimes went to work for Kalani Sitake at BYU, and then Dave Aranda at Baylor (and why it doesn't make much sense for him to come here). This is also the big driving force behind Jeff Lebby leaving Kiffin to go work for Venables at Oklahoma. It's why it doesn't make any sense for Joe Brady to come here when he can easily find a job where the offense is all his.

When the HC is a defensive minded coach, there is never any confusion as to who deserves the credit for any offensive success. Furthermore, there is less likelihood of meddling from the HC (like what happened during Malzahn's entire tenure here).

With Bryan Harsin as the HC here, the offensive will forever and always be HIS offense. He's not going to allow anyone to come in here any just do whatever they want offensively. At most, there is going to be an understanding that the OC can make additions or "morph" the pre-existing offense, but that's it. When Kittley's name popped up, I saw people talking as if he'd bring the Air Raid here. That's insane - even if he was hired, he would be running some VARIATION of Harsin's offense.

Most "big time" OC's want to progress their career and become HC's themselves. It's easier to sell yourself and your ability if there is no question as to who deserves the credit for offensive success. This is why when you look at coaching staffs around the country, the teams that have offensive minded HC's more often than not have young or "underling" OC's. You might see a few retreads like Mike Bobo where we got him by paying him a lot of money and allowing him to get the hell away from South Carolina, but how many cases can you find where you have a "big name OC" butting heads and sharing the spotlight with an offensive mined HC?

It's why suggestions like Dan Mullen were always stupid. Why would Dan Mullen want to come here and have Bryan Harsin dictating what he can or can't do? When he could theoretically find a job where the HC is a defensive guy, and will let him control the offense entirely?

By the way, the opposite of what I wrote above is also true. Look at who the DC's are for Bama under Saban, and UGA under Smart:

Pete Golding - hired away from UTSA (where he was the DC for two seasons) to become "Co-DC" and ILB coach at Bama. Promoted to DC after just one season.

Dan Lanning - hired away from Memphis to be the OLB coach at Georgia, he had never been a DC anywhere. After one season he was promoted to DC - again, the first time he's ever been a DC.

Why didn't Saban and Smart hire "big time" DC's? Seems odd that they'd need to reach for inexperienced small-school guys. Or do you think this is the byproduct of the HC in both cases being a hands-on former DC themselves? In which case the defense is actually their defense? In which case it wouldn't make any sense for an already established "big time DC" to coach under them?

Everyone wants to bring up how Saban can go and hire Kiffin, Sarkisian, Bill O'Brien, etc. to be his OC....but seem invisible to the fact that on defense, he is NOT able to pull those types of names. It's not just Pete Golding; go look at Kirby Smart's resume before he became the DC at Bama - he had only been a DC for one season prior, and it was at VALDOSTA STATE. This shouldn't surprise anyone; why would an established and "big name" DC want to play second-fiddle under Saban when they can explore opportunities where they have more freedom?

Now go look at Josh Heupel at Tennessee. His OC is Alex Golesh who was his "Co-OC" at UCF for just one season the year prior. Before that, Golesh had only ever been a position coach - he had no other play-calling experience whatsoever (and when he was Co-OC at UCF, it was still Heupel calling plays). Golesh is basically just an OC in name only; and whatever plays he's calling, are basically just whatever Heupel wants him to call.

 

I appreciate your perspective here. Makes sense & makes me feel a bit better about the OC search & the seeming likelihood of something less than a "splash" hire.

Shaun Shivers is a great Auburn Tiger! Always played with heart & soul whenever he got opportunities. His greatest moment will never be forgotten by those of us who got to witness it. I'm sorry he won't be in orange & blue next year but I hope he finds a great place for a last college year, & I'll be pulling for him.

Several posters have mentioned some players who need to be gone due to negativity, attitude, etc. I'm wondering if those of you who are nearer the program than I am are hearing things like that? I'm genuinely asking, not challenging anyone for what they've posted. Because it's just so odd to have had a really good, really encouraging October & then a disastrous November. Some of y'all will remember, as I do, the Jermaine Whitehead "situation" which derailed the 2014 season by causing the wheels to come off the defense (that's the year we scored 44 points--or was it 48--in Tuscaloosa & still lost to Bama because the defense had just come apart). When I look at this season, at the utter disaster that is the last 3 games, I just wonder. Of course, something like that doesn't "explain" going for 2 in the MSU game or the 4th & 1 call in the SC game. Still SMH over those.

As 1 poster said earlier, I'm not jumping ship after 1 game in Harsin's 1st season. But I am now concerned that the guy now piloting the ship may not know how to right it. I hope he does, but I'm not nearly as hopeful as I was 2 weeks ago. We had a really good October, very encouraging, which allowed us to play 2 important games the 1st 2 weeks in Nov., & we crapped the bed in both of those games. The 2nd even worse than the 1st. There's just no way to sugarcoat blowing the biggest lead in our history, & doing it at home. And personally, I need to hear more from Harsin than harping on being consistent & preparing "each & every day" again. Because apparently that approach isn't working so well. I need to hear more than "I thought we started well but didn't finish." Thank you Coach Obvious! I don't want him to call players or coaches out or anything like that. But I'd like him to show that he's upset. I'd like him to say that he's embarrassed to now own the Auburn record for a blown lead. I'd like him to say that he's going to look into what we're doing at halftime because we've come out poorly in the 2nd half in several games. I'd like him to show that he knows Auburn people care so much & therefore are really down & disappointed after a loss like this one. I want him to be the right guy, I really do. But today just did a number on my confidence that he is. I hope he can persuade me otherwise.

Definitely encouraged by Coach J's 1st class! I also enjoyed reading recently about past players, especially Ruthie, getting involved & wanting very much to see the program become strong again. Coach J's solid 1st class looks to be a step in that direction. Looking forward to the opener tonight & seeing improvements already. BTW, for me Ruthie is right up there with Bo & Charles as Auburn legends & ambassadors. She's a treasure!

In the FWIW category, my nephew is in class with a guy who plays on the scout team who said we had a bad week of practice leading into the A&M game. I've heard many coaches say that a bad week of practice leads to a bad game on Saturday. Lord knows Harsin harps on "consistency" & doing what's expected "each & every day." I'm hoping the offensive performance last week (& boy was it "offensive"!) allows Harsin to gain or re-gain their attention during practice this week leading to a better performance on Saturday. I'd really like to see us play 4 good quarters beginning Saturday. I daresay we've not done that yet (see the beginning of the LSU game, the middle of the Ark game, the offense during the 2nd half against Ole Miss). 

I also noted that in yesterday's presser Harsin said we have to have better offensive play & "better offensive play calls." At 1 point he mentioned needing a better game plan (on offense). A couple of other times he mentioned the "staff" improving when he mentioned players improving. Did anybody besides me wonder if he was letting his displeasure with Bobo & the rest of the offensive staff show? Bobo has gotten a lot of well deserved praise for the the offense's improvement in Oct. But Saturday was different. I hope he gets his mojo back for Saturday as much as I hope Bo does.

Coach, thanks as always! In case you get back on here & check responses... I just noted that Harsin, in his presser today, said we need better offensive play AND better play calling. I think he also said once that we needed a better plan. He didn't linger on those points, but he made them. We've praised Bobo over the past weeks for developing this offense, but I find myself wondering if Harsin's words indicate he was not pleased with the offensive staff this week. To my very untrained eye, it appeared A & M had scouted us well (as you said), were well prepared on defense (as you said), & we didn't seem to make many adjustments. Or maybe we did but just didn't execute worth a crap. All of which is to ask if you think the offensive game plan & play calling seemed "off" this week? In fact, I'm wondering if you were hinting at such with your comments about us running into the boundary. 

2 minutes ago, cole256 said:

Man it is great to just talk football isn't it!

It is indeed! 

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed a thread where the discussion was all about the game & things people saw & things they wondered about without anyone getting into a pissing contest. This thread is fun to read. Thanks to everyone who shared insights, observations, questions, etc. As far, as UGa goes, it's been my experience in sports that it's hard to play nearly perfect 2 games in a row, & they were nearly perfect last week. So, I'm hoping they're a bit off this week. If that happens, & maybe we get a special teams play, an unexpected turnover (because right now us getting turnovers is unexpected; geez, why is that?), Bo does some more magic (we really need a name for THAT play) or Worm or Jarquez busts one, & we go to the 4th quarter tight... JHS going nuts... You know, maybe...

Coach, I join with others in expressing my appreciation for your posts. You always give perspective to the game, & I always learn something. I'm wondering if you have any thoughts as to why Mason is playing so conservatively on defense (that "strange stuff" as you called it). At the end of the day we only gave up 1 touchdown, which is good. But I'm not sure LSU's offense is that good. How many 3rd & longs did we not get off the field? Wow! Playing like that will get us torched against a good offense. 

I keep wondering if the situation with Demetris Robinson is part of the story here. It's just so weird that there's been nothing about why he didn't play Saturday. By contrast we knew why Pappoe, Shivers, Johnson, etc. didn't play when they missed games. But nothing about Robinson, & then the WR coach is fired. Maybe it's just coincidence, but I can't help but wonder.

I'm really sorry we're playing a triple option offense so we likely won't have much opportunity to work on pass defense. I'd like to see the defense know who's supposed to cover the tight end. I'd like some turnovers. Seriously, when was the last time we had a defense that forced a lot of turnovers? Even some of our good defenses under Steele didn't get many. And we got 0 against Akron. Sheesh! What is up with that? On offense no drops, no wrong routes, no missed blocks by the WRs. And win the Ryder Cup. Oh wait... 

Thinking about what Kiffen & Matt Corral will do to us if we don't get this fixed just makes me shudder! Not that I'm not concerned about Bama or UGa, but the idea that being embarrassed by Ole Miss is a possibility... Ugh.

Harsin said Kobe was "out of phase" on that 4th down play. Anyone know what that means?