Elephant Tipper

CK applied for the AU DC job last year before Roberts was hired, but HF offered him only the assistant DC position. He wanted to be at AU, but because HF didn't offer the DC job he took the Colorado position. Co-DC is the compromise apparently. Roberts isn't getting the job done.

Csonka and Captain Crunch made Miami my favorite pro team when I was in high school. Still the only undefeated NFL team. What a team.

My very first jersey was his. God bless Sully ! THE Master of all Masters ! Inspired me to begin playing golf at the age of 10. This is why Nicklaus was the Master- The three Aussies who taught me sportsmanship and winning co-exist. Laver, Newcombe, Rosewall. The greatest winner in tennis during his reign and the man who taught me to persist and WIN, WIN, WIN !!! Helped inspire me to be a walk-on at AU until my father told me to walk-off. Something about grades. I didn't have any friends at the Athletic Dorm to feed me tests. The Master at deception who gave his life to THE Master. Each player above emulated good sportsmanship above all else, which we need more of today.

And you are trying to make the case that PT should pass less when his completion rate is higher at AU than at MSU where he had an average of 3,000 yds/season. If you have a 3,000 yd passer like PT who DOESN'T run, then why do you try to make him be a runner instead of improving his passing and the relationships with his receivers ? You don't make him what he isn't. You play to his strength, which is passing, but beginning with the Samford game Montgomery doubled his runs and then tripled his runs in the IB. Why would you do that ? Again, he isn't a runner, he's a passer. Besides that, he's the only viable qb on our team and Montgomery put him at significant risk by running him. The problem is NOT with PT. It's either in the plays called by the OC or the receivers' training, maybe something else, maybe a combination. PT has done his job. Could he perform better ? Yes, but he's exceeded what was known of his success at MSU.

And Ewers isn't Payton Thorne. Ewers had the ONE season of 2,177 yds last year, but UT, in spite of Ewers passing for only 58.1% last year, persisted with him. PT had an average of 3,000 yds for TWO seasons and a completion average of 61.4%, but Montgomery chose to not persist with PT's best asset, which is passing. You go with PT's percentage of success which is passing, not with his low percentage of running. Besides, what did passing 150 fewer times this season and running twice as much this season get AU ? Only 2,191 yds total offense from PT at AU compared with 3,111 at MSU. That's 900 yards of lost proven production. The problem hasn't been with PT, it's with Montgomery who is thinking short term.

That's because the OC refused to throw the ball. The only team to beat UA was Texas and they threw for 63%. You have to go with percentages. With Thorne it is passing........not running for a measly 57 yards.

You go with the best percentage which is PT's passing. Do less, you get less. Let our rbs do the running, not PT.

If the OC refuses to call passing plays, then it was almost impossible for PT to pass for anywhere near 200 yds/game, unless you expect a miracle. At MSU, PT averaged 31 passes/gm with 236 yds/gm his last two seasons and a completion rate of 61.4%. PT averaged 3,000 yds/season of passing his last two years at MSU. He had only 1,671 passing yds at AU, half of his potential. It was a waste of a good qb this season. At AU, only 19.8 passing plays/gm were called for PT (RA and HG had only 36 between them for the entire season so they really don't figure in to the final tally), and an average of 139 yds/gm with a completion rate of 62.6% which was higher than his performance at MSU. That's 11 fewer passing plays per game for PT at AU (Montgomery might as well have broken PT's thumb at the beginning of the season). You can't say that fewer passing plays were called because the receivers were dropping them because PT was passing better at AU with a completion rate of 62.6% vs 61.4% at MSU. PT passed better at AU than at MSU, but somehow the OC decided to screw up a good qb's passing performance. The teams that had a actual chance against UA they threw the ball, a lot: For Jawja (Beck) to pass for 243 yds against UA he threw the ball 29 times. Texas (Ewers) threw 38 times against UA for 349 yds. Ole Miss (Dart) threw 35 times against UA for 244 yds. In the IB Montgomery called only 16 passing plays for PT...stupid, stupid, stupid that he didn't call more passing plays !!! Btw, the score last night in the SEC Championship game was 27-24, the same score as in the IB. AU could have won the IB IF PT had been allowed to pass, buuuuuuuuuuttttttt the OC decided it was better to run PT. AU will not have the passing yards unless you let the qb pass, which didn't happen. OC Montgomery decided to try and make PT a dual-threat qb this year, which he isn't, by doubling his per game carries, from 5 to 10. PT is not a true dual-threat qb. He's an opportunistic runner only, plus he is a straight-line runner which limits his opportunities to run, but even worse in the IB the OC had PT run 15 times (3x his average at MSU) for a measly 57 yds in the IB. Montgomery was putting our only good qb at risk by running as much as he did. AU escaped a potential disaster by running PT so much with no backup qb. Bottom line ? Thorne did his passing well as far as the OC would let him. 3,000 yds per season at MSU vs 1,671 yds at AU. The OC failed AU. Fire Montgomery ? Too much disruption for the players. Make the OC call more passing plays for PT. Anyone have a better idea ? PT stats: Payton Thorne College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

If it's any consolation, there were 5 lead changes in the IB, but only one in the SEC Championship and the scores were the exact same, 27-24. Time to fire Kirby.

Some things you just can't unsee.

PT is an opportunistic runner, not a true dual-threat, but beginning with the Samford game Montgomery doubled his runs per game to 10. At MSU he ran an average of only 5 times per game his last two seasons and averaged 3,000 of passing per season. 5 more runs per game doesn't seem like a lot, but I think running him 10 times per game has had an adverse impact. This season PT had only 1,671 yds in passing and 520 rushing, a total of 2,191. That's a net negative of about 900 yds. They should focus more on PT passing and less on him running, besides, who's going to replace him if he's injured ? I cringe when he's in a jumble of linemen and trying to make his way through them. When the downfield breaks open he's great at taking advantage of the opportunity. Rushing Receiving Scrimmage Year School Conf Class Pos G Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD Plays Yds Avg TD 2020 Michigan State Big Ten FR QB 4 25 47 1.9 1 0 0 0 25 47 1.9 1 *2021 Michigan State Big Ten SO QB 13 82 181 2.2 4 1 15 15.0 0 83 196 2.4 4 2022 Michigan State Big Ten SR 12 60 42 0.7 1 0 0 0 60 42 0.7 1 2023 Auburn SEC JR QB 12 125 520 4.2 3 0 0 0 125 520 4.2 3 Career Overall 292 790 2.7 9 1 15 15.0 0 293 805 2.7 9 Michigan State 167 270 1.6 6 1 15 15.0 0 168 285 1.7 6 Auburn 125 520 4.2 3 0 0 0 125 520 4.2 3 Passing Year School Conf Class Pos G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate 2020 Michigan State Big Ten FR QB 4 48 85 56.5 582 6.8 6.0 3 3 118.6 *2021 Michigan State Big Ten SO QB 13 235 389 60.4 3240 8.3 8.6 27 10 148.1 2022 Michigan State Big Ten SR 12 242 387 62.5 2679 6.9 6.6 19 11 131.2 2023 Auburn SEC JR QB 12 149 238 62.6 1671 7.0 6.6 15 9 134.8 Career Overall 674 1099 61.3 8172 7.4 7.2 64 33 137.0 Michigan State 525 861 61.0 6501 7.6 7.4 49 24 137.6 Auburn 149 238 62.6 1671 7.0 6.6 15 9 134.8

How could I forget that one. A buddy of mine and I, like so many other AU fans, left the stadium as the game was ending because there was no way the UpDykes would win, only to hear the YUGE crowd roar as VT's kick went through the uprights. What a bummer !

1980 AU vs UT (the days when you could still get away with throwing oranges at the UT players as they entered the field......the splat of a direct helmet hit was always beautiful because it made such a beautiful rainbow). I invited 10 of my best buddies to come with me to the game. AU was predicted to win by 5 tds, instead, we lost by 6 tds and got blanked. Man oh man that hurt, but what hurt worse was they all told me to never invite them again. Those were the good ole Barfield days....and every single one of them hurt.

My, my. How some don't possess basic reading comprehension skills. You're being obtuse. The word "supplant" means to uproot and remove, ie. displace. It's not some "joining" as you inaccurately describe, these non-citizens are displacing others who are citizens, or don't you understand ? This is in locations where these people don't live, or don't you understand that either ? Kinda like how all the illegals who don't belong here are suddenly found to be here en masse displacing American workers.

You're a Hamas supporter ? Really ? No way ! Really ? You mean the Democrat's Civil Rights Act of 1964 that the Democrats themselves almost choked on to pass ? You mean THAT bill ? Why would I be against what would relieve the suffering of millions of Americans ?

Try telling that to the Israelis. What, 5,000 years of others trying to dispossess them of their land ?

As usual, No rebuttal Gomer rises to the occasion. Always the drive-by ad hominem attack and never substance of thought. Btw, why do you even pretend to know what the word "fascist" means, because clearly you don't. You're just another liberal groupy who doesn't know what else to say.

Dems every day talk about "diversity", yet in reality what they mean is less White and less Christian, which America is becoming. Obviously you aren't watching footage of the 7.5 million+ who have crossed the southern border during Biden's administration. That equals about a 2% change of the population makeup in just 2 1/2 years and doesn't include the "gotaways" (about 600K in just 2022 according to Mayorkas' Congressional testimony). They ain't White and they ARE changing the demographics en masse of the border States, Alabama included, because of DEMOCRAT policies. On camera, those who are crossing into America are praising Biden for allowing them to come for work and they are overwhelmingly young single males, not families. We don't hear these people say they are coming because of persecution in their home country, we just don't, in fact, Pelosi has stated that they're needed to "pick the crops", which is what they've always done......in the past. People over the past 3 decades have bragged about hiring illegals to do their menial chores for a cheap price. These whom the government has allowed to stay until their "hearing" are now rooted into the community. To afford their new homeland they've had to trade up in their income status. They are now competitors with native-born Americans (South Carolinians included), Black and White, for the small business sector, primarily factories, small construction and yard maintenance, jobs that don't require a higher education which most illegals don't possess. The population of these Hispanics in just Alabama has grown by almost 33% over the past decade. Remember, these are non-tax paying non-Americans competing with your local native-born Americans for income. We're taxed........they aren't. But, but, but they can't vote ! No, not until they become legal, although Washington D.C. and other blue States have attempted to circumvent that by legalizing their "right" to vote in local elections. In the meantime, these individuals and their DACA children are pushing for the right to vote, and even if they, themselves, can't vote, then they push their communities to support DACA and other illegal immigrant legislation. In Atlanta I watched my sister's small church be supplanted by illegal, non-White immigrants. The same is occurring with a small church in my hometown. Once a White church, is now predominantly Hispanic. That area of town has almost zero Hispanics. The George Soros motto ? Make America more like Mexico ! Make America a dump ! I've often wondered, When does the frog realize that the water it's in is about to actually boil ?

There already was a cease fire in place before Hamas sent thousands of drug-induced crazies across the border, but Ross doesn't mention this ? Since Ross is now so Gung Ho happy to openly fight these savages, then it was strange for him to not say a word about reprimanding these fence-sitting Arabs who want to keep their support against Hamas quiet. Btw, the Democrat vision to make America less White using the Biden illegal immigration plan on the southern border is working exceedingly well and has already invited 10's of thousands of unvetted Arabs into this country. Over the past few weeks we have witnessed a tremendous outpouring of support for Hamas and Palestinians across America that resembles the protests of the 60's, but this ain't about Peace and Love, it's about eradicating Israel. How's that working out for you Dems ? There are now almost as many Muslims in America as there are Jews and they are bringing their middle East methods of conflict resolution to us. This "protest" is coming to small town America. As DJT said repeatedly, "they're not sending their best or their brightest", but definitely smart enough to pick Pelosi's grapes....or, possibly more ? #DJT2024

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Thank you for posting TigerHorn. Mattingly was a true American hero and a great role model. WDE !!!

Since there's not much else happening....... Corndogs: The bizarre origins of LSU's infamous reputation - Yellowhammer News Corndogs: The bizarre origins of LSU’s infamous reputation By Michael Brauner November 2, 2023 (LSU Football, charlesdeluvio/Unsplash, YHN) There’s a lot of reasons why the Southeastern Conference is the best in all of college sports. From the heated rivalries, to the storied traditions, and the legendary players and coaches, the SEC has produced the best of the best in just about every category. When it comes to fanbases utter disdain for each other, the SEC does not fall second to any other here, either. If you’ve watched SEC football for long enough, you probably have heard the quip that LSU Tiger fans “smell like corndogs.” It’s an insult so ridiculous, laughable, and absurd, that makes it absolutely perfect. So how did the “corndog” barb begin? It’s believed that the first origin of the infamous corndog reputation actually came from an Auburn message board all the way back in 2006 from an Auburn fan who went by the username of “DeepBlue”. Some of the golden lines from the original post: “LSU fans do smell like corn dogs. I would never tell them that to their face though. This is something better said at internet distances. Even now, I am afraid. I am afraid that they’ll know I said it. I’ll walk past an LSU fan someday, and he’ll see that look in my eye that gives it away. That look that says, “gee, what is that smell? Is it corn dogs?” The next thing you know, I’ll have flat tires on my car.”… “You know what else is a bad thing to do? Holding your nose around them. They are real sensitive to that, too. Try holding your breath. But don’t be obvious about it. Somehow they know you’re trying not to breathe in the corn dog smell. And that offends them. They’ll likely punch you for that if they catch on to what you’re doing.” You can file the LSU corndog post under the category of “SEC lore that will live on in fame (or infamy) forever.” Just another thing that makes the Southeastern conference unique.

I also said that hiring HF was a bad decision. How's that hire working for you ? We shouldn't be playing with such a dazed and confused look which is not a player issue, that's a coaching one which starts at the top. College football is in another league now. The idea of waiting 3 seasons, ala Barfield, and let's see if the hiring decision was a competent one is over. There is more at stake than just team pride as before ESPN and the NCAA began injecting huge sums of cash. Big money has taken the reins. Apparently though, a lot of fans on this site are okay with the 3-year plan and being the chump of the SEC in the meantime. Pat Dye turned it around his second season, Bowden turned the program around his first season, Chizik his first season with a NC his second, Malzahn his first season with us playing for the NC. The playbook for turning around a program for the whole nation was written by AU coaches. Apparently HF didn't receive a copy. His program looks scatter-brained which won't turn around unless there are significant changes. Btw, fans were booing last night. When did that last happen ? Harsin, maybe ? I've never heard of AU faithful booing the team's performance, but now I have. Let me stop you before you say anything about Dye taking 2 seasons to turn the program around. That was 42 years ago with a completely different mindset about the financial importance of college football. Dye was a miracle worker then, but today his 1st season record of 5-6 would have immediately put him on the hot seat. WDE !!!

Teaching good fundamentals would. That is the glaring error this season and who is coaching them now ?

After the California game my speculation has been 6-6. Let's hope for a miracle. I think Arky demonstrated that they are a bigger problem to overcome with their performance against the UpDykes, plus, we play on their turf.