CT Tiger

We've jumped to #4 in the AP poll which can have two easy-to-forget consequences that will play a role tonight and the rest of the season.

1. We have a target on our backs against every team we play here on out.

Luckily, we are legitimately good, maybe great, from a pure talent standpoint. And we have a deep bench that can help offset for any issues our more high profile players run into. (E.g., foul trouble, out due to being sick, having an off-day where nothing goes in, etc.)

2. Our team is young and the excitement of getting propelled up to this stage can lead to ego and/or complacency.

I am confident Coach Pearl will ensure that this does not happen. He's one of the best coaches, leaders, and mentors to student-athletes in the country for a reason.

Tonight will tell us a lot about this team. If we can go into Tuscaloosa and dominate Bama like we did LSU, then I really think this team is the real deal Holyfield with a real chance to end up becoming the greatest team in AU history, depending on what happens in March.

If we lose, sure it sucks but there's a lot more basketball to play for this team to grow even further. 

WDE

7 minutes ago, Randman5000 said:

Just checked: 8 with 9 rebs

Really would love to see him to finish with a triple double tonight. 

Here's the 2022 schedule for convenience. 

Just now, bigbird said:

I think he could

Interesting. Why is that? Personally I'm on the Slovis train, but I'm interested in your thoughts. 

8 minutes ago, bigbird said:

Emory Jones just entered

Would he really fit with what Harsin is trying to do? 

Compared to what I was expecting last week, I'd give today an A-. I'm just hoping we get some more depth for the O line. 

5 hours ago, Mikey said:

Lets hope so. We won't really know until around three years from today but we are off to a solid start. To date, we've beaten two teams we beat last year and lost to a team we lost to last year. While that's pretty much what I expected, I'm hoping for a big step up later in the year. Wins at A&M and in the Iron Bowl would be impressive.

True, but (and this is a big but, IMO) we finally won in BR and broke the cigar curse. That's a huge psychological boost for the players, coaches and staff, fans, and the overall program in general. 

23 hours ago, Zeek said:

If we can connect on even one deep ball it'll be a game changer for our running game.

They're going to throw for 300+ we have to be able to own the clock and keep it from being a shoot out.

We need to run the ball. Run it hard and often.

Wish I lived close enough to go to more than one per season. I'd definitely be a season ticket holder if I was based anywhere within a 150 mile radius of Auburn. 

1 hour ago, Quietmaninthecorner said:

Nothing official,  but I think the injury may have happened at the 5:46 mark in the 3rd quarter.  Looks like he gets  his ankle rolled on as he is running.   rolled up on by one of our players (Walker or Dawson?).... from behind.  friendly fire.   IF it is an ankle it can go a multitude of ways from here.

 

you may have to go to Youtube to see .   if the link in the youtube box below does take you a play before the injury. .....   

delete the spaces in this link if vid is blocked to time stamp 2hours 13 minute 30 seconds on the youtube video  (game time 5:45 3rd)>>    https://you     tu.be/By2uBUnfna4?t=8010

 

 

Thanks for this. I agree--this is where it looks like the injury happened. PSU sets up quick to snap the ball for the next play and #0 is not in there. 

I really need to get a subscription to The Athletic. 

Those headlines seem on par with what to expect. I love the AP article and agree 💯. Home-and-homes are the way to go. Can't wait to make it down to Auburn when PSU visits next year! 

45 minutes ago, Hank2020 said:

Probably keys to most if not all games.

Let me add in 'smart coaching.' 😂

My keys to victory:

- OL and DL play, especially OL pass blocking to give Bo time 

- Bo staying in the pocket with his composure making his reads and opening up the run game 

- Good run blocking 

Using both RBs to keep them fresh and hopefully injury free 

- DL getting some push to put pressure on the QB as well as stopping the run 

- Avoid stupid penalties 

- Strike quick with a big play TD and take the crowd out of the game early 

Not really rocket science, but definitely not easy. 

On 9/10/2021 at 9:01 AM, W.E.D said:

It will be, yes.  But at the same time it's not like our team hasn't play at Bama/UGA/LSU and places that match it.  It's not going to be new

Agreed. But I'm just saying that it's not prudent to write it off. Especially with Bo's historical performance in away games, ya know? Hopefully he's cleared that gap and can be the QB we know he can. 

2 hours ago, Caldavis said:

How bad of a dog do you think you’ll be coming into Beaver Stadium? 7.5, 5.5, or even up 3.5? I think your underestimating your opponent. You’ve never played there but good luck. 

We definitely will be underdog. I'm going to go with 6.5 right now. 

25 minutes ago, Ryan Sanders said:

It will be the first road test for this new staff and team. And this will be a very hostile environment. Hopefully we see a continuation of play from this past Saturday. I'm speaking in terms of lack of penalties, discipline, and comfort.

Penalties: We didn't see much in the way of holding, false starts, late hits, and illegal formation in our first game. I feel like we had a major issue with late hits under Malzahn (and company). Maybe it wasn't anymore than other teams, but we saw MANY drives extended because of stupid plays like that.

I bolded two of my bigger concerns. Beaver Stadium is going to be INSANE--potentially pushing 110k--deafeningly loud. I think it will be critical that we strike quick and early to shut the crowd down. 

Yeah... no. He should play for the first half to keep his rhythm. If we build up the solid lead that we should, I think it'd be wise to give some of the younger guys reps in the second half. Maybe take Bo out at the end of the 3rd too. 

17 hours ago, W.E.D said:

True, Oregon looked bad and I'm assuming they'll lose 

Not only that but they are traveling from the west coast and have a Noon EST kickoff--9am their time--in the first packed house at the horseshoe since 2019. There's a potential for it to get ugly. But then again, you never know and that's why we play the games!

ESPN's formal response. 

So does anyone know what time's the vote today? Are we going to see white or black smoke signifying the outcome once voting has concluded?

6 hours ago, bootskii said:

Will they still have to pony up that 76 mil each to get out of their contracts? I hope the SEC doesn't have to chip in. You made your bed so lie in it. 

Well if the SEC's attempted assassination of the Big 12 fails, I read something yesterday that the $150M that ESPN owes Texas for The Longhorn Network could be leveraged. I believe the Big 12 GoRs are with ESPN. 

My tinfoil hat wearing side is suspicious that ESPN has been quietly pulling the strings in all all of this, including Texas and OU to the SEC, and it's been in the works for a longer time than we think (from when the idea was first pitched and the creation of a strategic plan). 🧐

6 hours ago, CT Tiger said:

I'm predicting 14-0 yes. The leadership of aTm appeased their fanbase by making public comments about how angry they are, but I think they come around and vote ye$. I also think we'll see OU and Texas in the SEC beginning the 2022 season. 

So... Not to toot my own horn but boom. 

Edit: The letter from the board 

58 minutes ago, Brad_ATX said:

 

I'm predicting 14-0 yes. The leadership of aTm appeased their fanbase by making public comments about how angry they are, but I think they come around and vote ye$. I also think we'll see OU and Texas in the SEC beginning the 2022 season. 

4 minutes ago, CoffeeTiger said:

You're probably right. I'm likely in a small minority.  

I'm a "younger" fan and I've seen Auburn go  5-15  against UGA in the last 20 years (with 9 of those 15 losses not even being competitive), and so it kind of feels less like an intense rivalry and more of a "lets watch AU get their teeth kicked in again" game.  

I wouldn't mind seeing AU get a bit of a break on having one of the hardest schedules in the nation every single year. 

 

Yeah, but it goes back to 1892 and the legend of the war eagle is tied to it. Yeah, it makes our schedule that much more brutal each year, but I can't support sacrificing such a longstanding and meaningful rivalry. I could get on board sacrificing our budding rivalry with LSU and no longer play them each year though. We haven't won in Baton Rouge this friggin millennium. 😐 

Just now, ellitor said:

@CoffeeTiger It would actually be 2 in every 4 years with playing 2 years in a row & not playing 2 years in a row due to home-away imbalances a 9 game con sched would cause if teams were alternated every other year.

Any idea the % likelihood of pods vs division realignment?