NCTiger1982

The fact that we are picked by one score after their QB opted out for the game is not comforting. I hope our boys are mentally and physically into this game.

VanGorder looked like a shining star. I felt bad for him signing on to Chizik’s shitshow and going down with the ship. His career just seemed to trend down from there with zero mojo.

If true this is awesome news.

Watched a quick video interview. While he understands Harsin was a buffoon not recruiting him, he appreciates the fact that Bama was in on him early and often. It sounds like Auburn has a seat at the table mainly because of his dad. I think he likes Freeze and Davis but it just seems there is too much ground to make up. Hope I’m wrong. Thank goodness we have a stellar class of WRs.

Bama will have a meltdown if Williams chooses Auburn. There will be crimson turd mushroom cloud over their fan base seen from miles away. I’m sick of seeing Auburn fan recruits being bought by Bama prior to NIL. If we lose Willams we had our shot and just did not get him. I can live with that.

Did Carter actually fax in his LOI yet ? I missed it if so. War Damn Eagle !

Anyone but Kirby. Recruiting is a dirty biz, but that is an understatement when talking about Smart’s tactics.

Both Kirby & Saban are going to start losing depth and having problems maintaining the quality depth they have enjoyed on their bench. When your program was built on NIL before NIL existed it’s going to require more effort to maintain that advantage. Bama & GA can’t just buy our recruits out from under us with no repercussions any longer. At least now if we have scenarios like Foster, Evans, Pickens, etc and still lose them we had our chance. I can live with that since it beats the hell out of what we faced pre-NIL. Someone else on the board pointed out players realize they can realize their dreams elsewhere. That is spot on and the expanded playoff will also help.

Thorne showed me some physical toughness the last few games. He took off cutting north into the teeth of the D and taking the hit. Robby kept trying to outrun SEC D’s to the corner instead of cutting it north and taking the hit wherever that might be for positive yards. Part of that might have been after playing in pain last season he just was not willing to do that based on his playing time. I think if we sign our committed WRs (no flips elsewhere) Thorn has a vastly improved performance. The WRs need to adjust to college speed quickly but just saying. The OL should be decent to good and our running game should be stout. I would love to see Thorne take a large step forward and White actually get some quality snaps.

Nate Anderson Center/guard 6’4”, 305 pounds 2 years of eligibility left no injuries 4*coming out of Texas High School

1) UVA double dribble ripoff loss 2) Gus’ extension 3) Gus’ extension

DJ played a stellar game so it’s a shame he gave up the last play. Without him Bama would have continued other drives possibly leading to other scores. I was 25’ from that corner of the end zone and DJ got pushed off. He has taken plenty of undeserved criticism. Some are hating on Roberts for not putting more pressure on Monroe on 4th down. I agree, but Roberts play calling helped keep us in the game with the lead to that point. The punt muff was huge, but Koy did what his coaches asked him to do. I hope folks will lay off him. One thing I saw for the first time was Auburn fans pummeling the refs with water bottles as they ran for cover under the protection of a few state troopers. That is NOT Auburn like but I UNDERSTAND after that performance. They missed calls on both teams but many favoring Bama looked deliberate to me. Winning would have been nice but a 7 win season with one of those wins being over Bama is still a suck season As far as Bama fans behaving themselves in the stands goes, that was only because they were concerned about losing the game. Their post celebration around campus in many locations (especially by the RV area) was as classless as you would expect.

I agree that our leadership has been greatly lacking and talks of competing for NCs while hiring HC in training or HCs they feel they can be their puppet. Being 15 yards from the corner of the end zone where the WR caught the ball I was shocked James did not turn around and play the ball like he did all night after playing a great game. Just sucks. I’m pissed but all we can do is look forward. How can any recruit on the sideline not be impressed with tonight’s environment? Bama has 5*s all over the roster and we had every opportunity to win and many outside the AL press will argue we should have won. Regardless of should have, could have , would have the Auburn fans created a stellar environment like normal. Let’s see what Freeze does with this class. If we can hang on to the commits we have, flip Coleman, Willams and other 5*/4*s and sign them in December this IB environment played a role and gives me hope. War Eagle !

1) If you are OK with 8 wins a season you are part of the problem with our fan base. FSU & UM were homecoming opponents before Bowden & Schnellenberger/Jimmy Johnson. Clemson was nothing special before Dabo. The expectations have to change with our fan base and we need to quit making excuses about Bama & GA being close by. Chizik biggest contribution to Auburn was proving we can and should recruit with the best. NIL also means Bama and GA can’t just buy our recruits out from under us. NIL makes this the most level playing field we have had versus our rivals. 2) Gus’ extension was basically putting ourselves on probation. He had 8 years to take the next step and failed. Good person, but an average HC that requires a strong DC to prop up his O. Beating Saban 3 times means little when you factor in 4-5 loses most years. Gus left a bad situation and we put a clueless HC in charge of the mess for 2 years making matters worse. Freeze took over a much worse scenario than Gus left Harsin. I’m very disappointed in this first year but the recruiting is what I’m clinging to and the only positive for me right now. If we keep all our commits, flip Coleman, Williams and some others to have a top 10 class it would give me hope. I do realize last week’s s-show can have an impact on some of our commits and recruits. 3) I saw the Freeze hire as maybe 1 more win per year than Gus because historically his O was more creative and also more physical. He was also involved with the D and had a salty D. Freeze never had the the keys to a program like ours which should improve his performance. Factoring in NIL here again has got to help. I certainly have my doubts but Freeze was right saying his 2024 & 2025 classes will determine his success at Auburn.

Arkansas sucks but it was nice just to see use execute our O and move the ball. Thorne still telegraphed too many passes, but he made much better decisions. I like that he is not afraid to run the ball and 90% of the time bolts north instead of dancing around. Props again to our D for a solution performance. I can’t remember the last SEC we had that I enjoyed the 4th quarter being stress free. Again, I know Arkansas sucks but today will help us down the stretch and during bowl practice.

This may have been covered already but when Dye took over it was rough, but you could sense and see something was being built. The guys were outgunned but gave max effort and played with attitude. Same guys looked totally different than they did Barfield’s last year. You could see it meant something to just be on that team. I know it’s a different time and who knows how much of this is too many transfers at once to program. That said, everyone controls their effort and it was in short supply. I would rather put a freshman out there like Cobb that will give me 100% every play and live with the mistakes than take up a slot at any position that is taking plays off or giving a half arse effort.

I am expecting the same thing we saw at TAM & LSU. If this is the case give the 3RD quarter to Robby and if he stumbles give part of the 3rd quarter and all of the 4th quarter to Holden if he can handle the pressure. It looks like White or Holden are going to have to start next year so give Holden a shot. I’m not seeing much to any player development which is mind blowing. Maybe the guys are not giving it all they have because they don’t have faith in Thorne delivering? Same with Robby ? I don’t know but watching last night after 2 freaking weeks to prepare is just unjustifiable.

2 weeks to prepare and this is the best you can do? There simply is no excuse for this O performance. We are a home coming opponent.

I’m not making excuses for anyone. I’m simply pointing out what the challenges are with our job. If you take the job understand it’s a man’s job and we are looking for the next HC to be someone taking us to championships consistently winning our fair share. My expectations for Auburn are consistent top 10 recruiting classes (just to compete) and consistent 10 regular season wins per season. Before the realistic gang attack FSU and UM were home coming opponents at one time. LSU was up and down before Saban & Miles and where was Clemson before Dabo’s run. I think our biggest problem is too many in our fan base are ok with 8 win seasons. We can manage the Creed and consistently win championships.

Something to keep in mind. At Auburn every year is a crucial year for recruiting based on our geographic location regardless of how good we are. I grew up in AL and lived in FL twice, LA, TX and NC. I’ve NEVER encountered a state media as bias and determined to promote the state school and undermine their in state competition like the Bama press. They are bama’s 12th man. Most sports journalists in AL have no journalistic integrity. The ONLY reason why the Bama press covered the Albert Means story was because a TN paper broke the story so they they had to cover it. While Dubose got nailed he was using the same blueprint he & Stallings used in AL 247/365. Stallings bailed before the hammer came down. If you recall Yeager from the NCAA was quoted saying Bama was the dirtiest program they ever encountered. They had so much dirt he said they got tired of looking and quit. It was like a murderer with 8 life sentences but there are still more bodies. Do we really need more at this point ? Everyone knows how Saban’s house was built. This will always challenge our recruiting but at least with NIL we don’t have to watch Bama buy our recruits out from under us while the NCAA turns a blind eye doing absolutely nothing. It’s the most level playing field we’ve ever had. Next we go to talent rich GA. Every time they have a decent HC they do a good job at getting the state’s best players. Kirby built that house just like Saban. Had NIL started around Kirby’s first year he would not be sporting 2 NC rings. At least NIL should start chipping away at depth and Freeze needs to start getting his share. Kirby is young so the challenge is going nowhere, but just like Bama , NIL allows us to compete. Now to FL and mainly FSU. Over the years it’s uncanny how many times we have locked horns with FSU over top recruits, been their top 2 schools of choice and ended up finishing second. We need many more Faulk, Limonier, etc. So with AL, GA & FL being our natural recruiting ground it’s loaded with talent , but every year is crucial given the advantages and/or history of our top 3 competitors for talent. We just can’t afford to have a bad year. We have had starters that can go toe to toe with the best, but we seldom have the same quality depth.

AU 17 LSU 42 I see this like the TAM game and the D can only so much. 1) Thorne has not handled a hostile environment yet. 2) Will WRs & TEs catch the catchable balls ? The lack of production and WR development is mind blowing. 3) Given all the 3rd & long downs GA converted because of no pass rush how can the D stop LSU ? I hope I am dead wrong and we beat the Corndogs. War Damn Eagle

Forfeit the meaningless bowl game and focus on recruiting.

1) GA is NOT a championship team this year. Hell, even UAB put up 21 points on them. The SEC is weak again this year. 2) Had this game been at GA I would probably be more hopeful. GA’s QB played his first away game and stayed composed. Sure, he had more weapons but made key plays under duress. Will Thorne be TAM-scared in Death Valley or composed and show progress ? 3) WTH is up with our WRs ? Is it QB play ? Route running ? Coaching ? And WTH was up with our passing game yesterday in general ? Freeze does not trust Thorne ? Yesterday’s performance does absolutely ZERO for our WR recruiting. 4) Coaches like Spurrier won at Duke & USCe playing teams with better talent. 5) Play Calling - Not as bad as last week but consistent running up the middle when nothing was there had Gus written all over it. We made some progress in the friendly environment of JH. We lost and that is all that matters. I’ll start believing we are making progress if we win at LSU & then beat OM who beat LSU last night.

Rep run right into the teeth of the D instead of a pass.

It’s easy to make suggestions from the cheap sheets so I’ll make mine. I don’t envy the coaches with what the QB room has shown so far and YES part of this is on the coaches. We have a QB with Mach 2 speed that is not accurate , a transfer QB that resembles a backup (not starter) and an accurate QB with no experience and no wheels. We are 4 games in and given what we have seen I think we need to focus on which of these 3 QBs will be the best option next year. Can Holden handle the physicality and pressure of multiple sacks per game and still be ACCURATE ? I think we need to find out. If he can handle the beating and pressure his experience this season will put us in a better starting position for game #1 next season. It’s either this, roll the dice on a transfer QB (if they will come) or White starts as a true freshman.