Auburn has turned the corner...

[jmcrosson 203]

I think most of the Auburn fans, whether we admitted it or not, were joyfully hesitant about the team throughout the first 2 months of the season. As we, in Coach Chizik's words, "scratched, and clawed" to earn every victory - fans saw the obvious holes in the defense, questioned the coaching, and loathed our play in the secondary. We thought back upon 2004, and saw that those wins were absolutely dominant (with only a couple of exceptions) on both offense and defense, compared these Auburn Tigers to that and felt lucky to be undefeated.

In '04, you felt like nothing could stop us. Our defense was spectacular, our special teams were SPECIAL, and our offense was prolific. Throughout this march toward potential history, our offense has been other-wordly, our defense opportunistic - not dominant, and our special teams pretty good, with some defeciencies as well as some big play ability mixed together.

As a knowledgable fan, I have felt nervous about every game (in contrast, I felt confident in 2004). I even found myself nervous about Ole Miss as I allowed the voices of the pundits to at least plant a seed of doubt in my mind that the Rebels (or whatever they are now) could pull off the upset.

After watching the good guys destroy Ole Miss, my feelings of doubt are gone. I know that Georgia and Alabama are formidable. I understand that Auburn will likely play USCe in the SEC championship should they win out, and probably Oregon in the BCS. I know that they could lose.

But as I watch Nick Fairley dominate offensive lines...as I see defense after SEC defense being shredded by what looks like an unstoppable, well-oiled machine...as I see the experience and togetherness of a much-maligned secondary beginning to, as Pat Dye has written recently, "play much better" and continue to produce turnovers...I arrive at this conclusion: Can Auburn lose? Yes.

I just no longer believe that they will.

[87aubie 0]

I agree that the Ole Sis game may have removed some of the last "doubting Thomases" from the band wagon.  JMO, but I think we'll play Florida in the SECCG.  USCe has gone backward since the Bama game.  Their offense has struggled against the likes of Kentucky, Vandy, and UT.  And now their D has become suspect (and they lost one of their best Dbacks for the Arkansas game).  I believe Mallet will light them up, and a rejuvinated Florida team will beat a deflated bunch of Gamecocks in Gainesville.  Florida has a much easier road to Atlanta now that UGA is behind them.  Frankly, I hope it turns out that way because I would rather play Florida than have a rematch with USCe.

[wiljam08 0]

I will say this about 2004, it was after the LSU game (hurricane weekend) that we really started believing that we could run the table.  For us this year, it was Arkansas.

[aubill 0]

I will say this about 2004, it was after the LSU game (hurricane weekend) that we really started believing that we could run the table.  For us this year, it was Arkansas.

Really, we had just gone to 3-0 with a one point win that required a ton of luck 16 yd four down conversion and a penalty on the extra point...For me running the table became a real possiblity when we destroyed Tennessee in Knoxville

[jmcrosson 203]

I'm in agreement, aubill - the TN game was when I felt that we would run the table. And then Georgia later in the year was when I became as positive as you can be without actually watching the games and seeing what will happen.

It took a lot longer with this team, but I hope that feeling means the same thing this year that it did then. I just think with all of the perceived disrespect from ESPN, the boise talk, being dropped from number 1 in the BCS in spite of winning, and the fact that Coach Rocker said recently, "November is what you play for" - these guys are about to blow up on some rivals. My humble opinion.

[wiljam08 0]

It wasn't the margin of victory against LSU.  It was more the fact that we just beat the defending National Champions ( a very good defending nation champions) in a hard fought game.  If we could win close ones like that we could win every week.

[walker77 0]

Yep, same feeling now about this team as in 2004...

[shabby 1,908]

For me, it's been about the continous steady improvement. I'm watching the Auburn Clemson game right now and we just aren't that same team. Auburn didn't suddenly become the best team in the nation. We just improved week after week until we got there. That's good coaching!

[AUFan21 58]

before this season, I always worried about our team. Right now, I am the calmest I have ever been. I actually can enjoy watching the games. Even if we get down early, I KNOW the guys will find a way to win. You have to believe! I believe in them do you?