And you guys thought Scarb was a tool....

[The SandMntTiger 9]

Let me introduce you to Matt Hayes..

http://aol.sportingn...hampionship-sec

MOD EDIT: Do not click on this link. The article is reprinted below. Don't give him the internet hits.

Article:

Even now, these things still don’t line up. Two years removed from the ultra, Supernova moment, there is no glow.

Only a glaring, gaping hole in the middle of a three-year stretch that has defined Auburn football under coach Gene Chizik. Like it or not.

Since leading Auburn to a national title in 2010 with Cam Newton as quarterback, the Tigers are just 16-10. (AP Photo)

“We have to put ourselves on the map,” says Auburn wideout Emory Blake.

Imagine that. Two years ago, Auburn won the national championship. Heading into Year 2 post glory, Auburn can’t escape this reality: With superstar quarterback Cam Newton, the Tigers were unbeatable. Without him, they’re unbearable.

“We’re in a much stronger position as a football team than we were a year ago,” Chizik said. “We don’t try to look at the negative things.”

How could they avoid them?

In the three years under Chizik, a defining line has been drawn. Auburn is 14-0 with Newton, 16-10 without him.

Auburn is undefeated against rivals Alabama, LSU, Arkansas and Georgia with Newton; 0-8 vs. those four teams without him.

Auburn was the talk of college football with Newton, and is fighting to stay in the upper half of the SEC without him.

“I don’t know if that’s a fair statement,” said Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier. “Cam Newton is going to lead any team to a championship season.”

And that, everyone, is the point.

Newton was so good, his once-in-a-lifetime season so impressive, he lifted an overachieving, senior-laden program all the way to the best season in the 100-plus years of Auburn football. Says one SEC coach: “Without him (in 2010), they win eight games. Maybe.”

That leads us to this undeniable crossroads for Auburn under Chizik: Is this a program on the move, or a program slipping from relevance?

For the first time in more than four decades last year, the defending national champion failed to outscore its opponents. At times, the 8-5 Tigers were downright brutal.

A 38-point loss to Georgia. A 35-point loss to LSU. A 28-point loss to Alabama. A 24-point loss to Arkansas.

There was also a near loss (should have lost) to Utah State and a gift victory from Mississippi State. But that’s focusing on the negative, Chizik says.

He points to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, where Auburn beat a Virginia team that—I’m not kidding, Chizik actually said this—“won at Florida State, won at Miami and beat Georgia Tech when they were unbeaten.”

Of course, those three teams play in the same conference as Clemson, which won the ACC—and beat Auburn by 14. So Auburn has that going for it.

“We had a lot of young guys last year that just didn’t have experience,” Blake said. “They’ve got it now. We’ve got it now as a team. This year will be different.”

How much different?

Since that all-important win over Virginia, Auburn has lost one of the three quarterbacks who played last season (Barrett Trotter gave up football for academics), and its best player (tailback Michael Dyer was dismissed). The Tigers have two new coordinators and two new systems.

Auburn does have a potentially stout defense—but who in the SEC doesn’t?

This team won’t win and lose with defense. It didn’t in 2010 with Newton when it was 60th in the nation in scoring defense, and 53rd in total defense.

It will win because it finds a quarterback who protects the ball and makes plays on third-and-long to allow the defense to stay off the field. You know, Football 101.

On Thursday, Chizik announced Kiehl Frazier as the starting quarterback. It was no real surprise, considering Clint Moseley had a sore shoulder throughout camp. When asked before making the decision if he hadn’t chosen a starter because he has two good options or none, Chizik said, “I think it’s somewhere in the middle.”

How fitting. From Supernova to somewhere in the middle.

[Elephant Tipper 430]

LOL. Thanks for sharing SMT. He's a dope. Glad you made me aware of him.

[Guest jrljr]

WAFA!!!

[Tigerbelle 5,299]

Negativity about Auburn is the latest trend in college football. Even PSU, with all the evil cover-up of their very own pedophile doesn't get this kind of hate. USCw and the culture of continual cheating from the top down did not receive this kind of media bashing.

It just defies logic. Is the jealousy over Cam Newton still that fresh? WTH is driving this continued witch hunt?

Why is no one after Mack Brown? What has he done in the last 5 years?

[AUloggerhead 2,253]

It's OK. If anything, this type of article shows how ignorant most sportswriters are about predicting which football teams will be good:

This team won’t win and lose with defense. It didn’t in 2010 with Newton when it was 60th in the nation in scoring defense, and 53rd in total defense.

It will win because it finds a quarterback who protects the ball and makes plays on third-and-long to allow the defense to stay off the field. You know, Football 101.

He also dismisses AU's chances by saying we have "two new coordinators & two new systems." That's it -- no analysis & no thought. First off, the switch to CBV is a complete upgrade whose new defensive "system" is based on NFL experience and emphasizes the attack. It will be the strength of the AU team this year. Secondly, depth has been built up since 2010 when AU barely had a two-deep. To state that AU won't win with defense is just flat out laughable. Finally, the offense. Loeffler improved Temple's rushing attack from nowhere to #7 in the nation. Temple, mind you. Bernard Pierce was their leading rusher with 1481 yds. He's now playing with the Ravens. Loeffler gets a chance to improve Running Back U's rushing attack with an intact 2-deep across the line, an All American at fullback, 3-deep at TE with Lutz starting, and 3 blue-chip RBs two of which have had to sit out a year waiting for a chance to play again & prove themselves. My analysis says that AU is about to explode on the cfb scene. The only question then is how long will it take before experts like Matt Hayes notice?

[AUinMS 0]

I feel like I just wasted the last 3 minutes of my life!

[Deckhead 6]

He's just butt hurt because he bet the under on wins the last 2 years.

[ShocksMyBrain 9,368]

Ever since 2010, I don't think I've completely read an outsider's opinion(hit) piece.

[AuburnGrad97 37]

Quotes from this ass-clown should be printed on posters, and placed throughout the locker room and athletic facilities. The coaches should point to these every day, and say "This is what the world thinks of us. Do we prove them right, or do we prove them wrong?". And WHEN we prove them wrong, Coach Chizik and Jay Jacobs should go on whatever high-profile sports show gets the message out to the most people, and they should simply say "We ain't comin'. We never left, and we ain't leaving anytime soon!!".

War Eagle!!!!

[keesler 5,928]

Quotes from this ass-clown should be printed on posters, and placed throughout the locker room and athletic facilities. The coaches should point to these every day, and say "This is what the world thinks of us. Do we prove them right, or do we prove them wrong?". And WHEN we prove them wrong, Coach Chizik and Jay Jacobs should go on whatever high-profile sports show gets the message out to the most people, and they should simply say "We ain't comin'. We never left, and we ain't leaving anytime soon!!".

War Eagle!!!!

The only way to shut 'em up is WIN!

[SuperNova 0]

WTH..... is he makeing personal attacks towards me???????????????