Should've seen it coming

[Maverick.AU 13,020]

Our team as well as our fanbase has been through some rough times since Sept, but I guess i really should have seen it coming. When I was in FL partying this summer (late summer) I met two current Auburn players. It really didn't hit me then, but after i left I started thinking about the stuff they had said . They were bashing other teammates (who i will not name), they said that nobody on the team really spent much time together outside of football, and that everyone did their own thing. Now that I look back on it it's really disturbing considering how much time that they have been a part of the AU family. All in all it's very bothersome when I think back on that, but I just wanted to share it as a possibility of why we are going through all of these frustrating things as well as to get some thoughts.

WDE

[AUIH1 1,515]

The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program. This eliminates the majority of our football players.

wde

[Maverick.AU 13,020]

The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program. This eliminates the majority of our football players.

wde

True, I attend AU, but have also been a long time supporter as thats how I was raised because my dad graduated from AU. I say this also because both of these guys have been at Auburn for awhile

[AURex 1,810]

The demise of the jock dorm has contributed to this. But there's also cliques on the team, little groups of buddies who party and hang out together.

[AEAugirl 7,600]

The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program. This eliminates the majority of our football players.

wde

Um, I disagree. And that is INSULTING IMO to fans who support AU but may have gone to other universities...like Troy, UAB, UAH, ect.

My husband didn't graduate from AU but that makes him NO LESS OF A SUPPORTING FAN than someone with a degree from AU. And I have friends who graduated from AU who are fans of other schools...ie Bama.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

AUIH1, I respectfully disagree with you when you said The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program.

I sir never had the chance the go to school at Auburn in the late 70s. I would have given my right arm, to have spent 4 years on the Plains, my family just couldn't afford to send any of their 4 children to Auburn University. Instead, my brother and 2 sisters went to Jacksonville State University and I had many health problems as a child which followed me through out my life. Therefore, I wasn't able to go to college, I did however finally get my GED on June 12, 1989. 3 days before my 29th birthday.

I'll always consider myself a part of the Auburn Family because I'm always ALL IN. I may disagree with what's been going on with our team, Gene Chizik and staff, but in no way does that mean I don't LOVE my University and my Auburn Tigers.

Thank you and War Eagle!!!

[PoetTiger 1,858]

Maybe those two guys are the problem...anyone that would tell a random stranger business about the inner workings of the team...is probably not family oriented, at the end of the day what I see is completely different. Personally I think fans are grasping at any straw to explain why this team has gotten off to such a rocky start. And this happens to be one of those cases.....

[au0710 0]

Seriously?

If you met two players from the team and they said that no one from the team hangs out together. Did you ask them if they arrived separately or if they were hanging out together?

But really, seriously?....do you think the receivers all go and hang out at the park together doing receiver things? the RBs all go shopping for matching shirts together? Did the players on your HS team all hang out together? Some hang out because they become friends off the field but there is not a reason for them to all hang out every day of the week to be good teammates.

Of course they don't all hang out together. They didn't when i was at AU either and that was many years ago.

Our team as well as our fanbase has been through some rough times since Sept, but I guess i really should have seen it coming. When I was in FL partying this summer (late summer) I met two current Auburn players. It really didn't hit me then, but after i left I started thinking about the stuff they had said . They were bashing other teammates (who i will not name), they said that nobody on the team really spent much time together outside of football, and that everyone did their own thing. Now that I look back on it it's really disturbing considering how much time that they have been a part of the AU family. All in all it's very bothersome when I think back on that, but I just wanted to share it as a possibility of why we are going through all of these frustrating things as well as to get some thoughts.

WDE

[au0710 0]

GRATS on sticking with the education and getting the GED. Hopefully AUIH1 just did not articulate their thoughts well because they sound a bit elitist and are not correct.

AUIH1, I respectfully disagree with you when you said The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program.

I sir never had the chance the go to school at Auburn in the late 70s. I would have given my right arm, to have spent 4 years on the Plains, my family just couldn't afford to send any of their 4 children to Auburn University. Instead, my brother and 2 sisters went to Jacksonville State University and I had many health problems as a child which followed me through out my life. Therefore, I wasn't able to go to college, I did however finally get my GED on June 12, 1989. 3 days before my 29th birthday.

I'll always consider myself a part of the Auburn Family because I'm always ALL IN. I may disagree with what's been going on with our team, Gene Chizik and staff, but in no way does that mean I don't LOVE my University and my Auburn Tigers.

Thank you and War Eagle!!!

[AU_Tiger_88 416]

AUIH1, I respectfully disagree with you when you said The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program.

I sir never had the chance the go to school at Auburn in the late 70s. I would have given my right arm, to have spent 4 years on the Plains, my family just couldn't afford to send any of their 4 children to Auburn University. Instead, my brother and 2 sisters went to Jacksonville State University and I had many health problems as a child which followed me through out my life. Therefore, I wasn't able to go to college, I did however finally get my GED on June 12, 1989. 3 days before my 29th birthday.

I'll always consider myself a part of the Auburn Family because I'm always ALL IN. I may disagree with what's been going on with our team, Gene Chizik and staff, but in no way does that mean I don't LOVE my University and my Auburn Tigers.

Thank you and War Eagle!!!

Dude don't fret over it...PSST...he's the blacksheep of the family but don't tell him....

JK....My dad and sons are Auburn fans but didn't attend the University. You don't have to be a grad, etc to be part of the family...Support our teams and AU and you are in (in my opinion). I was fortunate to have the Navy send me there for four years!

[TigerNBham 3]

If you want to be family you are. AU's values are core to what we say, defines who we say we are.

That includes anyone who believes that AU makes a positive difference in lives in this state and our nation and wants to support it for doing so. Saying what we are not, is just as self serving as bashing those we are not. It should be about not embarrassing our cousins and other family members by inappropriate actions. If you want to be civil respectful, but not perfect, and care about the university then you are family and should promote its' best interest.

We also should demand that if we compete, we do it hard and to win . If we are a family, then we all must contribute to the operation of the family business. Auburn generates a lot of income from both research dollars and athletics for gain and for influence.

And we should through our gifts, time, and influence support the growth of the family business. Businesses hire people to do the tasks necessary to keep the doors open, be it a structural engineer, organic chemist or a football coach. And it is their job to be productive and profitable in their line of work, to keep the family happy and they can stay employed by doing so. If that person leaves the employ of AU and still looks after her best interest they become family. And sometimes, the elders. regardless of their past contributions need to step aside.

That is the way I look at it.

WDE

[PCBAuburnaFan 1]

The demise of the jock dorm has contributed to this. But there's also cliques on the team, little groups of buddies who party and hang out together.

True Mark Ingram only hung out with Julio Jones for the most part, (I have friends that have played for the Turds)

[aubie571 0]

The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program. This eliminates the majority of our football players.

wde

bs

[gman87 316]

Too bad we don't have a suit/sports memorabilia shop the players could all hang out at.

[AUIH1 1,515]

The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program. This eliminates the majority of our football players.

wde

Um, I disagree. And that is INSULTING IMO to fans who support AU but may have gone to other universities...like Troy, UAB, UAH, ect.

My husband didn't graduate from AU but that makes him NO LESS OF A SUPPORTING FAN than someone with a degree from AU. And I have friends who graduated from AU who are fans of other schools...ie Bama.

I think I covered your husband with what I put in bold in my OP and I obviously did not make it that clear and for that, I apologize. I totally get that some folks can't/don't go to AU for many legitimate reasons, but still support AU beyond just athletics and for that they certainly are part of the AU Family. I am pointing out that, for very many of the football players, the "family" thing does not apply.

wde

[AUIH1 1,515]

AUIH1, I respectfully disagree with you when you said The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program.

I sir never had the chance the go to school at Auburn in the late 70s. I would have given my right arm, to have spent 4 years on the Plains, my family just couldn't afford to send any of their 4 children to Auburn University. Instead, my brother and 2 sisters went to Jacksonville State University and I had many health problems as a child which followed me through out my life. Therefore, I wasn't able to go to college, I did however finally get my GED on June 12, 1989. 3 days before my 29th birthday.

I'll always consider myself a part of the Auburn Family because I'm always ALL IN. I may disagree with what's been going on with our team, Gene Chizik and staff, but in no way does that mean I don't LOVE my University and my Auburn Tigers.

Thank you and War Eagle!!!

See my response to AEAugirl below. I felt the part in my OP "for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program" covered folks like yourself and like AEAugirl's husband. Obviously, I did not make that clear enough.

wde.

[Tiger 8,639]

Football is a different type of team sport. The sheer numbers make it impossible for there to be "team hangouts". I'm not trying to sound like "that message board guy" here, but I have many friends that have played d1 football and football has a much more "clique-y" team environment than, say, basketball. In today's technology age with Twitter its not hard to just come across pictures of Prosch, Frazier, Mason, and Lutzenchirchen all together eating dinner or lunch (which has been posted before). That one picture alone kills the notion that nobody hangs with each other as does the fact that the two players you saw together said nobody does anything together (lol). Also, there is a very high chance that alot of the defensive players don't even know a good number of the offensive players personally and vice versa (which I've heard is the case in college football teams). The defense and offense are separate units and they do their own things. Being a good teammate doesn't have anything to do with being friends. Sure, it can help but is not necessary.

Look, I'm not saying that lack of team chemistry is an issue this season, but some team chemistry issues can be fixed with personal accountability. Unfortunately, the things players have been saying publicly lately reeks of a lack of accountability by a portion of the team.

Annnnnd now my completely incoherent rant is over

[Maverick.AU 13,020]

Seriously?

If you met two players from the team and they said that no one from the team hangs out together. Did you ask them if they arrived separately or if they were hanging out together?

But really, seriously?....do you think the receivers all go and hang out at the park together doing receiver things? the RBs all go shopping for matching shirts together? Did the players on your HS team all hang out together? Some hang out because they become friends off the field but there is not a reason for them to all hang out every day of the week to be good teammates.

Of course they don't all hang out together. They didn't when i was at AU either and that was many years ago.

Our team as well as our fanbase has been through some rough times since Sept, but I guess i really should have seen it coming. When I was in FL partying this summer (late summer) I met two current Auburn players. It really didn't hit me then, but after i left I started thinking about the stuff they had said . They were bashing other teammates (who i will not name), they said that nobody on the team really spent much time together outside of football, and that everyone did their own thing. Now that I look back on it it's really disturbing considering how much time that they have been a part of the AU family. All in all it's very bothersome when I think back on that, but I just wanted to share it as a possibility of why we are going through all of these frustrating things as well as to get some thoughts.

WDE

My main point was they were bashing other teammates saying stuff like they weren't good enough to play at this level etc, and when I hear them talking bad about guys personally and athletically that are supposed to be like brothers in a sense it is quite disturbing. I guess I didn't make it clear enough. wde

[alexava 6,946]

Players do hang out. just read the damn news papers.

[TigerfanKM 37]

The '04 and '10 teams were very "close". That doesn't mean they spent all their time 24/7 together, but their strong relationships certainly had a LOT to do with their success on the field.

And for the record, I didn't finish Jr College, but I was born a Tiger and am just as good a fan as anyone who ever graduated from there.

War Eagle!!

[Tiger 8,639]

Seriously?

If you met two players from the team and they said that no one from the team hangs out together. Did you ask them if they arrived separately or if they were hanging out together?

But really, seriously?....do you think the receivers all go and hang out at the park together doing receiver things? the RBs all go shopping for matching shirts together? Did the players on your HS team all hang out together? Some hang out because they become friends off the field but there is not a reason for them to all hang out every day of the week to be good teammates.

Of course they don't all hang out together. They didn't when i was at AU either and that was many years ago.

Our team as well as our fanbase has been through some rough times since Sept, but I guess i really should have seen it coming. When I was in FL partying this summer (late summer) I met two current Auburn players. It really didn't hit me then, but after i left I started thinking about the stuff they had said . They were bashing other teammates (who i will not name), they said that nobody on the team really spent much time together outside of football, and that everyone did their own thing. Now that I look back on it it's really disturbing considering how much time that they have been a part of the AU family. All in all it's very bothersome when I think back on that, but I just wanted to share it as a possibility of why we are going through all of these frustrating things as well as to get some thoughts.

WDE

My main point was they were bashing other teammates saying stuff like they weren't good enough to play at this level etc, and when I hear them talking bad about guys personally and athletically that are supposed to be like brothers in a sense it is quite disturbing. I guess I didn't make it clear enough. wde

I understand that you believe they should be "brothers" and whatnot, but thats just not this generation. Think about it like this, these guys are trying to get to the NFL. They were all recruited as top guys in high school. The guys at their positions are standing in their way to show off their own abilities. A lot of guys who feel entitled don't react in the best way to these types of situations, hence the crap talking of the other guys in their positions.

That being said, if you were ever a backup or coming off the bench, unless there was a huge talent gap between the starter and you, don't you feel a bit miffed? Especially if you feel like you are a better player? An immature kid will not handle this in the most adult manner.

[Maverick.AU 13,020]

Seriously?

If you met two players from the team and they said that no one from the team hangs out together. Did you ask them if they arrived separately or if they were hanging out together?

But really, seriously?....do you think the receivers all go and hang out at the park together doing receiver things? the RBs all go shopping for matching shirts together? Did the players on your HS team all hang out together? Some hang out because they become friends off the field but there is not a reason for them to all hang out every day of the week to be good teammates.

Of course they don't all hang out together. They didn't when i was at AU either and that was many years ago.

Our team as well as our fanbase has been through some rough times since Sept, but I guess i really should have seen it coming. When I was in FL partying this summer (late summer) I met two current Auburn players. It really didn't hit me then, but after i left I started thinking about the stuff they had said . They were bashing other teammates (who i will not name), they said that nobody on the team really spent much time together outside of football, and that everyone did their own thing. Now that I look back on it it's really disturbing considering how much time that they have been a part of the AU family. All in all it's very bothersome when I think back on that, but I just wanted to share it as a possibility of why we are going through all of these frustrating things as well as to get some thoughts.

WDE

My main point was they were bashing other teammates saying stuff like they weren't good enough to play at this level etc, and when I hear them talking bad about guys personally and athletically that are supposed to be like brothers in a sense it is quite disturbing. I guess I didn't make it clear enough. wde

I understand that you believe they should be "brothers" and whatnot, but thats just not this generation. Think about it like this, these guys are trying to get to the NFL. They were all recruited as top guys in high school. The guys at their positions are standing in their way to show off their own abilities. A lot of guys who feel entitled don't react in the best way to these types of situations, hence the crap talking of the other guys in their positions.

That being said, if you were ever a backup or coming off the bench, unless there was a huge talent gap between the starter and you, don't you feel a bit miffed? Especially if you feel like you are a better player? An immature kid will not handle this in the most adult manner.

Yes I totally agree with all your points and I meant it more as not being close like other teams in the past. Also one of the guys was a starter btw.

[fishhawkeagle 0]

The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program. This eliminates the majority of our football players.

wde

I simpy cannot understand why so many posters here have such a hard on to try to tell us who is a real auburn fan and who is not. This eliminates the majority of our football players? Really? Guess what smart guy, it always will. Your small minded crap does nothing for the Auburn Family, trust me. I grew up in the north and moved to Alabama before high school then went to Auburn for my bachelors. I can tell you without reservation that I am as much of an Auburn man as you, your diddy, or your grand diddy. When I travelled the country and I saw an Auburn lid on a kid in texas or minnesota after the national championship I was happy. To see the Auburn brand spread all over the country is GOOD for Auburn. Good for academics, good for athletics and good for how we are percieved nationwide. If you want to have a cute crappy little program that just you and your grandparents claim ownership of then go root for troy or some other half assed program. My Auburn is a national program and welcomes all comers.

[manthatsnice 0]

The AU Family thing really only applies to those who either graduated from AU, attended AU more reasons other than an athletic free ride or has, for generations been a supporter of AU not only because of the football program. This eliminates the majority of our football players.

wde

Ridiculous post. Why don't you name us all the current AU players out there busting there butts that aren't family?

You sound like a bammer saying Cam was a hired gun.

Pitiful.

[jvilletiger 0]

Football is a different type of team sport. The sheer numbers make it impossible for there to be "team hangouts". I'm not trying to sound like "that message board guy" here, but I have many friends that have played d1 football and football has a much more "clique-y" team environment than, say, basketball. In today's technology age with Twitter its not hard to just come across pictures of Prosch, Frazier, Mason, and Lutzenchirchen all together eating dinner or lunch (which has been posted before). That one picture alone kills the notion that nobody hangs with each other as does the fact that the two players you saw together said nobody does anything together (lol). Also, there is a very high chance that alot of the defensive players don't even know a good number of the offensive players personally and vice versa (which I've heard is the case in college football teams). The defense and offense are separate units and they do their own things. Being a good teammate doesn't have anything to do with being friends. Sure, it can help but is not necessary.

Look, I'm not saying that lack of team chemistry is an issue this season, but some team chemistry issues can be fixed with personal accountability. Unfortunately, the things players have been saying publicly lately reeks of a lack of accountability by a portion of the team.

Annnnnd now my completely incoherent rant is over

This is very true. I played college football, and it is hard to try to get to know everyone on the team. I played defense, and I rarely hung out with many guys from the offense. Even when we traveled, the coaches had all the defensive guys together and offense together. I was good friends with some of the Olinemen, but they were scout team players that practiced with us most of the time.