Tigers realize they must improve

[AWK 0]

from AUnews.com

AUBURN - College football history is littered with the broken dreams of teams that started out playing like champions and finished as also-rans. And then there are the teams that staggered early, found themselves along the way and became champions.

The explanation for that is simple, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville says. College football teams don't stay the same. They get better or they get worse.

Tuberville's seventh Auburn team certainly staggered early this season, seeing its 15-game winning streak evaporate in a 23-14 loss to Georgia Tech. The Tigers rebounded to shut out Mississippi State 28-0 and crush Ball State 63-3. They will be prohibitive favorites Saturday when Western Kentucky, the nation's top-ranked Division I-AA team, visits Jordan-Hare Stadium for homecoming.

Seven Southeastern Conference games in the eight weeks that follow will tell the story of the 2005 Auburn football team.

Like every football team, the Tigers are a work in progress. Going forward, Tuberville says, is the mission at every practice and in every game, regardless of the relative strength of the opponent.

"The only way you get better is hard work in practice and learning from your successes or failures in games," Tuberville said.

The Auburn team that takes the field Saturday, Tuberville says, is significantly better than the one that played Georgia Tech. Young players, particularly sophomore quarterback Brandon Cox, have grown. Coaches have a clearer understanding of who can be counted on and who can't.

"As long as we are practicing hard, we'll continue to improve all year long," Tuberville said. "I'm sure there will be times we don't play as well as we possibly could, but compared to how we played the first game, we are much improved."

Joe Whitt is in his 25th season as an Auburn assistant. He's seen teams go both ways. He saw the 1989 team fall twice in its first six games and win out. He saw teams in 1984 and 1985 that were ranked No. 1 in the polls only to lose four games in each season.

No Auburn team of his time, Whitt says, improved from start to finish more than in 2004. The result was a 13-0 record and the SEC championship.

"This team has a chance to improve every week just like that team did," Whitt said.

It won't happen by accident.

"You don't take anything for granted," Whitt said. "You point out all the little things it takes to be special and give them a chance to be winners."

A season of glory, Whitt says, can send a team up or down. The 1983 Tigers won Pat Dye's first SEC championship. They didn't win another one until 1987, the first of three straight.

"If you have the right kinds of people, there'll be some carryover and they'll get better and better," Whitt said. "If you have the wrong kinds of people, it goes the other way. They'll bask in the year before and think walking out there and showing up is going to make them the same.

"This group has such a great attitude. They want to get better, want to be successful. It's still early, but I think we have the right kinds of people."

The problems in Auburn's opener were obvious. Five turnovers, 11 penalties and inconsistent defense were too much to overcome. Penalties dropped drastically in the next two games. There has been just one turnover. The defense has given up but one touchdown since the first quarter of the first game.

Second-year offensive coordinator Al Borges says learning from mistakes is part of the process of a growing team.

"You have to pick what the most important things are, the things you need to improve on the most, and really focus on them," Borges said. "If you are screaming and hollering on every single deal, it goes in one ear and out the other."

Whether the Tigers, winners of 11 straight against SEC competition, can challenge for another championship will be decided in the difficult tests that lie ahead.

"You never really know until you start back playing teams that are the same caliber you are," Tuberville said. "We've worked hard. We feel good about what we've done."

DUHHH lol thats why were are going 10 - 1

[WarTim 3,457]

There is a definate crumbling sound in this state. It emulates from the western part. You know, that suburb of bamaham. Where our second "stadium" is located.

[Longtrainn 2]

There is a definate crumbling sound in this state. It emulates from the western part. You know, that suburb of bamaham. Where our second "stadium" is located.

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But unfortunately for them, they can't hear it because they're making so much noise about their win over the 5th best team in the East.

[auskull 239]

You mean Jordan Hare West!!!