AWK 0 Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 Das Link Perspective Piece Auburn vs. LSU, Oct. 22 By Matthew Zemek Remember how the weight of the world seemed to rest on the shoulders of Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley entering the Dawgs’ huge game at Tennessee a few weeks ago? That weight now falls on Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox this week, as the unproven quarterback heads to Baton Rouge in the SEC West’s typically pivotal annual Tiger-fight. When Cox struggled against Georgia Tech in the season opener, Auburn fans realized how good they had it with Jason Campbell... and that quarterbacks blessed with a full package of skillsâ€â€combining intangible gifts along with raw physical potentialâ€â€don’t just materialize immediately. Great quarterbacks don’t come along very often to begin with, but even if they do emerge, it takes time for that ripening process to unfold. After several low-profile gamesâ€â€including a contest against an Arkansas team that isn’t an SEC threat anymoreâ€â€Brandon Cox finally re-enters the spotlight, as America gets to see, seven weeks after Georgia Tech, how far Al Borges’ newest project has truly progressed. The extent to which Auburn’s field general responds to the singularly unique noise of a Death Valley night game (Auburn fans know this all too well from 1988) will in large part determine this always-critical battle for SEC West supremacy. The winner knows that a date with Alabama will decide the division; the loser knows it will either be out of the running (if LSU is the team that falters) or have no margin for error (Auburn will have to win at Georgia to make the Iron Bowl relevant to their SEC West title hopes). Those are pretty high stakes for Cox’s first substantial baptism by SEC West fire. Cox surely knows how this game can make or break Tiger quarterbacks from both Louisiana and the Central Alabama Plains. In the previous four stagings of this game, LSU-Auburn has decided the SEC West (2001), knocked the Bayou Bengals out of Atlanta (2002), propelled LSU to Atlanta and the national title (2003), and catapulted Auburn to an undefeated season and No. 2 ranking (2004). Cox has to be particularly aware of how this game became the turning point for Jason Campbell’s Auburn career last season. For the first 57 minutes, Campbell was his typically small self in a big game, failing to meet the moment with clutch throws and good decision making. Auburn seemed headed for another crushing early-season defeat and another unfulfilling college football campaign. But just when things were at their bleakest, Cambpell decided to change the trajectory of his career and the life of Auburn football. On a 4th and 12 play from the LSU 29 with around three minutes leftâ€â€and after having used its last timeoutâ€â€Campbell, hesitating slightly, drifted to his right under furious pressure from three hard-charging LSU pass rushers. Getting crunched as he threw the pass, Campbell nevertheless had the downfield vision and intestinal fortitude to get his wobbler safely into the mitts of Courtney Taylor, the receiver who got open in LSU's secondary. Two plays later, Campbell calmly and coolly delivered a smoother strike to Taylor in the back of the end zone. Lord knows, it took him long enough... not only in terms of the progression of this one game, but in terms of the trajectory of his Auburn career. But Jason Campbell finally did show the true grit and late-game gallantry that he could never quite seem to do on so many previous occasions over the past few years as Auburn's top signal-caller. After that moment of catharsis, Campbell was a changed man, and his combination of leadership and excellence under pressure carried Tommy Tuberville’s team to a 13-0 season, an SEC championship, and a Sugar Bowl victory. All of Auburn’s accomplishments last year flowed from the LSU game, the team’s ultimate crucible in 2004. After that point of passage, all the burdens that brought down Auburn the year before were suddenly eliminated, and Campbell played with the confidence of a reborn man. Saturday in Baton Rouge, Brandon Cox will try to jump-start his career the way Campbell got his own Auburn tenure off the ground. The stakes are high, but so are the rewards. The need to perform well is high, but ball securityâ€â€given LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell’s propensity for committing turnoversâ€â€could be good enough to win. At any rate, Cox will be squarely in the spotlight for a game that has a way of either elevating or exposing young QBs. If Cox is up to the challenge, this game gets a lot more interesting... and Auburn has a chance to set up an Iron Bowl of apocalyptically delicious proportions. If Auburn’s signal caller flubs, however, Les Miles and Company will have legitimately passed their October gauntlet, and will be able to face Alabama for the undisputed SEC West title in November. Auburn and Brandon Cox haven’t had a high-intensity game since Sept. 3. Saturday night, we’ll see if Tommy Tuberville’s team has learned anything in the intervening seven weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerOne 1,152 Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 It's showtime no doubt. seems Tubs' mis quoted comments were correct despite bammers getting their panties in a wad. In the previous four stagings of this game, LSU-Auburn has decided the SEC West (2001), knocked the Bayou Bengals out of Atlanta (2002), propelled LSU to Atlanta and the national title (2003), and catapulted Auburn to an undefeated season and No. 2 ranking (2004). a flaw in this article is ass uming uat beats Brandon becomes a stellar QB Sat. night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle76 1 Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 Let's just remember -- How many snaps (or years) did it take Jason Campbell to become one of our most beloved qb's. It was his fifth year, with less than 4 minutes to go in the '04 lsu game. That one 4th down conversion pass and subsequent 3rd down td endeared him to AU fans everywhere. If BC can not live up to these heroics, let's not get down on him or the team. He has a long way to go yet to be a great qb but he is just a sophomore. Win or lose, let's stay behind our team. GREAT THINGS are yet to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarTim 3,457 Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 This article assumes a lot. uat must beat ut. Then, he assumes that lsWHO will not lose another or that uat will not lose another. Look, I am not saying that the SEC West Champion in '05 will have one conference loss, I am simply saying that it IS possible. (Not only for lsWHO, but, for AU and uat as well.) Let's just beat 'em and make it a, as Joey Tribiani would say, "moo" point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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