The football Gods have given us the best week in the world to be off. After the KY game and the three ring circus at Auburn, Clemson, and the 2 heavyweight fights (OU/UTx, LSU/UF), Bama fans get the best of all worlds this weekend....
As an unbiased observer, Auburn has issues....
It is interesting that the school decided to cut Franklin in mid stream. That's pretty unheard of in College for coordinators and assistants. I think some of the hype and optimism that Auburn and its fans had was unjustified, but then again they had a sample of it against Clemson last year to base off of. In the end, you can't mix and piece different coaching styles together and expect it to work. Frankenstien's monster wasn't exactly perfect after all, and neither was Auburn's scrap iron offense. The question is, after all the dust settles, who is to blame?
Is it Tony Franklin's for bringing a style that didn't work against the SEC's traditionally tough defenses? Is it Tubberville's for not letting Franklin run the offense the way he would elsewhere? Is it the administration or AD's for not mediating this thing up front? You could argue all of them and have a substantive case.
When I watched Auburn against LSU, I could see them starting to find a groove with it some, it wasn't great or awe inspiring, but they had some rhythm to it. Then, after that defeat, Auburn just kinda fell off the wagon. The thing that kept jumping out at me was that the offense didn't look like Franklin's prototype. The formations looked like they were his, but the play calling and routes didn't favor his mold. The "airraid" is not a possession offense, nor is it a run first style of play. That kept popping up in the games I saw was that they tried to be a run first, run dominate team and that just isn't how the spread works.
The spread is a controlled passing, short pass substitutes the run, draw/option oriented game plan. It can work in the SEC, the last two champions (UF, LSU) both use it in their arsenal. Kentucky did with Mumme (Franklin's last stop in the SEC) and it was effective but they never were a threat to the SEC elite. The spread eagle failed because the coaches never accepted the principles of it. They wanted to run old Auburn offenses through the formation changes that Franklin brought. That's like saying you want to run the dime defense through the 4-3, or you want your punter to be a good safety on punt coverage.
The soap opera that now has occured is sad in a way. I don't want to see a rival team down when Bama appears to be fully turning the corner. I want Auburn and Tennessee to be on their best level. The excuses are less valid when that happens. Coach Bryant used to say something to the effect of "The same things win that always win, but when we lose, we come up with a new set of excuses." I want Auburn and UT to have little in the way of new or old excuses.
Speaking of UT, their spread system hasn't arrived yet. At some point, I wonder if Clawson just quits and tells the media that Fulmer sat on his play calling. That poor fella is getting scapegoated for the UT offense being so horrible, but the truth is that they too are trying to run the traditional plays through Clawson's method. Unlike Auburn, they aren't incorporating the formations, just the theory. Tennessee has to win against UGA this week to have any claim to the East, but don't expect it to happen.
Early Bowling for All
I saw where CBS, ESPN, and Rivals had their bowl predictions out. I guess Christmas decorations aren't the only thing getting earlier and earlier these days. Geez.
CBS has Bama v. OU in the BCS Championship in Miami. Maybe it is just me, but I think it is way early to have either there with such certainty given they both have huge games ahead. Also, I think OU has yet to have their traditional choke game. They also have Vandy v. Wake in the Chick Fil A bowl. They end the season with each other, doubt that happens unless that game sets a new high for competition. As for the rest of the conference, they have LSU in the Sugar (probable if they lose to Bama), Auburn in the Liberty, USCar in the Cotton (nah), Georgia in the Cap 1 (likely), UT in the Music City (I pray so), Ole Miss in the Indy (thankfully Bama won't go there AGAIN), and Florida in the Outback. A real stinker looming in their schedule is Va Tech v. Cincy in the Orange Bowl.
Rivals has Bama v. Penn St. Nostalgic yes, likely no. PSU hasn't played a soul yet. They did beat Oregon St, at home, but is that really a bench mark? The road schedule for PSU is tough and they face the elite from here in (@Wisc, Mich, @OSU, MSU). They also have LSU in the BCS game (maybe this week and Bama will decide), USCar in the Indy (likely), Vandy in the Music City (how evil and wrong), Kentucky in the Chick Fil A (nope), Georgia in the Outback (maybe), Florida in the Cap 1 (possible), Auburn in the Cotton (no way), and Ole Miss in the Liberty (probable).
ESPN has 2 views from Schlabach and Feldman. Mark has LSU in the BCS, Bama in the Sugar v. BYU (that's either a great game or the Fiesta Bowl all over again), USCar in the Liberty, UGA in the Cotton (possible), Florida in the Cap 1, Vandy in the Outback (that would be good for them), Auburn in the Chick Fil A (doubtful), Kentucky in the Music City, UT in the Papajohns.com (fitting), Ole Miss in da Shreeve. Feldman has Bama in the BCS vs. Missouri (see BYU), Florida in the Sugar (possible), Vandy in the Liberty (possible), GA in the Cotton, LSU in the Cap 1 (maybe but I think BCS realm is their home for now), Auburn in the Outback, Ole Miss in the Chick Fil A (too high), Kentucky in the Papajohns, UT in the Shreeve (oh happy days).
Me personally, if asked on today where they go I'd have to guess, and that's all it is because the bowls will take based on draw and not rank: (First is most likely/2nd/3rd etc)
BCS1- Bama
Until beaten, they are running the strongest in the conference
BCS2- LSU/Florida winner
The Sugar Bowl will take LSU if they have 1 or 2 losses and are in the BCS top 10, Florida if they lose the SECC and have 1 or 2 losses.
Liberty- Ole Miss/Vandy/Auburn
Ole Miss will fill the stands best, so would Vandy.
Cotton- UGA/UF
The West is usually the holder of the Cotton slot, but the West's best are too high for it, and Auburn is too weak. UGA may have to travel to cold and shitty Dallas. Florida would rather suck lemons than go here.
Cap 1- UF/LSU/UGA/Kentucky/Auburn
This one is hard to predict because they like Florida, but if they go to the BCS, it gets into a toss up then.
Outback- Vandy/ Auburn/Ole Miss
I may be wishing on a star here, but I really like the pairing of Vandy in the Outback this year.
Chick Fil A- Kentucky/Vandy/UGA
Kentucky is most likely to go here if they can do what they usually do. Vandy is also a possibility and would travel well. Georgia with 3 or 4 losses is also an insulting option.
Music City- UT/Vandy/Ole Miss/Auburn
Tennessee sucks pretty bad, and this is the home for teams that suck.
Papajohns.com- Auburn
Playing in B'ham is insulting and sadly they'd fill the stadium.
Independence- USCar
Should get 6 to 7 wins in the end.
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