Sideline Warning

Memo to the Auburn Tigers: last season is over. We’re two weeks into a new one.

This whole “fear the thumb” thing? Yeah, it was clever (a little) last year. Apparently, though, neither K-State nor South Florida got the memo. They did not fear the thumb. There was nothing on the other sideline to be afraid of, really.

K-State lost a heart-breaker in week one, but South Florida beat Auburn in basically every phase of the game. USF is no cupcake, but for all of the jaw-flapping that Auburn fans have been doing in the off-season, that game should’ve been a win — one on par with Alabama’s win over Vandy.

If the Tide team that played Vandy this weekend squared off against the Tigers team that faced USF, Alabama would win by four touchdowns.

It’s still early though, Auburn, you have some time to redeem yourself. Good luck.

Alabama fans are often accused of “living in the past”. Of course, the simple fact is that there’s nowhere else to live. Living in the present is fun, but once a game is over it’s really in the past. Living in the future is much happier, but doesn’t really impress anyone.

Most people draw artificial lines to separate the “present” from the “past”, and it typically coincides with their recent runs of success being “present” and everything prior being “past.” Fact is, though, that everyone who has a past of any import remembers it, is proud of it, and talks about it. Any sane Auburn fan would trade their last five years for Alabama’s history. Why? Because success and failure come and go, but what’s done is done.

There’s another benefit to not ignoring the past: perspective. Those who spend too much time harping on the pseudo-present end up, like a lot of Auburn fans have, losing all sense of perspective. See, e.g., Jay Coulter’s breathless puff-piece on the media’s take on Saban and Alabama. They assume that because a team has had some bad years that their time has passed, that they’re “washed up”, or that they’re “has beens”. I call it The Auburn Delusion.

(more…)

The Pep Rally is, more-or-less, a link dump of things I found over the past week or so that didn’t merit whole posts, but deserved linkage nonetheless.

• FanHouse :: I’m not ashamed. I’m going to plug my own series at FanHouse detailing the Ten Dirtiest NCAA Football Programs.
• Georgia Sports Blog :: Paul Westerdawg is doing a bang-up job covering the headlines from SEC Media Days.
• Bruins Nation :: UCLA WR Coach Eric Scott was arrested this week and it’s come out that maybe his job app wasn’t properly vetted.
• TideSports.com :: Alabama and UTEP mutually decided against playing each other in 2008.
• SI.com :: Looks like the Big Eleven Ten is looking to add a twelfth member.
• Fanblogs :: Notre Dame went and scheduled Baylor… still no time for Alabama.
• Her Loyal Sons :: In related news, Notre Dame blogger domer.mq fired the Irish’s AD.
• FanHouse :: Georgia Tech’s Ramblin’ Wreck might not be ready for opening day. Uh oh.
• The Big Lead :: Leinart’s baby-momma Brynn Cameron might be hot, but she’s also craaazy. $30,000 a month in child support? Paging Kanye West… Paging Mr. West.
• Burnt Orange Nation :: You’re kidding, right? The “TexasFan” from the EA Sports commercials is a Baylor Alumnus?
• Track ‘em Tigers :: Auburn Blogger and former FanHouser Jay Coulter is now writing for SBNation over at Track ‘em Tigers.

A bit of a delayed post for this week.

Game of the Week

Auburn at LSU — A top 5 pre-season pick versus a perennial SEC West contender.

Blow-out of the Week

Mississippi State at West Virginia — WVU is probably overrated, but they can’t be nearly overrated enough to make this a game.

Rivalry Special

Tennessee at Alabama — No love lost here. Should be a hell of a ball game, too.

Morbid Curiosity

Vandy at South Carolina — Two teams that look stellar half the time and like high school players the other half. You just never know what you’re going to get.

(more…)

Game of the Week

Auburn at Arkansas — This game should have some serious SEC West implications.

Biggest Blow-out

LSU at Kentucky — I don’t care how good Woodson is. He cannot complete passes from his back, and that’s where those big monsters on LSU’s defensive line will keep him.

Morbid Curiosity

South Carolina at North Carolina — The OBC and Butch Davis? I will watch this game.

Croom-Watch 2007: Round 2

Tennessee at Miss. State — Like it or not, Fulmer is on the hot-seat. A loss to Croom and the Bulldogs could make things a little toasty in Phil’s shorts.

(more…)

The Pep Rally is, more-or-less, a link dump of things I found over the past week or so that didn’t merit whole posts, but deserved linkage nonetheless.

• FanHouse :: A few posts ago, I said that Quinn and Bomar should’ve gotten stiffer penalties. FanHouse’s Brian Cook found a video that basically proves my point. Quinn, while being a snotty little asshole, tells a reporter to “get a real job” when he’s asked about the sanctions.
• Snarktastic :: Some “new math” that perfectly illustrates the mindset of Pete Carroll’s fans.
• SI.com :: Sports Illustrated tells us that one of the Auburn signees who had their grades “mysteriously” changed was cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse. If the tables were turned, you’d see the glut of Auburn bloggers crying foul. I haven’t seen anything like that in Alabama blogs this week. Wonder why.
• Ladies… :: No, it’s not college football, but the All-Star Game Bingo Board is hilarious. They need to do one for CFB.
• Fanblogs :: Some company named RedShirted.com is buying up a bunch of fire your coach domain names. It’s a little tacky that they still have Coach Hep’s domain listed.
• Tide Druid :: An Alabama Blogger found a picture of a “small” gaffe made by Saban in one of his books. Saban makes reference to “Alabama’s Jordan Hare Stadium.”
• FanHouse :: In the wake of an SI.com columnist getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar, FanHouser Matt Ufford writes the seminal piece in sourcing blogs for the MSM.

So there you have it. Good luck to everyone on this “unlucky” day.

Game of the Week

Florida at LSU — This game could very easily have huge national championship implications, and it’s the second week in a row for Florida getting a taste of potential challengers for their possible trip to Atlanta.

Biggest Blow-Out

Alabama vs. Houston — The score would be less lopsided if Houston Nutt was coming to Tuscaloosa. By himself. I guess if you’re going to schedule a cupcake, might as well go all out.

The ‘No Love Lost’ Game

Georgia at Tennessee — Nothing keeps us going mid-season like a good rivalry game. This is a good time to realize that Tennessee has a very nice schedule: tough, easy, tough, easy, tough, etc…

Morbid Curiosity

Miss. State vs. UAB — If you like watching High School ball, this game is probably right up your alley.

(more…)

Game of the Week

Auburn at Florida — Some folks have Auburn in the hunt for the SEC championship game. Many have Florida there. Could this be a preview?

Biggest Blow Out

LSU at Tulane — On the plus side, at least it’s a road game for the Tigers.

The Pretty Big Outdoor Cocktail Party?

Alabama vs. Florida State (in Jacksonville) — A must-see out of conference game for everyone in the country. Alabama will have a chance to back-up Les Miles’ big talking.

Morbid Curiosity

Kentucky vs. Florida Atlantic — This might not be as horrible a game as it would be most years, but it’s probably going to be the least interesting of the week.

(more…)

Game of the Week

Georgia at Alabama — Two teams with a lot of potential coming off of disappointing seasons. Two of the best coaches in the country, let alone the SEC. Will Pat Dye be man enough to keep his mouth shut in the run up to this one?

Biggest Blow Out

Tennessee vs. Arkansas Sate — ASU doesn’t even have a mascot, how the hell are they going to beat Tennessee without a mascot?

Hillbilly Stereotype Showdown

Kentucky at Arkansas — I for one don’t buy into all of the Arkansas and Kentucky stereotypes, but this game is a one-stop-shop for hillbilly jokes. Don’t leave your trailer without your dip-stained wife-beaters.

Morbid Curiosity

Mississippi State vs. Jacksonville State — The only Vegas line worth watching is the over-under on the number of times each team will try to give the game away.

(more…)

While the conference games started back in week one, this is the first week where half of the games have been in-conference. Unfortunately there’s not much in the way of huge games.

Game of the Week

Tennessee at Florida — By all accounts this should be an excellent game. Tennessee should be improved from last year, Florida will still be trying to prove that they haven’t lost a step. This will be Meyer’s first test of the year, will his team be ready?

Biggest Blow-out

Georgia vs. Western Carolina — Despite Richt not being the blow-out king, the Catamounts don’t stand a chance between the hedges.

‘Croom’ Watch

Miss. State at Auburn — Could Tubby get ‘Croomed’? Nobody in their right mind expects Mississippi State to win this game. But if they do, and Auburn loses some other big games (especially the Iron Bowl), Croom might be able to add another notch to his belt at season’s end.

Morbid Curiousity

Kentucky vs. Louisville — Louisville’s breaking in a new coach. Kentucky, even in their good years, are never really that good. Will this game demonstrate how far Kragthorpe and the Wildcats have come… or how far they have yet to go?

(more…)