A 'Class' of Their Own

At season's end, both Alabama and Auburn may have the opportunity to boast a Heisman winner for the new millennium. Mark Ingram had his time in the spotlight last year in a close Heisman race. Cam Newton, disbarring any NCAA interference, is on his way to an undisputed Heisman. While these two athletes were the best in the country their respective years, there is one key element that separates these players, their programs, and the future of said programs.

That element is character. Character is defined as containing honesty, courage, and integrity also encompassed by one's reputation. Through dissecting this football season, clear differences can be seen between the two in-state rivals.

If character is encompassed by reputation, should I even begin with the Cam Newton? Everyone is aware of the laptop incident, the alleged academic scandal, and the alleged pay-for-play scheme. Reputation is an outward characteristic. It is the perception of the masses. Whether or not Cam is innocent, his reputation is forever stained.

Take for example, Michael Vick. Although he has successfully overcome his life's problems, the stain of the dog-fighting scandal will forever follow him as well as his reputation. Reputation takes a lifetime to build but one second to destroy. Newton has returned for seconds as well as thirds in the line for destruction, and no amount of innocence will ever alleviate these 'ghosts.'



I have been reprimanded before by Barners on comments about their beloved Newton. They have informed me that Cam Newton does all for the greater good of pleasing Christ. Well, I am not one to judge the moral character of individuals, but I see nothing of that through his on-the-field actions.

I saw no such actions as Newton stood in the student section following the Auburn victories. Arms spread, smiling widely Newton soaked in the worship of the adoring fans. Newton knows that he is Auburn's 'god.' Newton knows that this is his team. As the Auburn faithful fight to grope him, the interaction breeds no mindset of a greater good. Instead, it breeds the mindset of 'I'm the good.' The signs of ‘Yes We Cam’ breed that he is the savior for a downtrodden program.

Newton’s self-gratifying mock of the Alabama student section following the Iron Bowl was also very tasteful. Hand over mouth, Newton flew down the field letting the sign for silence talk for him or perhaps explain his take on where the money is. Along with Nick Fairley, Ryan Pugh, and whoever the non-starters were involved in the cutthroat motions, they combine to further Auburn’s stain.



Of course, this all relates back to the coach. A coach is supposed to win games which Gene Chizik has done. At the same time, a coach needs to be the mentor that develops his players into not only exceptional athletes but also exceptional individuals. With the growing obnoxiousness and arrogance of the Auburn players, Chizik is slowly losing control.

A prime example is Fairley. Fairley has grown into an exceptional athlete, but, as an individual, he would be exceptional only as Toomer’s Corner décor in its intended purpose. His downright filthy play has not only cost Auburn in the form of suspensions but has also cost the integrity of the game as well as other player’s health. He is the figurehead of the Auburn defense, and it is about as attractive as the right side of Harvey Dent’s post-combusted face.

The environment slowly growing is one of indulgence and self-gratitude. It is indulgence of making every play a spotlight and centering it upon themselves. Coaches, such as receivers coach Trooper Taylor, are joining in the pompous festivities as well which has an effect on how Auburn receivers react to big plays. Every defensive tackle for loss or swat becomes a spectacle as seen with Fairley on Saturday and the secondary on the year. It is easy to see why they are becoming as hated as the Miami ‘U’ of the late 80s, early 90s.

Where bad player reputation meets unsportsmanlike play meets showmanship is where Auburn now stands. It is amazing that the Alabama players never join the student section or band in the wallowing of a victory. It is amazing how the perception of Mark Ingram and Cam Newton are so vastly different. It is amazing how the quarterback of one school was a finalist for the Rhodes scholarship, while the rival quarterback was being investigated by the FBI.

If the NCAA does not give Auburn the death penalty, expect that lack of discipline will ultimately be the downfall. Chizik, just remember to ask ‘What Would Saban Do?’ As for Cam, just remember to ask ‘What Would Tebow Do?’

Under an Orange and Blue Sky

As the thick, gray sky parted and the sun cast an orange glow on the remaining clouds, orange and blue had parted the 'Tide' that had washed down the field in the first half.

Truly one of the greatest symbols of a 'Tale of Two Halves,' the 75th Iron Bowl will go down in history as one of the best. Alongside other Auburn greats such as 'Punt Bama Punt' and 'Bo Over the Top,' this year's game should not be downsized to a quotable one-liner. There was not a single contributor to this Auburn victory. Rather, a variety of occurrences - all rather unlikely - contributed to a slow, steady, rather resilient comeback.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

1. Change in Strategy

Cam Newton, unlike every other game this season, was not his dominate presence. Credit Kirby Smart, Nick Saban, and the other defensive coordinators for discovering a blueprint for stopping Newton. Newton was held to a minute 39 rushing yards on 22 attempts, leaving him with a 1.8 yards per carry average. The defense, especially shown through linebacker Courtney Upshaw's play and defensive lineman Marcell Dareus'containment, had been well-coached on defending the best player in the nation.

Where credit is due to the Alabama coaching staff, may it also go to Gus Malzahn who made some quick, simple adjustments. The adjustments allowed for the talented running attack of Onterio McCalebb and Michael Dyer to be utilized in a lateral system. Also, changes in passing patterns allowed for more quick releases from Newton avoiding the pressure from the first half. Newton finished the game going 13 for 20 for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns.

2. Auburn's Defense

Who would have thought that Auburn's defense would be a contributing factor? Non-existant in the first half, the defense provided substantial pressure in the second half, stifling both the rushing and passing attacks of the Crimson Tide.

The obvious 'weak link' for the Auburn defense, the secondary, allowed Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy to complete his first twelve passes which included a touchdown pass to both Julio Jones and Darius Hanks. McElroy ended the game 27 for 37, a career-high 377 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Defensive back Nico Thorpe and others for the Auburn defensive were bullied up and down the field. Unable to compete with the size and natural athletic prowess of Jones, he finished the first half with 175 receiving yards and seemed to be on his way to a career day.

The half provided the Auburn secondary with time to regain focus, and the second half proved much different. Jones was shut down to just 24 receiving yards in the second half. Both Jones and Hanks were disabled by big hits as well, leaving considerable matchup advatages for Auburn.

The running attack for Alabama was its usual mediocre presence. The stronger front seven of Auburn, including standout defensive tackle Nick Fairley, were constantly in the lanes leaving Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson with little hope.

By the end of the fourth quarter, the defense had successfully taken Jones, Hanks, and McElroy out of the game. Down by one point, in desperate need of a Van Tiffin reminiscient game-winning field goal, the Alabama offense had to rely on the inexperienced back-up quarterback AJ McCarron, as well as young receivers.

3. Taking Advantage of Opportunities ('The Way the Ball Bounces')

Up 21-0 in the second quarter, Alabama and Ingram were racing down the sideline to seemingly place the straw that broke the Tiger's back. Unfortunately for the Tide, Auburn defensive end Antoine Carter decided to display a football lesson on hustle. Out of the play, Carter followed the play and received a chance to strike after a broken tackle. Slinging his massive paw under the cradle of Ingram's breadbasket, the ball flew from Ingram's grasp at the 19.

In slow motion, the ball rolled - almost perfectly - down the sideline and out of the endzone for an Auburn touchback.

Pair that with the trivial performance of the Alabama offense in the red zone; Auburn had its rejuvenation. Richardson dropped a touchdown pass which led to a field goal. McElroy was sacked and fumbled inside the ten. The greatest letdown may have been the inability to finish off of an Upshaw initiated turnover on special teams. The Tide settled for another field goal.

Also, the 70 yard Terrell Zachary touchdown reception was another missed opportunity. From the stands, it seemed that Alabama safety Mark Barron had a direct path to either intercept the pass or clean Zachary's slate. Barron, looking bewildered, allowed Zachary to catch the pass before trying to strip the ball to no avail.

Barron suffered a torn pectoral muscle on that play. Barron said himself that he was going for the interception of the pass until he realized he could not lift his arm in order to make the catch. Left in the middle of a fast-pace play, Barron tried to regain himself for the tackle leaving Zachary with an easier route to the end zone.

4. The Revert from Explosive to Game Management (The Greatest Contribution In My Eyes)

Alabama's offense, up big in the first half, reverted to the worst possible habit. The offense began the patented clockwork, game-management offense for which it was known. Of course, this is an understandable move by offensive coordinator, Jim McElwain. Being ahead by so much at home to a talented team, it is completely understandable to revert to a clock-chewing, yard-inching machine to choke the Auburn offense.

The problem is that the running attack had been - to that point and was during the game - futile against a strong Auburn front seven. What Alabama had actually done was to give the offense time to make adjustments. Those offensive adjustments, mentioned previously, provided the spark to the Auburn comeback.

If Alabama had chosen to stay true to the multiple formation, fast-paced offense of the first quarter, there would have been the chance of more scoring opportunities which would have led to an insurmountable lead for a desparate Auburn and Cam Newton.

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That is why they play the game. Sixty minutes are in place for a reason. An excellent twenty minute spree will be surpassed by a steady forty minute attack any day of the week (except if you have Oregon's offense).

Congratulations Auburn. Seeming in despair and utter disbelief, the Tigers responded. They did not respond through athlete Cam Newton but rather as a unit which is useful moving forward into the most important stretch of games in Auburn history.

Under an orange and blue sky, Auburn began to paint the picture for a national championship. Just remember, there will be no sky in the Georgia Dome.

Dissecting the Iron Bowl: What a Win/Loss Will Mean for Alabama

Before I rant about how great the Iron Bowl is compared to other rivalry games, examine this fact.

Last year, Alabama was undefeated and barely escaped Auburn with a win. The Tide continued to capture a national championship as well as a Heisman trophy. This year, Auburn is in the position to capture a national championship as well as a Heisman trophy.

In the span of a year, it is possible that the defending national champion will be eclipsed in the personal and team hardware race by none other than their hated rival.

Rightfully so, if all stands well with Cam Newton, Auburn has taken advantage of a star player and a mediocre SEC schedule.
Auburn will have more to achieve even with a loss to Alabama, but what is the unfamiliar scenario with Alabama and how will it unfold?

If Alabama Wins

1. It Will Salvage the Season

Five years ago, a win against Auburn would have meant everything. Greater reward produces greater expectations over the years as it is now expected that Alabama beat Auburn.

In the beginning of the 00s, beating Auburn would have been the highlight of any season. Now, it takes a back seat to conference and national championship implications.

With the tough conference schedule that Alabama possessed, many whom were not fans of the Tide believed that they would lose at least two games. Alabama has followed that path after two tough losses on the road. Even though this Alabama team has crossed a more treacherous path than arguably any team in the country, two losses for a Nick Saban Alabama team is considered by most to be a ‘failure.’

What is the cure? The cure lies in the mindset of Alabama’s underdog years. Success lies in destroying the national title hopes and dreams of that rival.

2. It Will Prove Everything Thought About Auburn

Where do I even begin? They rely solely on their quarterback. They have the easiest schedule of any SEC team. Have they even
played in a tough environment?

Shut down Cam Newton; win the football game. The simple philosophy has been so hard to execute by other teams. The zone-read, option, play-action offense has left defenses bewildered and sloppy. Other players are strengthened through the focus put of Cam Newton, and the only teams who kept it close played Auburn before they became an offensive dynamo or succumbed to a shootout.

They have the easiest schedule of any SEC team. This one should go without argument. The only road tests that Auburn has faced have been Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Ole Miss. They barely squeaked out of Starkville and Lexington by three points in each, and the game in Oxford was not the best display of Auburn’s defense.

At home, they won the game against South Caroline through a dropped Alshon Jeffery reception in the endzone. Clemson was
forced to attempt two kicks in overtime resulting in a missed second attempt. Arkansas put up 43 on the back of Ryan Mallet’s understudy, LSU chose one game to not pull a miracle, and Georgia kept it close until midway through the fourth quarter.

The toughest venue Auburn has visited would be Davis Wade Stadium which holds a whopping 55,082 people and cowbells. I was at that game, and the cowbells were loud. There is no possible way that they can make up the extra 50,000 screaming fans in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

All in all, Alabama played Arkansas, South Carolina, and LSU on the road. Combine that with ranked Florida and Mississippi State at home, and a disastrous schedule presented itself.

Bottom line: This game proves Auburn’s legitimacy.

3. Miscellaneous

Kirk Herbstreit is still a football genius for picking an unranked Auburn team to reach the SEC Championship game.

With all of Auburn’s close games this year, maybe Gene Chizik should be renamed ‘The Mad Half-Sleeve-Vest UnderArmour Design Wearer.’ Let me think on that.

Oh yeah, Alabama won. Roll Tide.

If Alabama Loses

1. The Season is a Failure

As previously mentioned, the season will be salvaged with a win. The opposite is the truth for a loss. Alabama desperately needs the win to keep its legitimacy among the top teams in the land. Two losses is hard enough for the Alabama faithful, but three will honestly have the feeling of the Mike Shula years.

To have your rival as the number one team in the conference is one thing, but for unranked Auburn to have risen from the ashes on the shoulders of a prodigal cheat , liar, good-for-nothing, football legend is another thing.

The bragging rights were in the Crimson Tide chokehold, and now, they are only distant mirages.

2. Cam Newton, disbarring NCAA diversion, will win the Heisman

A win against Alabama is honestly the icing on the cake for a rather lackadaisical second-half Heisman run for Cam Newton. Despite the truth allegations, the race has been in the clutches of Newton for a considerable time.

Auburn, or should I say Newton, will be facing the third best defense in the nation against Alabama which only allows 12.8 points per game and a measly 6.5 points at home. Behind the nation’s third best rush offense, Auburn will be pitting power against power, and if Newton prevails, they might as well give him the Heisman trophy.

Interesting fact is that noise level may affect Newton’s play due to limited hostile environments faced during the year. Auburn staff denies that suggestion due to an offense run completely on hand motions. However, expect some confusion to take place.

3. Miscellaneous

Attention drunken Auburn fans: Do not go near the Bear Bryant statue if Auburn wins. You thought a Georgia fan trying to set fire to Toomer’s Corner was a nightmare.

Watch out for South Carolina. They have possibly a better shot of knocking Auburn off of their pedestal. Experience against the Auburn offense and an explosive offense of their own is a scary sight.

I would not be surprised if some of Alabama’s talent reconsiders going into the NFL draft.

Conclusion

It is getting closer and closer to, arguably, the biggest Iron Bowl in the history of Iron Bowls.

So, get ready to don your team’s gear, not speak to your girlfriend, parents, or even friends, and revel in the most fantastic rivalry of all time.

A Look Into the Future

It was a nice gesture to schedule Georgia State and their newborn football program on Thursday night. They received a tour of the Bryant museum and were pampered during their stay in Tuscaloosa. Despite Bill Curry’s motivational pre-game speech, pampered would be the farthest word from their treatment on the field.

It was also a nice gesture to the SEC for allowing six conference teams to enjoy bye weeks before playing Alabama. Having the Georgia State game on a Thursday night, Alabama opened up its own-albeit you will not hear it from Nick Saban or the team-bye week before facing the Auburn Tigers.

Alabama thrashed the Georgia State Panthers 63-7 en route to their 20th consecutive home victory in Bryan-Denny Stadium, making it the second longest home winning streak in school history.

Another record was involved as Greg McElroy broke the single game completion percentage record by going 12 of 13 for a percentage of 92.3. Julio Jones and Mark Ingram both put up 86 yards in their respective offensive attacks.

CJ Mosley was the star on defense by returning an interception for 41 yards to put the Tide ahead 21-0 early in the second quarter.

The one blemish in this game was an incredible 97-yard kickoff return by Albert Wilson in which the coverage and tackling were abysmal. He will join a short list of Football Championship Series players that have scored against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The highlight of this game was obtaining a perspective of the future of Alabama football. Eddie Lacy, Jalston Fowler, and Demetrius Goode all saw carries as well as reaching the endzone. AJ McCarron went 7 for 9 for 57 yards and a touchdown, and a slew of receivers took the field.

With the recruits Saban has gathered and the talent that is on the field as well as the sideline, Alabama appears that they will build camp around the top of the BCS mountain for years to come.

Curry said after the game, "Alabama has a great football team, I think the best Alabama team I've ever seen. Maybe the best Nick Saban team I've ever seen.”

Encouraging words coming from a former Alabama coach, but the expectations were better than this team’s record shows. Maybe the future will hold better results.

As the fans were given a glimpse of the future on Thursday, another future outweighed it. That future will take place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the day after Thanksgiving.

A Message to All of LeBron's Haters

Even with the star power of “Ocean’s Thirteen” and the hype of “The Dark Knight,” the Miami Heat (6-4) are performing with the mediocrity of “Valentine’s Day.” The Celtics, or rather “The Expendables,” have placed the Heat in little brother status after two convincing victories, and there is talk of enough drama within the organization to please a scriptwriter for the OC. Much of this has been placed on the back of LeBron James, the ‘King,’ (or Queen as I have seen to be his popular Miami nickname) but is it fair? Ten games into the season, most are writing LeBron James and the Heat off like the cast of “The Perfect Storm.” Will this ‘storm’ happen to reach South Beach come April?

I am sure most of you reading this are familiar with the controversial, downright strange LeBron/Nike commercial ‘What Should I Do?.’ Well, what should LeBron James do? People need to understand that the man is a human being that is paid to play a sport. While commitment to a team and a fanbase is necessary during the season and while under contract, James exercised his free agency to look at other teams which is completely understandable. Although teams were blatantly pathetic in their attempts to ‘court the King’ and James himself was pathetic by hosting a selection show, one cannot despise a man for taking the opportunity of a lifetime.

Through James seven year drought with Cleveland, he had reached the finals only once. That year left the Cavaliers to fall to a much older, experienced San Antonio Spurs team. As Orlando and Boston grew and developed in the East, Cleveland never surrounded James with a supporting cast valuable enough to win a championship. Antawn Jamison, Shaquille O’Neal, and various other transfers were never enough to overcome or handle a three-point bonanza with Dwight Howard in the paint or an aging veteran squad with a young superstar at the point in Rajon Rondo. If they had made it to the NBA Championship series, one would highly doubt that they would have enough firepower to handle the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Miami Heat opportunity was one that could not be missed. Cleveland made a personal episode of Family Guy involving him and his teammates. Chicago redundantly sized him up to Michael Jordan by showing him empty championship ring boxes and giving him Air Jordans and asking if he could fill the shoes. The Knicks promised the glamour of New York and Amare Stoudemire , but not much else. The other Los Angeles team, the Clippers, and the New Jersey Nets were involved in a catfight over not being the team with the least chance to snag James. Then, there was a legitimate offer. The Miami Heat came to James and offered Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and cap room.

Humanity was given or evolved, whichever you believe, the ability to reason. Although there had to be a tugging sense of home in Cleveland, the chance to play alongside two of the decade’s best players in a stable program could not be passed. Having played alongside Wade and Bosh in USA’s gold run in Beijing, some chemistry was there. Add rebounding machine Udonis Haslem, James’ close friend Zydrunas Ilgauskus, and two valuable assets in Eddie House and Jerry Stackhouse, and a reliable team presents itself. Chemistry needs a while to grow and prosper, and the environment in Miami promotes it.

To all of those who still believe Lebron James to be a cheap sellout, do you feel the same about Nick Saban? Saban did what he thought was best by leaving LSU to go to the NFL ultimately to leave that tenure early to return to college football at the University of Alabama. Whether his decisions and intentions were personal or not, the truth of the matter is money and opportunity have a say in the game. The people at the top of the game or in the game are human at their core, and, despite how big the commitment, pride, or honor of a program is, one cannot blame an athlete for being human and having goals of their own.

Do not count the Heat out. Their names will be around come season’s end. This team may not win it all, but, if they do, they will be-in my eyes-the most outstanding team of the last decade. They have the athletes to be the most outstanding team, but having the chemistry and determination to hurdle all of the criticism and negativity thrown their way is the ultimate obstacle. What should you do Lebron? You should fulfill your desire to bring a team a championship, and the Heat have the parts necessary to help.

I Would Use a Clever Cam Newton Line, But They Have All Been Taken

How many unnamed sources does it take to unscrew a Heisman frontrunner? One could not complete the task. Two could not help, and, from there, they began to come in heaps.

Cam Newton, the unlikely face of college football, has brought to light a growing problem in sports, people’s disdain for certain success, and the case for an undetermined Heisman.

However this case finalizes, one thing is for certain. Cam Newton is by far the best player in college football this season. Now that I have pleased the Auburn fans that may be reading this, let me also say that Auburn is a .500 team at best without Newton.

I had recently dismissed this idea saying that Auburn still has a fair front seven defensively, as well as a good set of skill players. Still, the more Auburn plays; the more evident it becomes that Cam Newton is this team.

Although Dyer and McCalleb provide a solid, balanced running attack, their yards are due largely in fact to zone read plays, and Newton runs it like a genius. As confused as the CBS cameramen are at covering the ballcarrier, defenses look the same. Cover the run, and Newton will ultimately beat you with pinpoint accuracy in the passing game, which has been ever-evolving since the beginning of the season.

So let’s take a look at the three spheres in this situation.

The Growing Problem In Sports

Over the last several years, college athletes and agents have had a very promiscuous relationship. It is promiscuous in the sense of monetary gifts and other gifts that include cars, houses, and other wants.

As the situation with agents has become more prevalent, colleges have now been thrown into the mix through accusations of boosters and athletic administration paying players as well.

The Cam Newton situation grew from its roots in Starkville, Mississippi, where all seemed ripe for the Bulldogs to nab Newton out of Blinn Junion College in Texas. All of the sudden, despite the infamous picture of Cam Newton displaying the illustrious Magic Johnson smile while ringing the infamous Miss. State cowbell, Newton’s plans changed to Auburn.

Now, a year in advance, facts are finally being leaked to the public. Kenny Rogers, a former football player for Miss. State stated that Cecil Newton, Cam’s father and the stated ‘decision maker’ when it came to college, stated that it would take between $100,000 and $180,000 to convince his son to sign a scholarship to Miss. State. Also, Cecil Newton claimed that his son never knew about the monetary exchange.

The story takes a very vague and twisted path as Kenny Rogers, John Bond, and Bill Bell, all boosters for the university, were all involved in a seemingly three way hit-and-run attack to obtain Cam Newton with each of them explaining their own similar but different sides of the story.

One thing is for certain, the FBI is on the case as of now, and the public can expect some kind of hard evidence or no evidence in the future.

Although it may be a supposedly common theme in college football, the problem is growing or rather the public is not aware of the severity of the problem. If Cam Newton did not have any knowledge of the events if true (which I find hard to believe), Cecil Newton is also the figurehead for a problem in parenthood. What parent sells their child knowing that the repercussions could be damaging to his/her career?

Disdain for Certain Success

One question that really bothers me is why are these allegations coming out so late into the football season and Heisman race as well. Why were they not reported during the summer, or perhaps at the beginning of the year?

Rumor has it that the NCAA has been checking in on Cam Newton and his payments like every other athlete in the country, but they did not have enough to show any concrete evidence. I think that the pay-to-play deal would have never been released had Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers had a mediocre season that seemed present after the close victories to Miss. State, Clemson, and South Carolina.

Personally, I believe nothing would have ever been presented because of the danger that this situation presents to Miss. State. If Cam Newton goes down, Miss. State also has a chance to fall to NCAA violations.

Furthermore, the University of Florida, Newton’s old school, released information saying that Cam Newton had placed his name on another student’s paper as well as purchased a paper off the Internet when asked to replace the original. Following a stolen laptop charge and an ‘alleged’ meeting with Student Council, Newton transferred to Blinn College and avoided a possible expulsion from Florida.

Florida and Mississippi State both would have most likely never released this information if the Tigers were 6-5 right now. While Mississippi State’s allegations could have serious consequences, Florida seems to be the bitter team who is just out to ruin the reputation of Cam Newton. Through ‘character assassination,’ Florida’s allegations hold no true meaning as in the future of Cam Newton and NCAA violations.

Case for an Undetermined Heisman

Then, there is the question of the Heisman. Clearly the frontrunner in this year’s campaign, Newton now has the shadow of these allegations and the ghost of Reggie Bush breathing down his neck.

Following the removal of Reggie Bush’s Heisman trophy, this is the first incident that involves suspected allegations during the Heisman run. The voters have stated that they would still vote for Cam Newton if the voting was held today, but with more weeks to come, this mindset may change if further evidence is produced.

Newton has proved on the field that he is worthy of the Heisman, but these off the field issues may keep him from winning the trophy. It is strange considering that the trophy is designated to the best player in college football.

Conclusion

That is basically the Cam Newton situation in a nutshell to the best of my knowledge and research.

Honestly, Auburn is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The question at hand is would Auburn rather risk a national championship this year or program stability down the road.

That question will be determined by whether or not Cam Newton is, forgive the redundant pun, ‘sCam’ Newton.

Big Play Bama

On a game fitting to be played on the thirteenth of the month, Mark Ingram caught a screen for a 78 yard touchdown while Julio Jones ran the ball for a 56 yard touchdown. By the end of the game, Ingram out caught Jones while Jones outrushed Ingram.

This was much to the enjoyment of Nick Saban who has preached how the offense needed to use its skill and experience to exploit big plays.

Saban said after the game, “That's what we want to do. We've got some guys that can make explosive plays and we want to put the ball in their hands so that they have an opportunity to do that. We made some that were really big in this game."

Besides Ingram and Jones, Marquis Maze had two big plays on the night. One was a beautiful pitch and run down the sideline in which Maze gracefully dodged two defenders before sneaking into the endzone. His most spectacular play, the 81 yard punt return late in the second half, was called back due to a block in the back.

This play left Ingram to prove himself as an explosive skill player as he contributed his long touchdown on the next play.

Greg McElroy was consistent on the night going 12 for 18 with 2 TDs and 1 poor INT, but he still possesses that steady game-managerial flow to his game. AJ McCarron came in for mop-up duty and looked promising for Alabama’s future despite making a poor choice late in the fourth quarter by not throwing the ball away and sailing it into the midst of three Miss. State defenders. Following one of the harsher encounters that I have seen between a player and Saban, I expect McCarron learned to throw the ball away next time.

Still, the weakness of the offense lies in the offensive line. Barrett Jones left the game early, and DJ Fluker is not the healthy player he was at the beginning of the year. Holes were hard few and far between as a stout Miss. State front seven contained Ingram to 2.9 yards per carry.

Defensively, Alabama possesses a gem in Robert Lester. One of the most exciting players to watch, Lester came away with two interceptions in the game which placed his season total at seven which leads the SEC and is among the top in the nation. Besides his great play, the defense was surprisingly consistent.

Special Teams played well as Jeremy Shelley nailed both of his field goals and Cade Foster booted a 45 yard field goal which would have been good from upwards of 50. Maze and the return team, besides the untimely block in the back, were exceptionally well. Maze reminded the stadium of Javier Arenas through his vision and acceleration in the seams of coverage.

Going forward and looking over Georgia State, Alabama needed this game to prepare for Auburn. Auburn’s defense is known to give up big plays, especially in the secondary. With Jones and Maze playing the way they did in Saturday’s game, Auburn will have to key in on them come next Friday.

Throughout the post game interviews, multiple Alabama players spoke about finding their identity in this game. I am sure the Alabama faithful would have loved some identity earlier in the year, but it truly is better late than ever, especially with the potential number one team in the nation and your hated rival coming into town within the next two weeks.

It Must Be in the Grass

The sight was all too promising. The yardage was all too unattainable. The situation was right down Les Miles’ alley. With that childish, devilish smirk on his face, Les Miles had faith in a troublesome situation.

The chains read third down and thirteen. On the previous play, Jordan Jefferson had been knocked out of the drive due to a vicious hit, and in comes Jarrett Lee. His path to the situation has been anything but smooth. The one-time dream prospect for LSU changed from prophetical to apocalyptical in a matter of games. At the end of the 2008 season, Lee had completed almost as many touchdown passes to opposing teams compared to his own team.

The only form of redemption was through clean-up duty for the ‘new’ prophecy, Jordan Jefferson. Through the first eight games of the 2010 season, Lee was on the path to redemption by being somewhat of a saving grace for a one touchdown to every four interceptions Jefferson.

Although the offense was still abysmal, SEC fans have a short memory. As Lee took the snap, Russell Shepard raced down the sidelines and past Alabama cornerback DeMarcus Milliner to free himself from a sloppy Alabama secondary zone/man combination.

Redemption has never been so wide open. As Lee tossed the ball into arms of Shepard, the most productive receiver of the day, the LSU fans were back on his side, and all hope of a repeat national championship for the Alabama Crimson Tide faded with the sunset in Baton Rouge.

Also fading throughout the day was the Alabama secondary. The saying is that you are only as strong as your weakest link, and the Tide proved that over and over.

Coming into the game, one expected the Alabama defense to shut down a weak LSU offense. Jordan Jefferson had only completed fifty percent of his passes and had not thrown a touchdown pass since the season opener against a depleted North Carolina squad. Jarrett Lee had not been much better, only throwing two touchdowns on the year.

Considering how well Auburn’s ‘cute’ secondary did against LSU, Mark Barron and company seemed prime for some turnovers and some big hits. At the end of the day, the Jefferson/Lee combination combined to go 14/20 for 208 yards and one touchdown. For an LSU fan, that is the equivalent of watching Ryan Mallett go for 500 yards against an FCS school.

It was not that the two quarterbacks played beyond their character as Stephen Garcia did in the South Carolina game. Honestly, the secondary looked confused, out of position, and unmotivated. After some missed tackles, assignments, and interceptions, I am sure the squad will go through some fire at practice before this week’s game against Mississippi State.

As far as the defensive line and linebackers are concerned, they played well. Adequate pressure was applied to Jefferson as he was smothered as soon as he released the ball a majority of the time. Although LSU rushed for 225 yards, it is not as bothersome considering they carried the ball a total of 45 times.

On the opposite side of the ball, Alabama is also as strong as its weakest link. The offensive line has been deteriorating all season. Everyone wants to point the finger at Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, but it is hard to manage five to ten yards when three defenders are upon you at the line of scrimmage.

Thankfully, Alabama does have a strong running tandem that can manage that task as Ingram and Richardson both made impressive five to ten yard runs with multiple broken tackles.

The pocket protection was reliable until late in the second half when the LSU defense seemed to be pressuring McElroy more and more with each play until the bottom dropped. The play was all too reminiscent of the ’07 Alabama/LSU game where Chad Jones forced a fumble from John Parker Wilson late in the game to seal the win for LSU. As history wrote, the same fate occurred.

With all of the weak links that Alabama had in Saturday’s game, the deciding factor of the game was on the other sideline.
Even though he may live off thirteen men on the field, incomprehensible post game wordplay, and literal vegetation from the earth as one of his food groups, Les Miles is one of the best coaches in the game.

Both of his fourth down play calls were drawn to perfection, and he was smart enough to use a timeout to avoid what could have been a disastrous fake field goal. He does live and die off of those plays, and they can make him look brilliant or idiotic. However, he is one of the best coaches in football.

Most of you reading this article are probably shaking your heads and possibly cursing at what I just wrote, but ask yourself this.

Would you rather have a conservative coach that goes against what the players would love to do most of the time to conserve his perceived football sanity, or would you rather have a crazy, grass-eating lunatic that empowers his players to play for those one or two game-changing plays?

Do not get me wrong. I would definitely prefer Saban over Miles any day of the week, but the faith that Miles puts in his team is ultimately what wins the games. What Miles has found is a formula to overcome any team, including his own, by keeping it close and keeping the faith.

So, it appears that Death Valley has its own story of faith and redemption in hand. Jarrett Lee, Jordan Jefferson, and Les Miles, enjoy the storybook ending. I am predicting a sequel that contains its own redemption next year.

BCS Breakdown Week 10: Lost?

Three weeks into the BCS polls, there have been three different number one teams. Three different conferences have felt the pride of fostering the number one team, and three potential ‘BCS Busters’ are knocking on the door, along with a strong one-loss team.

It is a seemingly endless game of leap-frog with teams shuffling backwards and forwards due to the single fact of the games played that week. Auburn and Oregon both won. Oregon jumps over because of the strength of their game. Boise State and TCU both won. TCU jumps Boise because of reasons unknown to man. Utah jumps Alabama because of the sole fact of being an undefeated team.

With so many potential plots, characters, and interpretations that would even leave Lost writers jealous, the only place where outcomes are tangible are within the imagination. There may be no islands, shadow creatures, or alternate universes, but one can only imagine what this ‘omniscient’ BCS beast will throw upon the football universe next.
The rankings this week are:

1. Oregon
2. Auburn
3. TCU
4. Boise State
5. Utah
6. Alabama
7. Nebraska
8. Oklahoma
9. Wisconsin
10. LSU

Potential Outcomes

The Optimistic BCS

The easiest, least controversial outcome would be both Oregon and Auburn winning out for the remainder of the year. Then, there would be little debate, as last year, with the only two remaining BCS-conference teams playing in the championship game.

As much as the college football analysts, voters, and computer code would like to see that happen, the chances are very slim. Oregon has #15 Arizona at home, and a potential slip-up game on the road against California. Also, do not count out a feisty Oregon State team that breeds off of their hatred for the ducks.

Auburn has a revamped Georgia team at home which could possibly be dangerous. Of course, everyone is looking ahead to the potential winner-takes-all Iron Bowl that may include conference and national championship implications.

The Pessimistic BCS

The less favorable, more controversial outcome would be both Oregon and Alabama winning out along with two of the three non-BCS teams. Then, the BCS is left with the decision that could ultimately be its demise.

If Alabama wins out, they will have played #10 LSU, #20 Mississippi State, #2 Auburn, and, most likely, #19 South Carolina in the SEC Championship game.

Group that together with then ranked #18 Penn State, #10 Arkansas, and #7 Florida, and Alabama has played the same amount of ranked teams as TCU, Boise State, and Utah have and will have played combined.

So, the decision rests on whether a program with a stronger schedule and more prestige shall overcome an undefeated team.

The Apocalyptic BCS

The worst, most controversial, one in a million outcome would be both Auburn and Oregon losing and two non-BCS teams controlling one and two.

With one loss Alabama, Oklahoma, Stanford, and Ohio State possibly breathing down the BCS-buster’s necks, the BCS will ultimately face its demise. There will be controversy no matter the outcome.

TCU versus Boise State would be argued as bad for football, ratings, and the schedule of stronger teams. Alabama versus Boise State would leave TCU in an uproar as well as a strong one loss BCS team. Alabama versus Nebraska would continue the argument for the non-qualifying teams.

Conclusion

To the omniscient BCS, football gods, or whoever is out there, tread carefully. Maybe you planned a revolution of some kind, but the time is near. Depending on how this postseason shapes up, your look for the ‘perfect’ system is most likely going to be dissected and scrutinized.

In the end, it may be the best moving forward, but it has been tyrannizing us as fans for years now.

Top Five Matchups of This Weekend

5. Georgia Tech (5-3) vs. #22 Virginia Tech (6-2)

After losing the first two games of the season to underdog Boise State and FCS James Madison, the Hokies have rebounded well by going 4-0 in ACC play and are chasing down a title bid. Virginia Tech has relied on the heavy passing/running combination of Tyrod Taylor who has thrown for 1062 yards and rushed for 527. On the other hand, Georgia Tech is desperately hanging on to their ACC championship hopes. With their number one rushing attack and triple option threat,
expect a close game in primetime on Thursday night.

My pick: Georgia Tech surprises Virginia Tech early and hangs on to the lead. Georgia Tech-31 Virginia Tech-27

4. #15 Arizona (7-1) vs. #13 Stanford (7-1)
Both teams are ranked in the top seven for points scored. With both teams still hoping for a Pac-10 title, expect a high-powered offensive attack from both sides. I believe the game will come down to the arms of both Arizona’s Nick Foles and
Stanford’s Andrew Luck. This will be a shootout that comes down to one or two key defensive plays.

My pick: Stanford makes those one or two defensive plays to win a barn-burner. Arizona-45 Stanford-51

3. #18 Arkansas (6-2) vs. #19 South Carolina (6-2)

South Carolina controls their own destiny in the SEC East, but a win over SEC West foe Arkansas will definitely strengthen their morale heading into the showdown with Florida. South Carolina can score points if Stephen Garcia can get the ball to his talented receivers such as Alshon Jeffery. Expect Marcus Lattimore to have a big game against a weaker Arkansas defense. On the other hand, the strength of the Arkansas passing game including Ryan Mallett, Greg Childs, and Joe Adams can overcome their defense.

My pick: Ryan Mallett and company escape Columbia with a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Arkansas-40 South Carolina-38

2. #3 TCU (9-0) vs. #5 Utah (8-0)

The battle of unbeaten non-BCS conference teams may decide who plays in the national championship game. With TCU jumping Boise State this week, TCU can further solidify themselves in the chase with a win while Utah benefits as well if they win. TCU boasts the number one defense in the nation, only allowing 8.7 points per game. They are also solid on the offensive side under the direction of experienced quarterback Andy Dalton. Utah is also in the top ten in points allowed as well as points scored. This is a very even game on paper, but TCU seems to be the better team to me.

My pick: Close at first, TCU pulls away in the second half. TCU-27 Utah-14

1. #6 Alabama (7-1) vs. #10 LSU (7-1)

With both teams in dire need of a win, this rivalry will be more intense than it has been in recent years. Alabama still controls their own destiny, while LSU could use some major help if they plan on reaching the SEC championship game. The big story will be Alabama’s offensive line against LSU’s strong defensive front. Everyone knows of Alabama’s plethora of skill players, but the line is easily the weakest link. On the other side, LSU’s defensive line is unarguably their strongest aspect. If Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson are contained, Greg McElroy and the receiving corps will have to cover as they tried in the South Carolina game. Expect LSU to be held on offense by a strong Alabama defense. The quarterback combination of Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee has struggled as of late which helps a younger Alabama secondary. Alabama seems to be the strongest team, but, at night in Baton Rouge, a Les Miles LSU team can do anything.

My pick: Alabama jumps to an early lead and holds a resurging second half Tiger team. Alabama-24 LSU-20