All I can say is "WOW!!!!"

Incredible! Awesome! Unreal! Did that just happen?  All those thoughts ran through my head while the final seconds ticked off the clock at Bryant-Denny Stadium this past Friday.  Auburn, being down 24-0 midway thru the second quarter, came back and outscored and outhearted the mighty Crimson Tide 28-3 over the final two and a half quarters to win 28-27.  Not a big deal you say?  Let me run this by you:  Alabama has not lost a game in Bryant-Denny in the last 20 games.  That's 20-0, people.  Alabama has the #1 scoring defense in the SEC and I believe 2nd overall.  Alabama so dominated the first half that at one point they had outgained Auburn by over 200 yards.  That's outgaining the #1 offense in the SEC and one of the best in the nation.  Alabama scored at will and stopped Cam and co. at will also.  The turnaround happened when bama had the ball.  Mark Ingram caught a screen pass and made a bunch of people miss and was racing down the sideline for a big gain.  Antione Carter hustled and ran down Ingram and knocked the ball out of his arms.  The ball rolled down the sideline (and I mean right down the line) and into the endzone where Auburn recovered the ball for a touchback.  Auburn ended up scoring a 36 yard TD to cut the lead to 24-7.  It could have easily been 31-0.  On the ensuing drive, bama drove deep again inside the 10 of Auburn.  Fairley sacks McElroy and he fumbles.  bama's offensive linemen just stood there looking at the sacked QB and Fairley crawled around one of them and recovered the fumble.  Again, could have been 38-7 at half but it was only 24-7.  Auburn gets the ball in the 2nd half and scores on a 71 yard pass to T-Zac on the second play.  This makes it a 10 point game and I believe this is when bama started playing not to lose and Auburn started playing to win.  Alabama only had 67 yards of offense in the 2nd half.  You read that correctly: 67 yards.  they were 0-7 on third downs and did not really threaten again until their next-to-last drive.  That was the one where T Bell sacked McElroy and got a concussion.  I dont like to see anyone get hurt, especially an injury that can affect their life after sports, but it was to alot of satisfaction that he lost his last game at Bryant-Denney and to Auburn.  He has been a source of arrogance and downright rudeness toward his opponents and i have seen on youtube (you can search it and see for yourself) where after, I believe, his 2nd TD pass he shot the Auburn fans and band a bird.  Classless.  And speaking of that, it has been revealed today that higher officials knew about and authorized the playing of "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Take the Money and Run" over the loud speaker at BDS when Auburn and Cam Newton came out to warm up.  Wow, I can understand the students being sophomoric and throwing fake money at Cam, but university officials?  POS's!  You wonder why Auburn people have such disdain toward Alabama?  That's why, crap like that.  It's the whole gammit.  The whole Bear quote "Cow college" and the Franchione "school down the road" and all of it.  I understand that Auburn has obnoxious and rude fans as well.  Every school does.  But it seems that bama fans try to degrade and mock other team's fans more than they cheer for their own team.  Think about it.  What do bama fans chant after a win?  rammer jammer.  so, bama wins and now the fans are gonna rub it in by screaming we just beat the hell out you?  good sportsmanship.  anyway, im getting off my soapbox.  overall, it was a great win.  a great come-from-behind victory that people will remember forever; much like the '72, '83, '86, '89, and '93 games.  This puts Auburn one victory away from going to their first ever BCS national championship game.  Auburn has a rematch against the South Carolina Gamecocks who lost earlier in the year to Auburn.  It is very hard to beat a team twice in one year, but it does happen, especially in the SEC Championship game.  The team that won the first time are 4-1 in the rematch.  Auburn did it in 2004 against Tennessee.  the 2nd game was a whole lot closer, however.  I plan on going to the BCS game if we make it.  I dont know how I'm going to afford it, or if my wife will let me sleep in the house when I get back, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I may never see it again.  I'm a realist and other than the shaft of '04, Auburn has really only been in this position a couple of times since 1957.  I believe the closest years have been 1958, 1960, 1971, 1983, 1993 (undefeated but on probation with no bowl), and 2004 (shafted by the BCS and voters).  Notice only three of those years I have been alive and i was 4 in 1983.  So, like I said, this is my best and possibly only chance.  But again, we have to win one more.  Hopefully, we can take care of business saturday.

my 2nd favorite holiday

Ah, Thanksgiving.  How i do love thanksgiving.  it combines two of my favorite things in eating large quantities of food and football.  it's my second favorite because Christmas trumps them all.  My mom makes the best sweet potatoes you have ever tried and i love to eat as much as possible.  they are so good, they are basically like dessert.  the other dish i absolutely love is corn casserol.  it is basically corn and cheese.  it is sooooo good!  tomorrow, the fam and i are going over to my grandparents' house to eat lunch.  then, after that, we are going to my in-laws for dinner.  wow, too good.  it is also a time to reflect on what we have to be thankful for.  i am under the impression that we should remember these things all year, but it's nice to be reminded every now and then.  I thank God everyday for my family and friends.  I am also thankful for my job and to live in a country (as of right now) that allows me to worship the one true God, Jesus Christ.  He is the bearer of everything good in me and in my life. 

The day after thanksgiving is called black friday.  it is also known around these parts as Iron Bowl Friday.  Auburn and Alabama clash in the 75th Iron Bowl in what promises to be a really good game.  Strength against strength.  bama will look for a way to contain cam newton and auburn will look to stop a potent bama offense led by reigning Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram.  As of this afternoon, bama is a 4.5 point favorite.  I think Auburn has a good chance to win this game but they will definitely have to make very few mistakes.  if auburn turns the ball over, it may be over quickly.  i expect both teams to play their best and the crowd to be crazy!  If auburn wins, they go into the SEC championship game needing to win to make it to the BCS championship.  if auburn loses, they still have a chance, albeit a small one, of still going to the BCS.  bama has aspirations of ruining auburn's perfect season.  this is what college football is all about. 

The Hits Just Keep on Coming

It has been quiet the last few days concerning the Cam saga.....until today.  But what was released was really not much to get too excited over.  One story was just a little more details about a fact that was already known and the other story?  well, it sounds a little bit like grasping straws (until it doesnt if you know what i mean).  The first was that Bell told the FBI and NCAA (the ncaa last friday) that rogers called him and told him cecil was requesting money and he had a payment plan.  this was the same guy who said he never talked to rogers or anyone.  but wait, no he did, no he didnt, im not sure, um....... yeah, right.  bell also said he has text messages to prove he talked to rogers directly but they are on his old phone and it was messed up due to water damage.  Sure.  this story is really getting bizaar and im not sure if we will ever know the whole truth.  i think MSU is in bigger trouble than any of the media wants to admit because its not as good a story as an undefeated SEC West champion (more on that later).  If auburn was 7-3, none of this would probably have been brought up.  never-the-less, the story continues.  some writers believe this may be finished by the end of this week but i personally think it will continue until after the BCS championship.  I will tell you what i think is going on, but thats for another blog.  The second story involves indicted gambling moguel Milton McGregor.  Rumor (TMZ) has it that McGregor was overheard talking about Cam and pay for play on a phone tapped conversation while the FBI was investigating him.  This, however, is not the report that TMZ had.  They said the FBI questioned someone familiar with the newton case ABOUT McGregor's past.  Not him directly but someone about him.  weird. i dont know how this will turn out, but i feel confident in the administration at Auburn.  I truly feel they have Auburn's best interest in mind and all i hope is that some rogue booster (McGregor?) didnt screw it up for all of us for decades to come.  i hope this case resolves very soon, like, before the iron bowl.  but, i have my doubts.  all i can say is that while i am objective, i do love Auburn and hope that everything works out.  one quick note, i find it funny that after the games saturday most of the bama fans were tweeting and commenting on facebook about how auburn is dirty and the players are dirty and how auburn cheats and pays for their players instead of about how they dominated a pretty good MSU team.  obsessed much?  i believe they are scared to death to play us with Cam at qb.  they know that they cannot stop him and they cant handle the fact that auburn may beat bama in tuscaloosa while saban is the coach.  thats not how it is supposed to be.  all i heard at the beginning of the year is how bama wanted to face auburn at their best.  well, here we are.  now, all i hear is how cam should be ineligible and fairley should be suspended.  which is it bama?  o well, such is life as a fan of auburn or alabama in the deep south.  we live it all year.  im sure as the days go by, more stories and news will be released/broken.  stay tuned for this recliner QB's opinion and drivel. 

quick note:  we are not going to see the puppy this saturday.  rescheduled for next tuesday.  my 85 year old grandmother is coming in from atlanta this weekend to see the kids.  too fun!

SEC WEST CHAMPIONS!!

Last night I got the opportunity to attend the South's Oldest Rivalry at JHS featuring Auburn and Georgia.  All this week there has been more stories and rumors and info being leaked out about Cam and his dad and MSU and Auburn, so to say that Auburn fans were feeling frustrated would be an understatement.  Just hearing about Gameday (I didnt see it, thank God) and the crap that the Ohio St. fans put on signs was enough to make me want to shove a buckeye right up their.....well, you know.  It seems everyone in the country now has the opinion that Auburn cheated and thats why we are winning.  I will say this again and will continue to repeat it until it is proven not true: Auburn has not been and is not currently under investigation by the SEC or the NCAA.  Do i need to repeat it?  That doesnt seem to matter to the fans outside of the Auburn family.  Ive heard things like death penalty and 5 years probation and enjoy it while you can cause youll have to vacate the wins later.  The first two, not so much.  The last one?  to be honest, i dont know.  I will tell you this:  Cam, his mom and dad (Cecil) did meet with the NCAA thursday night for about 3 hours and Cecil supposedly came clean about having "discussions" with MSU about a pay-for-play.  This doesnt mean that he instigated it or necessarily entertained it.  just means that there was a discussion.  MSU could be the one that started it, but that doesnt make for a good story does it?  i really dont know what is true and whats not, but i do know that after the meeing with the NCAA mind you, Auburn nor the NCAA nor the SEC found any reason to sit Cam Newton for the GA game.  now, i know that the NCAA does not deem eligibility b/c its up to the school, but i know the ncaa would have suggested he sit if there was an issue of eligibility.  This story is not near over, but it makes me sick and angry when other people rush to judgment and drag your school's name through the mud when, so far, Auburn has done nothing wrong.  Haters will hate i guess..... now, about the game.

It was such a relief to finally play some football.  I got a huge hookup for a ticket from a friend of mine.  I sat on the fifty yard line about 3/4 of the way up the lower section.  Might be the perfect seat.  I could see everything so well.  The question, other than if Cam was gonna play, was how would the distractions of the week affect the players.  It seemed at first to play a major factor.  Auburn took the opening kickoff and scored a TD.  Georgia then came out throwing to AJ Green and he delivered.  GA jumped out to a 21-7 lead and Green had 98 yards and 2 touchdowns..... in the first quarter.  Auburn, like they have all season, came back and tied it up right before half.  I do want to make an observation here: Nick Fairley was engaged with an OL blocking him and another OL came over and clipped his legs.  A penalty was called, as it should have been, but this was a foreshadowing of things to come.  Fairley was double-teamed basically the whole game and was punched and kicked and grabbed the whole time.

The opening kickoff of the second half was a successful onside kick by Auburn.  Auburn traded TDs with Ga and it was 28-28.  Auburn did score again making it 35-28.  Auburn held Ga to a field goal on their next possession.  Auburn then drove down and scored another TD to make it 42-31.  Ga got it back and on 3rd and 5 from about Ga's 35ish, the stadium was so freaking loud.  It made my ears ring!  Murray was sacked and that brought up 4th down and 15.  If you thought the last down was loud, this down was the loudest I've ever witnessed the stadium.  Ive heard that AU vs UAt in 89 was the loudest but I couldnt hear the guy next to me yelling at me.  It was like I was on the front row of a concert next to the speakers (Ive been there so I know what that sounds like).  Auburn was able to stop them and get the ball back on a short field and punch it in the endzone to put the game away.  Ga did get the ball back one more time and this is when it turned ugly.

Remeber when I talked about the foreshadowing?  well, fairley was blocked into the QB's knees and he had to leave the game (he was fine later).  Ga thought fairley did it on purpose b/c he was flagged earlier for a late hit on Murray (bad play by fairley, I admit) but this is football right?  anyway, Ga got mad and on the next play, they double-teamed fairley and when they got him on the ground, two OL jumped on him and started punching (refs obviously didnt see that) him.  well, that caused fairley's teammates to retaliate and we all know that the retaliator is who gets caught.  goggins threw a punch (so stupid) and got ejected.  The next play, Mike Blanc got caught up in the fray and supposedly threw a punch also.  I didnt see that one, but it looked like he was throwing his arms up to defend himself, not punching.  regardless, he was ejected too.  that means that both guys (pending an SEC review) will have to sit out the first half of the bama game in two weeks.  although they are backups, they still play a good bit and that will hurt.  we need every one of our players for that game to have a chance to win. people of course are going to call fairly dirty and whatever but its all more in the same.  auburn gets no respect even when they are successful.  it always has to be something.  i truly believe that is why Auburn fans are so pessimistic about things.  We are conditioned that way by the media, other teams fans and even our own team not meeting expectations.  Not this year, dadgummit! Im tired of all the crap and im ready to go all the way.

despite the UGAly finish, Auburn has clinched the SEC West division title (the toughest division in the NCAA by the way) and are headed to Atlanta to face south carolina again for the SEC title.  but first is a big game against the school up the road.  they will be wanting to ruin our season so we will get their best game.  they also havent lost in BDS since Auburn beat them there in 2006 ( i think, ill have to check on that).  this game was a chance for Auburn fans ( and apparently the players too) to relieve a weeks worth of frustration and just enjoy fooball.  being in Auburn saturday, if you didnt know what was going on, you wouldnt have figured it out.  the fans were excited, the stadium was rockin and it was a perfect day (thank you God).  I love football and Auburn and i know this story wont go away, but whatever the future holds, I know that I will still love Auburn.  Yes, they disappoint me but so do my kids and i will never stop loving them.  I trust that the people in charge at Auburn, who know alot more about this situation than i do, are doing what is best for Auburn, not necessarily the football team.  I have to believe that.  If i dont, what kind of fan am I?  No football for 13 days so we are going to go see Addi's puppy (Christmas present) this saturday.  Ill let you know how that goes :)

Thinking about Christmas

In the middle of all this football junk, my family is beginning its annual trek towards the holiday we know and love: Christmas.  i do realize the true meaning of Christmas and I am not taking that lightly as I type this, but we all know that kids love the presents and mine are no different.  As i write this, my kids are sifting through multiple toy magazines shrieking, "I want that, no, no, i want that!"  amazing! Erika and I have discussed how much we are spending on each of them and are hopefully going to stick to that plan.  I really dont know what we are going to get them, but Erika is usually really good about getting them something really cute and neat along with an outfit or two.  This year will be Weston's first Christmas and Colt is old enough now to be excited about it.  However, the one that I'm the most nervous and excited about it is Addi.  She will be 4 in February and she has been talking about Christmas for about 4 months now.  It is really funny how in tune to the whole season she is.  We are really striving to teach her the true meaning and how it's better to give than to get, but I think right now it's being lost on her.  It's all good, tho.  It is so much fun to see their faces on Christmas morning.  I will tell you this, Addi is always talking about what she wants to buy Colt.  It is really sweet.  She truly gets excited watching Colt open presents and is happy for him.  As it gets closer, I will tell you how visiting Santa goes and all of the other crazy happenings around here.
One thing i do want to mention is Addi, Erika and Erika's mom went to see Disney's Princesses on Ice.  Addi thought it was the greatest thing she has ever seen!  She had such a good time and now wants to be one of the princesses on ice when she grows up.  we gotta find an ice rink and get her practicing huh?
Be sure to become a follower so you can comment on this or any other post you want.  Let me know how your family does Christmas and all the craziness that goes on.

Dismantling of the Mocs

this past saturday, the Tigers of Auburn had their homecoming game against the UT Chattanooga Mocs.  this was the 21st meeting of the squads and Auburn led 20-0.  An interesting tidbit about this game: UTC has played the eventual BCS champion the last two years with Florida in 2008 and Alabama in 2009.  Could this be the third year in a row?  Here's hoping!  Back to the game.  the allegations didnt seem to affect the team negatively.  of course, this was UTC, but still.  Auburn came out very business-like and completely dominated the game.  Auburn scored on the second play of the game and then again and again and again.  Auburn led 48-14 at half.  One of the TD's that UTC scored was a kickoff return.  Auburn's special teams did not have a great game.  A missed extra point, a dropped punt, a shanked punt and a return TD.  Not great at all, not even average, down right bad.  hopefully this will get them out of our system for Amen Corner.  Overall, Auburn did what it was supposed to do:  get out to a big lead, rest the starters and get the backups some quality game time.  Now...to UGA.
This week is a HUGE week for AU.  bama lost to LSU (Miles strikes again!) so that opened the door for Auburn to only have to win one of its next two games so win the West and go to the SEC Championship.  georgia is a good team with very talented players, but have played very average this year.  A.J. Green was suspended for the first four games this year and UGA lost 3 of those.  Since he returned, UGA has been better but still has only 5 wins and all of those wins against SEC teams have been ones with losing records.  They lost two weeks ago to UF by 3 in OT.  I think AU will be able to outscore UGA but georgia will score some points.  I believe Auburn's defense will make enough plays to win.  I dont think Cam nor the team will be distracted this week.  They know what is at stake and know they have to focus.  However, it's hard not to think that this is taking its toll on the players.  If this team does win it all, it will be the greatest season ever!  I say this because of the schedule the tigers had to play.  Very very tough.  they will have beaten 7 top 25 teams by the end.  and, of course, the crap that has been spewed about Cam.  with all the distractions, to remain focused and still play great will be an enormous feat!  This team, I believe will be galvanized and stay together and have the us against the world mentality.  This team will be fired up and ready to lay the wood.  It's hard enough to stop Cam but try stopping him when he's mad.  Good luck!  til next time

Accusations, Rumors and Slander

Since this past thursday, Nov 4, there has been allegations that Cam Newton was "shopped" by an agent during his recruitment from Blinn Junior College.  I wont rehash the details because, frankly, I am sick of hearing about it.  The gist is: this guy apparently went to a Miss St. booster and said that it would take some money to get Cam.  The booster, Bond, went to the MSU AD and told him and then reported it to the SEC.  The SEC investigated it, the NCAA knew about it and has been investigating it since this past July.  So far, nothing has been found.  The NCAA has deemed Auburn is not under investigation.  I repeat that for all you fans out there that wish/hope that Auburn is in trouble, Auburn IS NOT under investigation.  Also, Cam is still eligible to play.  Auburn's compliance officer, who according to all sources, is one of the toughest in the business, has deemed Auburn and Cam without fault.  I honestly do not think that many many people would risk their careers playing someone who was an unknown at the start of the season.  granted, he has been unreal this year, but he was an unknown at the beginning.  also, to all the haters out there who were quick to write articles (Bianchi, Thayer Evans, ESPN) slamming Cam, you are worthless pieces of bottom dwelling scab pus.  You have no scruples and further more, you are just looking to write something that will get people talking about you and your article.  Sensationalism at its worst.  Well, good job. I fell for it.  However, this will be the last time I mention you or your articles again.  I really feel for the kid and hopefully nothing will come out of this that was unknown. i dont think it will.  i think this guy was rouge and this Bond guy has changed his story a couple times already.  lots of holes and questions.  The question, now, is how will this affect the team?  Next blog will address this past sat football games. 

Another week, another victory

This past week, the Auburn Tigers played the Ole Miss Rebel Black Bears (or something like that).  All week, all i heard was that this was a trap game, the last three #1 teams had fallen,  Auburn was tired, Houston Nutt was prone to pull upsets, Auburn was a one man team so stop Newton and you stop Auburn, etc.  All Auburn did was dominate pretty much the last three quarters.  Ole Miss scored on the 2nd play of the game on a speed sweep where our safety took a horrible angle and got taken out of the play.  Auburn came back and marched it right down the field and scored a TD.  Newton did not have his usual rushing day but still threw for over 200 yards and caught a TD.  yes, you read correctly, he caught a TD!  With Cam at QB, i will not doubt this team can beat anyone, including the might mighty tide in bryant denney.  He makes plays that elevate his teammates and make them better.  The stink so far this week has been Auburn gave up 400 yards and 31 points to Ole Miss.  Ole Miss got over 500 yards against Arkansas and the last TD they scored was against our 2nd and 3rd string.  Another TD was scored after a third down pass sailed 10 yards past the receiver and we got called for a pass interference.  Unbelievable!  Phantom calls kill us! we really do play pretty good defense and we did intercept a pass at the two yard line.  if we beat bama, it wont matter so i wont talk about the talking heads anymore.  Except for this one more thing:  Jesse Palmer, mister bachelor himself, said that Auburn was not deserving of a high ranking because we didnt have any style points, aka, beating teams badly.  he also said that boise st schedule should not be held against them.  so auburn needs style points playing in the SEC but boise st doesnt?  what a load of crap!  i know that ESPN has to create controversy to make good TV, but lying is not very becoming even for the worldwide sports leader.  Like i said, im done with it.  all the bullcrap talk about bama still going to the nc game even though they play auburn just motivates and will make it that much more satisfying.  ok, off my soapbox.  it will be a fun rest of the year and i cant wait.  next post, ill try and post some pics of the kids dressed up for Halloween.

An expository discussion on Romans by James Boice

I said in my last post that I wanted to share what i have been reading the last few weeks.  the book is about, like the title states,  Romans.  It has been really really great.  so far, i have gotten just a few verses into it, but it has been chock full of greatness.  I have been reading about the Holy Spirit and how it works in your life.  one example is of how we are like prisoners and God is King (obviously).  We are shackled and chained in a prison and the king comes down and says that we are set free if we only will bow down and ask forgiveness.  In one case, the king waits on the prisoner to come forward but doesnt unshackle him.  this is us without the Holy Spirit.  We cannot come forward because we are still chained down by sin and have not the Grace of the HS.  In the second case, the king releases the prisoner (the HS working in our lives) thus allowing him to come forward.  This was an awesome analogy to me and really spoke to me how much God loves us.  He sent His Son to take our place and take upon Himself God's wrath.  We dont deserve grace but God provides it for us.  He does this despite the fact we turn our back on Him everyday.  If you dont know God, just know this: He loves you! no matter where you have been, no matter what you have done, He loves you! He wants you to believe in Him and trust Him with your life.  He promises you He will not leave you or forsake you.  You will know a peace that surpasses all understanding.