Finally, a post

I finally have a minute to sit and type out a post.  It seems to have been forever since I last posted and since Erika uses the computer for her business, I don't ever have time to post. 

First thing, Addi was in a pageant a few weeks ago.  This pageant was actually four in one (which means anyone has the chance to win 4 different crowns) and was held in Cullman.  Addi won supreme in two of them (which means she was the overall winner of multiple age groups) and won princess in the other two (which means she won just her age group).  She had a great time and came home with alot of prizes and some money too!  As long as she has fun doing it, we will continue to let her, but as soon as she doesn't want to, we will stop.  I desperately don't want this to become an episode on Toddlers and Tiaras.

Erika's business is really taking off.  She has gotten into renting and selling pageant dresses and little did I know, but it is very popular!  The dance-wear is doing really well, too, and I think the more the word gets out about her store, the more business she will do. 

College football season has officially ended with signing day this past Wednesday.  Auburn had a really good class this year, although not as good as the last two.  Auburn fans have been spoiled the last two years with top 5 recruiting classes so the thinking is that it would continue.  It really is amazing the ability bama has at getting a top 1-3 class year in and year out, especially with Saban's reputation for greyshirting players.  Even though a highly ranked class does not necessarily translate to a championship team, it does not hurt.  Bama has kindof bucked that trend winning two of the last three MNC's.  Auburn filled their needs with another great class of OL's and big additions at WR and defense.  Auburn is slowly filling their numbers and I believe will be competitive sooner rather than later. 

One note on greyshirting:  Saban is a master at manipulating the recruiting numbers to make sure he gets the best players on scholarship.  Take the sad stories of Justin Taylor and Darius Philon.  Both had been bama commits early in the process and then, with about two weeks to go until signing day, were told that they were going to have to walk on to the team, pay their way the first year and then they could sign/get a scholarship the next year (greyshirting).  First off, that sucks.  You promised him a spot and wanted him but then a better player comes along so you have to find room so you drop the other player.  Secondly, you expect players to remain committed to you (yet you continue to recruit players that have verbally committed elsewhere), but if you decide to "greyshirt" a player, that's ok.  Sorry bud, no it's not.  It's hypocritical and scummy.  But, I guess if college football is a business, then that's what you have to do.  If you are more concerned with winning football games and making your team the best no matter who you run over in the process, then congratulations sir, you have done a great job.  Yes, you are the best coach in America, but it's hard for me to respect you when you do kids that way.  Don't blame it on the 25 restriction because everyone has to follow this rule.  I know every team probably does this in some form, but bama is the one I see and read about the most because I live in Birmingham. 

Anyway, off my soapbox.  Baseball is starting soon and the Braves will have a new look and as soon as I get an idea about how the team is shaping up, I'll post a baseball preview. 

Hope y'all have a great weekend.

Catching up

It is my first post in over a month and much has happened. To start with the oldest, bama and lsu were selected to play in the national champ game. If you want to see my view of this click here: http://drivelforyou.blogspot.com/2011/11/bama-review-and-playoff-plea.html. 

Mike Dyer has been dismissed from the team for unspecified reasons.  Most people seem to think it was due to smoking pot, but I have heard grumblings all year about his attitude.  It was also said that Dyer was with the infamous 4 that got arrested before the season started earlier in the night.  He was, I heard, trying to talk them out of it, but that shows you the type of company he keeps.  Thugs come to mind.  He got mad at the way Chizik handled the situation (aka suspending the players); he thought they players didn't get a chance to tell their side of the story.  Um... maybe it's just me, but if you hold up someone at gunpoint, you have no side.  Anyway, he has a list of things he has to accomplish before he can be let back on the team and one of them (again, something I heard), was to complete 12 hours of credit this summer.  That is not impossible to do, but for a football player that is not known to be a great student it can be really tough.  Some seem to think Dyer will not be back next year, possibly transferring to a lower tier school.  That would be a really big shame, but no one player is bigger than the team so if he can't or won't do it, see ya!  Auburn has two 5-star running backs eligible next year and a four-star coming along with Tre Mason and possibly O Mac so that is one position where AU is ok.  I really do hope Dyer is back, but won't cry if he's not. 

Speaking of RB's coming in next year, a 5-star recruit TJ Yeldon from Daphne (a known bama stronghold) that has been committed to AU for 6 months, all of a sudden decommitted and committed to bama on the night before the dead period began.  It seems really really fishy and with all the crap that went on last year with Calloway and Cyrus K. it's hard not to think something is up.  I won't really comment on it, but I think that they way it went down was really shady. 

In the midst of all this, AU lost both coordinators.  Ted Roof "left" and took a DC job with O'Leary (his mentor) at UCF.  Malzahn decided that he probably should have taken a job last year when he was extremely popular and took the head coaching job at Arkansas St.  He is from Arkansas and going home was too much of a pull.  Alot of chatter about a sinking ship and such about AU, but that is not the case.  AU has incredible talent coming back next year and will have a great recruiting class as well.  Whoever inherits the coordinating jobs will get a wealth of talent and a year experience.  AU only loses 15 seniors and only 7 of those are scholarship.  7 scholarship players!  What a change from last year when AU lost 36 players plus 4 more after the arrests.  Chizik will be coaching the defense for the bowl game, and hopefully in the next few days, AU will hire some good coaches to fill the slots and finish the recruiting period really strong. 

Enough of football.  Today, my two boys had surgery.  Colt had his tonsils and adenoids removed and West had his tonsils and adenoids removed along with ear tubes placed.  They both did really well.  Colt and I are at home and he has already eaten really well and wanted to go play.  West had to spend the night, and on last check, he had eaten all his food and was working on a parfait and laughing like crazy.  So very thankful they are doing so well and hopefully will continue to do so.

Hopefully, I will have a Chick-fil-a/Virginia preview (dont hold your breath) and an update about the boys soon.  I am off work until next tuesday so I am going to enjoy the time off. 

Bama review and a playoff plea

The game was never in doubt; not even before kickoff did I think that AU could ultimately win the game. I knew that it could happen, I mean, AU would have to play a complete game and bama would have to play really poorly, but I knew that the better team would probably win. Having said that, it still doesn't lessen the feeling that losing causes.

Auburn had their chances to draw close even in the third quarter. Auburn took the opening kick in the 2nd half to the house to make it a 10 point game and then had the ball at midfield looking to make it a one score game. That is when the wheels fell off and has as a rule for all the losses this year. Auburn was facing a 4th and short and went for it and ran Dyer-cat. I don't know what Malzahn sees in that play, but it never and I mean never works. So, obviously, AU didn't get it and bama goes down and promptly scores essentially putting the game out of reach.

I sincerely hope that AU uses the bowl practices to groom Frazier to play next year. If Trotter or Moseley starts next year, I might have to boycott the football team. Trotter cannot throw and has no confidence and Moseley is the biggest baby I have ever seen. If there is any pressure at all he either folds like a deck of cards or throws an off balance throw that is no where near an AU receiver. He did that on the pick six yesterday. He was feeling a little pressure to his left, but the guard came over and rode him out of the play, but instead of stepping up in the pocket and making a throw, Moseley winced and threw an off-balance throw that sailed over Blake's head.

AU has been absolutely pathetic at QB this year and I'm hoping that either Frazier or Pike can come in and play much better. It really can't get much worse. I thought AU played well, but gave bama way too much, especially Richardson. He had a good game, but so has every other running back against AU. I mean, a freshman RB from Samford had over 100 yards. AU played weak on the ends and at corner and never challenged anyone. Au played scared and it showed up ugly in the 4th quarter.

Now, about bama. They may be one of the best two teams in the nation, but I firmly believe that if you cannot win your own division much less your conference, you should not play for the national title. The BCS is way too flawed and I really hope that a playoff will be looked at more seriously because of this. bama had their chance and lost. At home. So, they basically get rewarded for losing to LSU. They get to sit at home while LSU plays an extra game against a very improved and motivated UGA team. Doesn't seem right does it? People will say that a playoff will ruin the regular season making the games less meaningful. That is absolute crap. Don't tell me that there will less intensity when AU plays LSU or UGA or bama or when bama plays UT or LSU or AU. Also, you are playing for a chance at home field and everyone knows that home field in college football is huge. You lose, you may still make the playoff, but you will have to travel the first round. Also, there is no guarantee that you make the playoff if you lose even just one game. Look at Stanford. They were 4th and got beat and dropped to 9th. If that was the last game of the year, they would miss the playoffs after being in a position to host their first round game just the previous week. Also, every other division/sports use a playoff. Settle it on the field, not with some pencil-necked sports writer with an agenda and a vote. If you aren't a media darling like bama or Oklahoma or OSU then you have not shot unless you go undefeated. So far, only LSU has been able to do that this year.

Why is it fair or right to say bama is the best if they beat LSU in the natty after LSU already beat them on bama's home field earlier? Shouldn't they have a rubber match? So LSU has to beat bama twice to be champs, but bama only has to win once after they already lost to them? Just plain dumb. Please, please get a playoff. That is the only way we will know who deserves to be the champs. I know, just because you win one game doesn't mean you are the overall best, because anyone can win on any given day. But leaving it up to voters who are as biased and uninformed as me and you just can't be the best way.

Samford Preview

Auburn's Homecoming game today is Samford University out of Birmingham, AL. It also marks a homecoming for the current Samford head coach and former Auburn player and Heisman winner Pat Sullivan. Sullivan played for the Tigers from 68-71 and won the Heisman Trophy his senior year. He will be honored during the game today along with many of his teammates from the '71 team.

AU comes limping into this game after a shellacking at the hands of the Bulldogs. Auburn is looking for answers from both sides of the ball especially offensively. Defensively, everyone knew that AU would struggle this year, but offensively AU shouldn't be having this many problems. The line isn't blocking, the QB isn't looking to any other receivers besides Lutz and Blake and I believe Malazahn is being hamstrung. You say he isn't? Compare this year to '09 when the QB's were similar and the players were similar and AU put up big numbers and Chris "I can't run a lick" Todd broke records. I think Chizik is making Malzahn slow down the offense to help the defense. Add that to the fact that AU doesn't have a QB worth a poop right now and that equals a pretty pathetic offense.

On another note, rumors are swirling again that Malzahn is on top of the list for the head coaching job at UNC. Chizik says he hasn't been contacted but I think it's just a matter of time. Malzahn will be looking to leave for a good head coaching gig and to run his offense freely. UNC's AD was at Tulsa when Malzahn was there so I think it's probably a done deal. Chizik says he has a plan for when Malzahn does leave and I have no doubt he will hire someone that will do a great job. I think we will probably get a preview of our new Off Coord. today. His name is Rhett Lashlee and he is O coord at Samford. He was a GA under Malzahn last year and runs an offense very similar to Malzahn's. Of course Chris Morris from Clemson would be a great addition if he wanted to leave. Whatever happens, the new O coord will be loaded with talent and should do really well.

On to the game today: AU will roll but it may be closer than you think. I'm just not convinced this AU team can put anyone away early, even the FCS Samford team. Samford is very similar to AU in that they are very young and have played that way. AU will win and hopefully give some guys some rest to get ready for bama.

Throwing up and UGAly game

The title of this post is kind-of fitting. Early Wednesday morning my wife Erika woke up puking. Having three small children, if momma is sick, daddy aint going to work. Come to find out, my two oldest kids ended up getting sick a few hours later. Erika, ever the trooper, worked in her store for most of the day despite feeling nauseated and not being able to eat or drink anything all day. Let's just say that I couldn't do that. Ever. After cleaning up a two-year-old's vomit all day, I went to work the next day. I felt fine and was making plans to keep the kids on Friday afternoon after I got home. Erika and Addi were going to the American Girl Doll Store in Atlanta that morning and weren't going to be home til that night.

Thursday night about 10:30, I woke up to a raging case of diarrhea and vomiting that lasted all night into the morning and occurred about once an hour. Needless to say, I was out of commission all day Friday. Usually I can get over a stomach virus in about 12 hours but this one really kicked my butt. I felt miserable all day Friday and ended up losing 14 pounds in one day! Thus the reason why no Georgia preview.

This all lead up to the debaucle that was the Auburn Tigers "playing" against Georgia on Saturday. It started off poorly but AU hanging in there. After AU recovered the fumble at midfield and then promptly gave it right back, I believe that is when the team lost confidence and therefore the game.

There is, I believe, a lack of confidence in the huddle and that starts with the QB. I did not see the penalties and the fumbles and the missed blocking assignments last year. I know, an older, more experienced and better team, but the basics are not being done this year. Also, what is going on with the play calling? Is this all that Malzahn is comfortable allowing this team to run? AU tries to run a bubble screen and there is no blocking whatsoever from any receiver. Jay Wisner cannot block. If there is any pressure on Moseley at all, he folds. Why don't they roll him out every now and then? And why, if Keihl Frazier is the QB of the future, did they not put him in during the second half Saturday to get some experience? Did the coaches actually think that AU could come back from 38-7 down?

I know this team is young and learning, but good grief! AU took a step back this weekend and that was after a week off! What did they do? Defense, tackling, missed assignments, getting beat on coverage over and over and over. I'm so sick of the safeties getting beat every deep ball. Neiko Thorpe cannot cover. At all. Chris Davis took a few steps back Saturday. Darren Bates cannot play assignment football. All he wants to do is go blow someone up. Hey, how about play your lane, shed a blocker for once and make a play. Or at least slow the ball carrier up so someone else can make a play. I truly believe it is coaching and it's disappointing because Chizik is a defensive coach. Roof's technique has failed us three years now and it's time for a change. The only semblance of a good defense was last year and that was for only two and a half games at the end. When you have Bynes, Fairley and a senior laden D-line, you don't have to be a good coach to be successful. It's past time AU got a defense worth a crap.

Overall, AU is still in good shape. They should beat Samford this weekend and will in all liklihood get throttled by bama to end the regular season and then make a decent bowl game (Chick-fil-a most likely, maybe Outback). 7-5 is not bad considering most pundets had AU not going bowling at all and 7-5 as a miracle season. Looking back, maybe it was a miracle season. I'm sure I'll look back in a few years and realize how successful this team really was, but for now, it is frustrating. All I can do is cheer them on no matter what.

Ole Miss reax

This week has been crazy thus the late post. Auburn played a complete game in the 2nd half to pull away and beat the Rebel Black Bears 41-23 last Sat night in JHS. Auburn started really hot and got out to a 14-0 lead, but two turnovers and shotty run defense allowed Ole Miss to tie the game at 17 heading to half. Auburn came out with a vengence in the 2nd half and scored 24 straight points before giving up a meaningless touchdown with 1 second left. Funny thing, Ole Miss got an offensive penalty with less than a minute to go. By rule, 10 seconds were supposed to be taken off the clock, but Penn Wagers (the head ref) did not do that, thus allowing Ole Miss to have time to run another play and score against our 2nd string. I hate giving up late meaningless TD's but oh well, such is life.

Auburn played well in the 2nd half but the first half effort was not up to par. Auburn made too many mistakes and the D-line was getting pushed around. That cannot happen! Our D-line has underperformed for the most part this year and has been a big disappointment overall. I know they are still young, but I have not seen them play a complete game even against inferior opponents like FAU. Hopefully, they will continue to improve and play lights out the last three games. Moseley played really well going 12-15 for 160 yards and four touchdowns. Auburn has to have that kind of effort from now on to have a chance to win at least two out of the next three.

Auburn has this week off to rest and heal to get ready to play the Dawgs in Athens. This will be a hard fought game and will really test the meddle of this group. I think they have a great shot at winning, but will have to play all four quarters. Georgia will be looking to win to probably win the East this year and keep Mark Richt around for a little while longer.

Ole Miss preview

Auburn takes the field this weekend back in the friendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on the Rebel Black Bears of Mississippi. Auburn is coming off one of its worst defeats in recent memory against arguably the best team in the nation. Ole Miss is limping in as well, sporting a 2-5 record, but is coming off a gutsy performance against Arky last week. Ole Miss led 17-0 at one point before Arky came back and won by 5.

Houston Nutt is still the coach at UM despite not being able to win consistently. Most say this game and the egg bowl will be his defining games this year and will likely decide his future as the coach of the Rebels and probably as an SEC coach. Miss has plenty of playmakers but has been hampered by the injury bug. Look for all the stops to be pulled and Ole Miss to play with nothing to lose. Miss has only won one SEC game since 2009 and that was Kentucky. Nutt usually pulls one out that he isn't supposed to and I hope that this isn't this weekend.

Auburn needs to regroup and decide how the rest of the year is going to play out. They have a chance to land a pretty good bowl game with a win Saturday almost guaranteeing them 7 wins. A month of extra practice is so critical at this point with all the young players, that Saturday is very important. I am interested to see how Moseley does with more time to throw the ball and not running for his life. Dyer has to get some carries and the line has to block and the receivers have to get open and catch the ball. Sounds elementary, right? Well, if that happens Saturday, AU wins. If not, it will be close. AU's defense has played better and I expect them to rebound this weekend.

Prediction: Look for AU to bounce back nicely from last weeks beatdown. I do expect UM to play well and possibly way over their heads for a while. If AU can withstand the initial barrage and stay close, I think they win. The key will be if AU can get ahead early, I believe UM will pack it in and AU should win going away. Eliminate stupid penalties and the big play and AU gets bowl eligible and looks forward to a much needed and deserved off week. A 3-2 record during this brutal stretch (not to mention hardest in the nation) with the nation's youngest and most inexperienced team would be a HUGE testament to this coaching staff in what a phenomenal job they have done. Losing 32+ players last year hurt so much more than I thought, but this team/staff has never once complained nor given excuses. They have practiced hard and gotten better and will be great sooner rather than later. Now that I'm off my soapbox:

AU 24 UM 16