Eagle Auburn

Final AP poll due Thursday night

2009-01-07T03:15:57-06:00

My final Top 25 rankings to be submitted to the Associated Press will be due right after the BCS Championship Game, so I’ve been thinking hard of how the lineup should be.
I’m likely voting the winner between Florida and Oklahoma as No. 1, followed by Utah at No. 2, with Texas at No. 3 and Southern Cal at No. 4.
I, like I’m sure all of the AP voters this year, have been getting plenty of emails from Utah supporters asking for support for a No. 1 vote for the Utes.
While Utah was impressive, I can’t see moving the Utes into the No. 1 slot no matter what happens on Thursday.

Malzahn a good hire

2008-12-29T05:45:24-06:00

It looks like Gene Chizik got a good one in offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
Though Chizik has been slow at hiring assistants, give him an A+ on getting Malzahn from Tulsa and taking James Willis back from Tommy Tuberville’s staff.
Malzahn’s offenses at Tulsa, and at Arkansas before that, have been among the best in the country. He seems to do an excellent job mixing the pass and run.
And Willis, in my opinion, was a big hire. It appeared at first as though no current coach on the Tuberville staff would be hired by Chizik. Willis has a great reputation as a recruiter, and as a linebackers coach.
With Willis back on board, it should help Auburn keep some of the commits who were leaning in other directions since the Tuberville departure.

It’s official: Chizik the coach

2008-12-14T03:42:13-06:00

Auburn has released the official word that Gene Chizik is the school’s new head coach. A press conference will be held Monday afternoon to formally introduce Chizik.
There will be many, many Auburn fans upset with the decision to hire someone who has not done well in his two years as a head coach at Iowa State.
There will be many, many former Auburn players who will say Chizik is a good hire.
Only time will tell.
One thing is for certain: He better get a staff in place quickly and hit the recruiting trail.
This is a pivotal time for the Auburn football program.

Chizik a surprise choice

2008-12-14T00:07:37-06:00

Well, it appears Gene Chizik will be named the new Auburn football coach. Multiple media outlets confirmed the hiring Saturday afternoon, though Auburn hasn’t released an announcement.
On the Iowa State Web site, however, the school’s athletics director confirmed Chizik told him he was taking the Auburn job.
I’m among the many caught off guard at the hiring. Chizik, while a hot commodity when he was a defensive coordinator at Auburn and then Texas, has stumbled in his two years as head coach at Iowa State. He’s 5-19 in that time, which included going 2-10 this past season.
Out of all the candidates interviewed by Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs, this choice will be among the least popular.
Chizik obviously will have a steep mountain to climb to gain the support of the Auburn faithful. Jacobs certainly put his reputation on the line with the hiring.
Only time will tell, but as for now, it looks on the surface like Auburn struck out on this one.

Final thoughts on SEC Game

2008-12-07T03:38:58-06:00

The game has been over with for three hours or so now, and our writing is complete for tomorrow’s newspaper.
Some final thoughts on what was an exciting game.
I really thought Alabama had it after the third quarter. Alabama was pushing the Gators around, but everything changed in the final 15 minutes.
Florida showed why it did deserve to be the favorite in this one, though Alabama certainly had a chance to win it.
The Gators have tons of speed, an obviously special talent in Tim Tebow and are mighty strong in the trenches too.
I hope Florida now wins it all.
For Bama, it’s been a great, great run.
Get ready for New Orleans.

One quarter left

2008-12-06T23:39:14-06:00

Leigh Tiffin kicks through a 27-yard field goal with eight ticks left in the third quarter.
Bama up 20-17 with one quarter to go.
Alabama dominated the third quarter.
Looks like Florida is wearing down.
I’ll be going down to the field midway through the fourth quarter, so I’ll share a few final thoughts after the game.

Halftime

2008-12-06T22:37:49-06:00

Florida up 17-10 at halftime.
Very entertaining first 30 minutes.
Florida is starting to assert itself a little more, and has just a bit more momentum going into the locker room.
This one looks like it may go down to the wire.
No doubt Florida can move the ball, but Alabama isn’t backing down.
Florida will get the ball to start the second half.
That could be a big, big series.

One down, three to go

2008-12-06T21:53:33-06:00

Alabama leads it 10-7 after the first quarter, and looks strong.
The Gators took it in on their first drive and I was wondering if the Tide could hang with them.
Two plays later - a long Julio Jones catch and run, and an 18-yard Glen Coffee touchdown run - and the game was on.
Lot of jawing going on between the players.
Florida is obviously fast, fast, fast.
Alabama is obviously strong, strong, strong.
Long way to go, but Alabama certainly looking good right now taking the fight to them.
I’ll check back with you at halftime.

.Here we go

2008-12-06T20:59:50-06:00

The National Anthem has been played.
SEC Legends have been recognized at midfield.
Bart Starr is the one from Alabama. He gets a big cheer.
Al Del Greco is the one from Auburn. He gets booed.
Eric Zeier is from Georgia, and he gets booed too.
Doug Dickey from Tennessee gets booed.
All the ones being booed smile about it.
The captains are out on the field.
Here come the teams.
Let’s rock and roll.
I’ll check back with you at the end of the first quarter.

Teams back to the lockerrooms

2008-12-06T20:44:08-06:00

Both teams have completed warmuups and have headed back to the lockerrooms.
Still more Bama fans in the building right now.
Lineups are being introduced, and the bands will take to the field shortly.
It’s 25 minutes until kickoff.