The Mansons Were a Family Too, Auburn!
Posted by Jonathan Kelley on February 9th, 2010 (3 hours ago)Over the course of the past few days the terms "family" and "Auburn" have been tossed around entirely too much. It should not be surprising in this day in age, when the term family has taken on multiple meanings, and within our progressively existential philosophy-driven world will most likely continue to erode.
I am not opposed to teams, universities, businesses, or any entity attempting to create a family atmosphere. However, how stable is it for someone to assume that you are family because you share loyalties?
This way of thinking is at best naive and at worst ignorant. No one no matter how many hours they spent attending Auburn truly believes that their college attendees are family. If they do believe this then how little emphasis does that put on their real families?
In most cultures the family is revered as a sacred and holy entity. The church in Christianity is referred to as the bride of Christ. The church is the family of God, and his embodiment on earth.
In Middle Eastern culture's family is just as sacred and is held in the highest regard next to only God. India, China, Japan, nearly 3/4 of the earth's population recognizes family as something to be held in the highest regard.
So why in our culture do we throw the term around so loosely as to encompass a fan base. I truly believe that the people of Auburn only want to emphasize the closeness of their alumni and fans, but still it is insane to refer to everyone associated with Auburn as family.
Every time I hear the term used in context to Auburn all I can think of is the Manson family. Charlie Manson referred to his group of misfits and crazies as a family with a mission and goals.
It was their creed and beliefs in Charles that made them a family and their mission that drove them forward. Although I am not comparing Auburn or its many accomplished and respected fans to the Mansons, I am using an example of how misguided the usage of the term family can be.
Below are the most loose and common definitions of what family means in the English vernacular.
· a social unit living together
· primary social group; parents and children
· class: a collection of things sharing a common attributes
· people descended from a common ancestor
· kin: a person having kinship with another or others
· syndicate: a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities
· an association of people who share common beliefs or activities
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By these definitions anyone or any group could be considered a family. Chimps and apes are considered family in the animal kingdom. It is ridiculous to assume that by saying that "We are Family" that it makes it so.
To Auburn and to any other fan base or group be proud to be close, but keep in mind that family is meant to be sacred institution. Let's try and keep it that way. If one presents a great family atmosphere then promote the atmosphere, but do not assume that makes one a family.
Gangsters consider themselves a family, the Nazi's where all the children of Hitler, and Manson had a family. Be proud to be an Auburn Tiger and a member of a strong and close fan base, but assume that makes a family. Families are much more than that and they should always stay that way.
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Troop and Loop Named Top 25 Recruiters by Rivals
Posted by War Eagle Atlanta on February 9th, 2010 (3 hours ago)
Can it be the hair styles?
After the gutsiest recruiting effort ever in the history of Auburn football, some accolades have come out, recognizing the guys behind the scenes and in the trenches. RIVALS has named assistant coaches Trooper Taylor and Curtis Luper to their list of the top 25 recruiters in all the land. BTW, whoever coined that term, Troop and Loop, step forward for your hat tip, sir or madam. The first I saw it was yesterday in AUskip07's post where he labeled the once former roommates with that term. All I had come up with thus far was TrooperCanoe and Luper, Too.
Auburn is one of only three schools with two recruiters on the list--Texas and FSU being the other two. Some of the names are totally foreign, but some all very well known to Auburn fans: Steve Addazio of Florida, their new OC; Sal Sunseri of Alabama; Lance Thompson of Tennessee, who helped keep their class from imploding; Ed Orgeron of USC, nee Tennessee, he of dirty tricks; Will Muschamp of Texas, and Rodney Garner of Georgia.
The last two names especially stick out to Tiger fans. Know this: It's highly unlikely that we would have Taylor and Luper if by some twist Muschamp was our HC, or even our DC for that matter. It just wouldn't be so. But Garner is a different story. He's been one of the nation's top recruiters for almost a decade and a half--first at Tennessee and now at Georgia. Even I've been known to make a shameless attempt to lure him back to the Plains. But Garner has enjoyed virtually unparalleled success in Athens, and is the force behind Georgia's consistent national classes the past few years. I'm sure working for Mark Richt is everything it's cracked up to be, and Garner, being a loyal Auburn man, is true to his boss. But if I'm Gene Chizik, maybe I'm sending Troop and Loop across the Hooch this summer for a friendly visit and find out when a certain contract might be up. Could you just imagine the possibilities next year? Maybe Garner might finally see the committment to recruiting on the Plains that he has always practiced.
As the prime driving force behind the best NSD in Auburn history, Taylor and Luper deserve their due. Assistants are the foot soldiers who now carry the day instead of the Field Marshals. Per NCAA rules which limit the HC to one official in-home visit, gone are the days when the big-named head coach walks in at the last minute and closes the deal. No staff in the history of college football has mounted a greater campaign against such adversity than the Tiger coaches did this year. A 8-5 team who held their own or bested their fiercest rival not only in recruiting the state, but across the whole country--the same very team that just won a national championship and a Heisman trophy. Inconceivable!!
But maybe this notion of the greatest recruiter might be misplaced somewhat. Sure, Troop and Loop and the staff are particularly adroit at their tasks, but how did they get together in the first place? Who was the person who came to the Plains, under hostile circumstances, and hastily assembled a crew that would soon gel together and go on to hold their own even against that cross state school? Gene Chizik is the man. Make no mistake. The man has made NO mistakes since he came to us. He has said and done ALL the right things and damn right he should finally be getting his due. Who's the best recruiter in the nation? I think Gene Chizik is. He pulls the strings on the Mean Gene Auburn Recruiting Machine. And so far, what he's been able to achieve in the shadow of the successes of all our rivals is unbelievably admirable. Put THAT in your recruiting limo and step on it!
Auburn Football Success the Result of Good Recruiting
Posted by Kevin McGrady on February 8th, 2010A college football program is allowed to have 85Â scholarship players on a football team at any given time. In the SEC a team is allowed to give 25 players a scholarship in any given year and can only sign 28 to letters of intent.
Most football teams want to be two players deep at every position coming into a season. This makes 44 players plus a kicker, punter, long snapper, and 10 or 11 special teams players.
Given that close to ideal circumstances mean 58 available players to cover in any given season. This leaves a team recruiting 21 players that qualify and make it into the university each year on average. Of those 21 players, 14 must produce and play for a team to be successful at the highest levels.
Only eight players remain on the Auburn team from the 2007 recruiting class. This class can be considered as severely underachieving. The 2008 class has 10 members still on the roster. This class can also be considered as underachieving.Â
Neither the 2007 or 2008 classes had enough members qualify for entry to the university to hope to cover their expectations. This is the result of the last two years of recruiting before Gene Chizik was hired.
The 2009 recruiting class has 19 members still on the roster and 14 are predicted to contribute greatly with another three that have produced in some role already. Auburn signed 28 players in 2009 and only 19 remain.
The 2009 class was the result of a huge last minute effort by the Auburn staff to salvage a recruiting class that was falling apart. They pulled it together and brought in 19 players that have a good chance of producing. It was a great result for a situation that had been deteriorating.
Auburn added five more members to the 2009 class after the season was over. All five are expected to contribute. This will give a final result of 25 players on roster and an incredible 19 that will be major contributors with three more that could possibly contribute as well.
Auburn signed 27 players for the 2010 class. There will be a few that do not make it to be enrolled. We should get 23 to 25 viable contributors from this class. There are 17 members of this class that should contribute early and often.
For 2010 Auburn should have a minimum of 74 players that can contribute on the field. This should give Coach Malzhan and Coach Roof a full compliment of players to fully implement their offensive and defensive schemes. It will also give some extra buffer for injuries sustained during the season.Â
What does all of this mean? First, the Auburn football team will be as good as it will get from depth in 2010. The only two methods for improvement in future years will be through upgraded talent and better execution.Â
Auburn will be able to start a more effective redshirt program in 2011. This means more undeveloped talent can be recruited and developed. It also means vast improvement on the scout team.
With one more well planned and targeted recruiting class Auburn will be back healthy and at full strength. Auburn will be at full playing strength this year. Auburn will be able to concentrate fully on execution of the full game plan in 2010. There will be much improved competition in practice.
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Auburn Football: Unexpected Fallout from Previous Bad Recruiting
Posted by Kevin McGrady on February 8th, 2010While reading an article that was describing the current Alabama head coach in a less than positive way, I came across some more unexpected fallout from previous poor recruiting.
Here is the article I was reading:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/54634/a_commitment_to_nick_saban_is_an_iron-clad,_one_way_street
I was looking at some of the supporting evidence behind the article. I was shocked at first to find Auburn appear in one of the supporting data spreads. I know Auburn is listed for a totally different reason than Alabama, but much of the nation will not.
Over the last nine years, Auburn University accepted 253 letters of intent for football players. We all know as Auburn fans that many of those never made it to qualify and enroll in class. Tommy Tuberville was well known for signing players he knew were never going to make it to class to boost his recruiting numbers.
The problem is that most of the country does not know this. When the negative media storm that is building over this explodes, Auburn will be assumed to be doing the same things.
While we are used to negative national media for our upstate rivals rubbing off on us, this is one we truly do not deserve.
This is simply one more way the great disappearing recruiting classes of the Tuberville era are going to damage the Auburn football program.
Here is the link to the data that was referred to: http://www.oversigning.com/
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Auburn Tigers Football Burning Questions: The Offensive Line
Posted by Matt Nunnelee on February 8th, 2010With the pandemonium that is National Signing Day now behind us, it is time again to shift attention to the on the field product for the 2010 Auburn Tigers.Â
Spring practice gets going next month, and it will serve as the beginning of position battles that will last through summer workouts, all the way into fall practices and on until the first game of the year.
Looking at Auburn's offensive line, there should not be many question marks, at least with the starting five. The Tigers return four out of five starters from last year's unit that helped produce a 1,300 yard rusher and also protected an immobile quarterback who threw for 2,600 yards and 22 touchdowns.
While not always the most popular bunch on a revamped 2009 Tiger team, the offensive line proved they could physically hang with SEC defenses. It is the mental aspect of their play will be the under the microscope when August rolls around on the Plains.
Perhaps the biggest problem with 2009's O line was one that Auburn fans heard about all too much last year. The D word, depth. The linemen didn't have much help in the form of rest and, while playing in a Gus Malzhan spread that puts great emphasis on running as many plays as possible and wearing down the defense, it's understandable that the big boys on offense can get just as fatigued as the defenders.
Recognizing that, Gene Chizik and his staff went out and signed arguably the best offensive line class in the country. Not only did they add quantity, signing six linemen, they loaded up on quality—the type of quality that will not only add depth, but that will push for serious playing time and starting jobs. In fact, I put three out of this class in my Top Ten Impact Signees , and that still may have sold it short.
Let's take a look at what Auburn fans have to look forward to in the trenches in 2010. We will focus on the returning starters from 2009 and the signee class that could make moves or shake things up in 2010:
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Lee Ziemba  LT—The four-year starter has had perhaps the most perplexing career at Auburn of anyone in quite some time. The highly touted and sought-after OT from Arkansas was a part of another memorable recruiting class in 2007, and upon arrival, he did not disappoint. Ziemba was the opening game starter, and won nearly every freshman award possible after a stellar year.
Since then, Ziemba has struggled, as the entire team did in '08, but also last season. His talent has not disappeared, but at times it seems his concentration has. Ziemba drew the ire of Auburn fans regularly with false start and holding penalties that always seemed to come at the most inopportune times.
Ziemba certainly has the size and talent to be an All-American caliber player, and he should prove that in his last season playing at the ever-important left tackle spot for the Tigers.
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Ryan Pugh C—Another member of the 2007 class, Pugh saw ample playing time as a freshman, but not at his now cemented center position. He was moved around and filled in nicely everywhere he lined up. I consider Pugh by far the most consistent, versatile lineman returning next season.
Pugh will be leader on this unit, and a good one at that.Â
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Byron Isom LG—Isom started seven games as a redshirt sophomore in '08, and started every game he suited up for in 2009. He quickly became a solid player with good speed and quickness that is utilized on running plays that require him to get on the edge and find defenders to move.
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Mike Berry RG—Like Isom, Berry will be another fifth year senior with plenty of experience and talent. Berry started in three games as a redshirt freshman and saw ample playing time all over the O-line in his sophomore year before settling into the right guard spot in 2009.Â
Similar to Isom, Berry has good feet and quickness that comes in handy for the run-first Malzhan offense.
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Now, for a look at the incoming freshman that will push for playing time and possibly starting jobs:
Roszell Gayden — Though I am not ranking the OL signees, I have this massive tackle on the top of my list for two reasons:
1. He is a JUCO transfer from College of the Sequoias which means he has been going against better competition and has had two years to polish his skills.
2. He was an early signee who is already on campus and will get into the mix right away next month at spring practice.
Shon Coleman —This young man from Mississippi skyrockets up the recruiting rankings with a great senior year. Auburn offered early, and though he put quite a scare into Tigers fans by taking other visits until the very end, Coleman stuck to his word and signed with AU on Feb. 3.
Playing in virtually every All-Star game out there, Coleman continued to impress against top-notch competition. He looks to see playing time very quickly in the 2010 season.
Eric Mack —Another somewhat controversial commit (lose the "somewhat" if you're a South Carolina fan), Mack was committed to the Gamecocks throughout most of the recruiting process. But midway through January, the talented lineman announced he would be playing for the Auburn Tigers.
There have been rumors about Mack's weight, but the Auburn coaching and training staffs will have him at an ideal size in no time.
Ed Christian —Christian may be the most overlooked lineman in this year's class. Christian is very athletic and is known for his run blocking skills. Scout.com describes him as having a "nasty streak" and being a hard-nosed player that hustles to the very end.Â
Christian will have to add size and strength, but should be great for competition and pushing the other players to get better.
Chad Slade —Slade is still considered pretty raw, but the Auburn staff offered early, and Slade committed in July. It's obvious they see something in this massive lineman, and with a full-time college program, he should be ready to go in a year or so. Slade is a possible redshirt candidate.
Tunde Fariyike —God Bless You. This young man was a late addition to the 2010 class, and many think is a real sleeper. But don't sleep on this young man, as he is intelligent enough to learn the game on the college level.Â
If nothing else, Fariyike only reinforces Gene Chizik's comments about bringing student- athletes to campus. At 6'3", 295, he will certainly get his shot. Look for Fariyike to redshirt, and graduate in three years.
Brandon Mosley —Though listed as a tight end out of JUCO in Coffeyville, Kansas, Mosley projects as an offensive lineman. He will have to add weight, but with tight end-type athleticism he should get on the field in some capacity in 2010.
No to be forgotten or dismissed, here is a list of returning offensive linemen backups that saw playing time in 2009 and should certainly get a shot in 2010:
- Jared Cooper
- Bart Eddins
- John Sullen
- Jorell Bostrom
As has turned out to be the theme of Gene Chizik's first full year on the recruiting trail, depth and talent has been procured in this offensive line class. It won't be long before the questions of whether or not Chizik can coach will certainly be answered.
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Grading Auburn basketball with a distant look at the Top 25
Posted by Charles Goldberg, The Birmingham News on February 8th, 2010Two Auburn assistants earn praise
Posted by Jay G. Tate on February 8th, 2010
Hey everyone. Rivals.com gave Auburn very high marks during the National Signing Day Sweepstakes, deeming coach Gene Chizik's class as the nation's fourth best.
Not too shabby.
Rivals.com on Monday recognized two assistants, Trooper Taylor and Curis Luper, as two of the nation's best recruiters.
Here's what the popular recruiting site had to say:
Luper landed two five-star prospects for the Tigers: junior college QB Cameron Newton and RB prospect Michael Dyer from Arkansas. He also helped the Tigers with Louisiana four-star athlete Trovon Reed. Three-star offensive tackle Ed Christian was also Luper's responsibility. Luper was also the primary mastermind behind "Tiger Prowl" and "Big Cat Weekend." Those two recruiting events helped create a great buzz for Auburn.
Taylor had a big year for the Tigers. He went to Mississippi and landed five-star offensive line prospect Shon Coleman. Taylor went to Louisiana to sign four-star athlete Trovon Reed. Taylor helped Auburn get a big one on Signing Day with four-star defensive end Corey Lemonier. Taylor also got three from Georgia: four-star wide receiver Antonio Goodwin, three-star defensive back Demetruce McNeal and athlete Shaun Kitchens. Four-star defensive end Joel Bonomolo is a junior college transfer from California. Taylor also landed a big in-state commitment in four-star wide receiver Jeremy Richardson. Seven of Taylor's eight prospects were from out of state.
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.
Rivals says Auburn coaches Curtis Luper, Trooper Taylor among nation’s top recruiters
Posted by Charles Goldberg, The Birmingham News on February 8th, 2010Former Auburn star was there when it all started
Posted by Auburn Undercover News on February 8th, 2010Looking back at: Auburn’s 2010 signing class
Posted by Jay G. Tate on February 8th, 2010
Hey everyone. I know -- it seems like yesterday when Auburn signed those 27 newcomers to its 2010 Recruiting Class.I took a few days to consider what happened last Wednesday. Since it's pointless to argue about the prospects -- Mike Dyer might bust and LaDarious Phillips might be the next Brandon Jacobs -- I took a slightly different approach.
I examined Gene Chizik's verifiable victories.
Along with that story was a report card. If you sense cognitive dissonance between my column's premise and the mere existence of an Auburn report card, well, you'll have to figure that out on your own ...
Quarterback
A- Auburn signed and enrolled the nation's top junior-college quarterback in Cam Newton. He becomes the heir apparent to Chris Todd and gives fans immediate hope for the 2010 season.
Running back
A- Ben Tate is headed to the NFL and Auburn turned that into a perfect marketing plan. Michael Dyer, whom many believe was the nation's top tailback recruit, will play a meaningful role this fall.
Wide receivers/tight ends
A Auburn needs depth here and it came through, signing four wideouts and at least one tight end. Three of the wideouts are blue-chip guys.
Offensive line
A+ Here's another position where Auburn struggled to fill the two-deep last fall. The Tigers signed six offensive linemen. Three of them were blue-chip guys including Shon Coleman, who was a five-star recruit.
Defensive line
A Tackle was an area of primary concern and coach Gene Chizik snagged two big, impact guys in Kenneth Carter and Jeffrey Whitaker. I really like end Corey Lemonier as well.
Linebackers
B+ This may have been the Tigers' biggest need. The team signed four guys. The linebacker I like best, LaDarius Owens, may play defensive end. We'll have to see how the other three develop.
Defensive backs
B Auburn snatched safety Ryan Smith from Kentucky at the last minute. He's a difference-maker. I also consider safety Demetruce McNeal a good one. Two of the three cornerbacks are in the midst of position changes.
Kickers/punters
B Chizik was aggressive here, signing kicker Cody Parkey and punter Steven Clark. Parkey was awful in the Under Armour game. Clark's numbers were pretty good.
Who will be the impact players in Auburn’s 2010 signing class?
Posted by Evan Woodbery on February 8th, 2010Junior RB Takes A Look At Tigers
Posted by Jason Caldwell on February 8th, 2010Saban Speaks About The Regions Decommitment
Posted by gph on February 8th, 2010
Does an early signing period make sense for football?
Posted by Auburn Undercover News on February 8th, 2010Who will lead the way in spring practice?
Posted by Auburn Undercover News on February 8th, 2010Recruiting Rewind: Delay of game for Dismukes?
Posted by Auburn Undercover News on February 8th, 2010Dismukes postpones announcement
Posted by Auburn Tigers Football -- AuburnSports.com Headlines on February 7th, 2010The HABOTN® Super Bowl thread
Posted by Jay G. Tate on February 7th, 2010
Hey everyone. Let's watch the big game and talk about it.Sounds like fun.
Extra attention will be placed upon Indianapolis CB Jerraud Powers, who would have won the EAABWAA Good Guy Award had it been real prior to 2009. He played at Auburn.
The Greatest Uniform in Football…
Posted by BomexLex on February 7th, 2010Auburn is in the rankings for the nicest uniform…
we are only in round two… but lets see the AU gear get to number 1!
Da Noorlinzaints!
Posted by Will Collier on February 7th, 2010Under most circumstances, I couldn't possibly care less about the NFL. When I read Stewart Mandel's by-the-numbers recitation of the college football media's conventional wisdom a couple of years back, the only sections that stuck in my mind were Mandel's sharp-tongued rejection of the No Fun League and all its works. In those particulars, I agreed with everything Mandel wrote, right down to the punctuation (which I would quote here, if I hadn't misplaced my copy).
I've never had anything like a favorite NFL team. Like most Southerners, having to choose between the Falcons and the Saints was, for most of either franchise's history, kind of like choosing between Cholera or Bubonic Plague. With the exception of one giddy night in Buckhead eleven years ago, I can honestly say that I've never given a for rip my now-hometown team, and even after having lived in Atlanta for nearly a decade, you still couldn't get me to cross the street to watch the Falcons.
The story isn't all that different regarding the New Orleans Saints. Other than being selected as the "designated Saints fan" among a crowd of Americans when we all went to see New Orleans play Oakland in a London exhibition game twenty years ago (I drew the short straw thanks to my living closer to NOLA than anybody else at that time--but the Saints did win), I can't say I've ever followed the Saints, either.
All that said, I loved this piece by my old bud Lein Shory about the Saints, New Orleans, and the late "Buddy D," more formally known as Bernard Diliberto:
It was at LSU, probably while making the drive to New Orleans or back and forth from Birmingham, that I discovered the Buddy "Buddy D" Dilberto radio show. The Saints were terrible at the time, which always makes for better sports radio, and Buddy was leading the charge for the hiring of Mike Ditka. Ditka didn't work out so well, which continued to make for fun listening. I still vividly remember one caller, in absolute agony after another Saints debacle:
"I don't know what to do, Buddy, I don't know what to do," the fan said.
"There's not much you can do," Buddy said, "except go into the bathroom, lift up the lid, and throw up."
My wife and I moved to Kentucky after finishing at LSU, and it wasn't until we moved to Chicago that I found sports radio just as amusing as Buddy D's show. Every once in a while I could somehow pick up AM 870 (I think that was the channel) to get another taste of Buddy, and I was saddened to hear of his death in 2005.
I mourned Buddy D as well. In the days before internet streaming, before satellite radio, and before college football was something other than a one-day affair for ESPN, there were WWL out of New Orleans and WLAC out of Nashville. After dark, those high-powered AM stations were a college football fan's best friend. You could hear LSU or Tennessee games live on Saturday nights, and on the weekdays there were the call-in shows bursting with news and opinion about SEC football.
Buddy D's show, while usually geared more towards the Saints than LSU and the SEC, was still as entertaining as all get out--much more entertaining to me than the Saints games themselves. Buddy's roux-thick NOLA accent cut through the static, and virtually every sentence was punctuated with Buddy's two favorite words--"Da Noorinzaints!"
Sure, for anybody else that would be four words, but from Buddy, and from all the other lunatics down there in the curve of I-10, they were and ever shall be DA NOORLINZAINTS! The first thing I thought when I heard the Saints had won the last playoff game a couple of weeks ago was, "I wish I could hear Buddy D tomorrow."
So for you, Buddy, and for all the long-suffering fans of DA NOORLINZAINTS, my hat is off, and if I were ever to have a rooting interest in a Super Bore--uh, I mean, Bowl, this'll be the time.
Go Saints.
Auburn basketball close, but now 2-6 in SEC
Posted by Charles Goldberg, The Birmingham News on February 7th, 2010Jeff Lebo says Tigers show `mental toughness’…but Arkansas shows off Courtney Fortson for overtime victory
Viewed 194 times by 86 viewers
Boy’s commitment is a sad publicity stunt
Posted by Auburn Undercover News on February 7th, 2010I am turned off by beauty pageants in which parents dress 6-year-olds like they were 20 years older.
Viewed 197 times by 86 viewers
Jenkins, Patterson, Hubbard, Jacobs chosen as baseball captains
Posted by Auburn Undercover News on February 7th, 2010AUBURN - Senior catcher Ryan Jenkins and junior outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Patterson will serve as Auburn team captains for the second consecutive season.
Viewed 191 times by 86 viewers
Region’s decision is a major victory for Auburn
Posted by Auburn Undercover News on February 7th, 2010Sometimes there are moments in recruiting that have repercussions far beyond what a player eventually accomplishes on the field.
Viewed 194 times by 87 viewers
