Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Something Interesting... AND Football Relevant!

So I've stumbled across some interesting information. I was at home for Dad's day the other weekend and in some down time I picked up one of our books regarding the 2004 football season. It took every game, includes a couple of articles from Inside the Auburn Tigers Magazine, and a number of pictures. It also included stats from every game. After about halfway through the season, I realized a surprising trend. Now it may be old news to some, or unsurprising to others, but here is what I discovered.



LA. MONROE:

Rushing Yards: 194

Passing Yards: 186



MISSISSIPPI STATE:

Rushing Yards: 283

Passing Yards: 182



LSU:

Rushing Yards: 131

Passing Yards: 170



CITADEL:

Rushing Yards: 234

Passing Yards: 359



TENNESSEE:

Rushing Yards: 107

Passing Yards: 186



LA. TECH:

Rushing Yards: 198

Passing Yards: 274

ARKANSAS:

Rushing Yards:225

Passing Yards: 297

KENTUCKY:

Rushing Yards: 210

Passing Yards: 127

OLE MISS:

Rushing Yards: 205

Passing Yards: 234

GEORGIA:

Rushing Yards: 186

Passing Yards: 218

ALABAMA:

Rushing Yards: 74

Passing Yards: 224

TENNESSEE (SEC Championship Game):

Rushing Yards: 185

Passing Yards: 374

VA. TECH:

Rushing Yards: 110

Passing Yards: 189

SEASON TOTALS:

Rushing Yards: 2342

Passing Yards: 3020

I was really surprised to see how often we passed for more yards than we rushed. For whatever reason I remember the thunder and lightning combo of Brown and Cadillac more than I do Campbell's passing.

We talk a lot around here about the running game, and how Auburn isn't Auburn without a running game, and I certainly agree. I've always been a traditional, conservative type of guy with a three yards and a cloud of dust mentality. Heck, even playing NCAA on the Xbox machine I have to run the ball. People get annoyed that I can't rear back and heave the ball even in a video game, but in my mind, it's just not right. But this just goes to show that no matter how good your running game is, in this day and age, there is NO substitute for a talented, experienced quarterback who can throw the ball; cool under pressure, a decision maker. And Auburn is no exception.

We can, and I believe should build our offense around the running game. But the quarterback will make or break this team.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Back on the Plains

So I've been out of the loop and off the radar for about a week now. I've been in New York City for the first time for the past week or so. I've got to get reacquainted with what all's going on around here and then I'll post something really thought provoking and deep... or totally lame. I blog, you decide.
In the meantime, enjoy these pics of the city.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Numbers of the Day

Today's post on "Somewhere in Section 25" is brought to you by the numbers:

2: The number of Auburn's ranking in US News and World Report's ranking of the best cities to live in in the US. To tell the truth, I think we got jipped. Albuquerque? I've never really heard anything good about New Mexico, except that there's some mediocre skiing. As far as I knew the only thing of real importance that's happened in Albuquerque was that Bugs Bunny took a wrong turn there once or twice. Of course, that is an admittedly bold statement coming from someone in Alabama. And I never have been to Albuquerque, so my opinion isn't really that informed. Nonetheless, I happen to be of the totally unbiased opinion that Auburn is the greatest place in the world. Congrats to whomever congrats need to go to for this fantastic piece of positive publicity for The Loveliest Village (City Counsel? Mayor? Regardless, great work!).

And

200: The number of students allegedly involved in Textbookgate, according to Kevin Scarbinsky. Now, while the talk around the AU campus throughout this whole deal has been "oh wow, that's a huge deal" I'd like to remind anyone thinking that this is the Albert Means case again that it's not. Of those 200, the vast vast majority of the people involved did not realize they were breaking a rule, and of all the athletes involved, there are less football players involved than any other Bammer sports program. Not to mention the fact that a couple of textbooks probably aren't going to sway the minds of recruits as Bammer points out in their letter to the NCAA ("minimal if any competitive advantage"). I don't know of any recruit that's going to say, "Alright! If I go to Bama, I could make a few extra bucks on my books every semester," especially if the Escalade didn't convince them to go (ZING!).

That being said: TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE! WTF, BAMA? For a program that was supposed to be on lockdown--and I mean LOCKDOWN--that's a definite "Lack of Institutional Control" if I've ever heard it. The nature of the offense itself really wasn't that bad, but the fact that it was so widespread sure is, especially for an athletics program that's still on the probation period.

It was my belief that if Dad catches you with your hand in the cookie jar and whups you, you don't turn around and go back to the cookie jar two hundred more times. At least not while Dad is still standing in the kitchen, watching that jar of cookies right after he caught you.

That just seems a little thick. The smoke never really had cleared from the whole Albert Means thing, but it seems like the Bammer Administration just kinda let the whole textbook thing go. I'm just at a loss at the whole thing. Oh well, their pain is my entertainment.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Related To: Nothing

Just plain funny. I couldn't decide how to caption this. So I'm gonna go a few directions with it. All at the same time. Freak your mind.


Pooh Fail






"Hm, I guess the Bahr really wasn't a genius"

Bear Cub=Auburn ; Feeder=Tony Franklin

I like that last one. Despite all the pain that feeder caused us, we still haven't gotten it off our head.

I really am pleased with myself for that one. I'm treating myself to some Mama G's.

Full bear cub story for the incurably curious hyeah.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Prayers for Coach Quick

I found this on Beaver's blog this morning, and thought I'd pass it along. For those of you who don't know, Coach Richard Quick of the Auburn swim team was diagnosed at the end of last year with an inoperable brain tumor. This was released by Coach Quick's family yesterday:
We ask for your prayers of peace, comfort and safety. We are preparing to
take Richard home to Austin. He has yet to respond to treatment. We will leave
by ambulance Friday or Saturday and take him to Querencia, a skilled nursing
facility in Austin since he can't take his medicines orally anymore. We have
heavy hearts and rely on thr Lord to carry us on this part of our journey. May
we all find the peace that goes beyond understanding. "Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 May the Lord hear our cries
and fulfill the promise of John 14;27, Love June and Richard

Coach Quick coached at Auburn for the past two years, in addition to the four years he coached here from 1978-1982. He and Co-Head Coach Brett Hawke earned Coach of the Year honors this year after his Auburn team won him his record 13th National Championship.

Our prayers are with you, Coach. War Eagle.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Thoughts on Big Cat Weekend: For Reals

About the other day's post. When I read the quote about "Extreme Recruiting" I immediately thought of that Powerthirst thing, and I got this mental image in my head of Gene Chizik screaming at recruits in order to be more "extreme". So my apology for leaning on the all caps button and the exclamation points, but it was amusing, at least for myself.

But I digresserize. You all know my thoughts on recruiting hype, especially at this time of the year. However, much like the Tiger Prowl, the story got too big on these internets to ignore, especially at this time of the year. So I'm going to try and comment on it focusing on the staff side of things. I don't really care which recruit said what (although the little "tell Nick Saban he SOL" thing was awesome). It's a long long loooong way to February, and at the moment, we don't have any of these guys coming out with a strong verbal. And even if we did, these are 17 year olds we're talking about here. Indecisiveness comes with the territory, not to mention the million other factors that can influence these guys from here 'till February.

As far as the staff goes, I am excited. This staff is taking the recruiting gap very seriously, and that is certainly step one for any new coaching staff. Not to mention the fact that they are looking at it from a different angle. The Tiger Prowl and Big Cat Weekend are two things the likes of which have never happened here on the plains. Without a doubt it's more flashy and in-your-face (EXTREME!!) than anything else we've done here during the off-season. And so far* it seems to be working. There is more talk about Auburn recruiting since.... well since as long as I can remember.

I know that at least one time this year you've pictured Tubs & Co. getting in a piAUmped out limo and cruising the state and laughed. Possibly out loud. I have. In the middle of class. It was embarrassing.

Tubs & Co. were set on going out and getting guys who they said fit the Auburn mold which is, in theory, perfectly ok. However, as Jerry points out their best players were all big name recruits, and Auburn played its best football when we had a number of experienced big name recruits (i.e. Carnell, Campbell, Aromashadu, Obamanu). I feel like this staff is dedicated to getting their man just as much as the last one. This staff's vision of the Auburn mold just includes the types of guys that are high up on the rankings.

The point I'm getting at here is, Chizik and his staff of super recruiters are not going about the off-season the way Tubs' staff did, they're trying to make as much noise in the recruiting world as possible. And that's everything we've asked of them. That's what they were hired for. Chizik didn't hire this staff to go out and recruit a bunch of three-stars and hope to turn them into great players. You put together this group of coaches to go out and get the cream of the talent crop, which is something we haven't made an important goal in a while--perhaps too long.

And that's what this whole post boils down to. This is an off-season mid-term grade for Chizik and his staff. In my eyes they get an A++++ (a-la "A Christmas Story"). They salvaged a great class after the post-season coaching/bad publicity debacle. They were quiet when they needed to be quiet, and they've made noise in a great way. However, coaches, as I'm sure you all read SIS25 regularly, be careful! We still have three months before the off-season ends, and nearly nine months until signing day, which leaves you with plenty of time to screw it up if you don't stay on top of things. Now I've heard some good things about plans for the rest of the summer (see end of post) and you need to capitalize on that to keep this momentum going.

More importantly, coaches, please note that this off-season grade only accounts for 5% of your grade. The other 95% comes this fall, with a good portion of that consisting of the final exams in November. Don't ever forget it.

*I cannot stress the importance of the phrase "so far" enough.

Monday, June 1, 2009

EXTREME RECRUITING!!!

Hey, recruit! Are you sick of boring recruiting?! Fed up with the same shirt-ripping, tunnel running BULLCRAP!?! Are Dodge Chargers just not a punch in your face anymore!?! Try EXTREME RECRUITING!!! That's right!! From the makers of "Tiger Prowl" comes all new EXTREME RECRUITING!!! This isn't your father's recruiting! This recruiting is a kick straight to your nads! It'll psyche you up! You'll be so psyched up, Nick Saban'll be like "slooow down" and you'll be like "F--- YOU! YOU'RE SOL!!" and kick him in the face with your five-star legs!!!




[Warning; 1 instance of language]

If you hate dressing up in those uncomfortable clothes, come dressed in a T-SHIRT and FLIP FLOPS!!! Bored with shaking hands with up-tight coaches!?! Try out Trooper Taylor's EXTREME CHEST-BUMP!!!

TROOPER TAYLOR!!!


Take a ride around the state in our EXTREME STRETCH LIMO!! It'll make your free Escalade look like a Ford Focus!! (NOT EXTREME!)

This new recruiting is SICK!! It's so SICK that they'll need to make a vaccine for it!! EXTREME RECRUITING is what you need to satisfy your thrill/college-seeking needs!! So don't be a TOTAL WUSS! Try EXTREME RECRUITING now!!!

Disclaimer: EXTREME RECRUITING is not liable for broken ribcages, increased hype, or secondary recruiting violations.