Auburn Tigers

Just a few quick thoughts while I get my head together coming out of one chaotic but still satisfying recruiting season:

If conventional wisdom on the recruiting habits of Nick Saban are true, why can't anyone have success being the anti-Saban? It doesn't seem that hard: four-year deals if you make grades and stay out of trouble versus one-year contracts, no history of fraudulent medical dismissals, immediate scholly instead of a gray shirt, followed by a red shirt, and almost instant playing time? Aren't people supposed to trust a man's word or is the audience not really that tuned in?

I checked. Total scholarships allowed by FBS institutuions is still 85 max and 25 new signees a year. How convuluted is our process if that's so hard to remember?

Trooper Taylor being named to the list of best recruiters three straight years and five times in his career is no surprise to many of us. All you have to do is pay attention to the way many fanbases deride him as a clown and a cheerleader to know they're getting their clocks cleaned by him and his towel.

New Auburn recruit Cassanova McKinzy could probably ink an endorsement deal from Chick-fil-A right now if such things were allowed. After blowing up the message boards last week with college town fast-food preferences supposedly helping to sway his decision, I say right now we nickname him the Chick-fil-A kidand see how much mileage we can get from it. Maybe he'll get some playing time in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and I'll get a big "I told you so" moment.

West Virginia is backing out of a game next year with FSU because of their conference switch-up and the Noles are threatening to sue. I wonder if they'll give them the 'Auburn' treatment after the Bowden-less Tigers attempted to negotiate what was ostensibly a mutual decision back in 2000 but got vilified by the FSU administration and Bobby Bowden in particular, threatening to have the whole ACC agree not to play us in any sport. Yea, we're still waiting on that bowl match-up, Seminoles.

Auburn fan favorite writer Mark Schlabach has his way-to-early preseason top 25 list and the Tigers are no where to be found. Can't say I necessarily disagree with him at this point before spring practice, but there's no reason why we can't keep the hate going.

From the fish out of water department, I thought Boise playing in the Big East and West Virginia playing in the Big 12 would be the biggest shockers this coming season, but it looks like Boise won't get their shot until 2013, as originally planned. I'll get dollars to donuts that it will be years being the Broncos win the Big East to automatically qualify and by that time there will be no guarantees that conference will still be on AQ status.Purgatory Conference, anyone? For all the malcontents trying to find a permanent home, we offer a temporary one that acknowledges that fact more so than joining un-related teams clear across the country.

I'll catch you next week.

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DeAndre Woods (6-4, 200) talks about the offensive coordinator change at Auburn as well as his junior day visits.
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AUBURN, Ala. -- The first sign came on the practice court. Varez Ward took an inbounds pass, turned to start up the court, and met full-court pressure from Josh Wallace.
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Auburn's defense has a long way to go heading into the 2012 season, and a position change by Daren Bates from linebacker to his original position, safety, could be greatly beneficial.

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Florida State head football coach Jimbo Fisher will be the featured speaker at the Montgomery Quarterback Club's annual awards banquet on Tuesday night, February 7. The Club will present awards to Prattville's Justin Thomas as the Public School Player of the Year, Trinity Presbyterian's Andy Pappanastos as Private School Player of the Year and the ... (more)

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A president Mark Emmert is urging Division I presidents to support implementation of new four-year scholarship legislation, which has met resistance since it was passed, CBSSports.com reported Monday. "It [override of the legislation] will take away the opportunity for...
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For the third consecutive year Auburn Assistant Head Coach Trooper Taylor has been named as one of the top college football recruiters in the nation by Rivals, ESPN, and 24/7 Sports. This is the fifth time that Taylor has made the list. He also was selected two years during his tenure at Tennessee.

In releasing their top 25 recruiters list, Rivals.com gave Taylor a lot of credit for bringing in top Receivers JaQuay Williams and Ricardo Louis as well as being influential in corralling Tight End Ricky Parks. The 2012 class was Auburn's third straight top 10 class.

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Auburn wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor has been named to the list as one of Rivals.com’s Top 25 recruiters in the entire country again.
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Alabama tight end Brad Smelley had a combined 13 catches for 125 yards in the Tide's victories over Auburn in the Iron Bowl and LSU in the BCS championship game.

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Former Auburn Tiger Brandon Jacobs earned his second Super Bowl victory on Sunday as he helped the New York Giants to a 21-17 win over the New England Patriots.
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Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, a current member of the Carolina Panthers, won the 2011 Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, which was announced at the NFL Honors show Saturday.
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Auburn defensive back T'Sharvan Bell is the only fifth-year player on Auburn's roster.

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Bath winger Tom Biggs scored a hat-trick of tries as Exeter Chiefs suffered their first defeat in five matches in their final LV= Cup pool game.

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Call him the comeback kid. Against the odds, Gene Chizik looks to have landed his third consecutive top 10 recruiting class. It may have taken three days beyond signing day to get there, but Auburn coaches have done the seemingly impossible.

With the signing of five-star offensive linemen Jordan Diamond on Friday, Auburn jumped significantly in all of the recruiting services rankings. Scout.com moved Auburn up five spots to number nine in its 2012 recruiting round-up. 247 Sports.com moved the Tigers from No. 17 to No. 13.

Auburn may not be finished yet. They remain in the running for Washington D.C, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Denver prep offensive lineman Alex Kozan. Diggs is said to leaning toward Ohio State, but Maryland and Auburn remain possibilities. As we go to press, Kozan is still considering Iowa and Auburn.

For those who remain skeptical about the recruiting services and their rankings, this article will give you more ammunition. I'm just saying...

Watching the spectacle of the Super Bowl last night, it makes you wonder why the BCS can't put on a similar show. Holding the game on a Monday night is plain stupid. Why not showcase college football and have the championship on a Saturday night? It's the sport's traditional day to play and fans would have the next day off. Seems so simple.

While Auburn has yet to officially release its 2012 football schedule, we have a good idea of how it will shake out. According to FB Schedules.com, the slate looks like this:

(Sept. 1) Clemson (Georgia Dome); (Sept. 8) at Miss State; (Sept. 15) Louisiana-Monroe; (Sept. 22) LSU; (Sept. 29) OPEN DATE; (Oct. 6) Arkansas; (Oct. 13) at Ole Miss; (Oct. 20) at Vanderbilt; (Oct. 27) Texas A&M; (Nov. 3) New Mexico St.; (Nov. 10) Georgia; (Nov. 17) Alabama A&M; (Nov. 24) at Alabama.

I don't know the people behind the website, Never to Yield Foundation.com. What I do know is that in recent weeks, they've pinned some of the best articles ever written about Auburn and its standing in this state.

If you haven't already, check out their story entitled, The Cult of Updyke. It's been posted on our Fanshots page for several days. When in mixed company, you often hear Alabama fans say alleged Toomer's Tree killer Harvey Updyke is the exception to the Alabama fan base.

The dirty little secret is that most (not all) feel exactly the way Updyke does and that's why he's treated like a rock star at Alabama sporting events. It's a very telling article and one I agree with completely.

Vigor defensive lineman Darius Philon learned a valuable life lesson last week. When you hang around trash, bad things happen. We've all heard the story by now. Alabama coach Nick Saban yanked his offer to Philon on Wednesday morning and left the talented lineman sitting broken hearted at his signing ceremony.

This is not the first time Saban has pulled this stunt. It's been well documented in the past. In fact, it happened last month with Georgia prep running back Justin Taylor. I'd like to say I feel sorry for Philon, but he should have known better. You can bet he was warned.

There's no arguing Saban's success. There's also no arguing he cares only about himself. He's never left a job on good terms and the same will likely be said when he leaves Tuscaloosa.

Montgomery Advertiser columnist Josh Moon nailed it when he wrote last week, "For years, Saban has treated college football like a cutthroat business. He's skirted recruiting rules, danced around scholarship limitations and been surrounded by more career ending injuries to third-string players than any coach in the history of organized athletics.

"Honestly, taking the high road from Saban is the easiest win Gene Chizik will ever get. It's like winning a Good Ideas for Space Exploration Contest over Newt Gingrich."

As legendary college football analyst Beeno Cook said recently, "He's (Saban) a great coach, but I wouldn't be his Bridge partner." Amen.

In the end, Philon signed with Arkansas, a place he's never visited. Despite all the publicity surrounding the snubbing, you can bet there will be more kids who find themselves in the same boat next year. When you play with fire...

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College football Hall of Fame Coach Pat Dye writes about a playoff and answers a question in this edition of his Dye-Log column.
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