Auburn-Alabama: Tigers' Performance Shows They're on the Right Track

As like the rest of the Auburn family, watching that last minute touchdown by Alabama made my stomach turn sour.  Watching the final Hail Mary get knocked down to seal the deal for Alabama made me realize it would be another 364 days before Auburn has another shot.

But in the amidst of the Alabama crowd that was cheering victory, fellow Auburn fans and myself did something I hadn't seen in a while.

As the Auburn band played the fight song, the Auburn crowd started singing and clapping along, cheering the team as they made their trek into the locker room.

Chants of "Its Great...To Be...An Auburn Tiger!" filled Jordan-Hare, overshadowing the joyful celebration of the Crimson Tide fans.

That alone should tell everyone that this team is far beyond last season, and beyond certain expectations this team has garnered in the preseason. 

For a team that doesn't have much depth defensively, they held Heisman Trophy candidate Mark Ingram to a total of 30 yards rushing.

For a team that many determined early they wouldn't score a touchdown on the vaunted Alabama defense, they scored three times in the end zone.

Although Auburn's record shows only seven wins, the team is together again.  The fan base has come together again.  This feeling of togetherness and family has been something that has been missing for a long time.

Even when Auburn was winning under Tommy Tuberville.

In retrospect of the regular season, except for the LSU game, Auburn was competitive in each contest.  Auburn had its opportunities, and fell short four times this season. 

Auburn also won some games it should have lost, as the game against West Virginia will tell.

There can be much to think about the season if Auburn had it's depth, a few plays here and there, and a bit more luck. 

Everyone in orange and blue should hold their head high today and into the future.  Hanging in there with the No. 2 team in the nation, your in-state arch rival, for nearly 60 minutes should give this program and its fans pause for little concern into the future.

Detractors will say Auburn failed five times this season.

Supporters will say Auburn had a chance in eleven games this season.

Give Alabama credit for pulling it out when it mattered, but give Auburn credit for giving Alabama their toughest game of the season.  This wasn't exactly the "warm-up" game against Florida that most were predicting.

For his first season, Coach Gene Chizik and his staff have done a great job with what they were given to start the season.  There is something, however, that they have given the players, and the fans to an extent, that wasn't there for a long time.

Auburn has become close again as a unit.  To quote Chizik:

"We have built a great foundation for what we are going to do in the future, and I am just very proud of our kids.  I appreciate our fans supporting our guys as we were running off the field, which is not surprising. I am very proud of our team."

The foundation is there coach.  The Auburn family can't wait to see what is in store for the future.