Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Mizerany

Auburn's Biggest Offseason Addition Is a Hard Fighting Soldier

Chris Mizerany — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:02:28 -0400

The Auburn Tigers made a HUGE pickup this offseason.

Any guesses who it was?

Gus Malzahn? No.

Tracy Rocker? No.

DeAngelo Benton? Emory Blake? Tyrik Rollison?

No, no, and no.

Give up?

Too bad. Thanks for playing.

I'll tell you what, though. I'll give you the answer.

Yes, for free.

Huh? No. No strings attached.

Here it is.....

Auburn picked up a linebacker this offseason. Not just any linebacker. This guy is All-SEC caliber.

His name?

Travis Williams.

I guess I'll go ahead and answer your questions. Yes, that Travis Williams. No, he isn't eligible to play another year.

For those that don't know, Travis Williams was a three-year starter at linebacker for Auburn. He was an integral part of the 2004 Tigers defense that helped Auburn achieve a perfect season. In that same year, he was selected first-team All-SEC despite playing his position at just over 200 pounds.

As a player, Williams was known for making big hits and even bigger plays. He had a short professional stint with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons which, three herniated discs later, came to an abrupt end.

After his playing career was over, Travis volunteered as a coach at Spring Valley (SC) High, his alma mater.

Then, before he knew it, Williams was hired as defensive graduate assistant at his other alma mater, Auburn University.

Travis Williams can bring a lot of things to the table: Hard work, determination, tenacity, knowledge of the game, experience, etc.

All of these traits, however, pale in comparison to one thing. Williams will bring leadership, not from himself, but from something...higher.

In 2004, the entire Auburn football team rallied around a song. A hymn to be more exact.

The name of this hymn was "Hard Fighting Soldier."

The 2004 Auburn team was not about individuals. It was not about records, awards, stats, or even wins. They wanted to do one thing every single game: Glorify God.

It was with the help of this newfound collective belief that the Tigers persevered.

Soon, the entire Auburn community, and many others, had heard of this.

It was then that our fans were united. It was then that our players became a team.

This is what Travis Williams will bring to the Auburn Tigers.

A winning attitude.

A sense of leadership.

A higher purpose.

"I'm a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield

I've got a helmet on my head, in my hand a sword and shield

You gotta walk right, talk right, sing right, pray right, on the battlefield

I keep on bringing souls to Jesus by the service that I give.

I'm a hard fighting soldier on the battlefield."

War Eagle Travis Williams. Welcome home.

Stars, Stripes, and Big Cats: Gene Chizik's First Offseason at Auburn

Chris Mizerany — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:30:00 -0400

Reporter: "Are you afraid to recruit against Nick Saban?"

Coach Chizik: "I'm sorry, I don't know who that is...War Damn Eagle!"

Ah yes, new Auburn head coach Gene Chizik is one smooth talker. Ever since his controversial hire just seven months ago, he has said all the right things and displayed a certain bravado that has Auburn fans thinking positive for the first time in a while.

Yes, Chizik can talk the talk.

But talkin' ain't walkin', and the Tigers' new head man has a lot of walkin' to do to escape the shadow of his 5-19 record at Iowa State.

Auburn has practiced four times now and is preparing for their first scrimmage. It is officially preseason.

So, with that in mind, how much walkin' did Coach Chizik and staff get done in their first offseason as Auburn Tigers?

One thing is for sure: This was no dull offseason for Auburn.

Much of a head coach's success is based on his surrounding staff. Shortly after his hiring, Chizik put together one of the youngest, most charismatic, most talented coaching staffs in the country.

His hires included young hotshot offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, recruiter extraordinaire Curtis Luper, outgoing and tough receiver coach Trooper Taylor, and a former Outland Trophy winner at Auburn, Tracy Rocker.

Not a bad start.

Shortly thereafter, Auburn closed out the 2009 recruiting class strong by signing such highly touted recruits as Tyrik Rollison, DeAngelo Benton, Emory Blake, Dontae Aycock, Jamar Travis, and Nosa Eguae.

Building momentum...

Soon, it was the no contact period for coaches. They could not communicate with any 2010 recruits in any way. So, the Tiger Prowl was born.

Auburn's entire coaching staff, besides Chizik (head coaches could not visit high schools in this period), travelled the state of Alabama, visiting high schools in a stretch Hummer limo.

Is this stuff actually working?

Then came the big show and the top story of Auburn's offseason, Big Cat Weekend. Coach Chizik and staff hosted some of the top recruits in the nation (including the top three running backs) on a weekend of fun and a family atmosphere.

The weekend drew mixed reviews from critics, but not recruits. Temple (TX) High running back Lache Seastrunk, the No. 2 overall prospect in the country, called it the best visit he ever had.

Now there's a buzz in the air.

Then, the highly anticipated Stars and Stripes Weekend came. Then, it passed. Just like any other weekend.

Slight disappointment, but still hopefully optimistic.

That brings us to preseason practice.

There it is—Auburn's offseason. Let me guess: It sounds great, but is something missing?

Oh yeah.

Commitments.

Auburn heads into the season with 14 total commitments, including a pair of top receiving threats (Jeremy Richardson and Antonio Goodwin) and a big JUCO defensive end (Joel Bonomolo) from California.

The big names, however, are still missing. Top 100 names such as Seastrunk, Dyer, Lattimore, Reed, and Owens remain uncommitted. The Tigers are big players for these prospects, but Coach Chizik will have to lead his team to some solid game day performances and a much improved season to land them.

So, for generating the hype you have, for hiring the staff you hired, and for renewing hope for fans, coach Gene Chizik receives an A- offseason grade from this writer.

It is unclear how this season will play out for Auburn University, but one thing is clear: Chizik has a message he wants to send out.

"This is Auburn. Respect it."

Yeah, nice talkin' Mean Gene. Now, keep on walkin'.

Randle, Jenkins Lead SEC's Freshman Class into 2009 Season

Chris Mizerany — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:59:57 -0400

While last year's crop of SEC Freshmen included soon to be (or already) household names such as Julio Jones, Will Hill, Mark Ingram, Patrick Peterson, and AJ Green, this year's batch of diaper dandies looks to top their 2008 counterparts. The bar has been set high. Jones and Ingram led Alabama to their most successful season in recent memory, including the first Crimson Tide Iron Bowl victory in seven years. Green became the top receiving target for last year's #1 overall NFL Draft pick, Matthew Stafford. All Hill did was play in a defensive secondary and star on special teams for the National Champion Florida Gators. This year, names such as Randle, Jenkins, Brown, and Kirkpatrick look to impact games early and often. With the season rapidly approaching, Let's take a look at the top five offensive and defensive SEC recruits for 2009.

Begin Slideshow

Curtis Luper, Trooper Taylor, Rest of Auburn Staff Give Fans Reason For Hope

Chris Mizerany — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:35:55 -0500

Five wins. Seven losses.

That's all I could think about when Auburn football came to mind.

Until AD Jay Jacobs and crew hired Gene Chizik away from Iowa State. Then, my thinking was a little different.

Five wins. 19 losses. This was Coach Chizik's career record in his two years as the Cyclones' head coach.

I was certain Auburn football was doomed. It felt like a self-imposed probation.

A week or two went by while Chizik called existing commitments. He was doing his job so far.

Then, Auburn fans got good news. Linebacker coach James Willis had been retained.

Then, more good news. Coach Chizik had hired offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who directed the nation's top offense each of the last two years at Tulsa.

Now, we have a defensive coordinator in Ted Roof, who orchestrated a pretty respectable defensive turnaround at Minnesota this year.

Also added to Chizik's staff as the tight ends and special teams coach was Jay Boulware, who came from Iowa State.

While all of these hires were definite steps in the right direction, two hires have made a huge immediate impact.

Coaches Curtis Luper and Trooper Taylor were hired away from Oklahoma State to coach running backs and wide receivers, respectively. Taylor was also given the title of assistant head coach.

As soon as the dead period ended, the coaching staff hit the ground running.

First, we heard that the staff had visited Anthony Gulley, a little recruited player that seems to have potential.

Then, the staff visited a pair of highly rated defensive ends, Fletcher Cox and Ed Stinson. Stinson seems to be very high on Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, but Cox, a Mississippi State soft commit, is now considering an Auburn visit.

This news was very pleasing to Auburn fans.

Then, something happened. Our coaches started going after the cream of the crop.

Curtis Luper visited Rueben Randle, Bryce Brown, and Tyrik Rollison.

Randle is a wide receiver and the nation's number one player. Brown is a running back and the nation's number two player. Rollison is ranked as the nation's second-best dual-threat quarterback.

Now, I will state all the facts and say that Luper and Trooper were recruiting Randle and Rollison to Oklahoma State before coming to Auburn.

However, Auburn had not contacted any of these three players before Tuesday.

Two of them, Randle and Rollison, have scheduled official visits to Auburn already.

This was all done in two days. It's hard for an Auburn fan not to imagine what this new staff could do with an entire year.

What are the chances that Auburn signs any of the big three? Very slim. But that's not the point.

The point is, Auburn is calling and they are listening. This is a huge step in the right direction for a program that seemed to have lost its way.

Maybe, just maybe, one of these guys will bring us a late Christmas present with a signing day surprise.

Likely? Not very.

But, for the first time in a while, Auburn fans can hope.

College Football: Are The Tears Of Joy Worth The Tears Of Pain?

Chris Mizerany — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:00:33 -0400

"Todd threw a pick. Game over. I hate football."

This was the text message I sent to my mother at the end of the Auburn/Vanderbilt game on Saturday. It was the last of many updates sent throughout the game.

As I stood in Jefferson's Sports Bar in Jacksonville, Alabama, I was in shock. There were so many emotions going through my head.

Anger. Disgust. Pain.

Basically, any unpleasant emotion you can think of, I felt it.

As I left Jefferson's, I didn't need to see the end of the game. I knew the final result. But I couldn't believe it. Auburn 13, Vanderbilt 14. Wow.

I kept telling myself that it wasn't as bad as it seemed. That did not work.

As I looked around, I noticed something that I hadn't noticed before. I was too consumed in my game to realize I was surrounded by a sea of crimson.

There were tons of Alabama fans, all reveling in what they had just witnessed. Alabama is 6-0, No.2 in the country.

Auburn is 4-2, one loss away from being unranked.

Then I realized, it wasn't like this twelve months ago.

Last year I would be yelling at the top of my lungs, smiling in satisfaction as Auburn finished gutting out an impressive win against Florida. Then I would take deep satisfaction in the fact that Alabama had lost another game.

Oh how times have changed.

College football brings with it a wide range of emotions. It brings tears of joy, and it brings tears of pain.

It's amazing how quickly euphoria can turn to disdain.

Sometimes, it is downright painful to watch my team play. Which makes me question, is it worth it?

Almost a year ago, I sent a completely different text message to one of my friends, keeping him updated on the Chick-Fil-A Bowl between Auburn and Clemson.

"Burns tucks it, runs up the middle, stretches, TOUCHDOWN AUBURN!!!!! What a game!!!! I can't wait for next season!!!!"

If only I knew.

I'm sure all of you have felt this way before. Alabama fans after UL-Monroe, USC fans after Oregon State, Michigan fans after Appalachian State. I could go on.

This season has really been a test to true Auburn fans. We've been kept in the dark, had promises broken, and, quite frankly, paying a lot of money to see a JV offense get stuffed every play.

Times like these make a fan appreciate the good times. Also, it makes future success that much sweeter.

Though I am disappointed in my team, along with every other Auburn fan, you best believe there will be 90,000 strong wearing orange at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.

So next time your team makes you cry tears of pain, and you have to ask yourself why you do this, do what I do. Reflect.

Think of all the other times you've found tears running down your face. But those times were due to joy. Now, imagine how much sweeter it'll be next time that happens.

Feel better? Okay, maybe not immediately.

But no matter what happens, I will always say that it's great to be an Auburn Tiger.

So, is it worth it?

In a word, yes.

The Rise Of Auburn Tigers' Robert Dunn

Chris Mizerany — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:00:19 -0400

America, allow me to introduce you to Robert Dunn.

If you don't follow the SEC, you've probably never heard of him.

If you do follow the SEC, you may never have heard of him.

Dunn is a receiver for the Auburn Tigers. He has played a minimal role throughout his career. He started returning punts last year and did a serviceable job. Also, he played a good bit at receiver, being overshadowed by Rod Smith's breakout 2007 season.

He has never complained. He has always worked hard. I, for one, was never a big fan of his. He just never showed a lot on the field.

Then, one play last year, Dunn caught a ten yard pass from Brandon Cox. Sounds ordinary, right? Well it was, until he proceeded to break free from five defenders and turn that ten yard pass into a twenty five yard pass, forcing three defenders to finally drag him down.

It was then that Robert Dunn gained the respect of every fan in Jordan-Hare Stadium, and we started to take notice.

Dunn went on to play his role in the offense for the remainder of the season, never garnering any headlines, but working just as hard as anyone else.

Then this offseason, he was overshadowed by talks of Rod Smith, James Swinton, Montez Billings, Tim Hawthorne, and even true freshman Phillip Pierre-Louis.

He was listed at fourth in the depth chart to start this, his senior season on the Plains.

Dunn kept his head high.

This season, he has 197 all-purpose yards on eleven touches. Twenty one of those yards are from two receptions, six yards from two rushes. So where did the other 171 yards come from?

Punt returns.

Robert Dunn has been an electrifying punt returner.

His 24.4 yards per return average leads the SEC and is sixth nationally. His 171 return yards leads the nation.

Coming into the season, Auburn had not returned a punt for a touchdown since 1996, the nation's longest such streak. Dunn happily broke that streak in the season opener against Louisiana-Monroe with a 66 yard return for a touchdown. He returned another one for a score the following week against Southern Miss, only to have it called back for an unnecessary block in the back.

This week, against Mississippi State, Dunn will start at the H position at wide receiver.

Keep your eyes open for Robert Dunn. This season could be the culmination of many years of hard work.

Everyone loves a storybook ending.

Five Top Fives in the SEC: Week Two

Chris Mizerany — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:56:09 -0400

Well, we're two weeks into the new season of college football. Here is a quick look at my five top fives in the SEC.

Top Five Teams

1. Florida Gators

I'm sure the Georgia fans will hate me for this, but the UF defense looks improved, and their offense has what seems like an infinite amount of weapons.

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia has lived up to the hype, but they have played against lesser competition than the Gators.

3. Auburn Tigers

Auburn showed that they could run against UL-Monroe and showed that they could pass against Southern Miss. Their defense is brutal. Now, about those fumbles...

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Tide absolutely dominated a top 10 Clemson team but followed that up with a less impressive victory over Tulane. Impressive or not, they're still 2-0.

5. LSU Tigers

LSU fans will now be the ones biting my head off. This could be because I was never on the App State bandwagon, or because I'm still not convinced of Andrew Hatch being an SEC-caliber quarterback. LSU can prove itself to me on Sept. 20.

Top Five Offensive Players

1. Tim Tebow

One word describes Tebow on the field: Beast.

2. Knowshon Moreno

Last year's freshman phenom looks to be avoiding the sophomore slump: He is averaging 8.7 yards per carry en route to 310 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.

3. Ben Tate

Auburn's running back has really emerged. Against ULM, he had 120 all-purpose yards, and he added 122 more against Southern Miss—all this while splitting time with Lester, Davis, and Smith in the backfield.

4. Charles Scott

In just one game this year, LSU's tailback has 160 rushing yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns.

5. Andre Smith

He helped anchor an offensive line that dominated Clemson, and the drop-off was noticeable when he didn't play against Tulane.

Top Five Surprises

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama was a heavy underdog against Clemson, and they crushed the Tigers. No letdown against Tulane the week after.

2. Vanderbilt Commodores

After beating Miami (OH) in Week One, Vandy overcame a 10-3 halftime deficit to defeat the then-No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks.

3. Mark Ingram

The freshman flew under the radar all spring and has run wild for the Tide, amassing 171 total yards so far this year.

4. Tennessee Volunteers

This is by no means a good surprise. The Vols intercepted UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft four times and still lost. Bye bye Fat Phil?

5. Auburn running game

After all the hype about Auburn's new spread offense, many people were under the impression that the Tigers had abandoned the running game. As my friend Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend!

Top Five Coaches on the Hot Seat

1. Sylvester Croom

After a loss to Louisiana Tech, the Bulldogs can only go up. Right?

2. Phillip Fulmer

Fat Phil always seems to be on the hot seat, but he never seems to go anywhere.

3. Steve Spurrier

Okay, Spurrier most likely will not be fired. But he may step down soon.

4. Rich Brooks

After losing Andre' Woodson, the Kentucky football team will likely return to its losing ways.

5. Bobby Petrino

Could Arkansas really fire such a high-paid, highly touted coach after one year? I don't know, but if Arkansas keeps this up, they should.

Top Five Disgraces to the SEC

1. The New Arkansas Uniforms

Seriously? Whatever they were drinking, it should be illegal.

2. Mississippi State Loses to LA Tech

The only thing more embarrassing would be losing to Cal Poly. Sorry, Aztecs fans...

3. Arkansas Beats Western Illinois—By FOUR

Come on Arkansas, can we step it up a little? For the SEC?

4. Mississippi State Opens the Season in Ruston, LA

Where? Exactly.

5. Urban Meyer Runs Up the Score on Miami

With about a minute remaining and up by 20, Meyer kept calling passing plays and drove downfield for a late field goal. I don't know your motives, Coach Meyer, but show some class. Run out the clock.

Now let's hear your opinions.

War Eagle,

Chris

Julio Jones, Will Hill Top List Of SEC's Top Impact Freshmen

Chris Mizerany — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:55:00 -0400

We have all seen the impact a freshman can have in college football. Over the past few years, this has beome more and more evident.

Tim Tebow. Noel Devine. Adrian Peterson. Chad Jones. Percy Harvin. That's just a few.

I rest my case.

With football starting this weekend, let's examine which true freshmen will make the biggest impact in the SEC, this year and beyond.

Biggest Immediate Impact on Offense

1. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: Julio Jones may be coming into college with more hype than anyone in the country not named Terrelle Pryor. He is the highest ranked prospect in Alabama's highly touted recruiting class. Standing tall at 6-foot-4, he provides a big target for John Parker Wilson, which is needed after the losses of DJ Hall and Keith Brown. And oh yeah, the kid can play.

2. Enrique Davis, RB, Ole Miss: Though I have a personal hatred for Davis ever since he spurned Auburn for Ole Miss, there is no denying the guy's talent. While he was committed to Auburn, Davis drew comparisons to former Tiger and current Miami Dolphin Ronnie Brown. The comparisons came from his short, stocky build and his explosiveness. We've all seen what Houston Nutt can do with an explosive back.

3. AJ Green, WR, Georgia: Green was somewhat overshadowed nationally by Julio Jones. However, he may be just as good. Green is not as big or fast as Jones, but he is well known for his soft hands and his ability to gain yards after the catch. The only reason I think his immediate impact will be less is due to the fact that UGA has more talent (notably Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno) returning than 'Bama does, and Green may be overshadowed.

4. Phillip Pierre-Louis, WR, Auburn: Pierre-Louis is not regarded as highly as the other players in this article, but he is fast. Really fast. Rumors have been circulating that he ran a 4.25 40-yard dash in high school. Though I haven't seen any proof of this, the 4.4 time that recruiting services list is plenty fast. This is the fastest player outside of Reggie Bush that I have ever seen in person. He will fit perfectly in Auburn's new spread offense, and will also return kicks.

5. Burton Scott, WR, Alabama: Scott will be a good complement to Julio Jones in the Tide's offense this year. While he is not very big (5-foot-11, 194 pounds), he makes up for it with very impressive speed. While Jones will look to fill the "go-to guy" gap left open by Hall and Brown, Scott will try and be more like Matt Caddell, a playmaker that lines up primarily in the slot.

Honorable Mention: LSU WR Chris Tolliver, Alabama OL Tyler Love

Biggest Immediate Impact on Defense

1. Will Hill, S, Florida: Hill was an all-around athlete in high school, playing all positions, primarily quarterback and safety. He was recruited to Florida as a safety. Hill is big, fast, hard-hitting, and tough. He looks to play very early, and potentially start, for the Gators.

2. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU: Peterson is a speedy cornerback with very good size (6-foot-1, 193 pounds) for his position. Like Hill, Peterson expects to play early, and possibly start, for the Bayou Bengals this year. Look for him to make a big impact on one of the nation's top defenses this year.

3. Neiko Thorpe, CB, Auburn: Thorpe's position on this list jumped from fifth to third following the season ending injury to cornerback Aairon Savage. With Savage out, Thorpe will now be the third option at cornerback for the Tigers. Like Peterson, he has very good size (6-foot-2, 175 pounds), and has impressed coaches at camp.

4. Jerrell Harris, LB, Alabama: Having played against Harris and blocking him (to the best of my ability) for two years in high school, I can tell you he's the real deal. That's good news for 'Bama fans. With All-SEC linebacker Prince Hall suspended for the first three games, Harris may have to step in immediately. After Hall returns, Harris will still look to contribute as often as possible.

5. Omar Hunter, DT, Florida: Hunter was a surprise late addition to Florida's 2008 signing class, and he topped it off perfectly. Big, strong, and quick for his size, Hunter looks to step into the Gators' 4-3 defense and contribute immediately.

Honorable Mention: LSU LB Ryan Baker, Georgia DE Cornelius Washington

Now, a quick look at the future. Here is my short list of true freshmen that may not contribute right away, but will have a big impact in the future:

1. Jermaine Johnson, OL, Auburn

2. Tavarres King, WR, Georgia

3. Star Jackson, QB, Alabama

4. William Green, DL, Florida

5. Dee Finley, S, Florida

6. E.J. Abrams-Ward, WR, Tennessee

7. Jordan Jefferson, QB, LSU

8. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

9. Cameron Henderson, DE, Auburn

10. De'Anthony Curtis, RB, Arkansas

Kodi Burns vs. Chris Todd: Who Is the Best Man for the Auburn Job?

Chris Mizerany — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:27:33 -0400

It is a rainy day at Auburn University. Tornado warnings have forced many people to stay indoors for the majority of the day. So, what do people talk about when stuck inside on an Auburn Saturday in the fall? Football.

One thing we know is certain: A week from today, college football season will be under way.

Another thing is certain: On that day, Auburn will unveil its new spread offense (the entire package, not the one learned in two weeks and used at last year's Chick-Fil-A bowl).

Yet one thing remains uncertain: Who will lead the new Auburn offense?

Will it be Kodi Burns, the highly touted sophomore that saw limited action, but played a huge role in Auburn's bowl victory last year?

Or will it be junior Chris Todd, the lesser-known junior college transfer with a live arm and a firm grasp on Tony Franklin's offense?

Or maybe it will be Neil Caudle. Okay, it won't be him, but I figured he at least deserved a mention.

Burns only attempted 26 passes in 2007, his true freshman year. Of those 26 passes, 10 were completed, two for touchdowns. That's a mediocre 38.5 percent completion rate. He also threw one interception. However, those 10 completions went for a total of 145 yards, an average of 14.5 yards per completion. All in all, his quarterback efficiency rating came out to 103.00.

This was only a small sampling of Burns' potential, and, though these aren't the most impressive numbers in the world, anyone who saw Kodi play last year saw flashes of brilliance. I, for one, cannot get the final play of last season, his game-winning touchdown run against Clemson, out of my head.

This brings me to my next point. Burns is fast. Very fast. And he is also a good runner. He ran 54 times for 203 yards last year, an average of 3.8 yards per carry, scoring three touchdowns in the process.

But what about Chris Todd?

Todd started his college career at Texas Tech, where he stayed for two years, including a redshirt freshman year, before transferring to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. His stats at Hutchinson were less than stellar, and I'm being nice. He completed 104-of-212 passes, a 49.1 percent average, with six touchdowns and eight interceptions, leading his team to only one win last year.

However, Todd has a distinct advantage over Burns. Franklin, Auburn's offensive coordinator, taught his spread offense at Todd's high school. And he has been running it ever since.

While there must be something about Todd for Texas Tech and Auburn to sign him, I don't see it. He has a height advantage (6'4" to Burns' 6'1"), but isn't as mobile as Burns and, though he has a good arm, his strength is equal to his younger counterpart at best. In my humble opinion, just because someone has experience in a system, it doesn't mean they can run it. Todd just doesn't have the tools.

So who is the right man for the job? It has to be Kodi Burns. I wish both of these guys all the luck in the world, and I stand behind the coaches' decision one hundred percent.

Whatever happens, I think I speak for all Auburn fans when I say this season should be a hell of a ride.

Memories That Last a Lifetime: Why We Love College Football

Chris Mizerany — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:09:52 -0400

College football. It brings friends together and tears families apart. It brings grown men to tears. Maybe tears of joy. Maybe tears of defeat.

Either way, there will be tears. It's Ohio State vs. Michigan. It's Army vs. Navy. It's weekend tailgating. It's the Rose Bowl. The inevitable BCS controversy. The Heisman trophy. The freshman phenoms. The senior breakouts. It's Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32. And, of course, it's the Iron Bowl.

Well my friends, it's about that time. Everyone is undefeated. This year is every team's year to go to the next level. The feeling is in the air. Soon, fans will be cursing Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso for their College Gameday predictions.

Not to mention, cursing Lou Holtz because, though we can't understand a word he says, it is bound to be wrong. There are many questions that hang over our heads.

Will this be the year Auburn ends their offensive woes and makes a BCS splash? Will Tony Franklin's offense flop against SEC defenses that are undoubtedly faster and more athletic than their Sun Belt counterparts?

Will Ohio State end their SEC slump and take home the BCS Championship? Will Nick Saban's "process" start to show results? Can the highly touted Alabama recruiting class put them over the top, or will Tide fans have to be patient? Who is this year's Kansas? Can BYU crash the BCS party?

There are infinite opinions about these questions. Who are we kidding? Even the "experts" don't know these answers. Let's be honest. No matter what your opinion is, you're probably wrong. So why bother arguing, when what we really should be doing at this point in the season is appreciating.

I pose a challenge. Let us reflect on why we love this game. Let this be a place to not be Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, or Georgia fans. Let's not talk about the Pac-10, SEC, Big 10, etc. If only for a few minutes, let us be football fans.

I invite fans of all teams and conferences to give us your best memories of football, and moments that will live forever in your heart. Allow me to begin.

Now, I haven't been around as long as most. I wasn't around for Punt Bama Punt or Bo Over the Top, though these games have a special place in my heart. There are certain games that I feel blessed to have witnessed, though.

2006 Florida @ Auburn: My brother and I had seats on the 50-yard line. These were the best seats I had ever had. When Jerraud Powers and Tristan Davis blocked Eric Wilbur's punt and Tre Smith grabbed it and flipped into the endzone to spark Auburn's comeback over the eventual National Champions, the stadium literally shook. I had trouble hearing for days!

2006 LSU @ Auburn: When the clock struck 0:00, and Auburn squeaked by with a victory, so much emotion had been poured into that game that I turned and looked at a complete stranger. And with tears flowing from both of our eyes, we must have hugged for five minutes.

2007 Chik-Fil-A Bowl - Auburn vs. Clemson: When Kodi Burns scored that game-winning fourth down touchdown, I caught a glimpse of the future. All of a sudden, Auburn football was electrifying again. What a game. It gives hope. If we can have an offense like that this year, what a year it will be.

The anticipation is killing me.

Is it opening day yet??????