Auburn Football: Gene Chizik Era: Where Goals Are Set

There is something that needs to be written. It must be put down in black and white. It needs to be in a format where it can be referred to often. This is the way we keep our goals on track and focused.

It is difficult if not impossible for many Auburn fans to realize what our goals should be. Most of us live in a unique circumstance that reminds us of our rivals obsession with our program on a daily if not hourly basis. You may read an example of my case in point here if you wish.

http://blog.al.com/press-register-sports/2009/12/finebaum_auburn_has_come_a_lon.html

Our in state, most hated, and second most important rival is having a good year. This is due to a combination of things. First they have hired a focused Head Coach. Second they also got a focused recruiter. Third the SEC as a conference is largely in rebuilding mode right now with traditional powerhouses Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas and ourselves in various stages of success. 

We must keep in mind the following points. Tennessee will rise to the top again, they have never in history been down for long. Georgia is loaded with the talent of several top recruiting classes and can erupt at any time with proper coaching. LSU was one good quarterback away from winning the SEC this year. Florida will be building, but have the best materials to build with. South Carolina is getting better every year and is having much success recruiting. Ole Miss is going to be a formidable opponent every year. Arkansas is likely the most improved team in the SEC this year and will only get better. Mississippi State is up and coming and will beat some they should not.

I know the egos to the North West are over inflated and the Crimson Horns are tooting in every corner of the land. This is the greatest this and the greatest that and so on. I remind each of you to look at the last National Championship of Texas. Were they not playing the last "greatest team of all time"? We all listened to the hype and were told by all the pundits that USC was going to reel of championships as far into the future as anyone could foresee that year. It seems they could not see past January as that is when it ended. USC has not returned to those heights since.

I hope the Crimson Hordes to the North West have found success.  I hope their obsession does not lead to another self destruction. I wish them good luck in every game not played within a week of Thanksgiving. This being said, they are not Auburn, and even though obsessed with us they never will be.

The only goal for Auburn that involves the Crimson Hordes should be to win one game each year. We at Auburn will fall into a trap if we ever lower our focus to attempt to match what they do. To put it bluntly, it is not good enough. If Auburn were to set its goals to be on a level with the Crimson Horde we would never accomplish any worthwhile goal. While we might play close or even beat this rival, we would certainly not win our conference or anything else worth while.

Auburn should have one simple goal, "Be The Best". There are other measured goals to keep in mind while aspiring to reach our main goal. We can look forward to winning the Iron Bowl, Tiger Bowl, Ending the multi year domination by Georgia and Arkansas. These are minor goals to measure our progress by. Still our main and only goal should be simple, "Be The Best". This goal does not just apply to football, it applies to every facet of our University and our Person.

Now it is time to set some goals to gauge our progress.

1. We need to show up in record numbers to the Outback Bowl and show our appreciation for our new Coaching Staff and Team for a great first season.

2. We need to show our support for all the fine young recruits that are choosing our University over so many others.

3. We need to start watching this young team closely and get the word out of their accomplishments. Auburn will have award worthy talent at several positions next season. We need to make our opinion heard on the players that excel.  We need to pass the word along by mouth, article, internet chat and every other way. Players like Darvin Adams who were overlooked this year, might get their earned attention if we do these things.

4. We need to get behind our Head Coach and staff and trust them to make the right choices. It is what we hired them for. The Monday Morning Coaching about the quarterback play in mid season was an example of what we should not do. 

5. We need to expect to win our Rivalries. Auburn is in a slump against LSU, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama. We need to change that immediately. Nothing effects recruiting in a worse way than losing to regional rivals.

6. We need to get behind a worthy player and push them for the Heisman. Auburn will have several players with Heisman talent next year. We need to get behind the biggest performer and start out campaign. It usually takes more than one year to get there.

7. We need to stop paying attention to the Crimson Horde. They nor their team are any more important than any other team with the exception of one week per year.

8. We need to be aware of the image we present of our Fan Base in public and in the various media outlets. Show class and intelligence on web threads and tailgating alike. We want to have fun, but we want to do so with style and poise. 

9. We need to help as much as possible. When we find out that our Coaching Staff is recruiting a certain player, we need to get the word out we are warm and they are welcome at Auburn. You would be surprised at how much this will help.

10. We need to remember, "We Are Auburn", we have no better to aspire toward. We must improve from within. We must be self driven as anything else would be reversal of what we represent. We do not keep up, we make our own path in our chosen direction!