The Auburn Tigers 2010: Thank You For a Truly Special Year

First of all, I would like to say thank you to everyone for reading, as this is my first in what is, hopefully, a long line of articles for Bleacher Report.  I couldn't think of a better way to start off than to personally thank the Auburn Tigers for a wonderful year that surpassed all of our admittedly lofty expectations.  Being an Auburn fan is about being a family through the good times and the bad, and I am lucky enough to say that I was here when the pinnacle of what a program can attain was reached.  It seems like such a short time ago I was reading articles about this Cam Newton kid, who was gigantic, and his highlights seemed too good to be true.  Little did we know...  However, this year was not about Cam Newton alone.  It took a lot of good men and women to make this year happen, and the togetherness felt throughout the Auburn fan base has been, quite simply, amazing.  With that in mind, I would like to take you through some of my favorite moments from the 2010 season with a look ahead at what my expectations are for 2011.

1. Cam Newton's game of Keep Away with the Arkansas State defense:

This was undoubtedly the moment when most of us went: "We could really have something here!."  Granted, it was Arkansas State, but this play started the season-long Cam Newton highlight watch on ESPN, and left us Auburn fans intrigued and wanting to see more of what this guy was made of against SEC teams.  We all know how that turned out...

2. The Superman Dive:

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 25: Quarterback Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers rushes for a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Just as with the Arkansas State play, this one left a huge impression.  On the first score of the game, Cam leapt for what seemed like 10 yards into the end zone with South Carolina players in hot pursuit.  It was risky and dangerous, but no one cared because it was glorious.  One thing was for sure, Cam knew how to fire us up and get our attention.  However, so too did an unproven Micheal Dyer...

3. Micheal Dyer Outruns Marcus Lattimore in the Battle of the Freshmen Backs:

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers looks on against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty

This story was a hotly debated one before and after the game.  Many speculated that Lattimore would have the better game, but when the dust settled, it was Dyer who had gained more yards, and by a lot, at that!  Final score:  Micheal Dyer 100yds; Lattimore 33

4. Kodi Burns Catches a Wild Throw from Cam Newton:

WOW

Both the throw and the catch on this play were pretty stunning.  On top of that, it came at a critical moment when momentum was needed by the Tigers to pull off the win.  This play sums up how "meant to be" the Auburn season felt for us fans and made us feel as though the sky was the limit this year.  Kodi and Cam delivered in what is surely one of the more memorable plays of the year.

5. Cam's Heisman Run Against LSU's Patrick Peterson (and nearly the entire defe

This run was so good, the announcers at the game were calling it a "Heisman" run almost immediately.  It was broken down many, many times on national TV, and every time it still seemed surreal.  I remember thinking to myself: Did he really just make that cut?  How could he have outrun, and run over Patrick Peterson?  and of course, What will this guy do next?

6. Ok, Ok. We Know Cam is Good, But What About This Nick Fairley Guy?:

By about this point in the season, it was becoming apparent that Nick Fairley is good at something:  Taking Quarterbacks out of the game.  Some called him dirty, others called him unsportsmanlike.  We all called him great.  That is because by the time the Arkansas game was through, Nick Fairley had begun a streak of taking down quarterbacks at critical times in the game that cemented his legend at Auburn forever.  At the Championship Celebration at Jordan-Hare, Nick Said that he wanted to have his picture on the stadium.  Well, the trail of fallen QBs should pave a nice trail there.  Thanks for a sensational year Nick, and best of luck in the draft

7. The Second Half of the Iron Bowl:

This was the most exciting half of football Auburn played all year.  From Nick Fairley's sack and fumble recovery, to Antoine Carter's forced fumble from Mark Ingram, to Darvin Adams's clutch catch to get a critical first down, to Phillip Lutzenkirchen's turn-around grab in the end zone that gave us "The Lutzie", this was a team effort all around.  The Auburn Tigers played their hearts out to come back from that deficit and gave us the last thing we needed to consider it a truly great season: A win over Bama.

8. The Second Dismantling of The Gamecocks:

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: An Auburn Tigers fan attends their the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game against the Oregon Ducks at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

All the analysts had their hearts set on a Steve Spurrier second chance.  What they got was a clinic on how to win a football game decidedly.  The Tigers never let their foot off the gas for the entire game and turned in a stunning defeat for the SEC Championship.  

BCS National Championship

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - JANUARY 11: Head coach Gene Chizik of the Auburn Tigers poses with the Coaches trophys during a press conference for the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn on January 11, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Auburn capped off its season with a gritty win in the BCS National Championship Game.  Cam Newton played with an injured back and didn't deliver his normal outstanding performance, but Auburn had more than enough talent to overcome Oregon in the end.  Michael Dyer's stop, then start again run was one of the more memorable, and highly contested plays of the year, that will undoubtedly get the "Michael Dyer for Heisman" campaign started on the right note for next season.

Things to Look Forward To For Next Year

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Aubie, the Auburn Tigers mascot performs at their game against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian

With Auburn's signing class closing in on a top 5 finish, things look bright for the Tigers.  We may have lost a lot of senior talent, but there are fresh and experienced legs following them onto the field.  Barrett Trotter looks to be the man to beat for starting quarterback, but don't count out Kiehl Frazier, who could come in and compete for the starting position.  However, he will likely need another year to mature and learn the offense.  The defense should benefit from a couple of years of stocking up, so the secondary should be much improved.  Most importantly, the coaching staff has returned for an unprecedented three years straight.  It is a great time to be an Auburn Tiger.  My prediction for next year is a 9-3 or 10-2 season with a possible repeat appearance in the SEC Championship.  War Eagle!