Auburn standing in the way

[aubiefifty 17,488]

Auburn Football

Only thing standing between Alabama and an SEC four-peat is Auburn

Updated on August 24, 2017 at 7:06 AM Posted on August 24, 2017 at 7:01 AM

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By Kevin Scarbinsky

kscarbinsky@al.com

Sooner or later, someone in the SEC has to stand up, step up and slow down the machine known as the Alabama football program. At some point, someone has to shake off the effects of a paralyzing condition known as LBS - Little Bubba Syndrome - and man up against the men in crimson when it matters most.

Who's going to do it? You, LSU? One of Nick Saban's coaching children at Florida, Georgia or South Carolina?

Sorry, Kirby, but not likely.

The most legitimate candidate to tug on Superman's cape and live to tell the tale is the one that's done it before, the one that's pulled the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger more than once.

Every college football program has or should have an identity. Auburn has become the stone in Saban's shoe. The Tigers may get stepped on repeatedly in that interaction - as has been the case seven times in the last nine years - but every so often, things shift and they cause some real pain.

Lindsey retooling Auburn offense, maintaining identity

Chip Lindsey enters his first year as Auburn's offensive coordinator hoping to keep the team's run-first identity while revamping the passing game with RPOs.

If not for Auburn, Saban and LSU could've won three SEC titles in four years from 2001-04. Only Auburn's knock-down, drag-out 10-9 win over LSU in 2004 prevented Saban and company from reaching another SEC Championship Game and probably winning it.

If not for Auburn, Saban and Alabama could've won three straight national championships from 2011-13 and five straight SEC titles from 2012-16. Only Auburn's historic Kick Six victory in 2013 prevented Saban and friends from taking a giant leap toward a run of historic proportion.

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If not for Auburn, there's a very good chance Saban would own nine SEC championships rather than his current collection of seven and Bear Bryant's record of 14 wouldn't seem quite so out of reach.

If not for Auburn, Saban could've led Alabama to the last five conference crowns, which would've matched the SEC record Bryant and the Crimson Tide set from 1971-75.

Jarrett Stidham becomes the most important personnel decision of Gus Malzahn's career

The Auburn coach struck gold with Cam Newton and Nick Marshall as transfers, but there's a greater sense of necessity and urgency that Stidham deliver as well.

As it is, Saban and Alabama are shooting for their fourth straight SEC championship this season, which would match Steve Spurrier and Florida (1993-96) for the second-best run the conference has witnessed.

Who can stop them? Maybe no one, but if anyone can, Auburn appears to be the prime suspect.

First, the Iron Bowl will be played on the Plains, the site of epic Auburn victories over Saban-coached teams in 2004 and 2013. In each case, the Tigers didn't just prevent Saban from winning the SEC championship at a minimum. They went on to win the league themselves.

Another factor in Auburn's favor: The potential exists for another transfer quarterback to transform the team. The combination of newbie Jarrett Stidham as the much-hyped starter and returnee Sean White as a reliable backup should prevent the kind of offensive collapse that occurred last year after White got hurt.

Jeff Holland has taken 'ownership' at Buck position

After two seasons of grooming, Jeff Holland in line to take over as Auburn's top pass rusher this season.

A formidable defense in its second year under Kevin Steele should keep most every game within reach. An imposing kicking game featuring Daniel "Legatron" Carlson should tilt a close game or two in Auburn's direction.

In Gus Malzahn, the man running the show, Auburn has one of only two current SEC coaches with a win over Saban and one of only two coaches in the league, Saban included, with an SEC title.

It would be a fool's errand to predict that Alabama won't win the SEC again this year, but only a fool would deny the possibilities where Auburn is concerned.

The Tigers are uniquely positioned, by geography and history, to find a way to beat Alabama when almost no one does. They're uniquely motivated because Alabama's incessant victory celebrations take place right in Auburn's face.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results, but Auburn has a knack for eventually saying enough is enough. These Tigers would appear to have enough in the tank to challenge Alabama, on the field and in the standings, for the first time in four years.

If not them, who? If not now, when?

[lionheartkc 6,150]

Has anyone heard any predictions about the world ending, because in the past 20 minutes, I've read a positive article about Auburn from Crepea and now one from Sarbinsky that actually says we can beat his beloved bama. I can't remember the last time that the Alabama media was so positive about Auburn.

[madkat7 255]

 It's a TRAP!

 

...srsly. We need an Ackbar emoji!

[AuburnTiger4Life 2,225]

3 hours ago, lionheartkc said:

Has anyone heard any predictions about the world ending, because in the past 20 minutes, I've read a positive article about Auburn from Crepea and now one from Sarbinsky that actually says we can beat his beloved bama. I can't remember the last time that the Alabama media was so positive about Auburn.

You know how the saying goes... if you can't beat em, join em  

[Tigerbelle 5,299]

     I don't like it. Not one bit. This is Auburn. All this preseason positivity is highly unusual and uncomfortable. It makes me uneasy because it has always been bad football mojo for Auburn......

[aujeff11 6,243]

10 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

Jeff Holland has taken 'ownership' at Buck position

Was this a link? The flow of the previous paragraph didn't lead to this sentence at all. 

[WFE12 9,192]

29 minutes ago, aujeff11 said:

Was this a link? The flow of the previous paragraph didn't lead to this sentence at all. 

Yes

[AU64 10,122]

Barrett Salle (SP) today on Sirius picking AU to win the SEC west.....was challenged by one of the other guys and hung tough.  Swimming against the tide to go against Nick.

[doc4aday 1,887]

If anyone can sink the mighty Bismarck, it might as well be us!

[corchjay 5,311]

It's not the bells and whistles that will overthrow the evil empire.  It's being more physical when we have won we have won by being more physical then our competition.  It's definitely time to play some bully ball against our foes.

[aubiefifty 17,488]

11 hours ago, aujeff11 said:

Was this a link? The flow of the previous paragraph didn't lead to this sentence at all. 

yes but if the link does not work the article is on aufamily somewhere.

[milehighfan 1,240]

Scarbinsky wrote someone needs to stand up, step up and slow down the machine known as the Alabama football program.

The one program that can do that is the ncaa infractions committee. Just between you, me and the lamppost that ain't happening and we all know why.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

10 minutes ago, milehighfan said:

Scarbinsky wrote someone needs to stand up, step up and slow down the machine known as the Alabama football program.

The one program that can do that is the ncaa infractions committee. Just between you, me and the lamppost that ain't happening and we all know why.

You know that the sports media is probably getting to the point of foaming at the mouth for Saban and Emmert to retire. They all know that as soon as they are gone, they will be able to report on the biggest sports scandal in history when the NCAA is finally free to dig through the skeleton filled closets and uncover years upon years of cheating and who knows what else... all while Saban and Emmert are sitting comfortably in their mansions, enjoying the drink of their choice, with no repercussions what so ever.

[WFE12 9,192]

17 hours ago, AU64 said:

Barrett Salle (SP) today on Sirius picking AU to win the SEC west.....was challenged by one of the other guys and hung tough.  Swimming against the tide to go against Nick.

But he also chose AU to lose to UGA in the sec championship with one loss smh....I'm tired of all these people saying that AU will have a great year but still ultimately picking bama to win it all or AU to just not even make it to the NC.