.....disagree a little. I think the 1988 bunch was stronger, especially up front. They would have some problems with today's passing attacks, maybe, but that's irrelevant. They were dominant against the offenses of the day and gave up only 8 points per game. They held the Cobb/Webb Tennessee team to 6, Tommy Hodson and LSU to 7, blanked the Emmitt-Smith Gators in Gainesville, held UGA and the Tide to 10 each, and FSU to 13. At one point, they had three straight shutouts, and nearly had a fourth in a row, till Southern Miss got a cheapie late against reserves.

.....Still, this team is definitely the best since. The difference is that up until this year, there was one line guy in the middle that could get a push and disrupt. (Brumbaugh, McNeil, Jackson). Double-team block those guys, and you had some time in the middle, and some options. Now, Marks, Thompson, and especially Simms, are a load to handle. The entire line and tight end has to be used to effectively deal with those guys, and it leaves 8 speedsters to attack the ball, unimpeded. It's been fun to watch.

.....And they tackle SO well! Where did that come from?

.....And there were occasional disappointments, on D. We had just ridiculous expectations. Bear Bryant had made it look easy in the 1970s, and now it had to be our turn, right? Dye was still restocking the bare cabinet that year, and we had no clue how special it was to win 11 with that group!

.....There was Chuck Clanton getting lit up by Texas in the first half. Florida State gouged out a lot of yards, in our house. We gave up THREE TDs to Kentucky! Florida played well in our house, and some Gators still think that they should have won, and got robbed by the zebras. I'm not sure I don't agree... Boomer Esiason lit us up, too. Luckily, we had a true freshman fullback run for 200 yards, in that one. Tommy Agee had the best rushing day for an Auburn fullback, EVER! Then, there was the Bama game. We expected to NUKE those guys, but Ricky Moore and co. gashed us on the ground repeatedly. I think we only won due to the tornadoes and rain in the second half. Bo was out of gas after a long run, and we didn't have to worry about defending the pass in that storm. We survived. Somehow, this team made plays when it counted.

.....My favorite team was the 1993 bunch. No one gave us a chance. We had no game-breaking speed, other than the budding Stephen Davis. Except for Calvin Jackson, we were pretty slow in the secondary. And we somehow, won eleven games against no losses. Amazing. And of course, ridiculous expectations followed, and caused great consternation...

The defense looked terrific on Saturday.  What makes it even more amazing is the fact that we are  so banged up.

The biggest problem I had with the game was the playcalling.  Maybe big Al had an off-night, but even the girls watching the game with us could guess what Auburn's next offensive play was going to be.  Third and two?  Gonna run it.  Little attempt at play-action, and no slants run until the last series.  What happened to Brad Lester in the 2nd half?  Ben and Mario looked good as well.

Acid Reign:  Don't forget the biggest un-sung hero of that 1993 squad, James Bostic.  That guy gave us a lot of heart that year.

.....I'll go with Frank, on that one. Bostic's fumbles bothered me. I was pushing for Davis to get more carries. Having Frank Sanders in there meant a great set of hands, and the toughness to bring it down in traffic, and he blocked like a tight end on running plays. I still get chills watching him pancake Antonio  Langham on that 70-yard Bostic run!

we put the first nails in Curley Hallmans coffin down in Death Valley that year and put the final one in the next year at Jordan-Hare. I was sitting with a good friend and AU alum in the Law School block of the student section. Damn what a party. Young single and surrounded by a gaggle of hotties destined to be attorneys. (Sigh) to be young and....oops sorry. I am waiting til the end of the season to crown this defense better than '88 but they are putting up the numbers to be up there. I look for a defensive slug fest this weekend. I hope Les Miles can be Less Miles two weeks in a row.

...was the best receiver I ever witnessed wear the Tiger uniform.  Naturally, I'm a bit young to have seen Terry Beasley, though.

Sanders, IMHO, had his best game the following year against #1 ranked Florida in the Swamp.  That was also the best game I ever saw Auburn play.

It was also the most humiliating day for Gator QB and Heisman-candidate Terry Dean, who Spurrier yanked for Danny Wuerffel.