…..Grudgingly, I AM cautiously optimistic. It’s tough for me, till I see what these 5-star “can’t miss” kids do on the field. I’m a HUGE fan of the 2-stars like Darren Bates who start 13 games in their true freshman season. We’ve had some TREMENDOUS recruiting news, this year. What’s just as important is the teaching that is going on under this Gene Chizik administration.

…..I’ll be honest. I wasn’t sure you could have both. I wasn’t sure you could have a great teaching staff, AND a great recruiting staff at the same time. Yes, we’ve made recruiting headlines since Gene Chizik hired a staff. As amazing to me is the progress shown by previously marginal players in the past year. Prior to this year, I had no idea Jake Ricks could play D-line in this league! I watched T’Sharvan Bell look CLUELESS in the 2009 A-Day game at corner. Then Bell was a savior in the Outback Bowl. Our starting 2009 wide receiver corps started as “faceless freshman” and “doghouse.” Adams and Zachary made HUGE strides! This staff turned the “slow, plodding” Ben Tate into a 1200-yard rusher. They turned Chris Todd into the 3rd best passer in the SEC!

…..We Alabamians (of both red/white AND orange/blue stripes!) know how to enjoy the moment, like a great spring or fall Saturday with perfect weather. We’re also waiting for the other shoe to drop. I suspect that we get way more of the good times than the bad, here in the South, and it’s a metric that the “quality of life” boffins haven’t quite gotten the handle on! Recruiting Nirvana: I’ll believe it when I see us blasting folks on the field.

……In the meantime, War Eagle!

I fully understand your “cautious” optimism. Still, after the likes of Barfield, Bowden, and the worst of the BBQ Bunch, I have appreciation of these “good” times. I truly anticipate better times are just ahead. Ever the optimist I am! At least for now.

sorry, i still feel like this class is way too stout to be cautious with your optimism. i hope the coaches aren’t too cautious playing them.
 
what is this all based on?… yup… hype, the significant (did any team have a turn around like ours?)up swing in performance last year, … look, some of the more impressive comments i have heard from some of these AU commits have been about the “family” of the Auburn community and team. with all the fanfare of this year and recruiting and media hype these comments have really impressed me. this AU coaching staff is doing a job for sure, but give these commits some credit,…they obviously get it… amazing. it is coming together. there is no denying it. the reports of commits and players perpetuating this recruiting rally of sorts as if it were some kind of special round table party… knights of the AU round… welcome to join us, you can’t miss it… how could you miss this party!… it is an energy that just seems crazy.

crazy. we’re going to have a lot of new faces playing next year. some with the potential to take off and assume an immediate high level of leadership, maybe star power (for lack of a better…). there is a very sound reason for all of this opportunity for Auburn. the contagious nature of this recruit bonanza… media, fans, players,…giving Auburn the look that it hasn’t had this time of year for a LONG time is… absolutely deserved. but it took a coaching staff that just seemingly said to themselves, we are going out and get the best that we can.

clearly, whether Auburn is “back”…that has not been determined yet. but some of the best players are listening, and curious enough to sign up.

i was a freshman in ‘93-’94… to go undefeated my freshman year when i recall the papers and media writing up that year as being a year of such uncertainty- thrilling.

anything can happen.

I can’t help but be excited. I don’t expect us to be a BCS title contender this season, but I am just glad to see this coaching working so hard. I mean, one can’t help but be pumped up by all of this. We went from the worst of times back when Tubbs was let go/resigned whatever, to now, we are seeing quick results that are very impressive nationally.

I know recruiting is not the be all end all of success on the field, but it doesn’t hurt at all. I’m digging this coaching staff hard right now, I think they have what it takes to get us back in the national spotlight.

that sure seems like wasted NRG.

even if we won another 8-9 games next year. sure then everyone would be talking about what a nice stepping stone season it was…a few good Ws, a couple slides during the ride, (but this was a new group…what were we to expect?). i have played every sport there is, been on teams with high expectations and low expectations… been coached by personalities of all kinds for sure growing up… i can tell you, as a player of a game… when the game is being played. it is just a game… with 2 teams trying to win just as bad.

period.
you’re worried about expectations not because of how they will affect the team, because of how they might lead you to disappointment. sorry, … i still think it is a fan’s JOB to get excited for a team…and there is plenty of reason for that these days.

i’ve never talked about expectations of a national championship or an conf. championship… i think we will be better. i think it is entirely logical to believe so.

But I think its fair to expect that we put a more consistent team on the field and that we win the games we’re supposed to and be in the rest. If we do that we should win 8 or 9 games. Even year schedules have most of our difficult games at Jordan Hare so we have a better chance this year to end the streaks against Arky, LSU and UGA.
I always have high expectations every year for Auburn but I am realisitic as well and can’t expect us to win any championships. I do expect us to challenge for the SEC West deep into the season though and I suspect the coaches and players do as well. If we can go into Amen corner with a chance to win the west, I would say we had a successful year.

every year there are pieces where you need folks to step up. i see daren bates as a BIG leadership piece this 2010 season on D. this guy can really rally this team with his play, and has got to be very vocal (w/ thorpe & washington)& communicate with the LBs for our D this year. looking forward to seeing LBs owens an holland and how they might jump in…

if nick fairley would drop a few (ok… like 30)… he was listed at 6’-4 – 290 where i looked… and get to a DE position…

i think that his NRG is really crazy and if he focused this off season and lost the weight…he could be a force.

he could become a crazy man leader up front for us next year. get to 260… ?… you think it could happen?