Oh What A Difference Two Years Can Make
by aubtigerman on Nov 17, 2010 12:00 AM CST
in Football
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As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Jordan-Hare Stadium, the unbridled joy of the moment came cascading down onto Pat Dye Field. The Auburn Tigers had just defeated their oldest rival 49-31 and wrapped up the SEC West Division Championship. All the emotions left over from the debacle of 2008 as well as the 0-4 record against Georgia were released in those exhilarating minutes after the game.
From the first row at field level to the top row of the upper deck, no one seemed to want to leave. It was the best celebration that I can remember since the '89 Iron Bowl win over Alabama. In both instances the Auburn family had a lot of pent up emotions that made for a particularly loud and tough environment for their opponents.
In '89 it was the culmination of finally getting the Tide to play in our house. An event that Tide coach Ray Perkins swore would never happen. In 2010 it was having to endure eight days of what most of us considered unfair tabloid journalism about our star player and our school. And probably of more significance was the frustration of losing to the dogs for four years straight.
The exuberance of the players as they ran around the field thanking the fans, the video on the jumbotron of great plays from this season, the band playing ‘Lean On Me' and the words echoing around the stadium as it was sung by the Auburn faithful made for a night to remember. Yes, it was a great night to be an Auburn Tiger. I just wished the entire family could have been there.
Standing there and soaking in the moment, it was hard to believe that it was just two years ago when the Tigers were at a very low point. With losses to both of their two biggest rivals came the realization of not qualifying for a bowl bid. Now in 2010 Auburn is undefeated, SEC Champions of the toughest division in college football, and headed to the Georgia Dome to play in the SEC Championship Game.
Offensive tackle Byron Isom said that "Two years ago if you told somebody that we would be in this position we're in right now, they would have called you crazy. And to be here now, we've just got to bask in the glory and rise to the challenge."
There were several former Tigers present to witness the clinching of the West Championship; including Hall of Famer Ben Tamburello, former running back Kenny Irons, and Heisman Icon Bo Jackson to name a few. While 80,000 fans were having their noisy postgame celebration, Irons told a reporter, "This is one of those special teams you just have to watch to believe. You have to see it. This is where the magic is happening."
Make no mistake about it; the coach that many did not want is the man responsible for that magic. He had a blueprint for success and hit the ground running to see it accomplished. The first thing on his list was to hire an excellent staff. Then his priority was to heal a hurting team and restore the spirit of ‘Auburn Family' to the program. Finally he and the new staff aggressively recruited some of the nation's top players.
After Saturday's game, Coach Chizik said "When trying to take our goals one at a time we didn't know when ... (qualifying for the SEC Championship game) would happen. We were blessed to be in a position tonight, where if we won, we‘d have a trip to Atlanta. There were a lot of incentives out there. I couldn't be more proud of these guys. Just the way they persevered through a lot of stuff over the last few years, the way they responded and the way they just kept playing. I'm just happy for them, because I wanted their experience at Auburn to be a great one."
Chizik acknowledged that the ultimate Championship goal has not been reached yet. However, as Byron Isom pointed out, who would have thought two years ago that Chizik would even have the Tigers in this position?
For this week though Auburn can enjoy the SEC West Division Championship. Next week there is unfinished business in Tuscaloosa before taking on the SEC East Champs, South Carolina in Atlanta. But for now Auburn fan enjoy the moment, for the first time since 2004 ...
Your Tigers are Champions of the West!
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Great Read.
We’ve still got a long road to travel, but we are taking baby steps to reach the end. I’m so proud of the way this program has rebounded. When Tubberville left I was almost certain that we were looking at 3-4 seasons at 7-8 wins. It’s just been unbelievable.
War Eagle! Beat Alabama!
War Eagle
"unfinished business"... yeah man. will look forward to casually watching bama on Thurs.
lots of good writers on this Track em Tigers… great stuff ’man! it has been interesting to follow the evolution of this team with all the holes needing to be filled in the offseason… speculations of continued depth problems… what not, & what have yous…
the leadership of cam newton and his exuberance, skill, and sincere want seemed to just jet this team through the curve. coaches have done an absolutely INCREDIBLE job of adjusting to this team’s strengths and appear to have set a tone & personality for the entire program (distinctly… AUBURN)
the emotion that you all are writing with now has really opened up. we’re starting to allow the opportunity this team has to flow through us more fluidly… without holding it back.
how fun is this?!
what a thrill it is to watch this team play football.
WAR EAGLE!
wappa
Another thing to add on your Cam thoughts.
All I’ve heard all year from them is that Cam couldn’t throw well. I showed a few of my bammer buddies a couple of clutch throws he’s made this year (to Blake to go up for good against Arky and to Lutz to go up for good against GA.) All they could say was, “Oh.” Priceless!
War Eagle! Beat Alabama!
War Eagle
Sincere appreciation to you and your article....
I had been wondering how this would compare to “The First Time Ever” game, and the emotions that go along with them.
Your insight to each as a witness, and fan have me convinced this season is far from over. I could feel your excitement and joy in this one.
Great read just doesn’t adequately describe it for me, though it will have to do.
WAR EAGLE!
Come and join me at http://trackemtigers.com
It is truly amazing what Chizik has done in such a short period of time!
This team was run down by all sorts of business over the last couple of years, and to rally the way that have, still in the face of adversity, is nothing short of amazing.
I remember being in the stands for the 1993 Iron Bowl-and even though we were on probation and going no where, there was true jubilation of accomplishment. If that moment was special—I can’t even imagine how magical Saturday was.
Thanks for your account, aubtigerman!! War Eagle!
by Tiger on the mountain on Nov 17, 2010 8:47 AM CST reply actions
1993 was certainly a great one.
I will probably be prejudiced for the rest of my life about the ‘89 game . But the ’93 game and this year’s Ga. game had some things in common with ’89 in that they provided Auburn with some emotional release from several factors of frustration leading up to the games. The 1993 Iron Bowl may actually have been better than this one. After all nothing can quite compare with beating the Tide, especially at Jordan-Hare. Both games were wonderful and will always rank very high on my Auburn richter scale.
People that know me personally though, know me as a C.A.N. (certified Auburn nut). The top five events in my life are (1) Conversion (2) Mariage to my wife of 40 yrs. (3) Birth of first son (4) Birth of second son And (5) Being at the first ever Iron Bowl on the Plains.
AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
by aubtigerman on Nov 17, 2010 10:32 AM CST up reply actions
Thanks TotM
Your way too kind but I will tell you that during the post game celebration, I had folks like you on my mind that live so far away, can’t afford it, or have to work; when I wrote that " I wished the entire family could have been there." In fact I started to put something in the post about folks like that, especially one in particular that lives in South Dakota. But I have a hard enough time as it is trying to keep my articles from being so long. War Eagle!
AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
by aubtigerman on Nov 17, 2010 12:34 PM CST up reply actions
It’s interesting. I don’t really get homesick during the Holidays, but I always get homesick during football season. Hell, my husband agreed to get married on a Friday night, so that we could go to the Auburn game the next day. So, I totally get your C.A.N.ness. That’s one of the reasons why I appreciated your post so much.
My husband and I keep going back ‘n forth on when to take our son down for his first game (he will turning one next week!!!). Selfishly (or not), I want to take him sooner rather than later. Don’t be surprised if the TotM clan visits Jordan-Hare next year!!! :)
by Tiger on the mountain on Nov 17, 2010 3:42 PM CST up reply actions
2004 remains my favorite season
This one is in competition with it. 1993 was also amazing as I remember my parents and myself listening by a really crappy radio every game. We were in Georgia and only had one station that would play the game as it was an Auburn alumni group that made sure we had radio access to the whole season while living in east Georgia. That was an amazing year, but I was not quite old enough to understand what exactly was going on. By 2004, I was more mature and understood what was going on that year. I remember wanting to burn an AU in the field where Oklahoma and USC played. I still hate both of those schools for what happened, and I pull against them no matter who they play. I will never forget Stoops saying Auburn really didn’t deserve to get there after they played the Citadel. Remember, it was Stoops that got Bowling Greene away from us snatching the rug from under our feet. As if Bowling Greene was so great anyway. I have never gotten to see an Iron Bowl in person. I have it on my bucket list before I die. I grew up without much money and constantly moving around, so now I hope to add stability to my life as an adult.
Great story Sparkey.
I can just see y’all leaning forward to hear Jim Fyfe on the radio. And your right 2004 was a great one and also deserves to be in a class by it’s self. I know what you mean about pulling against OK and USC. I feel the same way about pulling against Miami because they were voted over of us in ‘83 for the NC after we went into the bowl game 2 spots ahead of them in the polls. Yes you have got to go to an Iron Bowl some time. Send me your email and I’ll see if I can help with that next year.
AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
by aubtigerman on Nov 17, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions
I sent you my emaid address
By the way, I forgot to mention this was a great article. You really do write some great stuff on here.
It's great to be an Auburn Tiger.
Thanks for another encouraging read. I really appreciate what Coach Chizik has brought to Auburn and I don’t mean just the wins.
:) great stuff guys!...
as i was watching the UGA game last Sat. evening… with local (Asheville) AU pals… it was the first game this season where it physically hurt not being there.
in particular, at halftime… with the score tied at 21… i could only imagine what the concourse around jordan-hare was like. i was thinking that the restrooms really need a makeover, and that the concessions could get updated with those new plasma screen order boards like at the movies… and i wished that those cheasy merchandise areas floating in the middle of the concourse weren’t so frustrating to have to dodge at every other gate…(i’m thinking we should just build a few permanent merch. areas on the perimeter)
i was thinking about anything and everything EXCEPT how tense it must have been with the fan bases colliding at halftime. ok, i thought about that plenty…
this season has been filled up with great game after great game…and i wouldn’t have had it any other way. i’m not sure the personality of this team would have grown the way it has without all the challenges along the way.
i heard something about the fans sticking around JHS for a while after the game (to the delight of the players victory laping the field)… did you happen to stick around for any of that? did you see the fire incident at toomers?
wappa
You may be right Buddy.
Adversity can help temper individuals and unify a team.
We didn’t go to Toomers since we had two infants with us. But As I understand it the small fires occured between 2 & 4 : 30 am. We did stay for the postgame celebration though, it lasted for a pretty good while and we were some of the last to leave. It was great.
AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
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