10.08
Well, Auburn got spanked by Arkansas today. There’s no two ways about it. We played horribly and Arkansas played like they always do when they visit Jordan Hare. They kick it into another level. Remember Fred Talley circa. 2002? Under Tubberville, no matter how good we are, we either win the game or we get blown out. It’s like there’s no in-between. I can still see Talley running wild up and down the field in my nightmares.
In 2000 we went 9-4, but in those 4 losses we got outscored 114-51(with a 38-7 loss to Florida). In 2001 we went 7-5 and got outscored in our losses 147-62(with a 42-17 loss to Arkansas). In 2002 we went 9-4 but got outscored in our losses 116-78(with a 38-17 loss to Arkansas at home). In 2003 we went 8-5 but got outscored 121-37. In 2004 we went undefeated. In 2005 we went 9-3 but got outscored 67-41(with a demoralizing loss to Wisconsin in the bowl game).
The moral of the story? You can count on Tubberville to get drilled at least once per season against an opponent we are supposed to beat. When we win it’s great, but when we lose it’s usually ugly. That was one of the worst coaching jobs I have ever seen today. Going for it on 4th and 9 when your in field goal range?! Calling a fake punt from our own 10 yard line when we’re down by 10 points?! Calling a halfback pass with Tre Smith?! Calling any play with Tre Smith?!
Also, as much as I love Al Borges, he has gotten into a rut with playcalling. We run the same playbook every week. There were 2 or 3 times during the game that I knew exactly what play was going to be called on a critical 3rd down. If I know what it’s going to be then I’m sure Arkansas does! It just seemed like every facet of the game was lousy. Matt Clark who has put kickoffs out of the back of the end zone all year could barely get it to the 10 yard line. Kody bliss couldn’t get a punt to go more than 40 yards. Brandon Cox was way off on his throws all day. Jason Bosley, the new center, was getting absolutely run over all day long. He couldn’t block his grandmother.
All in all it was just a typical Tubby self-destruction game. I’m almost used to it by now. Whow knows what will happen in the SEC-West now. I don’t know if Arkansas can get by Tennessee and LSU but then again I picked LSU to stomp Florida so my predictions are pretty lame right now. I guess we’ll see. Don’t get me wrong, I think Tubby has done a great job over the last few years. It’s just embarassing to get man-handled like that by an unranked team. And it happens way, way too often.
