Auburn is going to enjoy this. Big Time
Glendale, Ariz.—There was joy. There was relief. There were smiles of happiness. There were tears. There was incredible exhilaration. There was utter exhaustion.
You could see it all on the floor of University of Phoenix Stadium in the aftermath of Auburn’s 22-19 victory Oregon which gave the Tigers their first national championship since 1957.
Ted Roof, who took more than his fair share of criticism as Auburn’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons, had his arms around his two sons as confetti rained down around him. The former Georgia Tech captain could not be happier. For it was his defense that held the mighty Oregon offense to only 19 points, 30 points below its average.
Oregon’s offense had 12 possessions in the game and Auburn’s defense got nine stops: five punts, two interceptions, and what will become two very big plays in Auburn football history: In the second quarter Mike Blanc stuffed Oregon’s LaMichael James in the end zone for a safety. In the third quarter Auburn stopped Oregon on fourth and goal at the Tigers’ one-yard line.
Oregon came into this game averaging almost 245 rushing yards per game. Auburn held the Ducks to only 75.
“I am so proud of our guys. They stepped up and played the best when we needed it the most,” said Roof. “We didn’t do anything fancy. It was all about effort. All I know is that we’re the national champions. Nothing else matters.”
A lot of people wondered if Cameron Newton had one more great game left in him. He did. Yes, he had a late turnover that allowed Oregon to tie the score make a game-winning drive necessary. Still, it has been an extraordinary season for the Heisman Trophy winner in every sense of the word. He became the flash point of a great debate in college football and it was not pretty. There was a significant portion of the populace that believed that Newton should not be on the field but there were also those who believed in the presumption of innocence. The debate will never be resolved unless more facts in the case emerge down the road. That is another discussion for another day.
Regardless of where you came down on the Newton issue, there was no denying that he was one of the greatest college football players we have seen at the quarterback position. I say WAS because Newton will soon close the door on this controversial chapter of his life and declare for the NFL Draft. We may disagree about Newton’s legacy, but we will certainly never forget him.
“I have never seen a football player go what he went through and continue to perform so well on the field,” said former coach Pat Dye, who beamed during the post-game awards ceremony. “People said a lot of bad things about that kid but it never affected the way he played. He is something special.”
Then there was Gene Chizik, whose hiring in 2009 brought rounds of criticism from those who thought he was not dynamic enough or tough enough to stand up to what Nick Saban was building at Alabama. But when the sun rose this morning in the state of Alabama, the schools had the same number of national championships since Saban arrived in 2007. Chizik has proven to be a rock solid manager of the program who surrounds himself with very talented people.
“It was never about me and proving anybody wrong,” said Chizik, who was the defensive coordinator when Auburn went 13-0 in 2004 and did not get a chance to play for the national championship. “That’s not the way I live my life. From the day we arrived it was about doing what was best for Auburn. I am so proud to be a part of the Auburn family.”
It’s been a great season at Auburn but has also been a draining season for all concerned. The weekly scrutiny which came with the Newton case was not an easy burden to bear. The SEC has won its fifth straight national championship. But the conference had to routinely defend itself against the criticism that it did not exercise due diligence in the Newton case. Now that the SEC has won another championship, that criticism is not going to go away. Such is the nature of success. Off the field, it has been a tough season for college football as a whole.
And what about Auburn for 2011? As is our nature, we will quickly move on to next season. Auburn loses 24 seniors including Wes Byrum, who kicked the winning field goal at the buzzer. Newton will leave as will defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who is more than ready to play at the next level. If you had to guess you would say that Auburn will take a dip next season but such dips are easier to take when you have a crystal football in the trophy case.
Both those issues can wait at least a day or two. Auburn fans will celebrate and know that for the next year they are the national champions while Alabama is not. And if you don’t think that’s important, you do not know the state of Alabama. Auburn is going to enjoy this. Big time.
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811 comments Add your comment
Hey Stupid Barnhart
January 11th, 2011
1:25 pm
I wonder if there is an SEC school more reviled than Auburn. Yeah, GA fans hate FL but overall I wonder if Auburn or TN is more reviled.
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:26 pm
Remember the Blackout….All of that Soulja Boy dancing disgusted me as well as ALL of the penalties. I am not a hypocrite. I have been on these boards for the past couple of years saying how undisciplined we are how we need to get back to being respectful of the opportunity that playing for UGA allows these young men. I called Jones dirty play dirty. Even though II felt that AJ’s suspension did not fit the crime I still said he deserved it for being stupid. We did not let AJ play while the investigation was going on whereas you guys were all in with Newton. I promise you if Fairley played for us I would call him dirty and would implore our coaches to coach him up on that aspect of his game. I would call him a punk because that is what he is no matter how good of a player he was. Auburn fans on the other hand would never admit that any of their players were dirty or punks. Just like the Auburn player who planted his knee up the side of an Oregon players head and said “what, me?”. You hypocrite coach teaches and tolerates that type of behavior. The only reason Fairley got called for his antics was because the officiating crew had no dog in this fight and called it for what it was. Your coach has no class. Yes he does have a National Championship but albeit a tainted one.
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:27 pm
Except Boise State did not go undefeated this year like Auburn did in 2004 – not the same thing.
SEC Fan
January 11th, 2011
1:28 pm
Mindy,
You really don’t know much about Auburn’s football program, do you? Tuberville was fired for his poor recruiting. Auburn has landed some top recruiting classes since Pat Dye took the reins back from Tommy. I don’t expect this year’s recruiting to go quite so well. Too many phone lines tapped in Lee County.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:29 pm
We did not let AJ play while the investigation was going on whereas you guys were all in with Newton.…gadawgs
In all fairness, AJ admitted to getting money. Cam obviously didn’t, and the NCAA has never punished anyone where no benefits were received. That’s what made the whole Cam fiasco unique.
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:30 pm
gadawg — Get OVER IT already!!!!! SHeesh!! You’re acting like a deranged stalker girlfriend. The 2010 season is over – focus your energies (and your hate) on 2011.
SEC Fan
January 11th, 2011
1:31 pm
BAMA dude,
Cam may be a great athlete, but his Dad is a lousy pimp.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:31 pm
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:30 pm
gadawg — Get OVER IT already!!!!! SHeesh!! You’re acting like a deranged stalker girlfriend. The 2010 season is over – focus your energies (and your hate) on 2011.
No barn hate is needed for 2011. They’re gonna suck and have a brutal schedule to boot.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:33 pm
Les Miles turned down Michigan again.
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:36 pm
Mindy, You really don’t know much about Auburn’s football program, do you? Tuberville was fired for his poor recruiting. Auburn has landed some top recruiting classes since Pat Dye took the reins back from Tommy. I don’t expect this year’s recruiting to go quite so well. Too many phone lines tapped in Lee County.
I know you don’t know what the heck you’re talking about!! So that means I know more than you. A coach comes in and uses what he has. Chizik used what he had — the majority of the guys who played last night had been with Auburn for the past 3 years. Chizik is only responsible for the last TWO recruiting classes. Tell ya what Mr. Smarty Pants, Name at least TEN players on the Auburn team who you feel were “bought” by Auburn, (I already know you’re gonna say Newton – so now you need just 9 more)…………………I’ll wait.
Tell the truth
January 11th, 2011
1:38 pm
I simply said that most of the SEC teams were mediocre this year. And you know that they were. That has nothing to do with other conferences. The 5-5 record indicates that they did not light up the rest of the football world on all fronts. Ummmm?
mexdawg
January 11th, 2011
1:39 pm
Auburn not out of the woods yet.Where there’s smoke there is fire.Lower and McGreger are so crooked the fed’s are all over them.The NCAA will have no choice once all the facts of the FBI investigation are out.The crooks are running the show at AU and are about to be caught with their hand in the cookie jar.This title will be a distant bad dream once the FBI and the NCAA lower the boom.
Tell the truth
January 11th, 2011
1:39 pm
Why does it take 10 to be a cheater- only one gets it done.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:40 pm
If I were speculating, I’d say there’s a decent chance that Dyer, Reed, Mosley, Lemonier, Robinson, and of course Cam each got some cheddar.
Tell The Truth Tells Lies
January 11th, 2011
1:40 pm
Don’t need any excuses. WE ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Keep raking that muck loser….LoL
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:40 pm
Mindy…deranged stalking girlfriend. That’s pretty funny. I’m not stalking I am just stating facts and countering the idiotic statements that illerate Auburn fans post on these boards.
spike
January 11th, 2011
1:40 pm
I don’t expect this year’s recruiting to go quite so well. Too many phone lines tapped in Lee County.
Ha! You don’t keep up with this sort of thing, do you?
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/teamrank/2011/all/all
If they get Drew, who is said to be an Auburn leaner, look out.
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:41 pm
That’s also pretty funny that when I was speaking of illiteracy I mispelled illeterate. Come on bring on the comments.
spike
January 11th, 2011
1:42 pm
Auburn not out of the woods yet.Where there’s smoke there is fire
You are really going to have to clap harder than that if you expect Tinkerbell to live.
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:43 pm
Your coach has no class. Yes he does have a National Championship but albeit a tainted one.
How many does Richt have……hmmmm…….let me see……… zero, zilch, nada, zip, goose egg, nix, null, naught, NONE.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:43 pm
Tell the truth
January 11th, 2011
1:38 pm
I simply said that most of the SEC teams were mediocre this year. And you know that they were. That has nothing to do with other conferences. The 5-5 record indicates that they did not light up the rest of the football world on all fronts. Ummmm?
Doofus, nobody else had ten teams in bowls. This is naturally going to create some mismatches for the bottom few. The four and six seeds beat two Big 10 teams, including one of the co-champions, by a combined 80 points (roughly- not sure about the exact Missy State score). USCe was the sixth seeded SEC bowl team; it just so happens that the top 5 were in the other division. What are you possibly basing your argument on?
SEC Fan
January 11th, 2011
1:44 pm
Mindy,
I don’t even follow Auburn football, and yet I obviously know more about the team than you do. Explain why Auburn’s recruiting has dropped off so precipitously immediately after winning a National Championship?
That tells you how much difference there is between Auburn fans’ view of this “magical season” versus the opinion of the potential recruits. Any other program would see an up-tick in recruiting just for making it to the BCSCG, much less winning it. I don’t have the details regarding who Auburn has payed to play in the past 2 years, but they’d better be careful about what they do this year.
jwilli120
January 11th, 2011
1:45 pm
To all of us Dawg fans “Don’t hate we need to participate”
so blame CMR for our failures, Great Bowl Season and sorry
to see 2011 coming just a bad feeling (Boise St=0-1, USC
=0-2) and the “UGA Football Solgan” wait til next year.
to all the Auburn fans: Some of us UGA fans have class
Great job AUBURN.
Tell the truth
January 11th, 2011
1:45 pm
blah blah blah 5-5 thems the facts dude.
Tell the truth
January 11th, 2011
1:45 pm
and the SEC least was 1-4 wow.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:46 pm
This should have read:
“The four and
sixFIVE seeds beat two Big 10 teams, including one of the co-champions, by a combined 80 points (roughly- not sure about the exact Missy State score).”BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:46 pm
Tell the truth
January 11th, 2011
1:45 pm
blah blah blah 5-5 thems the facts dude.
I only count Jan.1 games or better. Who cares about slapfights?
SEC Fan
January 11th, 2011
1:48 pm
@spike
Wow! According to your link, they’re about to catch up to Dabo Swinney at Clempsun!
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:48 pm
If I were speculating, I’d say there’s a decent chance that Dyer, Reed, Mosley, Lemonier, Robinson, and of course Cam each got some cheddar.
Good thing you’ve still got your looks to fall back on, ’cause your brains and your football IQ sucks. How do you look in a bathing suit?
spike
January 11th, 2011
1:50 pm
Explain why Auburn’s recruiting has dropped off so precipitously immediately after winning a National Championship?
You mean like that 5 star kid who decommitted from Alabama to Auburn last week? Or Georgia HS star Quan Bray signing last week? Do you look up stuff and then lie about it, or just totally make it up?
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:51 pm
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:48 pm
If I were speculating, I’d say there’s a decent chance that Dyer, Reed, Mosley, Lemonier, Robinson, and of course Cam each got some cheddar.
Good thing you’ve still got your looks to fall back on, ’cause your brains and your football IQ sucks. How do you look in a bathing suit?
I don’t think I’m the dumb one. Lemonier posing in a brand new Corvette after committing, Mosley posing with fistfuls of cash after committing, and Robinson bragging about his new cash and iphone after an unofficial visit to the “Plains” would all classify as the dumb ones.
spike
January 11th, 2011
1:53 pm
@spike
Wow! According to your link, they’re about to catch up to Dabo Swinney at Clempsun!
They have been moving up a couple spots a week, just like the football season. Already 10 with a bullet, and a bunch of kids yet to visit – like Isaiah Crowell. But that’s the kinda “dropoff” we are just going to have to deal with…
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:53 pm
BTW there have been some comments on here about the title being stripped from Auburn when the “FBI” get through with their investigation (anyone with an IQ over 2 knows that the FBI is investigating illegall gambling in Mississippi as well as Kenny Rogers NOT college football — if that were the case, all you Bama fans had better run and hide); anyway, has anyone ever heard of a team having their National Championship Title/Trophy stripped from them?
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:54 pm
spike
January 11th, 2011
1:50 pm
Explain why Auburn’s recruiting has dropped off so precipitously immediately after winning a National Championship?
You mean like that 5 star kid who decommitted from Alabama to Auburn last week?
Yeah, the linebacker who wants to play running back. He was apparently mad at Bama for signing Hart and going after Crowell. Good luck with him.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
1:55 pm
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:53 pm
BTW there have been some comments on here about the title being stripped from Auburn when the “FBI” get through with their investigation (anyone with an IQ over 2 knows that the FBI is investigating illegall gambling in Mississippi as well as Kenny Rogers NOT college football — if that were the case, all you Bama fans had better run and hide); anyway, has anyone ever heard of a team having their National Championship Title/Trophy stripped from them?
You call yourself a Barn fan, you’re trying to call other people out on football knowledge, and you have to ask this? Seriously?
how2fish
January 11th, 2011
1:56 pm
Congrats to the War Eagles and Cam Newton..great game they played like Champs and deserve the crystal ball..!!
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:57 pm
I don’t think I’m the dumb one. Lemonier posing in a brand new Corvette after committing, Mosley posing with fistfuls of cash after committing, and Robinson bragging about his new cash and iphone after an unofficial visit to the “Plains” would all classify as the dumb ones.
Where did you see these pictures? Mind showing everyone the link? Or are these super, secret, double-o agent pictures and only those who have tin foil over their heads can see them? I’ll wait.
SEC Fan
January 11th, 2011
2:00 pm
Mindy,
You should just stick to admiring bathing suits and leave the football to someone who actually has a clue. How do you look in Asterisks?
Terry
January 11th, 2011
2:01 pm
http://www.examiner.com/oklahoma-sooners-in-oklahoma-city/usc-stripped-of-national-championship-win-over-oklahoma
spike
January 11th, 2011
2:02 pm
Yeah, the linebacker who wants to play running back. He was apparently mad at Bama for signing Hart and going after Crowell. Good luck with him.
We’ll take all we can get, thanks for the offer. You just keep sending them down. that Region kid looks like a keeper.
Layla
January 11th, 2011
2:03 pm
Oh, you people fretting about the SEC allowing cheating and…wait for it….worrying about the example it sets for your children (isn’t that YOUR job?) are hilarious.
I’m not a fan of either of the teams that played for the national championship but allow me to remind you (or inform you, since most of you are just so hyped on things you hear but never bother to investigate them for yourselves) about the fact that LaMichael James (Heisman candidate, key player for Oregon, leading rusher) played for the national championship.
Big deal about that?
He was arrested for trying to CHOKE HIS GIRLFRIEND.
So….wait. Let me get this right – you’re all up in arms because Cam Newton’s DAD attempted to get money for his son to play there – but no money exchanged hands. An NCAA violation, at the worst. Not criminal, just stupid. Didn’t actually hurt anyone and certainly didn’t set some stupid precedent on how your children view football players, for heavens sake.
But domestic violence, hurting another human being, a man hurting a woman and STILL being eligible to win the Heisman, being allowed to play (both by Oregon, PAC-10, and the NCAA) regardless of this and oh yeah, it’s NEVER talked about on ESPN is….not as bad?
People, shut up.
Get your priorities right. Your outrage is seriously misplaced.
Aubrey Hough
January 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
Hopefully people will come to their senses after all the bowl money has changed hands, and a serious investigation will now begin.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
1:57 pm
I don’t think I’m the dumb one. Lemonier posing in a brand new Corvette after committing, Mosley posing with fistfuls of cash after committing, and Robinson bragging about his new cash and iphone after an unofficial visit to the “Plains” would all classify as the dumb ones.
Where did you see these pictures? Mind showing everyone the link? Or are these super, secret, double-o agent pictures and only those who have tin foil over their heads can see them? I’ll wait.
Sure thing. Try here for Lemonier, and this should work for Mosley. The easiest way to see the pics themselves is simply clicking “images” at the top of the screen. Both fellas seem to like guns too.
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
You call yourself a Barn fan, you’re trying to call other people out on football knowledge, and you have to ask this? Seriously?
You’re gonna answer? And PLEASE don’t bring up Southern Cal. – their WHOLE athletics department was shady. The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions has penalized the University of Southern California for violations in its football, men’s basketball and women’s tennis programs. I know that the WRITERS stripped University of Southern California of their title; however, has the NCAA done so (yet). There’s been talk, but……….
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
2:07 pm
spike
January 11th, 2011
2:02 pm
Yeah, the linebacker who wants to play running back. He was apparently mad at Bama for signing Hart and going after Crowell. Good luck with him.
We’ll take all we can get, thanks for the offer. You just keep sending them down. that Region kid looks like a keeper.
SPENCER Region? I don’t think the Barn is even recruiting him any more. Dude has issues. He probably ends up at Troy or somewhere at this point.
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
Uh, Mindy…. the NCAA doesn’t award national titles, thus they don’t strip them. The NCAA vacates wins. The writers give the titles initially so they strip them. Obviously the BCS formula changes too once wins are pulled.
LEROY
January 11th, 2011
2:10 pm
It’s an NC for Richt in ‘11 or out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
2:10 pm
Bama dude — those pictures were on Alabama’s sports blogs NOT a legitimate news source — like say ESPN or even YAHOO sports. In laymen’s terms, that’s like saying “the dog ate my homework”. Close but no cigar. Try again.
Blue Devil
January 11th, 2011
2:11 pm
I agree with the dude that recommends all Plainsman fans getting their picture taken with the crystal football as soon as possible. Very likely it will be taken away, once the facts come out. Auburn can’t keep Father Cecil hidden away, forever!
BAMA dude
January 11th, 2011
2:12 pm
Mindy
January 11th, 2011
2:10 pm
Bama dude — those pictures were on Alabama’s sports blogs NOT a legitimate news source — like say ESPN or even YAHOO sports. In laymen’s terms, that’s like saying “the dog ate my homework”. Close but no cigar. Try again.
They were pulled off of their facebook pages by sites like SportsByBrooks. The Bama blogs just reported them. But yeah, I can see where a Barner would deny what they see with their own eyes.