Live via TV: Cam Newton and Auburn take on the … Ants?
So there I was, shoveling snow and ice off the driveway at stately Brad Manor, and a neighbor walks by with his dog. He says, “Why aren’t you in Phoenix?”
And I, suffering the effects of hypothermia, say, “What’s in Phoenix?”
And he says, “The national championship game.”
I felt slightly silly. (Mostly, though, I just felt cold.) But now, having been briefed by my neighbor, I’m ready to go. We’re going live here, and I’m picking Auburn, and I don’t think the game will be as high-scoring as advertised — few games ever are; remember the Saints beating the Falcons 17-14 two Mondays ago? — and my genius daughter (who takes, obviously, after her mother) has supplied the only reason necessary to root against Auburn.
“Their uniforms,” she said, “look like Army ants.”
And they do. And they’re funded by Nike. And Nike owns the world. As many reservations as I have regarding the Auburn Newtons/Louders, they’re small potatoes — obligatory Auburn agricultural joke — when viewed alongside the megalomaniac Phil Knight. (Who once attended the same Easter Mass as I did at a Final Four. But I digress.)
Here’s my score: The Army of Cam 31, the Army Ants 24. And that would make it five BCS titles in succession won by SEC schools, Georgia not among them. (Obligatory Mark Richt dig.)
And with that, we’re ready to roll. Blog’s open. Time for us to think sunny thoughts about Phoenix (actually Glendale) and watch us some football. I’d be obliged if y’all gather close for warmth. (Although Sonny Clusters should keep a safe distance. I hear he uses venison for body wash.)
By Mark Bradley
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1,589 comments Add your comment
Duck U
January 10th, 2011
10:15 pm
Mark,
I think you’re right about the 2nd half. Margin gets wider, AU adjusts on defense
Buford T. Pusser
January 10th, 2011
10:16 pm
Excellent point Fred.
Mark Richt's receding hairline
January 10th, 2011
10:16 pm
Haven’t seen Cam Newton’s pearly whites all game. I’m hoping this humbling 1st half with bring about a burst of confidence in this young man because his defense is tired. They won’t make it to the 4th Q.
LaMichael Thomas= Nick Fairley’s bitch. If they can keep stopping him they will have to rely on running game and defense to get more points on the board.
This is shaping up to be a 4th Q battle. Glad I don’t have to work tomorrow.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 10th, 2011
10:17 pm
Men of a certain age on TNT. I might just have to decide after Halftime to swap back to the game.
Just a Note
January 10th, 2011
10:17 pm
If a player celebrates, high steps, shows off, or anything prior to crossing the goal line the referee will call the play dead and a penalty will issued 15 yards from where the player started celebrating.
The offensive player stiff arm/head slap on the facemask or head gear was brought up in post season officials meeting as coaches provide play after play of offensive players using it as a weapon to break tackles and gain additional yards.
JB
January 10th, 2011
10:18 pm
Chip Kelly=Anti Mark Richt………………….You mean you can try to score with 1:13 left in the half?
I wonder why Auburn didn’t just run up the middle 3 times and kill the clock?
Barack Obama
January 10th, 2011
10:18 pm
Glad I don’t have to work tomorrow, either.
Kane337
January 10th, 2011
10:19 pm
Nick Saban, please talk more with your hands. I can’t understand what your saying without them.
Just a Note
January 10th, 2011
10:20 pm
Got to love Nick and Urban…got 4 of these things under their belts.
Jim Doanan as in Doans Pills
January 10th, 2011
10:20 pm
Saint Nick sure gets animated with them hand gestures
ESPN:
January 10th, 2011
10:20 pm
Rooting for Auburn under the guise of having 2 previous BCS Champion coaches (coincidentally both are/have been SEC coaches) do pregame and halftime shows.
mark richt
January 10th, 2011
10:20 pm
Glad I don’t have to work tomorrow…..Just study some football like I said I was gonna do
Buford T. Pusser
January 10th, 2011
10:20 pm
Why is Mark Richt not on the halftime showw ith Urban and Nick? Wait a minute, they only want coaches who have won a national championship. Never mind.
Who's Your Daddy
January 10th, 2011
10:21 pm
Typical Auburn dirty pla,y kneeing the Oregon player in the face while he’s down.
Coach got mad at him, probably for getting caught.
Mark Richt
January 10th, 2011
10:21 pm
I thought Urban Meyer wanted to spend more time with his family.
FDIC
January 10th, 2011
10:21 pm
Did we not confiscate all of Bobby Lowder’s ATM cards and illegal ATM machines?
Please send us the locations of those machines, we know of the ones in the Auburn Athletic Center and the ones at Victory Land Dog Track and Casino.
JB
January 10th, 2011
10:22 pm
Wonder if Bobo is watching…..and learning……or changing a diaper?
Vols Rule !
January 10th, 2011
10:22 pm
Great game !
Mark Richt's receding hairline
January 10th, 2011
10:22 pm
I thought the yellow socks were gonna perform at the half?? -?
Mark Richt's receding hairline
January 10th, 2011
10:23 pm
Steve-o
January 10th, 2011
10:23 pm
I may be wrong, but I feel like Auburn hasn’t played up to their potential–while Oregon has played over their head. The 2nd half will be telling.
JB
January 10th, 2011
10:23 pm
Looks just like the Georgia offense. I see no difference.
Vols Rule !
January 10th, 2011
10:24 pm
We didn’t do Dooley squat this year…
Auburn Tigers the only Pro Team in the SEC
January 10th, 2011
10:24 pm
enough said….
Urban Meyer
January 10th, 2011
10:24 pm
Does my hair look as good as Saban’s?
Jim Doanan as in Doans Pills
January 10th, 2011
10:24 pm
Mark Richt… you not need to worry about Urban. you need to be on the cutting edge son !
Mark Bradley
January 10th, 2011
10:24 pm
Two real laugh riots there — Urban and Saban.
JB
January 10th, 2011
10:25 pm
you can tell Oregon ain’t played nobody. I say AU wins, betcha 200K
Vols Rule !
January 10th, 2011
10:25 pm
I agree Mark Richt. He’s away from home again…
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 10th, 2011
10:25 pm
People are watching this game and that means the Bowl system will never go away. Man we get this crap 10 days after new years and we still watch. Are we SHEEPLE or what?
Auburn Tigers the only Pro Team in the SEC
January 10th, 2011
10:25 pm
Steve o, have you seen Oregon play this year? Over their heads, they both have played miserably…
Willy
January 10th, 2011
10:26 pm
Anybody seen “Black Swan”?
Jim Doanan as in Doans Pills
January 10th, 2011
10:27 pm
I bet Urban and Nick can get into some mean paper football
Vols Rule !
January 10th, 2011
10:27 pm
Somebody hit Pusser in da kisser !
ericMann
January 10th, 2011
10:27 pm
Alright Bradley, what do you think?
SEC Fact FInder
January 10th, 2011
10:28 pm
Mark,
That is called recruiting while on Televsion, the art for Saban is he can do it in front of a national television audience. Does anyone think Clowney and Crowell are not watching Saban at halftime.
He told them both he would use hand gesture to send each one a message. He is the master.
JB
January 10th, 2011
10:28 pm
Most of these plays on both sides right out of the Georgia playbook
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 10th, 2011
10:28 pm
Willy
it is good and SEXY but the TRUE GRIT remake by the cohen bros is really worth seeing. havn’t seen the Fighter yet.
Elwood Blues
January 10th, 2011
10:28 pm
Leave Richt alone. He’s on a mission from God.
Jim Doanan as in Doans Pills
January 10th, 2011
10:28 pm
I bet Mark Richt is proficient paper football field goals…..
Paul Johnson
January 10th, 2011
10:29 pm
Has anyone seen the new formation I came up with. I call it the wing ‘T’. Cutting edge stuff.
JB
January 10th, 2011
10:29 pm
Oregon looks just like Georgia against Colorado.
IMHO
January 10th, 2011
10:30 pm
Elwood Blues
January 10th, 2011
10:28 pm
Leave Richt alone. He’s on a mission from God.
Well not everyone can be a drunken fool like you.
SWD Pride
January 10th, 2011
10:30 pm
Auburn should be pretty happy. They have not played their best and they are up and get the ball first. If they continue to play well they will win this game.
Mark Richt's receding hairline
January 10th, 2011
10:30 pm
JB
January 10th, 2011
10:31 pm
Kelly goes for two early on a TD. We kick a FG on 4th &1 on the 3. Same dadburn coaching style, That Richt and Kelly.
SEC Fact FInder
January 10th, 2011
10:31 pm
Nice job Tostitos, way to go honoring these men in service. Great JOB!
Proud to be an American
January 10th, 2011
10:31 pm
OK, the reunion of the servicemen with their families was very cool.
MaconSportsFan
January 10th, 2011
10:31 pm
Best things about this game is Oregon Chearleaders and Erin Andrews
lol
Jim Doanan as in Doans Pills
January 10th, 2011
10:32 pm
Auburn needs to change their cleats though …. them boys were a slippin and slidin a bit