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
Malcolm Reynolds
January 11th, 2011
12:54 am
Yeah, third grade. Good comeback
JInx Master
January 11th, 2011
12:56 am
Sorry @cmac your arguments are weak Stanford nor TCU cannot deal with SEC speed, Fairley would have eaten they’re QBs up. Can you say 5 in a row for the SEC this is not a fluke.
Katherine
January 11th, 2011
12:56 am
Congrats to Auburn…….
6 and 7
January 11th, 2011
12:59 am
Hey Three Steps Mister, we don’t care what you think. War Eagle! Deal with Auburn’s National Championship!
JInx Master
January 11th, 2011
1:00 am
The BCS better do something soon about a playoff that Sears trophy should be called the SEC trophy. After about 3 more straight victories everyone will cry foul
Cobb Dawg
January 11th, 2011
1:04 am
In my mind, and I don’t think I’m the only one, the NC is vacant this season. It is tarnished beyond belief. This is the season that never was. TCU should be declared NC. And there is no Heisman Trophy winner either.
Hairy Dawg
January 11th, 2011
1:04 am
Can’t wait for the breaking news in the Newton pay-for-play saga that strips this title from War Beagle.
Should be fun.
Cobb Dawg
January 11th, 2011
1:07 am
Hope you’re right Hairy Dawg. Or college football is in big trouble.
Oregon Brave
January 11th, 2011
1:09 am
Congrats Auburn. You finished it. We didn’t. Ahh but next year. Life always springs eternal for the loser on that old refrain, “wait til next year.”
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:09 am
5 straight NCs for the SEC by 4 different teams…and NONE of them are from UGA!!! You can just smell UGA becoming more irrelevant by the minute. How does it feel UGA fans to watch 1/3 of the conference win NCs??? Ha Ha
I swear, if I had scripted this year for UGA even I wouldn’t have believed it. Your AD gets fired for a DUI/Red Panties…AJ sells his jersey and costs his team…you lose to COLORADO…your DC gives the choke sign…double digit player arrests…you finish with an underwhelming and underachieving 6 wins….you lose to a Conference USA team winning it’s first bowl game…NOW, Auburn wins the NC, Cam is smiling, and Fairley wins the MVP Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
I can’t believe it…it is sooooooo awesome…and I’m not even an Auburn or Tech fan!
Mike "Choke" Vick aka Mr Charlie
January 11th, 2011
1:10 am
Wonder what Charles Barkley is saying.
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:10 am
Chiszik is a pr*ck.
Jason
January 11th, 2011
1:12 am
@Embarrassment to the SEC,
Actually only 16% of those who enroll with the University of Phoenix end up earning a degree. It’s not a diploma mill, it’s a for profit business that figured out how to game the financial assistance system for their benefit and not the benefit of the students. Do a teeny tiny bit of research before saying things that make you look like a moron.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:14 am
gadawgs…he may be a pr*ck….but he’s a pr*ck that just won the NC..ha ha ha ha
Ldawg
January 11th, 2011
1:16 am
As a Dawg fan, I am glad Auburn won. It is great for their university and great for the sec. However, they showed no class whatsoever. Fairly was playing like he’s played all year… Dirty…and what’s up with that one dude… Kneeing the duck in the face…Cmon auburn… Show a little class… Please
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:18 am
LDawg…where was all the outrage when Sturdivant chop-blocked the UCF player? I got on this blog and asked, but nobody said a word. It’s easy to crucify another team, when in fact EVERY team has a dirty play or two in every game. Get over it already.
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:18 am
HaHa..very true but it is a NC that will be vacated in a few years. Also, after Newton & Fairley leave let’s see what a genius the pr*ck is next year. Back to 7-5 again.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:19 am
gadawgs…well, 7-5 would still be better than the 6-7 that UGA put up this year.
As far as Auburn having to vacate the title, do you have facts that nobody else has? If so, please do share. Also, you might want to fill in the SEC and the NCAA…they apparently both have it wrong as well.
Liar
January 11th, 2011
1:22 am
I don’t believe you haha you nerd… Only a tech fan would make a post like that. We still own you!9 in 1 out of the last 10… Suck on it
Ramguy
January 11th, 2011
1:22 am
Auburn won fair and square….I am listening to ESPN making excused for Oregon.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:24 am
Liar…say what you want. Not a Tech fan…never even been to a Tech game.
I just love the fact that you UGA fans got on this blog and gave Auburn hell…and it didn’t work out.
You wanted, actually NEEDED, Auburn/Cam to be guilty and also to lose this game. Servers you right…now spit that sour grape out of your mouth.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:24 am
serves
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:25 am
Liar…also, 9-1 is nothing to brag about. You should NEVER lost to Tech…hell, even 10-0 would be no major accomplishment. That’s the problem with UGA…you set the bar too low.
Cheaters do win?
January 11th, 2011
1:26 am
How do u explain to your kid . . .? Yeah, our QB was rejected at Florida bc of fraud, but we got him bc we were willing to take a chance on his behavior.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:26 am
gadawgs…still waiting on those facts.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:28 am
Cheaters…Cam wasn’t rejected at Florida….he left on his own. And if you never have to talk to your kid about second chances when they ultimately screw up, then you will be very lucky. So, I would say that everbody deserves a chance to fix the things in their life that have been wrong.
IF you need more advice on parenting, please feel free to let me know.
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:31 am
HaHa.. True about the 6-7 thing. But you never heard a thing about USC & Bush until what three years later. This to will eventually come out. If you truly do not think that Auburn paid Papa Newton you really have your head stuck in the sand. The NCAA and the SEC were not going to do anything to derail this cash cow. If Auburn was not undefeated and the SEC’s only legitamate shot at a NC do you really think that they would have sat on their hands. Let’s say if it was GA this year my guess is that they would have dropped the hammer. Auburn is dirty and for the first time in my life I did not pull for an SEC team in the National Championship game. And that says alot because I even pulled for FL when they were in it.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:36 am
gadawgs…so no facts then? Just some pathetic attempt to somehow draw a conclusion due to Bush and USC?
The difference between me and you, is that I don’t have an axe to grind. I don’t need Cam/Auburn to be guilty to feel better. I don’t need an excuse as to why my team lost to Auburn. I am happy to wait to see if any additional facts come out…and not make assumptions. If it makes you feel better though…go ahead…hell, at least you’ll never have jury duty.
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:39 am
HaHa..Let’s see. While at FL Cam was in possession of a stolen laptop that he “did not” know was stolen but he just thought he would throw it out of his dorm room window when the police showed up for kicks. Let’s see. He also was caught cheating in class three times while at Florida and was in jeopardy of being expelled when he decided to “leave on his own” as you say. Let’s see. He had 15 or 16 traffic citations while he was at Florida. All of this adds up to such an outstanding student athlete. I do believe he has had not one, two or three but four second chances if you throw in the pay for play. The guy is a heckuva player but he is dirty just like Auburn.
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:43 am
HaHa..I don’t have an axe to grind to make me feel better about losing to Auburn. You guys beat us. I don’t have an axe to grind with any of the other 6 teams that beat us either. We sucked this year and I know it. I don’t like hypocrits and that is exactly what I see in Newton and Chizdick.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:44 am
gadawgs…ok, and Obama is the president of the United States and 2+2 is 4. Those are facts too.
But what does your facts about Cam at Florida have to do with your claim that Auburn will have to vacate the title that they just won? Nice attempt, but nothing but a smoke screen.
Here is a fact…you don’t have any to back up your arguement. Again, everybody sees your comment for what it is…sour grapes, without a shred of supporting facts.
UGA is a big-time school rich in football tradition. Your down now, but you will be back at some point. Have some pride, and give up on the Auburn thing. It’s embarrassing.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:45 am
gadawgs…I’m not an Auburn fan.
Ramguy
January 11th, 2011
1:46 am
Ga fans and I include myself in that group, need to get over it. Even if the allegations start out to be true, championships are won and lost on the field, no matter whatever the NCAA may decide later.
The SEC's Lone PROFESSIONAL Team Wins
January 11th, 2011
1:50 am
Mike P HAS CHANGED HIS HANDLE AGAIN TO
Ha Ha,,
thought no one would notice you born loser
The SEC's Lone PROFESSIONAL Team Wins
January 11th, 2011
1:51 am
HA HA MIKE,
YES YOU ARE U LIAR
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:51 am
Mike P…nice try…I have no idea what you are talking about.
And why do my comments make me a loser?
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
1:52 am
HaHa..I was referencing your post to cheaters in regards to my diatribe about Cam’s second chances. Also, I was not the one who made the smart a** comment about being GA 6-7. I came on to post one message about your head coach being a pr*ck and you sir started the dialogue. Not I. I am not on the Auburn thing and no I do not have facts but I have enough sense to know when something is dirty and Auburn at this point is and you know it but you do not want to admit it. Like you I will wait for the facts to come out and i hope we can continue this conversation at that time.
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:52 am
Professional…I have no idea who/what you are talking about. However, if Mike P agrees with what I have said, then great.
Why do my comments make me a loser?
Ha Ha
January 11th, 2011
1:54 am
gadawgs…Again, I am not an Auburn fan. Believe me or not, makes no difference to me.
And you were not waiting on the facts to come out when you said, point blank, that Auburn would have to vacate this title in a few years.
gadawgs
January 11th, 2011
2:00 am
HaHa..You are right about me not having any facts but I have my opinion and that’s what I based my post on. I do give Auburn credit for winning the National Chamionship and even though I did not pull for them I am glad the SEC retained it. Anyway this lasted alot longer than I had intended. Time for bed cause 6:00 comes early. Enjoyed the discussion.
WDE
January 11th, 2011
2:12 am
NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!
Eat it Dawg HATERS!!!
P. Bull Terrier
January 11th, 2011
2:47 am
A Tiger For A Day:
Glad to see Auburn keep the trophy in the SEC. Next year UGA needs to step up and bring another one back to Athens.
There is no doubt Fairley is a dirty player, but I can see why the Auburn fans like him anyway. He is a dominant force on the field and he seems like a pretty entertaining guy off the field. Hopefully someone at the next level will teach him that he’s talented enough that he doesn’t need to resort to cheap shots to impact a football game.
I sure hope Cecil Newton collected some money on Cam’s behalf because it would be really sad if he brought all of the negative attention down on himself and his son for nothing. I can’t imagine how bad it would feel not to be able to be by my son’s side as he won the Heisman Trophy, or be in the stands as he won the National Championship, or to have to watch the national media try to tear him apart and forever tarnish his character, all because of my own lack of better judgement. A few hundred thousand in my pocket wouldn’t make that feel any better, but it would be better than having to live with that for nothing.
I was never a big fan of anything orange and blue (or blue and orange), until I saw those Oregon uniforms. Auburn’s traditional uniforms represented the SEC well. Oregon’s uniforms made it look like the PAC 10 was represented by a team from Clown College while USC is in time out. Money can buy a lot of things, but it can’t buy good taste.
Even after spending a whole evening rooting for Auburn, the whole Tigers and War Eagle thing doesn’t make any sense to me. The Eagle flying around the stadium looks pretty cool, but watching a Tiger fly around the stadium would be pretty awesome. Either way, my day as an Auburn fan is over.
Go Dawgs!
cstan
January 11th, 2011
3:29 am
Just say no to quack!
Gold and White
January 11th, 2011
6:47 am
Sad that a Championship can be won by cheaters! Auburn is a disgrace to college football! Hope the truth comes out soon!
Ted M
January 11th, 2011
6:53 am
It was a really good game…but…the field sucked, I’ve seen many games in the driving rain where the players have had better footing. It was unequivocally the worst doomed field ever. Auburn was the better team but it would have been a much higher scoring game if the players weren’t slipping and sliding on most plays.
jack
January 11th, 2011
7:03 am
Best $180,000.00 ever spent,,, not a huge amount to win,,,well, rent, a NC. Hope the Auburn fans enjoy it while they have it, cause you KNOW it’s going to hurt like hell when that thing, along with the Heisman gets yanked in a few years,,,,
Headley Lamar
January 11th, 2011
7:08 am
But no matter how impressive Newton’s season was — and, believe us, it was — or how many highlight reels he made, or what he meant to the Auburn community, there will always be one looming question.
Was Newton eligible?
It’s a fair question; we’re not trying to rain on anyone’s parade here. From the initial reports in November, to the moments before kickoff, the investigation was, and still is, a legitimate probe. When you factor in the NCAA’s decision to make Newton ineligible, only to reverse the decision 24 hours later, the whole situation became a folly.
But, even if Newton didn’t know that his father was soliciting money in a pay-to-play plan — a clear infraction on NCAA rules — the bylaw remains. Fair or not.
Based on that, Newton shouldn’t have been eligible. Period.
Not that it matters now. Auburn got their championship. Whether or not it stands the test of time remains to be seen. By that point, though, Newton will be gone, probably with a career in the NFL. Amongst the Auburn faithful, he’ll be remembered for his spectacular runs and helping in Auburn’s come-from-behind victory over Alabama. And let’s not be mistaken: Newton deserves all of those praises.
But there will always be uncertainty surrounding Newton and Auburn and it will leave a tainted legacy for those wanting to know what really happened.
Headley Lamar
January 11th, 2011
7:15 am
Of course, this win-at-all-costs attitude can make for some rather messy situations. Auburn won the national title Monday, but the Tigers will always be remembered as controversial champions because quarterback Cam Newton’s father tried to sell him to Mississippi State for $180,000. Logic would dictate that a player for sale to one school is for sale to all schools, but no one has found evidence of any wrongdoing by anyone at Auburn. The NCAA continues to investigate, though.
Who's that
January 11th, 2011
7:17 am
well said Headley. I am a Ga fan and an Auburn fan. However, I can not support a team that continues to play someone that is as tainted as Newton has become. Grow a pair Chizek and be the leader you are paid to be. It will be a sad day when this turns into the USC sequel.
Murphy
January 11th, 2011
7:30 am
Congrads to the Auburn Nation.Thank you for keeping the SEC Championship run alive! Great game by both teams.
That AU defense sure showed up to play last night!