Classic "twisting of truth" on their parts.
They fail to admit AJ rode the bench in '09.
They fail to realize everybody and their momma (not just Bama fans) consider some degree of guilt in the "Scam" incident.
They also fail to admit that every one of those undefeated years came when nobody, even themselves, saw it coming. They seldom deliver when there are expectations and don't have the advantage of sneaking up on folks.
Yes, when the Barn has a little success they crow so much that it riles up Bama so it's to their detriment.
I'll add a couple more things I'm hearing them say too:
1. They are convinced they are "out recruiting" Bama now. Numbers wise they may be getting the same amount of early commitments, ala Saban's pattern, but based on what I've seen most of our recruits are in the top 100 of one of the services and only 1 or 2 of theirs is. Furthermore, almost everyone of our commitments for 2015 are in the top 20 of their position rankings and hardly none of their's is.
2. Also, they are convinced that Gus is the best coach in the state now. Perhaps it was the "upset" of Bama, the one second miracle, or Finebuam throwing that against the wall to see if it would stick, but they actually think Gus is better and that CNS is declining as a quality coach.
Auburn recruiting rankings:
1) 2010: #4
2) 2011: #3
2012 record: 3-9
Anyone who has ever observed the history of Auburn football should realize that Gus Malzahn has ALREADY peaked - it's all uphill from here. Despite the shameless hype of Colin Cowherd, who actually dared claim Auburn would win back-to-back national championships, Auburn is done as far as being a big deal. They will lose 3-4 games this year and if one of those is the Iron Bowl they will consider it a major dropoff rather than the regression to the mean it actually is.
Doug Barfield - took a term serving a MAJOR probation to an 8-3 record in 1979 and nearly beat the national champions in the Iron Bowl. Went 5-6 the very next year and was fired.
Pat Dye - went 5-6 then a surprising 9-3 and then had the best team in the country in 1983 even though they didn't win the title. In both 1984 and 1985 they started the year number one and in both years didn't even make it out of September unbeaten (in 1984 they didn't even make it out of August). Built a dynasty in the SEC by winning the 1987-88-89 SEC titles with an incredibly good defense. But then Gene Stallings, Jackie Sherrill, and Steve Spurrier showed up in town.....and Dye was shown the door after consecutive losing seasons and a probation.
Terry Bowden - hit the ground running and managed to go 21 games before finally losing one. But the moment he lost one, he never really recovered. His sole Western division crown (1997) can be chalked up to the worst decision in Iron Bowl history - the one that led to the Ed Scissum fumble and Auburn stealing a win. He only coached six games after winning their first-ever division title - and he lost five of those.
Tommy Tuberville - won the 2000 Western division title and then had three mediocre years of underachievement. He twice beat an Alabama team crippled by sanctions......and so thrilled the PTB that they hopped a jet to Louisville to snag Bobby Petrino. Tubs goes unbeaten and has it written into his contract if they ever try Jetgate again. Has a couple of good years. Then finally has a losing season and they toss him overboard.
Gene Chizik - wins a national title his second year and is gone two seasons later.
Now I know the Auburn answer to this whole thing is to say that "well, Malzahn was the real genius and reason why Chizik won the national title." But Malzahn was there in 2009 and 2011 when their overall record with his sensational, razzle-dazzle offense was......16-10. So to give Malzahn credit for 2010 is laughable given the fact the only real difference in those three years was....Cam Newton. When you then consider that those wins included 2-10 Ball State, Furman, 4-8 La Tech, FAU, and Samford - all teams that even 2012 Auburn would have beaten - you have an overall record against the SEC and big names of (are you ready for this?).......11-10.
So even if Malzahn is the "real genius" of the team, he's a .500 coach against minimally competent teams. Take a look at last year:
He survived a 6-7 Wazzu team at home
He needed a comeback drive against a mediocre MSU team at home
Johnny Manziel gets hurt late and Auburn survives on the road
Do I even need to comment about Georgia?
And Malzahn didn't have anything at all to do with the win against us (unless he's somehow now calling defensive signals on third and fourth and one)
They were 12-2 last year; they were five plays from being 6-6 despite all the "they can't stop us" offense.Tip your hat to them, it was a great year - but they're in for a huge disappointment if they think is the new normal. Remember when Texas A/M was going to contend for the national title last year? Remember how even folks on this board said their only two "real games" were us and LSU and that AT WORST aTm would lose TWO games?
Their record? 9-4
Arky, Ole Miss and MSU will be better this year
K-State on the road will be tougher than Wazzu at home
South Carolina is better than Tennessee last year
The Iron Bowl is at BDS
There will be no UGA miracle this go around (although I expect UGA to regress)
Auburn could actually be just as good as last year and go 6-6. I seriously doubt they will fall that far down, but as we all know - two-loss seasons the year after a championship (SEC in this case) and no championship makes for a frustrating year.
And here's the deal: until they figure out DEFENSE is part of the game, they will not win another national title. While their 2010 defense was not all that great (24.1 ppg vs 24.7 in 2013) there was a critical difference - Auburn came from behind to win NINE of their 14 games in 2010, something you can ONLY do if your defense actually does manage to STOP the opponent at critical junctures. Auburn had THREE comeback wins last year - aTm (because Manziel was hurt), Georgia (where they dominated the game and blew a 20-point fourth quarter lead), and Alabama (okay, give them that one).
And it won't do to say, "Well the reason we only had three comebacks is because we had such a dominating offense" because the 2010 offense (41.2 ppg) was more explosive than the 2013 (38.7 ppg).
So despite all the hype, they will find the going tougher than they imagine.
