BigTide, I appreciate your viewpoints. You provide a good perspective and historical knowledge so I will try to return some perspective of how monumental this loss was.
Do you remember OSU vs. Michigan at The Shoe in 1995? If so, you know where I am going with this.
OSU's roster included (and I hope I remember all off them) Eddie George, Terry Glenn, Orlando Pace, Ricky Dudley, Shawn Springs, Mike Vrabel, Antoine Winfield, Andy Katzenmoyer, Bobby Hoying, Rob Kelly and Matt Finkes. (The only player I can even remember on the Michigan roster was Tim Biakabutuka. ) The disparity in talent was that BIG. OSU was playing at home against their rival. Win, and they punch their ticket to the Rose Bowl, National Championship and Heisman (which Eddie George still won). Cooper did not have them ready at all and, in spite of all of that talent, they still lost which sent them to “Citrus City”. If I remember correctly, Cooper was ready to be tarred and feathered for that one despite the success he had had to that point. Losing to your rival is bad, but losing to them when you are clearly at an advantage with so much on the line is like an extra poke in the eye.
Although I am sure time has taken away the sting of that day for Buckeye fans, it is NOT forgotten due to the sheer magnitude of the loss to Michigan because of all that was at stake. A loss is a loss but a loss to your rival under these similar circumstances and how it happens leaves few if any excuses.
With all of the talent on that team, and I am not sure I can even remember anyone else EVER being that loaded, OSU was as flat as a pancake. When I watched that OSU game in 1995 I had the same disbelief in what I was seeing that I had last Saturday. I saw what was happening; I just did not understand HOW it was happening. Alabama was not focused for their rivalry game. I am not sure what else their focus could have been on that day but I would love it if someone with team insight could explain what caused this lack of focus and urgency. The loss was not because Auburn was the better team. Their coach is NOT a genius and the read option is NOT that hard to defend especially with the talent and coaching Alabama has. Defending this type of offense certainly was not a problem against UF and Tebow who were light years better than Auburn on both sides of the ball. Alabama had the talent and coaching to win this one easily but sometimes even your process needs a little positive, aggressive, emotional, game time fuel to make it run. Alabama should have been salivating at the chance to pound on Auburn with Kubrickian glee and it was inexplicably not there.
Jess N is right. No one is saying Saban is a bad coach, but did the team lack focus and preparation? Absolutely. For a rivalry game, there is little excuse for that.