Sunday, September 30, 2007

Two men

"We're not sold on Brandon Cox at quarterback. At. All."
--Orson Swindle, EDSBS, Florida fan

"For the past two years I've failed to understand the hype about Brandon Cox."
--Ryan Ferguson, AOL Fanhouse, Florida fan

"Gator fans, [Auburn] isn’t one of the stiffer SEC tests ... Auburn is not as good as UT and will also be blown out in the swamp."--Keltic Gator, Orange and Blue Hue, Florida fan

"Brandon Cox may miss his start against Florida due to heavy menstrual bleeding."
--Orson again.



This is Brandon Cox. His final line from Saturday: 17-26, 227, 0 INTs. More importantly, his final career record vs. Florida: 2-0. He could have walked off the field in pain more than once. He could have thrown multiple interceptions under heavy pressure. He could have not led a game-winning drive.

But in the end there was nothing, not one pass, to forgive. He maybe wasn't perfect. But he was good enough to win, and that's all we've ever asked.



This is Tommy Tuberville. He just took a team that started three true freshman on the offensive line, lost to Mississippi St. at home two weeks ago, has lost starter after starter on defense and lost its best defensive player midway through the second half, and defeated the No. 4 team in the country, the defending national champions, at night on their home field. Tuberville's team became the first to beat Urban Meyer's Gators in Gainesville. A team--again--facing hurdle after hurdle after hurdle that most teams wouldn't have a hope of clearing. Somehow, Tuberville gives them that hope.

Just as, it is worth remembering, he has done time and again for the past nine years. Over, and over, and over. Every year (save one) he loses games he should win. But every year he wins games he should lose. There is no one I would rather have as Auburn's coach.

War Eagle.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Joe,
Perfect post. It's easy to get spoiled when you are used to being 5-0 at this point, and quibbling about the rankings, but if we'd have expected a win like this, it wouldn't have been the same. Every one of these big games they win this year (and I'm sure there will be more) will feel like miracle. Wow. They played one hell of a game. That was a win any team in Auburn's history would have been proud of.

Anonymous said...

    It is SO sweet, winning this game the way we did! War Damn Eagle!

    As I've argued before, Coach Tub is the way for us. We're reaping the Jetgate/low numbers junior/senior class, right now, and MAY WELL LOSE in Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia, but! We have the talent. We have the coaches. We have the players! Fans, stick with this team, and staff. There are even more great days ahead!

    Acid Reign

Anonymous said...

This is one of those times that one remembers what it was to be an Auburn fan in the eighties.



Except that we won.

War Damn Eagle.

Anonymous said...

sweet victory!

i can't help but bask in the low keening wail emanating from all points jort wearing this weekend

"balls" tuberville

Anonymous said...

well, Jerry, Brandon Cox probably played the best game I have seen him play. I was amazed; maybe shouldn't have been. but he did well. My hat's off to him for his performance yesterday. Now if we could only get the AD & CTT to stop scheduling 11:00 AM games......

Jan

Anonymous said...

I'm biting my damn tongue. I want to go on that Orange & Blue Hue site and spread venom. That Keltic Gator deserves his face pushed in his big, steaming pile of loss. But then I think,"Shug wouldn't approve of that."

Great, great post today.

War Eagle!

--J.M. @ War Eagle Reader

Anonymous said...

War Eagle!

Anonymous said...

IT's GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER!

Anonymous said...

Jerry, how about the announcers? You would think that Tebow was the second coming or something. I was ready to puke after hearing a thousand times how great and what a "warrior" he is. Plus, listening to those guys, you would think Urban Meyer was the Bear re-incarnated or something, with his great "trick plays," etc. Did you hear Lou Holtz say how Florida didn't play a physical game? I don't know what game he was watching. Boy, does he love the sound of his own voice. However, it was awesome to hear (and see) Meyer remark how "losing sucks" and to not take away from the other team's victory. I love how he couldn't bring himself to say "Auburn!"

War Damn Eagle!!!

Jerry Hinnen said...

Thanks for the nice comments, guys. War Eagle!

"Jan": Guess what time the Vandy game's scheduled for?

JM: I had a feeling making a statement like that would hount him (again, says the guy who called MSU an auto-win. Never again.) To be fair, Ferguson ate his crow over at O&BH like a man today.

Trey: I've got a few things to say about ESPN in the recap. Blackledge is OK, even good when paired with someone decent, but Patrick is an abomination. I'll second the love for Meyer's postgame comments.

Anonymous said...

Jerry,

Congrats on the big win.

Every year (save one) he loses games he should win. But every year he wins games he should lose. There is no one I would rather have as Auburn's coach.

Interestingly, the same pattern is emerging for Bobby Johnson, only with worse losses and less spectacular wins. Does this weekend fit the pattern of Knoxville 2005 or Athens 2006? Hmmm.....

Incidentally, I'm not sure if you ever saw my post about a blog link exchange. If you're interested just let me know. I don't have a lot of free time this week, but I'd like to link some good Auburn blogs for a VU audience.