Stop Me If You Have Heard This Before...Melvin Gordon Is A Beast, Malzahn's Year Three Is Huge...

If anyone has seen erven the least bit of Big 10/12 Football this season, you have noticed the tailback for Wisconsin and his prowess running the football. The Outback Bowl was no different- 34 carries for a bowl-record 251 yards and three scores...

Even if, on one of his touchdown runs, he absolutely decided to latch on to Jermaine Whitehead's face mask with his own hands and yank him into the endzone with him for the final ten yards of the run... all that on a 4th and 1 from midfield
((HT: ESPN))


It was one of many penalties not called on the day by the officiating crew- on both sides- but the bottom line was that Auburn still cannot stop anyone with great regularity defensively.

Here's the wrap from our friends at WISC-TV in Madison


But, Will Muschamp has already rubbed off on the guys who played in a 13th game this season. There were some signs that the fundamentals of tackling on defense- especially by the linebacking corps- have returned. There was some wrapping up of running backs on tackles at the ankles. The tackling-optional approach of the pursuit of the past was less than before.

The pass rush still is non-existent, save a handful of plays late in the game when Badgers QB Joel Stave had to sit in the pocket and look to his left for a prospective receiver when the whole building knew he wasn't doing anything else. And the speed that Wisconsin used on jet sweeps showed another weakness of the Tigers- getting off blocks, chasing running backs to the edge, and getting there first for a tackle as opposed to the idea of being a step behind and giving up 12 yards a look.

Which happened consistently New Year's Day- and all 2014 season long, really...

Wisconsin, under returning interim coach Barry Alvarez, was one dimensional under Gordon and Corey Clement. They ran the ball behind an offensive line that averages, tackle to tackle, 325.8 pounds. But, when the other team can't stop you- as Auburn found on several occasions on their own this year when they were winning games- there is no reason to deviate from the plays that give you a win. And if you get out of town healthy and in a hurry, why do anything different...???

54 carries for 400 net yards on the day for Wisconsin... 521 yards total

"We knew it was coming and it still worked," Auburn cornerback Trovon Reed told Al.com's Brandon Marcello. "I will say that is a selfish act on our end for not paying attention to detail, but if we could take it back, we'd fix it."

And they need to...

Defensively, if the 7 recruits listed as either signed from the JUCO ranks or "hard commits" all lock in, the spring should be interesting:

Darrell Williams (LB) from Hoover, Jordan Colbert (S) from Griffin (GA), Richard McBryde (LB) from Charles Henderson (Troy, AL), and LB's Elijah Sullivan (Tucker, GA) and Montavious Atkinson (Langston Hughes- Fairburn, GA) have been high school-dominant. So, it will be interesting to see how their talents translate to the next level.

And we all know that Will Muschamp will work on conditioning, tackling, and pass rush starting...

Right...

Now...

Year Three will be an important one to see how the new attitudes will translate in a Nintendo-scoring world...

Morning Wrap: Louisville RB Dyer Ruled Ineligible--Again

((ht: courier-journal.com))

The saga of former Auburn/Arkansas State/Lousiville RB Michael Dyer may have reached an end.

Dyer was ruled academically ineligible for Louisville's Belk Bowl game with Georgia next week. The  senior was the 2nd leading rusher for the Cardinals and had missed the 1st three games of the season due to a thigh injury.

Dyer's journey through college was confusing and seemingly always filled with trouble. He began at Auburn where he got playing time on the Tigers 2010 National Championship team. At that point his future looked bright.

But when then offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn briefly left to coach at Arkansas State, Dyer followed. He had some success there, but eventually was dismissed from that team due to academic and other issues.

He landed at Louisville in 2013, but didn't play much his first season due to injuries.

Suspect In Jakell Mitchell Murder Could Get Probation Revoked

((HT: AL.com/WBRC-TV))

The suspect in the murder of Auburn football player Jakell Mitchell may have his probation revoked over a previous charge.

Markale Hart Hart was arrested on first-degree burglary and first-degree theft charges in September of 2010. He pled guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree burglary on May 3, 2012.

As part of the plea deal, Hart's six-year jail sentence was split, and he was allowed to only serve 6 months in jail followed by 3 years of probation.

With his arrest in the Mitchell case, a motion was filed the county of that crime to revoke his probation.

Hart is in jail waiting on a $500,000 bail and is waiting for a date on the hearing itself.

Here was the arrest of Hill over the weekend


Hart's family is asking for a lower bail figure because of financial hardship. The judge that read the charges declared him indigent during his appearance. Hart's family did not appear at the same hearing because they claim to have received death threats.

ICYMI: Auburn Lands Will Muschamp as Defensive Coordinator

Oh boy, this is going to make things a bit more interesting in 2015.

Auburn University hired a new defensive coordinator Friday night. The guy they hired made his reputation as one of the best d-coordinators in the business.

And he was recently fired as head coach at the University of Florida.

Will Muschamp did not come cheaply, but we are guessing Auburn fans are perfectly okay with that as the wake up Saturday morning.

Reports say the former Texas and LSU defensive coordinator and disciple of Nick Saban reportedly nabbed a deal that will pay him somewhere in the $1.6 to $1.8 million a year range, making him the new gold standard for college coordinators. He joins the staff of Coach Gus Malzahn immediately.

And raising the absurdity bar for the cost of college coaches.

But Muschamp will be worth it to the folks on the Plains if he can help a sagging defense that has been the Tigers achilles heel the past several seasons. If the defense improves enough to take down Alabama and get Auburn to the College Football playoff, well, then in their minds, the cost will be worth it.

Muschamp will meet the crazed, assembled masses Saturday in what is sure to be a well attended press conference.

2014 Iron Bowl: The Shopping Version

((ht: saturdaydownsouth.com))

This is pretty funny. We've never heard of it, so we're going to share because we always appreciate a good joke.

And this is not holy crap funny, but chuckling all the way through it funny.

A pair of comedians has put together a YouTube page called "SEC Shorts". And the "Shorts" are a series of parody video that have a little fun with the manic obsessiveness of SEC football fans.

They are pretty funny and for the most part--spot on.

The latest video: The 2014 Iron Bowl Shopping Show--where you can see items fresh from Saturday nights game.

Enjoy:

Morning Wrap: Alabama Survives Iron Bowl Track Meet

((ht: espn.com))

It was the highest scoring game in the amazing history of the Alabama vs. Auburn game.

A game won by Alabama 55-44 and which featured over 1100 total yards and at least two statistics guys who passed out from exhaustion. (just kidding--they really did combine for 1100+ yards though)

A game that featured Auburn QB Nick Marshall throwing for 456 yards and 3 TD's and featured Alabama star WR Amari Cooper catching 13 passes for 223 yards and 3 TD's.

And a game that had SEC fans nervous, because a Crimson Tide loss likely would have kept the SEC out of the inaugural College Football Playoff.

But the 101,000 + and a national television audience got to see a long, long game that went to the wire. It took Bama scoring 3 straight TD's in the 4th quarter to give the Tide their 11th win on the season while dropping the Tigers to 8-4.

Alabama will move on to play SEC Champ Missouri in the Georgia Dome for the SEC title. If they win that game, they'll be playing for a shot at the College Football Playoff title.

Auburn will be heading to a bowl game as 12 SEC teams qualified to play in bowls this season.

Your highlights from ESPN.com:

Bless You Charles Barkley: He Sings Glory, Glory to Ol Georgia on National TV

((ht: nbaontnt.com))

We are pretty certain Charles Barkley is gods gift to internet sports bloggers. Why else would he do the things he does?

The latest: Paying off a lost bet to University of Georgia grad and NBA on TNT Host Ernie Johnson Jr. The two had a wager on last weekends UGA vs. Auburn game (Barkley's alma mater). Georgia won.

So in the spirit of fun; Sir Charles paid his debt by singing the UGA fight song on the show...

Okay, so he tried to...

Morning Wrap: Texas A&M Ends Auburn's Playoff Hopes

((ht: cbssports.com))

Raise your hand if you saw this one coming. (Not you Aggie fans)

Texas A&M, losers of three straight SEC games, managed to squeak out a 41-38 win vs. a sloppy Auburn team at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Aggies led for the entire game, a game where both defenses...um, well, struggled. And the game was in doubt until the very end, when the Tigers fumbled the ball on consecutive drives at the end of the game. Drives that would probably have given them the lead had they not gotten the dropsies.

Auburn botched a handoff from Nick Marshall to Tailback Cameron Artis-Payne on the Aggies 2-yard line late in the 4th quarter. A and M's Julian Obioha recovered. And with 54 seconds left and the ball on the Aggies 28, Auburn Center Reese Disumkes snapped the ball to QB Nick Marshall while Marshall appeared to be changing the play. Alonzo Williams fell on the ball for A and M.

Game over.

Freshman QB Kyle Allen was exceptional, throwing for 277 yards and 4 TD's. Auburn was led by Tailback Cameron Artis-Payne who ran for 225 yards and a pair of TD's.

The loss drops Auburn to 7-2, 4-2 in the SEC. And it eliminates them from both the SEC title game and the College Football playoff. They still have games with Georgia and Alabama left.

The Aggies move to 7-3, 3-3 in the SEC.

Your highlights from CBSSports.com:

Haha! Gus Malzahn Dancing to "U Can't Touch This"....no Really, He Is

((ht: reddit/cfb--saturdaydownsouth.com))

Oh boy!

Someone really dug deep into a video archive and came up with a video that must be watched to be believed.

We are pretty sure this is Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, circa 2001 dancing to the we think early 1990's MC Hammer song "U Can't Touch This".

It's a little hard to tell due to the poor video quality.

But the YouTube poster, who got the video off Reddit's CFB section, says it's really video of Malzahn when he was coach at Arkansas Springdale High School and it was on a DVD of his high school highlights.

Ok...we'll buy that. Because ya know, there are very few things we will see this week that are more awkwardly funny than this.

Morning Wrap: Auburn Escapes Ole Miss in Crazy Finish

It's not often a football game is clinched with a fumble recovery in the end zone. But that's exactly what happened Saturday night at the end of the Auburn-Ole Miss game won by the Tigers 35-31.

Auburn's Cassanova McKenzie came out of a pile with a ball fumbled by Ole Miss receiver Laquon Treadwell as Treadwell was trying to score with about 2-minutes left in the game. Treadwell had broken several tackles and was about to score what may have been the game winner when he fumbled with about 1:30 left in the game. Replay confirmed the call on the field that he fumbled and McKenzie's recovery gave Auburn the ball on the 20.

He (Treadwell) also got hurt on the play, breaking his leg.

Auburn could not run out the clock though. Ole Miss got the ball back at midfield with 49 seconds left in the game.

Rebels QB Bo Wallace who had fumbled the ball earlier in the 4th quarter, tried in vain to rally his team, but 3 straight incomplete passes and a busted play on 4th down, ended the game.

The win, in a game that could almost be considered an SEC West playoff knockout game, moved Auburn to 7-1, 4-1 in the SEC. The Tigers still have games left with Georgia (which looks more winnable today) and Alabama.  Ole Miss dropped their 2nd straight SEC game and is likely out of playoff consideration.

Your highlights from the folks at ESPN:

Duck! Auburn Has A Gatling Gun That Shoots T-Shirts

((ht: cbssports.com))

And we thought you just had to pay attention during baseball and hockey games for objects flying into the stands.

We were wrong.

Check out the "T-Shirt Gatling" gun rolled out at Auburn during the Auburn/Arkansas game earlier this season. There's a really good chance someone in the crowd got drilled if they weren't paying attention.

And if you've been to an Auburn game...well...

Though we do wonder if this is a subtle message to Texas where everything is supposed to be bigger. Or maybe not...

If you don't know what a "Gatling" gun is, we shouldn't have to explain it. Suffice to say it's a big gun that shoots objects in rapid fire succession.

Check out the video:



And since you are now fascinated...here's some slo-mo video of the contraption:

Former Tennessee Titans Kicker Rob Bironas Dies In Crash

((ht: newschannel5.com))

Former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas was found dead late Saturday night after a single vehicle crash in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 36-year old Bironas is the all-time leading scorer in Titans history and was known as one of the most clutch kickers in the NFL.

According to our friends at Newschannel 5 in Nashville, police say Bironas's GMC Yukon went off the road at a high rate of speed, crashed into some trees, flipped and landed in a drainage ditch less than a mile from his home.

They tried to get him to Vanderbilt's Memorial Hospital but he passed away en route.

Bironas, who began college at Auburn and then transferred to Georgia Southern, started his pro career in the Arena League.

In 2005, he won a job with the Titans and was voted all-pro in 2007 and 2008. The Titans released him before the 2014 season began.

He was active in the Nashville community through his charitable foundation which provided opportunities to under privileged kids throughout the Metro Nashville area.

Bironas was married former to NFL star Terry Bradshaw's daughter Rachel this past June.

Our friends at NewsChannel5 provide video:

Lutzie Remembered At Lassiter High

((HT: Auburn Athletics/Lassiter High School))

The Auburn and Lassiter families came out in force to remember former Trojans and Tigers tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen at his first alma mater last night just north of Atlanta.

The head coaches of Lutzie in Atlanta and Auburn, Chip Lindsey and Gus Malzahn, along with Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs, and former teammates and alums joined the Lutzenkirchen family to celebrate the life of someone who wanted to be remembered more for his activities off the field than on them.

Here's Malzahn speaking at the ceremony
((HT: al.com))


And some of Jacobs speech
((HT: Scott Forester))


And the video put together by the University that showed at the ceremony


Echoing the sentiments of Lutzie's father at the ceremony, the HQ would like to remind everyone to wear your seatbelts.

Lutzenkirchen Monday Update: Alcohol Suspected

((HT: OANow.com/Byington))

Sadly, this is not a surprise...

In the Byington article, Georgia state troopers are suspecting that alcohol is involved in the auto accident that killed former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen and Georgia baseball player Ian Davis.

Blood samples were taken from those two and Troup County (GA) coroner Jeff Davis says that results could take a few weeks to be finalized. The other two passengers are suspected to have alcohol in their system at the time of the crash, but blood has not been drawn.

Our friends at WSFA-TV in Montgomery were at Toomer's Corner to see how the Auburn family was mourning
WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Visitation for Lutzenkirchen, his family, and friends will start at 10:30AM Thursday at the Transfiguration Catholic Church in Marietta, Ga. A funeral Mass will follow at 1PM.

According to the Auburn Football Twitter account, a memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 8PM at Lassiter High School's football stadium in Marietta. Supporters are being asked by the Lutzenkirchen family to wear orange and blue.

Monday AM Update: Lutzenkirchen Reaction From The Plains

((HT: WSFA-TV))

It's still very raw for the Plains reacting to the loss to star tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen.

The University is trying to figure out how to properly respect his legacy and make sure #43 won't be forgotten.
It was an act as simple as rolling the trees at Toomer's Corner out of respect in a somber tribute.
It was remembering him through social media, which lit up with praise for a better man than football player.

All this for someone who was 23
WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

More as we know more...

BREAKING: Auburn's Lutzenkirchen, UGA Baseball's Davis Die In Car Accident (CONFIRMED w/Updates)

((HT: Auburn Undercover))

This is straight from them and there aren't may details at the moment"

Philip Lutzenkirchen, a member of the 2010 Auburn national championship team and one of the most popular players in recent Tigers history, died in an automobile accident early Sunday morning, AUC has learned.

He was 23.

At this time, no other details are known.

Lutzenkirchen was a graduate of Lassiter high School in suburban Atlanta and had Hutson Mason as his quarterback with the Trojans. He went to Auburn where he ws one of the most accomplished tight ends in recent decades.

His first flash with fame came in high school with this amazing play


And he was one of the most relied-upon receivers for Cam Newton in his time on the Plains
((HT: SEC on CBS))


More when we know more, but the HQ's thoughts and prayers to the families at Lassiter and Auburn...

UPDATE: The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer's Ryan Black can confirm the passing- having spoken with a state trooper who worked the scene.

The accident happened shortly after 3AM and Black caught up with Master Trooper B.N. Talley...

From Black's piece:

"It happened at the intersection of Upper Big Springs Road and Lower Big Springs Road," Talley said. "The vehicle was a 2006 Chevy Tahoe and the driver missed a stop sign at the intersection of those two roads, which is more or less a 'T-intersection.' They traveled through the intersection off into a churchyard. They were out out of control for about 450 feet."

At that point, Talley said, the vehicle overturned, ejecting all four passengers.

"Philip was one of them," Talley said," and he was killed at the scene."

Bulldawg Illustrated is also reporting that UGA baseball player, Ian Davis, has also passed away in the accident.

Black is also reporting in an update that Lutzenkirchen was not wearing a seat belt.

David Langner Passes From Cancer

((HT: AL.com/Marcello))

Okay, the HQ will yield that you probably don't know Langner by name if you're outside the Ess-E-Cee...

But, if you mention "Punt, Bama, Punt"- you'll probably know what that is all about...
((HT: Auburn University Athletics))


In 1972, Auburn was down 16-3. But Langner was credited with returning two blocked punts for scores at Auburn won 17-16 in one of the most storied games in the Iron Bowl Series...

"David Langner was one of Auburn's greats who will be remembered by generations to come," Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs said in a statement. "He was a fierce competitor who fought cancer as hard as he fought any opponent he faced. I know the entire Auburn family joins me in offering our sympathy and prayers to his family."

Bill Newton blocked both punts with less than six minutes left in regulation and this capped off a year where the group known as the "Amazins" went 10-1...

"I'm saddened by the passing of David Langner, who was not only an Auburn legend but a great man," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said in another statement released by the university. "On behalf of the entire Auburn football program, our thoughts and prayers are with David's family and friends."

As is the HQ's...

Taiwanese Animation and the SEC Bag Man: A Love Story

((ht: awfulannouncing.com))

This would be the funniest video we've seen all week if there weren't a fairly serious story attached to it.

Until this afternoon (Saturday) we hadn't read a fascinating tale of the "SEC Bag Man" or the alleged guy with the money to sign recruits and keep players flush with money.

We don't know how much of it is completely true, but is certainly explains some things. And considering how much we know about how things operate in the Dirty South, it did not surprise us to read any of it.

Read if for yourself from Steven Godfrey of SBNation.com RIGHT HERE

Now the story itself did not get a ton of national play, but somehow it found it's way to the "Taiwanese Animators" who gave the treatment only they could give it.

The video spares few, though there is a preponderance of Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee involved in it.

Enough of the set-up, check it out:

Ole Miss Hits Walk Off HR on Intentional Walk Pitch

Yeah, we know, the headline for this story doesn't make much sense, but how do you explain something so bizarre?

Ole Miss beat Auburn 7-5 in a 13 inning SEC Baseball game. And they won on a walk-off Home Run.

The reason that homer is noteworthy?

Auburn's pitcher was trying to intentionally walk Ole Miss slugger Austin Anderson with a runner already on second, to set up at double play.

However ball one was a little too close to the middle of the plate. Anderson swung, the ball disappeared into the night and the Rebels began celebrating one heck of an unlikely win...

Your highlight of the day starts at about the 3:30 mark in this video from Ole Miss Sports:

Who Was This Guy's Putting Instructor...???

((HT: ESPN))

Don't know, but whoever it is did really well...

This guy did this for a $15,000 car or the same towards a car...