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.

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.

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.

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...

Auburn Speaks On Lutzenkirchen Tragedy

((HT: Auburn Tigers.com/Goldberg))

The Auburn family has spoken out publicly for the first time since it was released that former tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen was killed in a rollover crash early Sunday morning...

"I’m deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Philip Lutzenkirchen. He was a great young man who touched the lives of everyone he knew in a positive way," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "On the field, Philip was a great player and competitor, but more importantly, he was a great teammate and friend off the field. My thoughts and prayers are with Philip’s parents, Mike and Mary, and all of his family and friends who are grieving his passing. This is a sad day for the entire Auburn family. I find peace knowing that even though Philip was taken from us too soon, that he lived his life to the fullest, leaving a lifetime of great memories for his family and friends to cherish forever."

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs:

"Philip’s death is a devastating tragedy for his family, the Auburn family and his countless friends. Today is also a profoundly sad day for the Auburn Athletics family, who loved and respected Philip not only as a great player but more importantly as a friend and the epitome of an Auburn man.

"I came to know Philip well and I admired everything about who he was and the way he lived his life. He had a strong faith, a big heart and a burning desire to help others. Philip was a bright light this world desperately needed, and his death leaves a void that can’t possibly be filled. My prayers, my thoughts and my heart go out to his wonderful parents, Mike and Mary, their entire family and his many grieving friends.”

Former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik:

"He was compassionate, determined, honorable and full of love, integrity and respect. In 27 years of coaching, I have come across what I would consider to be a few ‘rare’ young men. Phillip was certainly one of those ‘rare’ ones," Chizik said. "He truly, lived his life for other people and always found time to give to others. His family values taught him to be a great friend and teammate of everyone he came in contact with. My deepest sympathy is extended to his parents Mike and Mary, his sisters, and all of his extended family. We should all begin by honoring his life because he lived a life worthy of that. In his 23 short years, he has certainly left an impactful legacy to everyone he touched. I will miss him deeply."

The End Of An Era, The Beginning Of An Era...

I'll admit it...

I was walking around in 70-plus degree weather yesterday...

All day...

I have seen all the different photos on social media from all of my friends and fellow media describing something going on in most of the country, but I'm going to have to say that I have no immediate recollection of what you're talking about. I remember walking through some jet ways in Minneapolis where I felt like I was walking through that beer commercial where the spelunker is trying to save the very meal his bartenders are trying to serve by bringing the glass bottle they just carved out of the nearest, ultra-convenient mountain side with an ice pick...

And, I dropped to my knees in profound thanks when I got into the concourse where the heat was working...

I'll admit it again...

I'm a very poor responder to cold... and the epic cold the east is taking care of for me can be sent on its way, thank you, by the time I return...

I had a football game to watch...

As someone who was a victim of the "Wide Right" and "Wide Left" eras at my alma mater where your time is marked by missed field goals at the most key moment against your hated rival- and you can recite the kickers who missed them and the direction the missed kicks missed- all of this talk about shoo-in national titles came across my ears with all the smoothness of a 7-year-old kid playing the cello for the first time- because his grandmother thought it would be a good idea...

The chalk across the chalkboard feeling when the kaolin fails to do its job because it isn't pointed enough to create the quadratic equation for Geometry class...???

That feeling...

And as the point spread against an "underdog" Auburn team climbed from 8 to 10 or 10-and-a-half points (depending on the independent businessman you follow for such advice), your hands go straight into "earmuffs" mode the closer you got to kickoff. Sure, the younger generation attached to the current Heisman Trophy winner came into the Arroyo Seco with entirely too much confidence. But they will understand, some day, not necessarily this one- that when you're given all the information and get to study from all angles that nothing is as easy as it's made to look...

I'll say this without qualification...

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn is crazy...

And I don't mean that in a bad way at all...

He's the guy who works in his basement at all hours trying to figure out how to make time travel economical for the middle-class family of four. He'll be more than happy to figure out a way to make your sedan run on something that smells like cooking grease, but gets 427,000-miles per gallon. And, if there's a bomb set to go off attached to your ankle, and all he has is a plastic six-pack holder and a to-go bag from In-n-Out Burger...

He'll figure something out...

Defensive Coordinator Ellis Johnson isn't too far behind Malzahn, either... he just needs to figure out the cooking grease equations his boss has on the whiteboard...

In the first half of this title game, Malzahn ran his game that got Auburn to the last game of the year. It included a pass down the seam to a tall receiver that you had to go deep into the stat book to ask yourself who he was and did he, in fact, exist before Monday night. To even find who Melvin Ray exactly was, you had to know exactly where North Florida Christian School was and that Casey Weldon was his high school coach (Yes, the FSU Casey Weldon, but hang on to your conspiracy theories- for now).

Ray had caught only four other passes the entire season and his 6-3 height advantage was used mainly on special teams...

Until he was so blatantly ignored travelling down the seam, that it was 14-3...
((HT: ESPN))


Johnson dialed up 30 days worth of coverages that freaked out Jameis Winston and kept him in the pocket- and also kept the Seminoles from running their offense quickly enough to tire a defense that had given up yards all year...

They, simply, weren't doing it...

But football is all about adjustments... and you can talk about the fake punt Jimbo Fisher called being absolutely huge to keep his team from getting blown out of the gym...

It was...

And you can talk about how FSU pushed everything offensive from the tackle box (where Auburn likes to make it's three and four-yard gains all night if you let them) to the edges where their superior pursuit speed gave it more of a shooting gallery look going from side-to-side and gaining little yardage in the second half...

It did...

But it took a kickoff return by Levonte Whitfield...


And a 50-yard pass that set up the winning score as part of a 21-point fourth quarter to turn Auburn's last chance with the football into something that looked like a failed attempt at a Cal-Stanford play to chase one more miracle...

It took an entire half for Winston to find Kelvin Benjamin as a receiver and, doing the math, Devonta Freeman only got to run the ball 11 times in the entire game.

"Fortunate" is a word I would use as an alum to determine what happened at the Rose Bowl for Florida State fans. And with Tre Mason, Nic Marshall, and a lot of people returning, I look at Auburn to do some strong things next season...

Even if, with this new playoff system, the arguing will only escalate since more teams will be left out of the loop when you even get to choose more to be involved in a four-team playoff...

A few non-game points to close:

The Rose Bowl has no concept how to deal with incoming crowds...

The sign to your right was a microcosm of the day... they actually use it to keep some kind of control from the moment the gates allow you into the stadium proper and attempt to get to your seat. And, this "crown control" actually kept a lot of people from missing a lot of the pre-game activity on the field.

Do not misunderstand... the Rose Bowl is a gorgeous venue for football...

They just need a lot of Ess-E-Cee ushers and state troopers to get you in and out in the fashion with which the rest of the world is accustomed...

Translation: "A timely fashion..."

And, the other note...

The beauty of coming to Southern California is getting to sample some of the best food ever...

The unifier of all faiths from the Rose Bowl...
In-n-Out Burger...

This was our besieged and overrun In-n-Out across the freeway from our hotel in Universal City. They didn't think that there would be a big crowd, so they were understaffed...

Woefully so... but you notice that there are fans from both teams there- and the crew that keeps the Florida State appaloosa, Renegade, happy for his cross-country ride back to Tallahassee.

One FSU fan, obviously, dialed up on liquid courage wanted to know if there were any "National Championship winners" in the building. And yelling this question made him the envy of none...

A Seminoles fan waiting to place his own order in front of him turned and requested that he stay classy about the win...

"You don't want us compared to those 'Canes, do you?"

Eastern rivalries are never far from anyone, anywhere...
And that's football for you...

Enjoy the off-season people, National Signing Day is only a month or so away...
And it starts all over again...

The Seminoles Will Be Unconquered

Gus Malzahn and Jimbo Fisher

I see Brother Phil and Brother Jon have added their take to Monday’s BCS National Championship Game so I feel compelled to add my take.

My day job requires me to stay in tune with college football particularly with the ACC and the SEC each week so I’ve seen Auburn and Florida State on a regular basis.

To say Auburn got to the BCS National Championship Game strictly on luck is disrespect to what the Tigers accomplished this season.

Sure Ricardo Louis was in the right place at the right time when the ball deflected off Georgia’s Josh Harvey-Clemons’ shoulder pad and into his arms for the game winning touchdown.

And then Chris Davis takes an Alabama missed field goal the length of the field on the final play to win the Iron Bowl with each providing Auburn radio play-by-play voice Rod Bramblett the greatest resume reel in the business.

The point is Auburn put themselves in a position to win those games with in my mind the best running game in college football and an offensive line that has done a hell of a job run blocking.

When the season began you knew Florida State was loaded with talent and speed.  The wild card was whether redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston would live up to the hype.

Well leading the Seminoles to a 13-0 record, an ACC title and winning the Heisman Trophy means yes he did, and then some.

You thought Florida State would have been challenged by Clemson at Death Valley.  The Seminoles whooped the Tigers 51-14.

That sums up Florida State’s season, the Seminoles play at a much higher level than there opponents.

Yet I agree with Brother Jon that this will be a much closer game because of Auburn’s ability to run the ball, they’re the best in the nation at it.

Back on September 28^th Florida State defeated Boston College 48-34 in what was the Seminoles closest game. 

Andre Williams rushed for 159 yards and the Eagles as a team rushed for 210 yards, the most Florida State gave up all year.

B.C. ended up 13^th in the country rushing and Andre Williams enjoyed an over 2,000 yard season and led the nation in rushing.

Tre Mason and Nick Marshall will be the best backs Florida State has faced since the Boston College game.

That will keep the game close.

What is going to put Florida State over the top will be Jameis Winston’s ability to make plays.  He’s that good.

If you’re a Florida State fan though, you won’t be comfortable until the game is over but the Crystal Ball will return to Tallahassee.

Tallahassee: All The Pressure Is On You...

Last time out, we sat here and talked to you about how impactful Georgia kids have been in Auburn's remarkable run- and will continue to be so for quite some time as long as guys like Rodney Garner and Dell McGee are on the sidelines helping out Gus Malzahn...

Same applies for Florida State as they have made their run to the Rose Bowl...

In a conversation I had with Lowndes play-by-play voice Wes James on the GPB Sports "Football Fridays in Georgia" podcast earlier in the season, Wes talked about one of the best athletes he's ever seen in Telvin "The Terminator" Smith- who went from Lowndes to Tally and is a mean dude in their linebacking corps...

Revisit it hyah...

Smith is one of 8 kids on the current roster that are from Georgia- most from south Georgia- that are this/close to winning a national title...

Once again, following on a theme...
This may not sit well in Athens and places in the state they came from...

I saw Florida State coaches at the Georgia Dome looking at talent at the Football Championships last month- and they'll get their share of them if they can close the deal...which a national title can do very easily...

On the field, once again, I will re-emphasize that in the game coming up tomorrow the yards Florida State gets will have virtually no correlation with their effectiveness. Same goes for Auburn...

I have reminded people, in today's football, all the yards you get on offense (or, conversely, give up on defense) simply DO NOT MATTER... if you don't put the ball in the end zone, all the effort to get into a scoring situation (or allowing a scoring situation) will either be for naught (or get you a shut out)...

Auburn is playing with house money- even more so after the Alabama fold in the Sugar Bowl to Oklahoma. There is no way, now, that Auburn (who is not going to finish below the Tide in any way in any poll- barring a blowout of monumental proportions at the Rose Bowl) will end up any worse than #4.

The Tigers will give up yards- it's their way...

Just look at games against Texas A&M on the road and Missouri in the Ess-E-Cee title game...
You see what that got them...
((HT: SEC on CBS))


But they'll also get yards... it'll take them a while to figure out what they can do and what they can't against one of the fastest defenses they've played all year.

Any Florida State fan who thinks this game will spiral out of control one way or the other- especially in their favor- is sadly mistaken and dealing in false bravado. Duke hung with you too, if you remember, a few weeks back...

Remember... the Rose Bowl also swapped out their natural grass after the Michigan State-Stanford game, so the teams will be playing on a new surface... and it'll take both squads a while to get adjusted.

If FSU loses, it's another step in the "Well, you're not like what you were in the 1990's"- and you still can't close the deal. If FSU wins, all the talk will be about the 1990's and how this could be the beginning of another run like the Bowden years...

If Auburn wins, it was simply meant to be and the talk will be about dolphins, unicorns, and harmonic karmic events.
If Auburn loses, it'll be one of the biggest "atta-boys" in the modern college football era...

Here's Florida State getting ready for the title game- as one... as they always have...
((HT: WTVM-TV))
WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather

So, look for something closer than you think...

It's only your college destiny that hangs in the balance...

Gus Malzahn & James Franklin In Cleveland Browns Crosshairs For Head Coaching Search

[HT: Jason LaConfora/CBS Sports.com

James Franklin

Gus Malzahn

Chip Kelly's first year success as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach has NFL owners and general
managers looking toward the college ranks for a head coach.

The Cleveland Browns and interested in Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin for their head coaching vacancy.

Both are clients of super agent Jimmy Sexton and both come from the SEC.  Keep in mind Browns owner Jimmy Haslem is a Tennessee booster and follows the SEC very closely.

Malzahn has no NFL experience but as an offensive coach has had success against SEC defenses second only to the NFL.

Frankln spent the 2005 season as an assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers coaching the receivers.

The Browns begin their interviews this week with Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn leading off.

Mack Brown Does Resign From Texas: "It's Been A Wonderful Ride."

What a crazy, crazy week in Austin, Texas.

The rumors of Mack Brown resigning, Brown denying, Nick Saban taking the Texas head coaching job only to sign a very lucrative contract extension with Alabama then Brown staying at Texas.

What now?

Well one rumor turned out to be true, Mack Brown was resigning as the head coach of the Texas Longhorns.

Here's Mack Brown's statement:

"Sally and I were brought to Texas 16 years ago to pull together a football program that was divided. With a lot of passion, hard work and determination from the kids, coaches and staff, we did that. We built a strong football family, reached great heights and accomplished a lot, and for that, I thank everyone. It's been a wonderful ride. Now, the program is again being pulled in different directions, and I think the time is right for a change. I love The University of Texas, all of its supporters, the great fans and everyone that played and coached here. I can't thank DeLoss Dodds enough for bringing our family here, and Bill Powers and the administration for supporting us at a place where I have made lifelong friendships. It is the best coaching job and the premier football program in America. I sincerely want it to get back to the top and that's why I am stepping down after the bowl game. I hope with some new energy, we can get this thing rolling again."

Many Austin, Texas media outlets are reporting that Brown fought like hell to keep his job at Texas. 

A former Texas player who played for Mack Brown attributed the "instant gratification" crowd and the era of social media to Brown's resignation.

Thanks KVUE-TV, Austin, TX



Here's a look back at Mack Brown's career at Texas.

Thanks KXAN-TV, Austin TX

Mack Brown will coach the Alamo Bowl game December 30th against Oregon.

With one of the college football gems now open let the speculation begin as to who will coach Texas next.

You know the list will include Jim Harbaugh, Gus Malzahn, Jimbo Fisher, Art Briles and other big names.

Let the carousel spin.

ICYMI: Auburn Outscores Missouri, The BCS Magic Carpet Ride Continues….

Talk about your dream season. Yeah, we're talking about you Auburn…

After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat twice in the final 3 weeks of the regular season, Auburn University is BCS title game bound.

The Tigers, behind 46 carries and 304 yards rushing from running back Tre Mason, beat Missouri in an SEC track meet masquerading as a football game, 59-42.

The game didn't exactly feature a lot of defense, but Auburn's did enough to stop Mizzou when it needed to.

And that was all Tiger coach Gus Malzahn's high powered offense needed. 545 yards rushing was more than enough to overcome 2 Nick Marshall fumbles and 10-penalties.

CBS Sports gives us our highlights:



So…the Auburn win, combined with the Ohio State gag job makes everyone south of Kentucky (SEC world) happy and continues the run of SEC teams in the title game.

It sets up an Auburn/FSU game which should be just as high scoring as this one. Though we might add the Seminole defense is considerably better than Missouri's.

We won't make our pick for that game here, but we will add that it will be hard to pick against Auburn, who will not be favored. The Tigers have escaped twice and if you ask even the most die-hard of Tiger fan in August if they thought this game would happen, they'd be lying to you through their teeth.

Auburn Athletics shows the scene at the famed Toomer's Corner, a scene that got even crazier once fans realized Ohio State was losing and their beloved Tigers were Pasadena bound…

Nick Of Time: A Lesson In Ego And Hubris

Okay, let's go back to the end of it all...
((HT: Auburn Athletics/Auburn IMG Sports Network))


The HQ will readily admit that the refereeing was out of sorts...
Auburn was getting over six yards a carry and decided to go away from that running game- inexplicably...

But, the visitors had more issues...

Cade Foster pull-hooking two field goal attempts and having a third one blocked led to Adam Griffith being the other field goal attempt with :01 left. But it went a little deeper than that...

Earlier in the game after the first miss, Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who is notoriously quick-triggered with his kickers, would decide to go for it with a 3-point lead with 5:32 left. That was instead of giving Foster an attempt at getting the Tide a 10-point lead.

Put the game away...???
Nope...

Go for it with a run up the middle that was diagnosed immediately and gave Auburn momentum all over again...

Even as his special teams had failed him three times earlier- two misses and a field goal attempt that was blocked...

But the largest failure was on the Griffith field goal attempt- and the HQ did the math... other than the kicker, going with what CBS color analyst Gary Danielson said: it was just a bunch of fat guys- with the exception of tight end Brian Vogler and two other skill position players...

11 on 7 for a punt return...
You tell me those odds... and it had happened before in the Ess-E-Cee...
Odell Beckham, Junior against UAB
((HT: SEC on ESPN))


And it looked like the UAB players did less watching than the Alabama players did in trying to defense the return once it was on...

So, add it all up...

Whether it's Eli Gold...


Or Uncle Verne...
((HT: SEC on CBS))


Or Rod...

Saban will learn the lesson on his special teams gaffe, but he will still make his kickers walk home...
But, sometimes, the lesson is learned too late to maintain perfection in a self-perfect atmosphere...

Cade Foster has already seen the silliness of fanaticism through his Twitter machine...

Saban shall hear it on sports talk radio for quite some time...

But, he has already moved on... he's getting ready for his bowl game... and (insert divine being here) help his opponent... unless there's a repeat of the Utah Sugar Bowl game...

And the second-best decision that Auburn AD Jay Jacobs has ever made...???
Opening the gates and getting the white jackets out of the way to focus on not getting his head coach, players, and television live shots from getting trampled...

Crazy Finish: Auburn Beats Georgia 75-yard TD

To those who watched, it was one of the craziest ends to a football game they've ever seen.

The Auburn Tigers beat The Georgia Bulldogs Saturday 43-38, in a game that featured 415 yards passing by Georgia and 320-plus by Auburn. It also featured the Dawgs coming back from a 2nd quarter 27-7 deficit, to take a 38-37 lead on Aaron Murray's 5-yard TD run with 1:49 left in the game.

But the hapless Georgia defense couldn't stop Auburn and QB Nick Marshall. Facing a 4th down with 18-yards to go and 25 seconds left in the game, Marshall let it fly. He threw deep down the middle of the field to seemingly covered Wide Receiver Ricardo Louis. Louis was covered by Georgia safties Josh Harvey-Clemons and Trey Matthews. Both Harvey-Clemons and Matthews did what they were supposed to, they kept Louis in front of them. The problem, rather than bat down the pass or catch it, Harvey-Clemons tipped it. And as the two Georgia defenders slowed to make the play, the tip kept the ball moving....right into the waiting hands of Louis, who bobbled it slightly before waltzing into the end zone.

The play you'll see a lot the next couple days (Thanks CBSSports)

 

Here's another angle of Louis' game winning catch.  (Thanks WSFA-TV)


WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.
To their credit, the Dawgs weren't done. Murray got the ball back and drove his team from the Auburn 25 to the Georgia 20 before running out of time.

The game moved Auburn to 10-1 on the season, 6-1 in the SEC. It also lines up this years Iron Bowl date with Alabama as the biggest game left in the SEC season.

As for Georgia, if it wasn't for bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck. They drop to 6-4, 4-3 in the SEC and likely a minor bowl game.

CBS Sports reporter Tracy Wolfson talked to Marshall and Auburn coach Gus Malzhan after the game.

Auburn and Tennessee Spring Games: Why the SEC is Bigger Than You

If any of you ever wondered why the SEC is the biggest College Football conference of them all, well, here is an answer to your question.

Auburn and Tennessee both held their spring games on Saturday....and well, they were pretty well attended.

To be specific, Auburn,  had over 83,000 in the house (check out the photo). Yes, that's correct, the 3-9 Tigers with a persecution complex drew 83+ thousand to their game.

It should be noted that the game, in which the Orange beat the Blue 35-14 featured the ejection of CB Jonathon Mincy for laying out WR Dimitri Reese with a hit towards the head. All in all, we're guessing the Tiger faithful are happy to have new/old coach Gus Malzahn and his crazy offense in the house.

As for Tennessee, well, they only drew 60,000 plus to their game, featuring new head coach Butch Jones. (Though hard to tell in the below video)

The Volunteers are also looking for a bit of redemption after several years of mediocrity and coaching changes.

Guess the fans are buying in...at least for the moment.

Here's your Tennessee video:



And the other reason that Auburn had close to 90,000 people in the Loveliest Village was the opportunity to say good-bye to the Oaks at Toomer's Corner. They're going to be removed this week since their death is imminent- thanks to Harvey Updyke. The school introduced a plan yesterday as to how the celebrations will continue at the Corner complete with more trees leading into campus off the diagonal and more seating room for those who want to drop by.

And, as the HQ predicted, it was like the Whos on Christmas Morning...
Here's a look back...
((HT: Auburn Athletics))

OSG High: Dell McGee Heading To Auburn

And, now, it's time of the year for college staffs to add to their groups...

One day after Jeff Herron is leaving Camden County (GA) High for Prince Avenue Christian (Bogart, GA), another prime Georgia high school job is now open.

Antonio (Dell) McGee is leaving Carver-Columbus to join the support staff at Auburn- his alma mater- where he was a standout during his playing days. In nine years as head coach, McGee went 88-19 with a state title in 2007 when his Columbia Blue went 15-0.

Ask anyone and McGee is widely regarded as a respected coach and man. After graduating from Kendrick-Columbus (GA) High, he went to Auburn where he was considered to be one of the team's best cover corners by the time he graduated in 1996. He bounced around the NFL, Arena Football League, and the XFL before retiring to be a coach.

Universal kudos are circulating for the Gus Malzahn hire...

Here's an interview PrimeTimeGridironTV did with McGee in the 2011 season

Rodney Garner To Auburn

Phillip Marshall at Auburn Undercover gets this one...

And, for new head coach Gus Malzahn, it's a good get...

Garner gets the title of Assistant Head Coach, D-Line coach, and recruiting coordinator... Actually, that's a lot of titles and the chance for Garner to "come home."

More when we know more...

We know more:

It's official, with Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn releasing the following statement last night:

"We are excited to announce Rodney Garner as our assistant head coach and defensive line coach. Rodney is one of the top defensive line coaches in college football who has had great success in the Southeastern Conference. We're excited to welcome an Auburn man back home."

Garner will work with incoming defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson on a totally revamped Auburn staff that may struggle a bit early, but suddenly looks like they have the potential to resuscitate a program that had pretty much fallen flat on its face under former coach Gene Chizik.

Developing: Gus Malzahn gets Auburn job

((ht: auburn.247sports.com))

Okay. The carousel is spinning fast this Tuesday afternoon.

Reports have surfaced that Auburn has found THEIR new head coach. That man is former offensive coordinator and Arkansas St. head coach Gus Malzahn.

**Updated (slightly)--This is verified now by multiple outlets**

Malzahn of course is very familiar to the Auburn faithful after 3 seasons of success running his high-speed, no-huddle, spread offense. That success translated this year to Arkansas State where Malzahn went 9-3 and won the Sun Belt Championship in his first season as a head coach on the college level.

He of course replacs the departed Gene Chizik, who despite an enormous payout, was fired after Auburn went 3-9 and winless during this past football season. We might also add the school appears to again be in the NCAA crosshairs as they are being investigated for alleged recruiting violations.

By the way Chizik is talking to Florida State about becoming their new defensive coordinator.

Ark State Gets $1M Payday At Nebraska

The HQ has known about all these early-season games being paydays for the team that supposedly is going to get creamed...

Savannah State, for example, is clearing in the neighborhood of $800,000 for their two beat downs in Stillwater and Tallahassee. Ess-E-Cee schools are notorious for higher paydays than the average bears and the Arkansas State-Nebraska game is no different...

Only moreso...

Howzabout a cool million for The Slinging Malzahn's to show up for their game against the Cornhuskers...???

"We believe that Arkansas State is a decent program and will provide an attractive non-conference matchup," Dr. Tom Osborne said when asked. "We probably could have gotten a lesser opponent for less money but are trying to maintain a reasonably strong schedule."

Florida Atlantic is getting a million bucks this week (to lose to Georgia) and next week (to lose to Alabama)...

In the mean time, Ark State has their head set on making Nebraska one-dimensional Saturday...
((HT: KAIT-TV Jonesboro, Ark))
KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports, classifieds

Yah, sure ya betcha...

Dyer Out At Ark State, Pitt State Next...??? (UPDATED With Investigation And Dash Cam Video)

((HT: TodaysTHV.com/AUFamily.com))

So much for that idea...

Michael Dyer, who was dismissed from Auburn for a violation of team rules, has been dismissed from the Arkansas State squad for violating team rules.

Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn announced the decision Saturday, saying: "I am truly disappointed that it didn't work out here at ASU for Mike. I wish Mike nothing but the best in the future."

Dyer wasn't eligible to play this season for the Indians Red Wolves after the NCAA denied his request to play immediately at a lesser Division I school.

Draft Board Insider had mentioned previously that Dyer was thinking about a transfer to Pittsburg ((KS)) State in Division II, but that died down over the furor over double transfers in one calendar year.

Now that he has been "dismissed" from Ark State, it will be interesting where he ends up so he can play THIS season, which was his idea this season anyway...

That leaves DII, DIII, or the NAIA... much like Willie Williams who the HQ has seen at Da-U and Union College ((KY))...

Here's Malzahn discussing his now-former tailback a few weeks ago...
((HT: ArkansasSports360))


MONDAY UPDATE: Arkansas State Police are investigating the March 10 traffic stop where Dyer was pulled over for going 96-in-a-70 where police allegedly found drug paraphernalia in his car. Trooper Royce Denny is now under investigation in connection with the incident with Dyer and Ronnie Wright.

At one point of the dashcam video obtained through a public records request, Denny apparently says, "…Carrying weed with you. Carrying a pistol around. It ain't cool... you got a career ahead of you. You're being a total dumb*** right now. You're being stupid."

Here's the clip, Dyer's interaction is at the 7:00 mark...
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