In the ATL

By: Mike Szvetitz | Opelika Auburn News
Published: December 29, 2007

Ahhhhhh, Atlanta! Just as beautiful as I left it nine months ago when I was here for the SEC Basketball Tournament.

I arrived today just in time for back-to-back press conferences with Clemson and Auburn's offensive and defensive coordinators and an offensive and defensive player from each team. Like all press conferences go, it wasn't too chalked full of news, but somewhat entertaining. It's always fun to sit in another team's press conference with its local media. It's always good for a "if you've ever watched us play" or "if you have been around all year" or something when an out-of-town guy asks a questions that might be considered "old news" on that beat.
Plus, it's always fun to hear what the other team's beat guys want to know about the team you've been covering for the last year. I'm always interested to know what they think their readers would find newsworthy.

One of the more entertaining things that came out of Auburn's press conference today was when new AU offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was asked who would be calling plays in Monday's Chick-fil-A Bowl game against Clemson. He said that they'd all have input. But when asked who would make the final decision, Franklin delayed. But defensive coordinator Will Muschamp jumped to his colleague's aid with the old "Coach Tuberville is the head coach and will make the final decision" defense.
I thought that was funny for two reasons: One, because they know exactly who's going to call plays and exactly how much of the "new" spread offense they are going to run versus the "old" West Coast. They've got to. You can't tell me they're just going to wing it on gameday.
The second reason it's funny is because Muschamp saved Franklin with the company-line answer. I guess you just had to be there.

With that being said, I'm faced with a dilemma. Do I (A) watch my beloved Penn State Nittany Lions play Texas A&M in tonight's Alamo Bowl, which will be Joe Paterno's 500th game where he will be going for his 23 bowl win -- a record, by the way? Or do I (B) watch the New England Patriots' pursuit of perfection?
I'm torn. I can watch Penn State lose anytime. But an NFL team going 16-0 doesn't come around often. Only like once every 35 years.
So, what should I do?