Another loss ... it’s becoming a trend

That was a tough way to lose if you’re an Auburn Tiger.

With the chance to go-ahead, or at least tie the game with a field goal, all you want your team ... your quarterback ... to do is not turn it over.

Guess what? Auburn turned it over.

An interception. A loss.

Ouch.

So where does Auburn stand now?

In a world of hurt. Honestly.

The Tigers need to win two out of the last three games to be even considered for a bowl.

Let’s break it down, realistically.

Auburn will beat Tennessee-Martin next Saturday in Jordan-Hare.

Then, the Tigers host Georgia, which just got its teeth kicked in by Florida. But, still, the Bulldogs will be heavy favorites to beat the Auburn on the Plains. Will they? I would bet yes.

Then there’s Alabama two days after Thanksgiving up in Tuscaloosa. Sure, Auburn’s won the last six against the Crimson Tide, but can it make it seven?

Probably not. Honestly, Auburn can’t beat anyone right now. And Alabama will come into that game so geeked up, at home, with a chance to put away a perfect season. Is there a chance the Tide drops that game? No. Maybe. But, no.

So that leaves Auburn 1-2 in its final three games and 5-7 for the year.

Double ouch.

Did you expect that at the beginning of the season? I sure didn’t.

And what about Tommy Tuberville future at Auburn? Does he have one?

I think so. But it depends on how he finishes. A win today in Oxford would have helped out a lot.

If Auburn drops the next three games, can you really afford to keep Tuberville?

But, can you afford to fire him with a $6 million buyout?

All questions that will have to be answered at the end of the season, when athletics director Jay Jacobs and AU president Jay Gogue meet with Tuberville at the end of the season, which is standard, regardless of record.

What will happen? I think Tuberville stays. Just my guess.

But will he?

I do not know.

I do know one thing, though. A win today would have helped out a lot ... all across the board.

Tuberville: ‘I don’t want them to play for me. I want them to play for them and Auburn.‘

Auburn had 314 yards of offense in the second half Saturday. For the record, that’s more than it has mustered in each of its last four entire games.

The seven points that came out of those yards sure was a familiar site, wasn’t it? Chalk it up as a new way the Tigers have found a way to lose this year.

As you probably expect, positivity was not a-flowin’ at Auburn’s post-game press conference—aside from the big day from wide receiver Chris Slaughter and the stepping-up of true freshman cornerback D’Antoine Hood. Those two guys brought a smile to coach Tommy Tuberville’s face.

But the frowns, of course, trumped the giggles and grins. Auburn is 4-5. Not much to smile about there.

Ole Miss 17, Auburn 7 means a few things.

The Tigers need to win one of their final two games against Georgia and Alabama just to be bowl-eligible. And that’s assuming Auburn handles UT-Martin next Saturday at homecoming. Oh, how we long for the days when that game was a matter of “They won by how many?“ instead of “They didn’t blow that one, did they?“ Suddenly, after a thorough drubbing by Florida, the Bulldogs don’t look as tough and menacing, but it’s safe to say your Auburn Tigers will be heavy ‘dogs in that game. And, in case you haven’t been paying attention, “Roll Tide Roll” is 9-0 and No. 2 in the country.

Auburn’s most recent loss also means that Kodi Burns is still very much a work in progress. Yes, Burns looked like a quarterback that can put up big numbers and keep this starting job for the rest of his career for the bulk of the second half. But he also reverted back to square one three times in said half, tossing three bad interceptions to stymie three Auburn drives in Ole Miss territory.

Big respect goes to Burns for his performance at the post-game press conference. The sophomore handled all questions, even the tough ones, with composure and answered each thoroughly. No Auburn assistant coaches were made available to the media.

And loss No. 5 of the season means something that is probably already being covered wall-to-wall on talk radio and message boards across the Internet. The speculation surrounding Tuberville’s future at Auburn isn’t going anywhere. It’s only going to build and build until a few days after the Iron Bowl, when he sits down with athletics director Jay Jacobs and Auburn president Jay Gogue, and an answer is given.

Here’s what Tuberville and a few Auburn players had to say about the talk:

Tuberville
You’re going to have years like this. You’ve got to take the wins, you’ve got to take the losses and you’ve got to go on. Look at all the teams across the country, everybody has a bad year once in a while.

This team is not playing for me. I don’t want them to play for me. I want them to play for them and Auburn. That’s what it’s all about. Coaches go and come. Our guys and coaches are working very hard. I’m not putting any pressure on the coaches. I want all these players to play for themselves and their school and that’s what it’s all about.

Cornerback Walter McFadden
It’s nothing for us right now. We’re a team and coach Tubs has our back and we have his back. I’ll put it out there and say that’s our coach. There’s no way they’re trying to get rid of him because if they do, we all feel like we need to leave.

Burns
We know what Auburn football is about. Guys are going to be down, that’s natural. You’re a human being, and you’re going to be down about being 4-5. That’s not typical at Auburn. But we feel as if coach Tuberville is stable and we’re just going to work hard.
Look for more follow-up tomorrow. For now, FAB and the Lazy Blog have a 5+ hour drive back to the Plains on our hands.

Early thoughts

I don’t have quite as many today as normal because I was mostly focusing on the Auburn-Ole Miss game, but I did happen to catch one gem.

I happened to walk by my other TV in the house just as Minnesota lost in one of the worst ways I’ve ever seen a team lose.in one of the worst ways I’ve ever seen.

The Golden Gophers, who have been a great story this year with a 7-1 start after a 1-11 season last year, were tied with Northwestern with under a minute to play and trying to work their way into field goal range.

Instead, a pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown with 12 seconds left. (Whenever I find it on youtube I’ll post a link if it comes by tonight).

What a terrible way to lose.

I’ll have some thoughts on Auburn at some point between now and Tuesday night.

And right now Florida looks scary intense. I’ll have some thoughts on that as well, once the game is completed.

Halftime notes ... not many

Auburn might not have to worry about falling apart in the second half Saturday. The Tigers took care of that in the first half as they trail 10-0.

The offense didn’t cross the 50-yard line once in the first 30 minutes. However, Clinton Durst was on fire—six punts for a 40.2-yard average in the first half. Six punts … Burns completed just eight passes.

Penalties, mistakes, bad passes, bad playcalls, well, bad everything. And the defense? The tackling woes have continued from last week’s loss to West Virginia. Twice, Auburn has let a ballcarrier out of its grasp to go ahead and run down the field, setting up points for the Rebels.

Can Auburn overcome a 10-point deficit?

Well, you’ve seen them play ...

Seat 50 ... Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

Yes, we’re here at Ole Miss and the sun is shining brightly. It’s a good thing I packed the SPF 30.

To say this is a big game for Auburn is an understatement. If the Tigers have hopes of making a bowl game, a win today is paramount.

But Ole Miss is in the same boat. Both teams have 4-4 records and need at least six wins to be bowl eligible.

But you knew that. You also know that Tommy Tuberville hasn’t lost at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium since leaving Oxford 10 years ago.

So how will it end today?

I say Ole Miss 14, Auburn 10. Until the Tigers prove they can play a full four quarters of football, why pick ‘em?

I believe Auburn has better talent across the board, but the game’s not played on paper. Today, it’s going to be played on Jerry Hollingsworth Field.

Will Auburn play four quarters of football? Will the Tigers show up for a second half?

What do you say?