SZVETITZ COLUMN: Could Auburn really lose to UTM?

Finally ... a game Auburn can win.

Or is it?

The way this season’s going, anything is possible. Even a loss to the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Seriously.

Don’t believe me? Let’s look back at the season that hasn’t been for Auburn:

* Week 3: A 3-2 win over Mississippi State. The Tigers are lucky they got a double in the ninth to pull out that win on the road against a poor Bulldog team. It wasn’t the first time we noticed something wrong with Auburn, but it was the most obvious.

* Week 5: After dropping a tough game to then-No. 6 LSU, Auburn struggles to beat Tennessee at Jordan-Hare, 14-12. Man, if we knew then what we know now.

* Week 6 (Here’s where it starts getting downright silly): Auburn losses to Vanderbilt. VANDY! By 1 point.

* Week 7: The week started with Auburn trying to figure out if it really lost to Vanderbilt, was interrupted by the firing of offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and finished with a home loss to Arkansas. The same Arkansas team which at the time was boasting one of the worst defense/offense combos in college football.

* Week 8: Auburn manages not to lose ... bye week.

* Week 9: The Tigers’ defense, which had been stellar all season, gets shredded in a 34-17 loss at West Virginia. (Noel Devine for Heisman!)

* Week 10: Ole Miss 17, Auburn 7. Ouch.

Now, it’s Week 11 of the college football season, and the 4-5 Tigers are in desperate need of a win. Any win. It doesn’t matter who or what Auburn beats, as long as it can, and does.

Desperation has set in. Going 42 days without a win is enough to make you see things.

Enter UT Martin.

Enter some serious doubts.

Any other season, this game’s a gimme. A walkover. Not even an afterthought — more like a fifth or sixth thought.

But this year?

Well, just look at the Skyhawks numbers. Across the board they are better than Auburn’s. Sure, UTM plays in the FCS’ (I-AA) Ohio Valley Conference, which is a far, far cry from the SEC. But, still, the Skyhawks have put up some gaudy numbers this season, scoring 87 in one game and 63 in another and 56 in another. They’re ranked 20th in the FCS and lead the OVC.

UT Martin is a solid program, which could give Auburn a run for ... WAIT! STOP!

Is this really what Auburn’s season has come down to? Giving a lower-division team a shot?

Really?

Wow. Can it be?

It’s almost insane to think that UTM has a chance today, at homecoming — an event Auburn has lost only twice since Dr. Charles Thach in 1913 called for “the observance of a homecoming for all those loyal sons who, as former Auburn students, have passed through her portals and received her honors.”

Could that really happen? No, not the passing through portals ... UT Martin actually winning?

Well, look at Appalachian State last year. The Mountaineers did go into the Big House and knock off Michigan.

Could we see a repeat today?

Really?

Ummm ... no.

It’s been a bad and disappointing season for Auburn, but not that bad.

MIKE SZVETITZ is sports editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He may be reached at mszvetitz@oanow.com or 737-2513.