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If Nick Saban hadn't been hired at Alabama, would AU be where they are?
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:06 am
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:06 am
What are everyone's thoughts on the theory that Alabama hiring Saban and his beatdown of Tubberville (along with Tubs internal issues) in 2008 created a sense of urgency at Auburn that propelled them out of a situation where they were forced to keep up with Alabama, which led to them eventually becoming a player on the national level in some sense with Alabama?
I'm not sure I totally believe it, but it is interesting how neither program had been a national player for 20 years (outside of AU in 2004) and now they are both Top 5-10 programs each year. It would be silly to only contribute that to Saban arriving (SEC money, Auburn making hires that worked, etc etc), but it is an interesting theory.
Thoughts?
I'm not sure I totally believe it, but it is interesting how neither program had been a national player for 20 years (outside of AU in 2004) and now they are both Top 5-10 programs each year. It would be silly to only contribute that to Saban arriving (SEC money, Auburn making hires that worked, etc etc), but it is an interesting theory.
Thoughts?
15
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:10 am to SummerOfGeorge
Not just au but I think most schools stepped up their ranks to try to keep up.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:12 am to SummerOfGeorge
I believe Alabama and Auburn do push each other to be better. Sometimes this isn't always something to be proud of but it is a reality.
You could also say the six in a row and Auburn taking the lead in the modern day series against Alabama moved Alabama to a point to stop in fighting and give up control of the program back to the coach so that someone could be successful again.
I don't think anybody could argue that Alabama and Auburn aren't beneficial to each other.
Alabama loves to call Auburn little brother, but they do take a bunch of loses from their little brother more than any other major rivalry that has the Big Brother/Little Brother moniker.
Auburn likes to pretend it is better than Alabama but we all want trophies SEC, National, etc…because we also define ourselves by titles and not wins.
Alabama has advantages that Auburn will never have in that I am proud of what Auburn has accomplished. There are a few other schools that have the same advantages that Alabama has but have accomplished far less than Alabama in that I am also proud of Alabama.
The fans have all the animosity toward each other. Players of the game and coaches more times than not respect the other side much more than fans.
You could also say the six in a row and Auburn taking the lead in the modern day series against Alabama moved Alabama to a point to stop in fighting and give up control of the program back to the coach so that someone could be successful again.
I don't think anybody could argue that Alabama and Auburn aren't beneficial to each other.
Alabama loves to call Auburn little brother, but they do take a bunch of loses from their little brother more than any other major rivalry that has the Big Brother/Little Brother moniker.
Auburn likes to pretend it is better than Alabama but we all want trophies SEC, National, etc…because we also define ourselves by titles and not wins.
Alabama has advantages that Auburn will never have in that I am proud of what Auburn has accomplished. There are a few other schools that have the same advantages that Alabama has but have accomplished far less than Alabama in that I am also proud of Alabama.
The fans have all the animosity toward each other. Players of the game and coaches more times than not respect the other side much more than fans.
This post was edited on 12/18/14 at 9:45 am
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:13 am to SummerOfGeorge
I think most of the SEC schools have upped their game.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:15 am to asphinctersayswhat
Yep, and as much as Alabama people hate to admit it, losing to Auburn trumps pretty much anything short of SEC and National Titles. Curry is a prime example.
While I loved some of the games in the mid-late 90's when we were both 9-3 fringe Top 25 programs, the current scenario with both of us being top level programs and competing for titles is much more fun big picture.
While I loved some of the games in the mid-late 90's when we were both 9-3 fringe Top 25 programs, the current scenario with both of us being top level programs and competing for titles is much more fun big picture.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:15 am to SummerOfGeorge
Maybe, although I think the strengthening of the conference and both programs moving away from sort of a good old boy outlook to a "let's spend what we need to to win" outlook has changed things.
I think it's obvious that the success of both schools has pushed the other to some degree, especially recently (Kiffin and Muschamp).
But overall for Auburn, I think we finally sort of grasped the idea of being a perennial national challenger and are doing what we can to keep that positioning. This year was a little disappointing in that Auburn has failed to maintain relevance (in the end, although obviously we were in the discussion much of the season). But hiring Muschamp, and a bowl win, would probably propel us into being a highlighted program again next season.
I think it's obvious that the success of both schools has pushed the other to some degree, especially recently (Kiffin and Muschamp).
But overall for Auburn, I think we finally sort of grasped the idea of being a perennial national challenger and are doing what we can to keep that positioning. This year was a little disappointing in that Auburn has failed to maintain relevance (in the end, although obviously we were in the discussion much of the season). But hiring Muschamp, and a bowl win, would probably propel us into being a highlighted program again next season.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:18 am to Tigerman97
quote:
Alabama loves to call Auburn little brother, but they do take a bunch of loses from their little brother more than any other major rivalry that has the Big Brother/Little Brother moniker.
Auburn pushed Bama to hire their last two national championship coaches. Had Curry or Shula beat AU both might have kept their job.
quote:
The fans have all the animosity toward each other.
Wildly overblown.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:19 am to Pettifogger
If a Bama coach loses to AU 4 years in a row he is automatically fired no matter what his record is. And I think the reverse is true as well. So, yeah they help each other in that way. Patton and Rommel, "The next best thing to a good friend is a good enemy".
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:22 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
Tubberville
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:24 am to bama1959
I agree with your theory. If we hadn't hired Saban Auburn would probably most years just be around 7-5, 8-4 kind of program with a good year thrown in every now and then.
Wait...
Wait...
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:27 am to Tigerman97
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:29 am to SummerOfGeorge
Probably not. I think AU stepped up in response Saban and the two have gone back and forth responding since. Kiffin-Muschamp
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:32 am to WDE24
quote:
Probably not. I think AU stepped up in response Saban and the two have gone back and forth responding since. Kiffin-Muschamp
Pretty crazy to think not long ago we were almost always both/one ranked #20-25 and playing for possibly an SECW title or nothing at all.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:35 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
Thoughts?
Most definetely....Hiring Saban put the fear of God into them and after the 2008 game, they had nightmares of returning to their bad ole days of the Bryant era.
Conversely, the culture needed to change in Tuscaloosa big time. Since Bryant retired, the boosters and their AD lackeys have basically run the show to the program's detriment. Since Bryant left and Pat Dye came in, the Aubs have basically been more or less even with Bama (with the excetion of a national title) until Saban arrived. We finally stepped up for a big time coach and just handed over the reigns and gave him what he needed to be succesful. Six in a row will do that.......
Auburn continues to invest in their program and the recent hire of Coach Boom reinforces that...That said, I think programs around the country are seeing what Bama has done and the college football arms race is escalating...look at programs such as Baylor and TCU...or the recent contract Michigan is reportedley throwing at Harbaugh.
This post was edited on 12/18/14 at 9:40 am
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:46 am to SummerOfGeorge
The success of Alabama certainly lit a fire under Auburn's arse to hire quality staff. They couldn't be looked at as 2nd fiddle to Alabama.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:47 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
What are everyone's thoughts on the theory that Alabama hiring Saban and his beatdown of Tubberville (along with Tubs internal issues) in 2008 created a sense of urgency at Auburn that propelled them out of a situation where they were forced to keep up with Alabama, which led to them eventually becoming a player on the national level in some sense with Alabama?
Longest sentence I've ever seen.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:48 am to SummerOfGeorge
I've said it before...Nick Saban is the best thing to ever happen to Auburn Football. I don't mean that in a Bama-centric kind of way. What I mean is that Saban raising the bar at Alabama caused Auburn to raise the bar for themselves. Much to a lot of Bama fans' surprise, AU didn't return to the Barfield days.
Credit to AU for that. They didn't just roll over and take it. Anytime they feel like they are slipping too far behind Saban/UA, they make a move to correct it.
Credit to AU for that. They didn't just roll over and take it. Anytime they feel like they are slipping too far behind Saban/UA, they make a move to correct it.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:51 am to DecaturAU
AU is in yours
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:55 am to SummerOfGeorge
You should also be the thankful Tebow changed his mind at the last minute to got to UF. I firmly believe Shula would have been there at minimum 2 more years, probably more.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 9:56 am to DecaturAU
quote:
You should also be the thankful Tebow changed his mind at the last minute to got to UF. I firmly believe Shula would have been there at minimum 2 more years, probably more.
I agree
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