War Damn Dyer...Welcome to the Family Michael!!

That’s right Auburn fans, it’s National Signing Day.  A day when all college football fans get to brag about what place

they came in for untested talent.  Will this be Auburn’s best class ever?  Only time will tell.  Check back often as our resident poster and now official updater Chopper will be bringing you the latest signees.

Official Signees (faxes received)  **Page will be modified often, check back!!**

1. Brenham (Tex.) Blinn C.C. QB Cameron Newton – enrolled
2. Visalia (Ca.) College of the Sequoias OL Roszell Gayden – enrolled
3. Coffeyville (Kan.) C.C. TE Brandon Mosley – enrolled
4. Ariton (Ala.) High DE Craig Sanders – enrolled
5. Buford (Ga.) High LB Jessel Curry – enrolled
6. Jupiter (Fla.) High PK Cody Parkey
7. Atlanta (Ga.) Washington WR Antonio Goodwin
8. Kansas City (Mo.) Park Hill P Steven Clark
9. Springville (Ala.) High WR Jeremy Richardson
10. Greenville (Ala.) High DT Kenneth Carter

11. St. Matthews (S.C.) Calhoun County OL Eric Mack

12. Decatur (Ga.) SW Dekalb CB Jonathan Mincy
13. Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes OL Ed Christian

Corey Lemonier Announces his Decision to ink with the Tigers

14. Roanoke (Ala.) Handley FB Ladarius Phillips
15. Cordova (Ala.) ATH Ryan Smith

16. College Park (Ga.) Banneker S Demetruce McNeal
17. College Park (Ga.) Banneker ATH Shaun Kitchens
18. Olive Branch (Miss.) High OL Shon Coleman

19. Warner Robins (Ga.) High DT Jeffrey Whitaker
20. Troy (Ala.) Charles Henderson LB Jawara White

21. Little Rock (Ark.) Christian RB Michael Dyer

22. Little Rock (Ark.) Christian TE Dakota Mosley

23. Birmingham (Ala.) Woodlawn ATH Chris Davis

24. Linden (Ala.) High DE Justin Delaine

Will we be hearing Newton to Reed.. TD AUUUUUBurn

25. Bessemer (Ala.) Jess Lanier LB LaDarius Owens

26. Pelham (Ala.) High LB Jake Holland

27. Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln ATH Ryan White
28. Moody (Ala.) High OL Chad Slade

29. Hialeah (Fla.) defensive end Corey Lemonier

30. Thomaston (Ga.) Upson Lee C Tunde Fariyike

31. Thibodaux (La.) High ATH Trovon Reed

32. Fullerton (Ca.) C.C. DE Joel Bonomolo

This completes Auburn’s 2010 Class as of 1:20 pm.  This includes all commitments.  If there are any further surprises, I will add them.  Until then, welcome to our newest Tigers, and War Damn Eagle!

Discuss it in our forum here

Auburn vs. Northwestern in the 2010 Outback Bowl

By now you already know that Auburn accepted a bid to play in Tampa on New Year’s Day in the 2010 Outback Bowl.  Auburn will be going bowling again after missing last season’s festivities with its 5-7 record. Starting the season 5-0had most Auburn fans flying high.  However, they were quickly brought back to earth finishing the season 2-5 and  leading most fans to believe that there were definitely positives and negatives for Coach Gene Chizik’s first season. The combination of fan support and a strong showing in the Alabama game helped to convince Outback Bowl officials that Auburn was the 7-5 team they wanted.

Auburn’s opponent will be the 8-4 Northwestern Wildcats. The Wildcats come into the game riding a 3 game winning streak including wins over some pretty impressive opponents (Iowa and Wisconsin). In case you don’t know who or what Northwestern is, I present to you my cheat sheet to the Outback Bowl:

Northwestern University
2009 Overall Record: 8-4
Nickname: Wildcats
Location: Evanston, Illinois
Founded: 1851
Conference: Big Ten (Record 5-3, Tied 3rd Place)
Colors: Purple and White
Students: Approx: 18,208
Mascot: Willie the Wildcat

Athletics:

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald

Notable Players:
Mike Kafka, QB, Senior
Corey Wootten, DL, Senior
Sherrick McManis, CB, Senior

Rankings:

Total Offense: 57 (avg: 386 y/pg)
Scoring Offense: 76 (25.17 p/pg)
Total Defense: 43 (avg: 344 ya/pg)
Scoring Defense: 48 (23.3 pa/pg)

Schedule:

Northwestern’s football team has a history of futility; its all-time record is 468-614-44 (0.435) giving it the all-time record for Division I-A losses.^{[133][134][135]} Other dubious distinctions include being on the losing end of the greatest comeback in Division I-A history^[136] and holding the record for the longest losing streak in Division I-A, losing 34 consecutive games between 1979 and 1982.^[137][138] In 2004, Northwestern broke a 33-year losing streak (46 years at home) by defeating No. 7-ranked Ohio State 33-27.^[139] Although the team was invited to the 1996 Rose Bowl, 1997 Citrus Bowl, 2000 Alamo Bowl, 2003 Motor City Bowl, 2005 Sun Bowl, and 2008 Alamo Bowl, the last bowl game Northwestern won was the 1949 Rose Bowl.^[140] Following the sudden death of football coach Randy Walker in 2006,^[141]31-year old and former All-American Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald assumed the position becoming the youngest Division I FBS coach at the time.**

**Courtesy of Wikipedia

Outback Bowl Information
Date: January 1, 2010
Location: Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, FL
Time: 11 a.m. kickoff (ET)
Stadium Capacity: 65,657
Title Sponsor: Outback Steakhouse
Network: ESPN
Teams: Big Ten 3rd pick vs. SEC 3rd pick
Payout: $3.3 million (minimum) per team

Buy Auburn Outback Bowl Tickets: Here

Outback Bowl Events: Outback Bowl Official Website

Folks some of you may have noticed on the front page that we have a X store.

Well it is now officially OPEN!

To access it you can go here

http://www.tigersx.com/x-shop/

or through the main page click the store tab at the top.

By: Brian Kleisley

In my SEC East preview, I said that the SEC Champion and Potential BCS Champion would come from the Eastern Division (if you didn’t read part 1 or have been in a coma for the last few weeks, it’s the Florida Gators).  However, from top to bottom, the tougher division will likely be the Western Division, where all 3 of the top teams have a legitimate shot at facing Florida in the SEC championship game.

Ole Miss Rebels: (7-1 SEC; 11-1 Overall)

2009 Predicted Finish

Ole Miss is one of those teams that will either be very successful or will morph into the 2008 Georgia Bulldogs.  I happen to think they will be successful, much to my dismay and despite my hatred of all things Houston Nutt.  Reasons why…well, for one thing, they return 9 on offense and 8 on defense from a squad that went 9-4 last year, including a thrilling bowl victory over a tough Texas Tech team.  The players they did lose (draft, graduation etc.) were not big losses.  The most important returning player is Texas high school star QB Jevan Snead, along with 2008 All Conference WR Dexter McCluster.  The Rebels also have a decent defensive squad to help out with their quest for an SEC Championship. Their defense in 2008 ranked 19th in Total Defense allowing only 307.23 ypg and 20th in scoring defense allowing an average of 19 ppg.  Alabama and LSU stand in their way; however, I think Nutt and the Rebels will come out victorious. 

Predicted Losses: Arkansas

Games on the Fence: Oct 10 vs. Alabama, Oct 24th vs Arkansas, not many have made it through an entire SEC schedule unscathed; Arkansas will be Paris’s arrow, Nov. 21 vs LSU

Underrated: The Nutt Factor 

MVP: QB Jevan Snead 

LSU Tigers (5-3 SEC; 9-3 Overall)
The Hat returns for his 5th year on the Bayou, and he’s bringing with him big RB- Charles Scott and WR- Brandon LaFell.  2008 was a rough year for Miles and Bayou Tigers, ending 2008 with the record of 8-5 with all 5 losses coming against SEC opponents, including an OT thriller to Alabama. Will 2009 be like 2008 (a disappointment) or more like 2007 (12-2 and a BCS National Championship)? The answer lies somewhere in-between.  Miles has continued to stock pile top ranked recruits at LSU year in and year out, now we just need to find out whether he’s all hat and no cattle.  Returning the likes of Scott and LaFell certainly don’t hurt, but LSU’s road to the championship is paved with too many potholes in the name of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Ole Miss.  The key to LSU’s season will be the play of its quarterbacks or, more specifically, smoothing out the erratic play of its quarterbacks.  If they get any kind of consistency at the QB position, watch out college football world.

Predicted Losses: Florida, Ole Miss, Arkansas

Games on the Fence: Oct 3 at Georgia, Nov. 7th at Alabama, Nov. 21 at Ole Miss if LSU has made it this far with only one SEC loss, look to this date to decide the Western Champ, Nov 28th vs. Arkansas 

Underrated: Consistent QB play 

MVP: RB-Charles Scott

Alabama Crimson Tide: (5-3 SEC; 8-4 Overall)
You have no idea how hard it is for an Auburn fan to predict good things for the Crimson Tide.  Unfortunately, they have a good coach, and even though they have some question marks on the offensive side of the ball they return a majority of past players on defense.  The realistic view is that the Tide will feature a “NASTY” defense for 2009, pretty much the same defense that ranked #7 in 2008 allowing 14.29 ppg and lead the Tide to a 12-0 start and an (albeit brief) #1 ranking last year.  Amongst the 9 returning starters for the Tide defense are 1st team All-SEC picks DL-Terrence Cody, LB-Rolando McClain, and DB-Javier Arenas.  The unrealistic view is that the Tide will again appear in the SEC Championship game.  While it is possible for them to make it, the losses of QB-John Parker Wilson, C-Antoine Caldwell, G-Marlon Davis, and T-Andre Smith will prove to be too much to overcome and the Tide will play second fiddle in this year’s Championship tune.

Predicted Losses: Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn 

Games on the Fence: Sept 5th vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta), Nov. 7th vs. LSU, and Nov. 27th at Auburn- Iron Bowl = Throw out the records. 

Underrated: K- Leigh Tiffin 

MVP: DB- Javier Arenas

Auburn Tigers (4-4 SEC; 8-4 Overall)

Will Chizik, Roof and Malzahn give Auburn a New Hope?

A new season begins on the Plains, and for the first time since 1998, Tommy Tuberville won’t be running out of the tunnel and onto the field.  Last year was a tough one for Tuberville and the Auburn Tigers, ending the season 5-7 and eliminated from bowl contention.  Right or wrong, new Head Coach Gene Chizik has taken the reins as Tuberville’s successor and brings a new hope tinged with uncertainty to Jordan-Hare Stadium.  The first thing Coach Chizik must do is find a way to truly turn this disjointed collection of players into a team.  Last year’s team found it difficult to stay focused during games, especially when things got rough, and this led to a pervasive sense of hopelessness.  By the end of the season, the team for the most part, just gave up.  Building a cohesive unit, and getting them to stick together through thick and thin is not a task so easily accomplished, considering Auburn’s schedule and lack of depth in key positions.  The Tigers must play in 11 straight games before finally getting some much needed R&R before the season ending Iron Bowl.  On offense the Tigers return 6 from 2008 and what can only be described as a disaster of an offensive scheme.  Those 6 including new starters, WR- DeAngelo Benton, WR- Terrell Zachery and true freshman RB- Onterio McCalebb hope to star in OC Gus Malzahan’s new system.  A rebuilt Chris Todd keeps the reins as QB1 and with a plethora of new targets and a new shoulder should have this offense producing more than 3 points.  On the opposite side of the ball, the Tigers are poised to again be one of the top rated SEC defenses. With the return of Senior Antonio Coleman -DE and newcomer Eltoro Freeman -LB this defense should help keep the Tigers close in all of their games. The offense just needs to put numbers on the board.  While they won’t be world beaters this year, a new coaching staff and some consistency should allow the Tigers to get back on track and hopefully looking for a New Year’s Day Bowl game.

Predicted Losses: Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia 

Games on the Fence: Oct 3 vs. Tennessee, Oct 24th  at LSU – If  Auburn can stay healthy they could be riding a nice winning streak to this point, win this game and all bets are off, Nov. 28th vs Alabama 

Underrated: New beefier Offensive Line 

MVP: RB/WR Mario Fannin

Arkansas Razorbacks (4-4 SEC; 8-4 Overall)
Can Coach Bobby Petrino turn the Hawgs around in his second season?  The man can coach and has been a hot commodity wherever he has gone.  A 41-9 record at Louisville is a testament to that.  He has also not been without controversy (see 2003 Auburn Jetgate and the 2007 Atlanta Falcons).  This year will be different for Petrino and the Hogs though.  All of the controversy is behind him, and he has the Razorbacks headed in the right direction.  No one is talking about Arkansas and that’s dangerous, for they might just have some good things going for them.  The biggest player on any team is still the quarterback, and on this Arkansas team that definitely rings true.  At 6’7” (5 star rated) Ryan Mallett could be the next Brian Brohm for Petrino and company. From what I’ve read he has one of the strongest arms in college football and for a coach that loves to spread the field. That might be just what the doctor ordered.

Can Mallett win for the Hogs?

Predicted Losses: Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Florida

Games on the Fence: Sept 26 at Tuscaloosa, Oct 10th vs. Auburn, Oct 24th at Ole Miss win this game and it could be enough of a confidence booster to finish the season strong, Nov 28th at LSU

Underrated: WR’s

MVP: QB- Ryan Mallett

Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-6 SEC; 6-6 Overall)
A guy named Dan Mullen takes over the reins for Sylvester Croom.  Mullen’s credentials?  He was the man that got to talk to Tim Tebow via a headset.  Mullen, who has been with Urban Meyer since his Utah days, has much rebuilding to do at State. Starting on the offensive side of the ball, last season’s QB play was sporadic at best and QB Tyson Lee will need to step up and become a playmaker.  The good thing for Lee he has a mentor in Mullen, who has plenty of experience with some highly rated QB’s.  Behind Lee are RB’s Anthony Dixon and Christian Ducre, both equally dangerous and poised to be a great one-two punch against tiring defenses.  Speaking of defenses, Mississippi State’s usually strong defense was a bit weak last year, especially when it came to stopping the run.  Ranking 73rd in the nation and giving up an average of 150 ypg on the ground does not bode well in a “run-first” conference. Best case scenario for this year will be getting back to a bowl game, and I think Coach Mullen could be the man to do just that.

Predicted Losses: Auburn, LSU, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss

Games on the Fence: Sept. 12th at Auburn, first SEC game for both new coaches, winning this game sets the tone for 2009, Oct. 3rd vs. Georgia Tech, Nov 21 at Arkansas

Underrated: QB Tyson Lee

MVP: RB Anthony Dixon

Disagree with me, let’s discuss why you’re wrong… HERE

I decided to finally write for my own front page.  Since I am jonesing for some football, I give you the 1^st annual Godfather Previews the SEC.  Who, you might be asking, is the Godfather and why should we care about his SEC preview.  To answer those questions I am the Godfather (find out why in our forums) and I don’t really care whether you like my SEC preview or not.  I am not however a talking head or media person, I have no insider knowledge, I am a regular guy just like you, who runs this board for fun and really enjoys College Football.  So, with introductions out of the way, I shall begin.

I’ll start with the Eastern Division, where as much as it pains me to say, will contain the SEC Champion and possibly the National Champion, once again. 

Predicted 2009 Finishes

Florida Gators: (8-0 SEC; 12-0 Overall)

With the return of Superman, aka Tim Tebow (a man-child whom I think even Chuck Norris is scared of) for his Senior and final year (Of course if CBS, I’m looking at you Vern, has anything to say about it he might get 4 more years of eligibility) the Gators are set-up to make a repeat at the SEC Championship and National Title.  How can anyone argue with this?  The Gators return 8 on Offense and 11 on Defense. Forget about Tebow and the offensive train Coach Urban Meyer captains, this Gator team is returning 11 Starters from a defense that Ranked 9^th in the country last year in yards allowed per game (285.29). This is just one of the reasons I still cannot believe that DC Charlie Strong is not a head coach somewhere.  Reviewing the Gators schedule this year and believing that most SEC teams are still rebuilding / revamping, I just don’t see them falling to anyone.

 Predicted Losses: None 

Games on the Fence: Oct 10 at LSU, Death Valley is a dangerous place to play, the Gators have a week off before. I see no problems.

Underrated: Coach Charlie Strong

MVP: Who else: Superman!!

Georgia Bulldogs: (6-2 SEC; 8-4 Overall)

Georgia is a bit of a wild card.  With his Motor still running David Pollack and David Greene have finally left Georgia, wait what?  Just kidding!!! Who is gone though is #1 draft pick Matthew Stafford and star running back Knowshon Moreno. Coach Mark Richt has been at Georgia for awhile now and he has had some high profile Georgia teams. I’m just not convinced that this team will be one of those.  The Bulldogs return 7 on Offense and 7 on Defense from a 2008 team that most folks regarded to be the #1 preseason team in the country.  In reality they were schizophrenic at best.  That being said, Richt recruits well and I fully expect this team to be in the hunt for most games. I said 8-4 they could just as easily be 10-2 like I said wild card!

Predicted Losses: Oklahoma State, LSU, Florida, Georgia Tech

Games on the Fence: Sept 5^th at Oklahoma State = game on the road with new starting QB a couple of WR’s and RB….against a strong opponent…yikes. Oct 3^rd vs. LSU, and Nov. 28^th at Georgia Tech.

Underrated: QB Joe Cox

MVP: WR A.J. Green

South Carolina Gamecocks (3-5 SEC; 7-5 Overall)

The Ol’ Ball Coach returns for his 5^th season in Columbia, and to say he has made the team significantly better is up for debate.  He made some big staff changes in the off season hoping to help shore up his offensive line and rushing game.  Last year South Carolina ranked 112 in the nation in offensive rushing production.  Despite Spurrier’s air attack it still takes a running game in the powerhouse SEC to get wins.  The Defense was another beast, although crumbling at the end of 2008 they were the backbone of the team and kept them in most games, late into the 4^th quarter.  Look for a repeat of 2008 with the Gamecocks holding teams till the end, only to lose due to depth. I expect a lot of thrown visors and/or clipboards.

Predicted Losses: Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida

Games on the Fence: Oct 31 at Tennessee otherwise known as the game for third place.  Nov 7^th at Arkansas

Underrated: New Offensive Line Coach Eric Wolford

MVP: LB Eric Norwood

Tennessee Volunteers (3-5 SEC; 6-6 Overall)

Longtime Coach Phil Fulmer is gone; new big mouthed Coach Lane Kiffin is in.  If these Tennessee Vols can play half as good as he boasts look for them to challenge for the title…not!  While this squad will be improved over last years team, there is still to much rebuilding left to do.  Other than his mouth Kiffin does seem to have this team headed in the right direction. He has amassed an impressive staff including one of the best defensive minds ever Monte Kiffin or “Daddy” as Lane calls him. He also seems to be using his mouth to good use, somewhat, signed Pahokee while on the recruiting trail as he has already signed some big name recruits. However, the best part of this 2008 team is also its biggest reason I think that they will stumble in 2009. The Vols return only 5 starters on a defense squad that was ranked 3^rd in the Nation and 1^st in the SEC. The schedule doesn’t help either as it is probably the toughest in the SEC. 

Will Rico McCoy continue to dominate for the 2009 Vols?

 

Predicted Losses: UCLA, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Ole Miss

Games on the Fence: Oct 3^rd vs. Auburn could be a big battle and the deciding factor as to how these teams end up, Oct 31 vs. South Carolina

Underrated: Defensive Line

MVP: LB Uncle Rico McCoy

 Vanderbilt Commodores (1-7 SEC; 5-7 Overall)

Much of the defense returns from this surprisingly tough Vandy team that finished 7-6 last year including a Music City Bowl win.  However, I don’t think they will be as tough this year, especially after losing Chris Nickson’s feet.  We are talking about a Vandy offense that ranked 117^th in the nation, on the bright side they can only go up from there. The defense on the other hand was ranked 30^th and was the heart of this team. Even though they do return 9 defensive starters the losses of Reshard Langford-SS and D.J. Moore-CB will be too much to fill and the hopes of a second consecutive bowl game…will be down the bowl.

Predicted Losses: LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia, S. Carolina, Florida, Tennessee

Games on the Fence: Oct 31^st vs. Georgia Tech, Nov. 14^th vs. Kentucky- or the game that decides last place in the Eastern Division.

Underrated: Wide Receivers

MVP: LB Patrick Benoist

Kentucky Wildcats (0-8 SEC; 4-8 Overall)

Kentucky does have one thing going for it, no new coaches.  A lot of the SEC previews I have read seem to think Kentucky might be strong this season, I disagree.  Outside of Tennessee I think that Kentucky has one of the toughest schedules in the conference. Not only that but, Kentucky also lost the best player they’ve had since Jared “fatboy” Lorenzen in player Dicky Lyons.  Don’t misunderstand me I still think Kentucky will be competitive, nor do I think they won’t be in games. However,  playing 11 games in a row without a bye, well, anyone who knows the SEC will tell you that does not equal success. My prediction no bowling for Kentucky this holiday season.

Predicted Losses: Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Auburn, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Tennessee

Games on the Fence: Oct 31^st vs. Mississippi State this could be the turning point in Kentucky’s season, win this game and a bowl game is very possible, Nov. 14^th vs. Vanderbilt

Underrated: QB Mike Hartline

MVP: LB Micah Johnson 

Tomorrow: The wild, wild Western Division and our beloved Auburn Tigers.