"It's Not Easy Being Auburn" - Marshall

[AUChizad]

http://auburn.247sports.com/Article/PMARSHONAU-No-backing-down-for-Auburn-football-85326

No backing down for Auburn football

Aug. 19, 1993, was a dark day for Auburn football. In response to accusations made by former player Eric Ramsay, the program was barred from postseason play for two seasons and from television for one season.
Auburn Tigers

President Bill Muse somberly spoke to reporters at the Auburn Hotel and Conference Center. His words were blunt.

"We have to be committed to not only success on the field but to preserving our integrity," Muse said. "This is not an optional decision. If this program is going to survive, we can't have any more days like this one."

Five days short of 19 years later, Auburn football hasn't had any more days like that one.

Since 1992, Auburn has won more SEC games than any team in the West Division. It has had three perfect seasons, more than anybody in the SEC. It has won two SEC championships, won or shared seven division championships and won a national championship. It has done that without being found guilty of a major violation since 1993. And the hard truth is it gets little credit for that accomplishment beyond its own loyal fans.

In fact, I would venture to say most people who follow college football, if they are honest, would admit to being surprised by that.

Why?

All you have to do to get an answer is watch, read and listen. There's no better example than the bizarre scenario that unfolded Monday.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that NCAA investigators would meet with Auburn commitment Reuben Foster, the nation's No. 1 linebacker prospect and No. 2 prospect overall. Foster transferred to Auburn High School from Troup County in LaGrange, Ga., last spring and later switched his commitment from Alabama to Auburn.

The story was wrong. Dead wrong. Foster and his mother had a routine meeting with Alabama High School Athletic Association officials to talk about his transfer. The idea that the NCAA would meet with Foster, who is heading toward his senior year, didn't make sense in the first place. Foster hasn't signed with anybody. The NCAA doesn't give a rip who is committed to whom or if a player commits to 100 different schools.

In the eyes of so many, Auburn isn't supposed to recruit on the level with Alabama or LSU, isn't supposed to win championships. It's a great mystery where that idea originates. History says the opposite.

Gene Chizik arrived as head coach in December 2008 vowing that Auburn would go after the best players in the state and beyond and vowed he and Auburn would not back down. He hasn't and Auburn hasn't. It's safe to say there are those with agendas of their own who don't like that.

When the Cam Newton saga began in November 2009, national reporters, ESPN analysts and small-time commentators rushed as one to convict him and Auburn. After an exhaustive NCAA investigation, Auburn was exonerated.

In 2006, New York Times reporter Pete Thamel traveled all the way from New York to write a story full of opinion and innuendo about Auburn players allegedly getting special treatment in the sociology department. The story and resulting investigation caused a lot of anguish for a lot of people. It did not cause Auburn's program to get into serious trouble.

The week before the BCS Championship Game, the ominous story was that the NCAA had gone to Thibodeaux, La., to look into the recruitment of Trovon Reed and Greg Robinson. When Auburn won, the debate was whether the championship would be stripped because of the Newton saga.

Last week came the story of an apparent change on the transcript of Jovon Robinson, Auburn's freshman running back. Where that one is going, no one knows. But the feeling among most at Auburn is that it's going nowhere, at least as far as the program is concerned.

And Monday we had the Foster story, written by a reporter who also equated receiver JaQuay Williams waiting to get academically eligible to an NCAA investigation of Auburn recruiting. The reporter then trumpeted his "scoop" on various radio shows and talked about red flags for Auburn recruiting.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

It's not easy being Auburn.

[Buzz Killington]

A couple of years late, but Bravo!

[WiregrassTiger]

"It is not love that is blind, but jealousy." --Lawrence Durrell

[auis4ever]

The media started this nonsense with Cam Newton and has determined that Auburn would be a target ever since. Why does the media continue to paint Auburn in a negative light? My opinion is because they were and still are, personally, emotionally, and publicly, embarrassed.

The Cam scandal did not materialize. Never has so much energy, commentary, and ink directed toward a NCAA team, produced so little. The media lost the battle and the war going with this ginned up hyperbolic sensationalism based upon the wishes of disillusioned fan bases. They just knew that they have a major riches to rags story. National Championship caliber team goes down in flames. Heisman winner's trophy and dreams smashed. Makes for good headlines, makes for good sales of printed material.

Of course the fan bases that hate Auburn were helping to feed the monster that the media was creating. The Alabama nation may have led the charge, but Florida (anguishing over the fact that they actually let Newton get away) and the Ole Miss crowd (who just knew that they were getting Cam), also helped to fuel the run away train. The media's credibility was on the line now. The media started the mess, it grew out of proportions and became larger than life. Either the media make Auburn a dirty program or they were going to become discredited themselves. "Better to destroy the innocent than to make us look bad", became their motto.

With the Newton scandal discredited, they would turn their attention to the man upon whom the scandal and Auburn's downfall was predicted. When they could not find Auburn stealing from the cookie jar, they would go directly after the star, one Cameron Newton.

Although the media could not deny he was one heck of an athlete, they would attack his intelligence, character, and malign his pro career. It was determined that he would never make it as a Professional QB. He did not have the intelligence, footwork, etc. to be successful in the Pros. The media could not let this story go, they had to find a way to justify themselves.

We all know how this worked out, the media looked like even bigger buffoons. Cam not only was succeeding in the Pros, he broke the rookie QB records on one of the worst teams in the NFL.  The nation got to see the real Cam Newton on the field, not the one that the media had created, and they could not help but be impressed. The media might be right that he was a bad person, but there was no denying that this guy was a super talent. Now that the real Cam is seen not only on the field but off the field as well, the nation is seeing this guy is not only a star on the field, but off. His work with children, taking time to help youth, and scandal free life, is making the peddlers of lies and damn lies, look like total buffoons. This cannot continue. We have to prove Auburn is dirty. If we do not, we may never gain our credibility back.

So once again the smell of blood is in the water. This is our chance, the sports media says to themselves. Let's go after the Jovon Robinson story, it has some legs. If we cannot prove Auburn was involved in the transcript scandal, let's imply it. Rueben Foster flipped from our beloved Sabear's team, that has to be dirty, so let's make up the story that the NCAA is investigating Foster and Auburn. If we keep up this incessant attack against Auburn, surely something will stick and we will be vindicated. We can once again beat our chest in triumph.

So it is not a conspiracy that is driving these stories, it is a desire to garner some personal and public respect. If the media could ever find anything on Auburn, the airwaves will be filled with, "I told you so". Penn States is a true scandal, but Penn State is to be pitied. Why? Because they were right about how this one would play out. But Auburn has embarrassed them. Newton has embarrassed them. So the vendetta continues until they can prove to themselves and others, that they were right all along.

How long will it continue? Until Auburn wins another national championship? Doubtful. It will not stop until the media can vindicate themselves. We have a long ride folks and we are going to have to get used to it. Maybe, just maybe if Alabama actually falls we will get some relief. But in the meantime, might as well buckle up. The media has embarrassed themselves, but Auburn is the target of their sloppy and unprofessional journalistic endeavors.

[Snaggletiger]

tl;dr

[GH2001]

The media started this nonsense with Cam Newton and has determined that Auburn would be a target ever since. Why does the media continue to paint Auburn in a negative light? My opinion is because they were and still are, personally, emotionally, and publicly, embarrassed.

The Cam scandal did not materialize. Never has so much energy, commentary, and ink directed toward a NCAA team, produced so little. The media lost the battle and the war going with this ginned up hyperbolic sensationalism based upon the wishes of disillusioned fan bases. They just knew that they have a major riches to rags story. National Championship caliber team goes down in flames. Heisman winner's trophy and dreams smashed. Makes for good headlines, makes for good sales of printed material.

Of course the fan bases that hate Auburn were helping to feed the monster that the media was creating. The Alabama nation may have led the charge, but Florida (anguishing over the fact that they actually let Newton get away) and the Ole Miss crowd (who just knew that they were getting Cam), also helped to fuel the run away train. The media's credibility was on the line now. The media started the mess, it grew out of proportions and became larger than life. Either the media make Auburn a dirty program or they were going to become discredited themselves. "Better to destroy the innocent than to make us look bad", became their motto.

With the Newton scandal discredited, they would turn their attention to the man upon whom the scandal and Auburn's downfall was predicted. When they could not find Auburn stealing from the cookie jar, they would go directly after the star, one Cameron Newton.

Although the media could not deny he was one heck of an athlete, they would attack his intelligence, character, and malign his pro career. It was determined that he would never make it as a Professional QB. He did not have the intelligence, footwork, etc. to be successful in the Pros. The media could not let this story go, they had to find a way to justify themselves.

We all know how this worked out, the media looked like even bigger buffoons. Cam not only was succeeding in the Pros, he broke the rookie QB records on one of the worst teams in the NFL.  The nation got to see the real Cam Newton on the field, not the one that the media had created, and they could not help but be impressed. The media might be right that he was a bad person, but there was no denying that this guy was a super talent. Now that the real Cam is seen not only on the field but off the field as well, the nation is seeing this guy is not only a star on the field, but off. His work with children, taking time to help youth, and scandal free life, is making the peddlers of lies and damn lies, look like total buffoons. This cannot continue. We have to prove Auburn is dirty. If we do not, we may never gain our credibility back.

So once again the smell of blood is in the water. This is our chance, the sports media says to themselves. Let's go after the Jovon Robinson story, it has some legs. If we cannot prove Auburn was involved in the transcript scandal, let's imply it. Rueben Foster flipped from our beloved Sabear's team, that has to be dirty, so let's make up the story that the NCAA is investigating Foster and Auburn. If we keep up this incessant attack against Auburn, surely something will stick and we will be vindicated. We can once again beat our chest in triumph.

So it is not a conspiracy that is driving these stories, it is a desire to garner some personal and public respect. If the media could ever find anything on Auburn, the airwaves will be filled with, "I told you so". Penn States is a true scandal, but Penn State is to be pitied. Why? Because they were right about how this one would play out. But Auburn has embarrassed them. Newton has embarrassed them. So the vendetta continues until they can prove to themselves and others, that they were right all along.

How long will it continue? Until Auburn wins another national championship? Doubtful. It will not stop until the media can vindicate themselves. We have a long ride folks and we are going to have to get used to it. Maybe, just maybe if Alabama actually falls we will get some relief. But in the meantime, might as well buckle up. The media has embarrassed themselves, but Auburn is the target of their sloppy and unprofessional journalistic endeavors.

tl;dr x 2

You could have just said that the Tuscaloosa News was feeding shit to Thamel and the NYT and been done with it. Bammer controls the media - wow, what a concept.

[AUTiger1]

The media started this nonsense with Cam Newton and has determined that Auburn would be a target ever since. Why does the media continue to paint Auburn in a negative light? My opinion is because they were and still are, personally, emotionally, and publicly, embarrassed.

The Cam scandal did not materialize. Never has so much energy, commentary, and ink directed toward a NCAA team, produced so little. The media lost the battle and the war going with this ginned up hyperbolic sensationalism based upon the wishes of disillusioned fan bases. They just knew that they have a major riches to rags story. National Championship caliber team goes down in flames. Heisman winner's trophy and dreams smashed. Makes for good headlines, makes for good sales of printed material.

Of course the fan bases that hate Auburn were helping to feed the monster that the media was creating. The Alabama nation may have led the charge, but Florida (anguishing over the fact that they actually let Newton get away) and the Ole Miss crowd (who just knew that they were getting Cam), also helped to fuel the run away train. The media's credibility was on the line now. The media started the mess, it grew out of proportions and became larger than life. Either the media make Auburn a dirty program or they were going to become discredited themselves. "Better to destroy the innocent than to make us look bad", became their motto.

With the Newton scandal discredited, they would turn their attention to the man upon whom the scandal and Auburn's downfall was predicted. When they could not find Auburn stealing from the cookie jar, they would go directly after the star, one Cameron Newton.

Although the media could not deny he was one heck of an athlete, they would attack his intelligence, character, and malign his pro career. It was determined that he would never make it as a Professional QB. He did not have the intelligence, footwork, etc. to be successful in the Pros. The media could not let this story go, they had to find a way to justify themselves.

We all know how this worked out, the media looked like even bigger buffoons. Cam not only was succeeding in the Pros, he broke the rookie QB records on one of the worst teams in the NFL.  The nation got to see the real Cam Newton on the field, not the one that the media had created, and they could not help but be impressed. The media might be right that he was a bad person, but there was no denying that this guy was a super talent. Now that the real Cam is seen not only on the field but off the field as well, the nation is seeing this guy is not only a star on the field, but off. His work with children, taking time to help youth, and scandal free life, is making the peddlers of lies and damn lies, look like total buffoons. This cannot continue. We have to prove Auburn is dirty. If we do not, we may never gain our credibility back.

So once again the smell of blood is in the water. This is our chance, the sports media says to themselves. Let's go after the Jovon Robinson story, it has some legs. If we cannot prove Auburn was involved in the transcript scandal, let's imply it. Rueben Foster flipped from our beloved Sabear's team, that has to be dirty, so let's make up the story that the NCAA is investigating Foster and Auburn. If we keep up this incessant attack against Auburn, surely something will stick and we will be vindicated. We can once again beat our chest in triumph.

So it is not a conspiracy that is driving these stories, it is a desire to garner some personal and public respect. If the media could ever find anything on Auburn, the airwaves will be filled with, "I told you so". Penn States is a true scandal, but Penn State is to be pitied. Why? Because they were right about how this one would play out. But Auburn has embarrassed them. Newton has embarrassed them. So the vendetta continues until they can prove to themselves and others, that they were right all along.

How long will it continue? Until Auburn wins another national championship? Doubtful. It will not stop until the media can vindicate themselves. We have a long ride folks and we are going to have to get used to it. Maybe, just maybe if Alabama actually falls we will get some relief. But in the meantime, might as well buckle up. The media has embarrassed themselves, but Auburn is the target of their sloppy and unprofessional journalistic endeavors.

Appropriate response is

[AUChizad]

[AUChizad]

[djsimp]

My eyes are bleeding.

[AUChizad]

[AUChizad]

[AUChizad]

[Townhallsavoy]

The media started this nonsense with Cam Newton and has determined that Auburn would be a target ever since. Why does the media continue to paint Auburn in a negative light? My opinion is because they were and still are, personally, emotionally, and publicly, embarrassed.

The Cam scandal did not materialize. Never has so much energy, commentary, and ink directed toward a NCAA team, produced so little. The media lost the battle and the war going with this ginned up hyperbolic sensationalism based upon the wishes of disillusioned fan bases. They just knew that they have a major riches to rags story. National Championship caliber team goes down in flames. Heisman winner's trophy and dreams smashed. Makes for good headlines, makes for good sales of printed material.

Of course the fan bases that hate Auburn were helping to feed the monster that the media was creating. The Alabama nation may have led the charge, but Florida (anguishing over the fact that they actually let Newton get away) and the Ole Miss crowd (who just knew that they were getting Cam), also helped to fuel the run away train. The media's credibility was on the line now. The media started the mess, it grew out of proportions and became larger than life. Either the media make Auburn a dirty program or they were going to become discredited themselves. "Better to destroy the innocent than to make us look bad", became their motto.

With the Newton scandal discredited, they would turn their attention to the man upon whom the scandal and Auburn's downfall was predicted. When they could not find Auburn stealing from the cookie jar, they would go directly after the star, one Cameron Newton.

Although the media could not deny he was one heck of an athlete, they would attack his intelligence, character, and malign his pro career. It was determined that he would never make it as a Professional QB. He did not have the intelligence, footwork, etc. to be successful in the Pros. The media could not let this story go, they had to find a way to justify themselves.

We all know how this worked out, the media looked like even bigger buffoons. Cam not only was succeeding in the Pros, he broke the rookie QB records on one of the worst teams in the NFL.  The nation got to see the real Cam Newton on the field, not the one that the media had created, and they could not help but be impressed. The media might be right that he was a bad person, but there was no denying that this guy was a super talent. Now that the real Cam is seen not only on the field but off the field as well, the nation is seeing this guy is not only a star on the field, but off. His work with children, taking time to help youth, and scandal free life, is making the peddlers of lies and damn lies, look like total buffoons. This cannot continue. We have to prove Auburn is dirty. If we do not, we may never gain our credibility back.

So once again the smell of blood is in the water. This is our chance, the sports media says to themselves. Let's go after the Jovon Robinson story, it has some legs. If we cannot prove Auburn was involved in the transcript scandal, let's imply it. Rueben Foster flipped from our beloved Sabear's team, that has to be dirty, so let's make up the story that the NCAA is investigating Foster and Auburn. If we keep up this incessant attack against Auburn, surely something will stick and we will be vindicated. We can once again beat our chest in triumph.

So it is not a conspiracy that is driving these stories, it is a desire to garner some personal and public respect. If the media could ever find anything on Auburn, the airwaves will be filled with, "I told you so". Penn States is a true scandal, but Penn State is to be pitied. Why? Because they were right about how this one would play out. But Auburn has embarrassed them. Newton has embarrassed them. So the vendetta continues until they can prove to themselves and others, that they were right all along.

How long will it continue? Until Auburn wins another national championship? Doubtful. It will not stop until the media can vindicate themselves. We have a long ride folks and we are going to have to get used to it. Maybe, just maybe if Alabama actually falls we will get some relief. But in the meantime, might as well buckle up. The media has embarrassed themselves, but Auburn is the target of their sloppy and unprofessional journalistic endeavors.

Those other guys are just jealous of your dog. 

I read it all*, and I say welcome to the X.  Post often.  Or never. 

*it all = none of it. 

[AUChizad]

Actually, I did read, and I agree with you pretty much 100%.

This, however, I'm not so sure about.

Maybe, just maybe if Alabama actually falls we will get some relief.

I'd like to think so, but I would imagine it would probably actually get worse.

1) The REC and lunatic bama message boarders would be that much more desperate in their attempts to slander Auburn.

2) Recruiting scandals at Oregon, LSU, UNC, Miami, Ohio State, South Carolina, and others hasn't tempered it one bit. In fact, all of those other scandals all but have disappeared from media and fans' memories, with the exceptions of maybe Miami & UNC. They're not branded as perpetual cheaters the way that we are. Why would Bama getting caught be any different?

3) In the cases of LSU & South Carolina, most of the universal reaction was that it just proved the whole damn SEC was a bunch of filthy cheaters. If Bama was the culprit? The media's favorite son, Saban had to resort to cheating to keep up? It would serve as hard-nosed proof that every SEC team is cheating in the minds of many. On a smaller scale, it would prove for sure that the state of Alabama's corrupt.

[wesfau2]

The media started this nonsense with Cam Newton and has determined that Auburn would be a target ever since. Why does the media continue to paint Auburn in a negative light? My opinion is because they were and still are, personally, emotionally, and publicly, embarrassed.

The Cam scandal did not materialize. Never has so much energy, commentary, and ink directed toward a NCAA team, produced so little. The media lost the battle and the war going with this ginned up hyperbolic sensationalism based upon the wishes of disillusioned fan bases. They just knew that they have a major riches to rags story. National Championship caliber team goes down in flames. Heisman winner's trophy and dreams smashed. Makes for good headlines, makes for good sales of printed material.

Of course the fan bases that hate Auburn were helping to feed the monster that the media was creating. The Alabama nation may have led the charge, but Florida (anguishing over the fact that they actually let Newton get away) and the Ole Miss crowd (who just knew that they were getting Cam), also helped to fuel the run away train. The media's credibility was on the line now. The media started the mess, it grew out of proportions and became larger than life. Either the media make Auburn a dirty program or they were going to become discredited themselves. "Better to destroy the innocent than to make us look bad", became their motto.

With the Newton scandal discredited, they would turn their attention to the man upon whom the scandal and Auburn's downfall was predicted. When they could not find Auburn stealing from the cookie jar, they would go directly after the star, one Cameron Newton.

Although the media could not deny he was one heck of an athlete, they would attack his intelligence, character, and malign his pro career. It was determined that he would never make it as a Professional QB. He did not have the intelligence, footwork, etc. to be successful in the Pros. The media could not let this story go, they had to find a way to justify themselves.

We all know how this worked out, the media looked like even bigger buffoons. Cam not only was succeeding in the Pros, he broke the rookie QB records on one of the worst teams in the NFL.  The nation got to see the real Cam Newton on the field, not the one that the media had created, and they could not help but be impressed. The media might be right that he was a bad person, but there was no denying that this guy was a super talent. Now that the real Cam is seen not only on the field but off the field as well, the nation is seeing this guy is not only a star on the field, but off. His work with children, taking time to help youth, and scandal free life, is making the peddlers of lies and damn lies, look like total buffoons. This cannot continue. We have to prove Auburn is dirty. If we do not, we may never gain our credibility back.

So once again the smell of blood is in the water. This is our chance, the sports media says to themselves. Let's go after the Jovon Robinson story, it has some legs. If we cannot prove Auburn was involved in the transcript scandal, let's imply it. Rueben Foster flipped from our beloved Sabear's team, that has to be dirty, so let's make up the story that the NCAA is investigating Foster and Auburn. If we keep up this incessant attack against Auburn, surely something will stick and we will be vindicated. We can once again beat our chest in triumph.

So it is not a conspiracy that is driving these stories, it is a desire to garner some personal and public respect. If the media could ever find anything on Auburn, the airwaves will be filled with, "I told you so". Penn States is a true scandal, but Penn State is to be pitied. Why? Because they were right about how this one would play out. But Auburn has embarrassed them. Newton has embarrassed them. So the vendetta continues until they can prove to themselves and others, that they were right all along.

How long will it continue? Until Auburn wins another national championship? Doubtful. It will not stop until the media can vindicate themselves. We have a long ride folks and we are going to have to get used to it. Maybe, just maybe if Alabama actually falls we will get some relief. But in the meantime, might as well buckle up. The media has embarrassed themselves, but Auburn is the target of their sloppy and unprofessional journalistic endeavors.

[GH2001]

Pure gold!

[AUChizad]

I Gregg Doyel

https://twitter.com/GreggDoyelCBS/status/235752928227500032

Well, it's true RT @KySportsRadio:Great talk by @GreggDoyelCBS who was blatant in saying "all reporters are biased and investigate who they don't like and not who they like"

[GH2001]

I Gregg Doyel

https://twitter.com/GreggDoyelCBS/status/235752928227500032

He was the lone reporter who stood up for us during Cam Gate. And I have never forgotten it. Good dude in my book. Don't always agree with him but he's a straight shooter.

[WiregrassTiger]

He was the lone reporter who stood up for us during Cam Gate. And I have never forgotten it. Good dude in my book. Don't always agree with him but he's a straight shooter.

I like him too. If I twitted I'd follow him.