We (Auburn) can't have nice things because we dare fly in the face of the accepted and expected powers that be and they push back against us. Been thinking a lot about this having watched 11.22.63 (which is, at best, uneven) and the principle there about how when they try to change the past, the past pushes back, sometimes violently. 2010 was magic, no doubt about it. But look at the cost. Instead of being the steady, tried and true program most of us grew up with and loved we have become a roller coaster of dysfunction. Our fan base has become the enemy wearing different colors. No one outside of the circle remembers or associates Auburn with the goods. We are the program that paid Cam, had a 5-19 coach that we got impatient with and fired, were a smoke-and-mirrors team that couldn't beat FSU in a game where both teams were seen as the black hats, and now we are on a downward spiral with vultures circling the athletics complex.
I miss Pay Dye and the 80s.
Why? Because people usually kept it down home, cuz? Plenty of ups and downs with Dye throughout his tenure. Pat Dye did a lot of great things but the most important was putting us back on an even playing field with Bama. Made us not be afraid to punch them in the mouf. But he also had some tough times and ultimately landed us in hot water with the NCAA.
Auburn football has always been a rollercoaster. But I think we as fans have a little problem with self-perception. Those things you mentioned all happened but the only ones really thinking of the Auburn program in those terms are Bammers for the sole purpose of smack talk...along with al.com for the sole purpose of hanging the "Little brother" moniker on us and elevating the mahty tahd. The Cam Newton thing may never go away on a national level simply because he may be the greatest one year player in history and he took us to a MNC. But every time someone brings it up, I just smile and say "Yeah, and don't you wish your school had offered $185K?" Never had anyone disagree with me yet.
You're worried about the perception of Auburn. Tell me about your perception of Alabama. I don't think I need to expound on that. How about Ole Miss? Irrelevant since the 60's and we're finding out now the only reason they're even competitive now is they started playing the game. $$$. About to get slapped back down where they belong. Would you rather be Kentucky football? Our cheer is Boda-Geta. Theirs is "Wait til basketball season". Georgia? 1,000 suspensions and the most smack talking fans whose program hasn't done one damn thing since Hershey Walker over 30 years ago. We're 3-2 in the SECCG. Have they even won a game in Atlanta? Miss. State whose greatest player of all time is Pax Drescott. Any SEC Championships since you were born? Arkansas? Didn't they go to Atlanta once about 15 years ago?
We'll always fight the battle here in State. Just part of life being an Auburn fan. But nationally, I don't think we're the villain and I'm 100% certain there's a whoooooole lot of fans that would trade places with us in a heartbeat. From the wiki's (Which makes it true):
"Five Auburn teams have been awarded a National Championship by an NCAA documented selector—1913, 1957, 1983, 1993, and 2010.[43] However, only the 1957 title, awarded by the Associated Press,[44] and the BCS National Championship in 2010 are claimed outright by the University. Four additional teams have also been named national champions by a minor selector, though none are recognized—1910, 1914, 1958, and 2004."
In addition, we have 8 SEC Championships. I'll put our resume up against 90% or 364/415ths of the programs in the nation. Fuck any haters out there.
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