Auburn is going to get better talent without Saban in the picture but so will the others in our region.
Re:Henderson
The Big Ten and has to look for skill players from this region to pair athleticism with its neverending pool of homegrown offensive and defensive linemen. So we are going to inexplicably lose a few here and there to guys like Franklin. I'd rather lose a kid to an outlier than a head to head against a rival.


SEC baseball is a prime example of why coaches from the Big Ten have to troll the southeast. We have better year round weather, tastier food, beaches and pretty, pretty, pretty hot girls. Why would a eighteen year old boy leave all of that?

Agree on losing Henderson at the same time I believe our RB depth hurts us with recruiting top backs. And it will be easier next year.

And I realize that Saban has stacked the room season after season, I’m simply saying that it hurts us. And we would have gotten him without the depth.

That’s where I grew up and was a phenomenal 3 sport athlete in the very program where Henderson is. Almost 4 sport. But it was 4A. It has shrunk to 1A. The level of competition simply isn’t the same. Sure, a great 1A can beat a terrible 7A or other one offs. But the week in/out is usually tougher the higher up you go. We all can agree on that.

I’m not saying the kid isn’t good. I believe that he is and that he would still be good in 7A. I’m only saying it would be more challenging. And if he sticks with Penn state, it actually may be better for him.

Hugh offering the RB from Auburn High is encouraging. He’s now starting to get more and more offers, though. I don’t know who his biggest Div 1 offer was but we are early. And he is really good.

I am submitting an updated 2025 article for the VIP section. So, keep your eye to the ground.

I am not sure when it will be available, since I don’t have access to the protected area and do not know who to talk to. So, if you don’t see it in a couple of weeks, it may not be getting published.

I will be disappointed but that’s life. I think we all agree that I deserve better but Godfather’s death by AIDS brought about a lot of changes that seem unfair. I can live with it. Fuck whomever won’t allow me the needed access. If I ever find out who it is, you’d better believe I’ll even up with the motherfucker. I don’t care who it is. Unless it’s Uncle Sani. Not because I am scared of him, though. I mean, he could kick my ass and all but I just have too much respect for him shitting in that coon asse’s pickup to ever treat him with anything but respect.

How can shitting in the bed of a LSU pickup ever be topped? I am as serious as syphilis. It won’t be topped. I admire it as much as I admire a WWII POW.

We sit at number 11 in 247, 4 in the SEC. Right behind faggies and ahead of fuck Georgia. We r reportedly barely hanging on to the DL from Opelika Autry. Everyone wants him. He’s our highest ranked recruit. Of course it hurt to lose the DL or rush end to Bama that had previously flipped to us but it’s early. Way early.

Let’s face it, if we are 500 we will be fucked I would imagine. I don’t think we would find enough NIL to overcome.

But we won’t be. Eight or nine wins all but assures a top 10 and encourages a top 5 class.

My early prediction is knocking on the door of top 5. I say we will be 8.

I think if we miss on Henderson at RB, it won’t be such a bad thing. We have a top RB in next year’s class in sight and he’s also high on AU. Our RB depth hurts us this year. That’s just fact. That’s the only reason (or primary) we’d lose an in state guy to Penn State. And as much as I’d like to see Henderson at AU, his level of competition is the lowest in the state. The RB from Auburn High is 7A. Not that we will definitely get him but we are high on his list.

I will see if I can get the article on tigersx/vip. If not this week, ask admin what the hold up is. Then pm me and let me know who the moderator is and where they live. I will take care of things from there.

I so hope that it’s Token. Please God, let it be Token.

Auburn is going to get better talent without Saban in the picture but so will the others in our region.
Re:Henderson
The Big Ten and has to look for skill players from this region to pair athleticism with its neverending pool of homegrown offensive and defensive linemen. So we are going to inexplicably lose a few here and there to guys like Franklin. I'd rather lose a kid to an outlier than a head to head against a rival.


SEC baseball is a prime example of why coaches from the Big Ten have to troll the southeast. We have better year round weather, tastier food, beaches and pretty, pretty, pretty hot girls. Why would a eighteen year old boy leave all of that?

The only determining factor today is cleanliness. The food at most places, if they are managed halfway decently, is usually good. But too many places let their restaurants get older and a bit dingy looking. I’m usually forgiving because I like tasty food and don’t really worry about if the carpet is not as vibrant as it used to be. Applebees is the worst at this. My wife? Won’t go back. She’s not alone. And Darden is not universally the worst. It depends on local management. When I lived in Woodstock GA, all of the Darden places were spotless and always full. The only chain casualties there were Ruby Tuesday and OCharley. And they let those places get rundown thinking people would come anyway. They didn’t. Keep it clean and fresh, and people will continue to come. I’m not sure why it’s so hard for some places to figure out.

Dave and busters is fun, has great marketing, sports on TVs and a bar. And they always seem to be changing up things inside. Overpriced as shit though. But it’s enough to survive.

Also, quote function 1, k 0

A piece from an article in 2023.  Not Fox News.

DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) - O’Charley’s closed its Dothan location Sunday, a sign on its door confirms.

The message gave no reason, but the Nashville-based restaurant chain has scaled back dozens of locations in the past few years.

Those closures come as experts point to decreased casual restaurant traffic, increased competition, and labor issues.

O’Charley’s is not the only restaurant of its kind to close in Dothan, so have TGI Fridays and Ruby Tuesday in recent years and, before, Hooter’s failed to make it.

Decreased casual restaurant traffic.  Can be due to a lot of things. You could point to pricing, but that's not limited in any way to the sit down dining chains.  It costs too much at Wendy's, Five Guys and just about anywhere you want to eat.

Increased competition.  See my post above.  We have well over 300 restaurants in Dothan, which is about 100 too many.  Many restaurants, including big chains, will close because the population here simply won't support it.

Labor issues.  Has anybody been paying attention lately? We've gotten to the point where just filling out a staff has become a near impossibility.  And the work ethic of those willing, or having to work, has deteriorated so much, it's sometimes better to not even have them

Here at our firm, we've been going through years of constant turnover.  Don't get me started with the lack of character and work ethic of those that have come and gone.

The article above mentioned Hooters closing here.  Sad day, but that place has been gone so long, the building is falling in.  There are still numerous big chain restaurants here that seem to be thriving.  I still maintain that if you bust ass to make the dining experience enjoyable, you'll succeed.

It's a value thing. No one wants to wait, spend that amount of time and pay for that return from a full service place. Food is average, overpriced, service is awful, and it sounds like a small thing but im with K - the insides are dingy as shit now.

Quick Service is a different animal because it's gonna be quicker, cheaper and more convenient. Even at their worst, it's not much time or money lost. Low risk low reward. I am just not going to waste 50-70 mins of my life shaking my head at Applebees or TGIF wishing I had not walked in the door. I think that is where everyone is.

FSRs got way too saturated into cities when economic booms happened, mostly driven by their owners as Wes mentioned. Thats great as long as the labor market is good and people want to spend money like there is no tomorrow. But eventually people get tired of that, especially when economic times get more uncertain. You're seeing that perfect storm right now - bad economy/spending power, crappy restaurants, oversaturation, poor mgt form the top.