Monthly Archive for October, 2007

I understand that things happen in football. At the bottom of the pile away from the eyes of the referees things happen. In the seconds after the snap of the ball on the line you get some fists flying on the line of scrimmage. Sometimes some fingers go through the masks of the helmets but, it’s blocks like this that really steam me up.

The rule is very simple and is in place for a reason. As an offensive line man you cannot block low if the defensive lineman is already engaged with someone. Simply speaking you can’t block someone low if they are already being blocked by somebody. This doesn’t prevent you from double teaming (just both block high) and blocking low (just can’t have someone high). This rule was put in places to specifically prevent the injury that almost happened to Dorsey. A single illegal hit like that can easy ruin any players career especially a lineman who’s knees and legs already take continuous beating and are where they derive the majority of their power and worth. This hit was also particularly brutal since it came half from behind and was pretty much a dive aimed at his knees.

The only possible way to forgive this block is if Ramsey (the center) confused his assignment. Auburn did quite a few line dive blocks in the game for drop back passes but, I’m not sure if this was the case here, there was a bit too much delay to be a mistaken assignment. I certainly hope that it was a decision that he made himself and WAS NOT COACHED that blocking technique. To be coached an illegal move that has been known to cause careerer ending injuries is inexcusable.

So why am I getting all riled up here? Why do I care about Dorsey? Why am I putting so much effort into bad mouthing our center, our O-Line, and our team? Because these are things that come back to haunt you. These are cheap things that tarnish a team, a program, and a coach’s image. These are things that shouldn’t be tolerated because it makes people start to use the words “cheap”, “cheat”, and “scum” when talking about your team. I don’t want people to think this about the team that I love and if we as fans encourage or cheer behavior like that then we are simply reenforcing their position and giving more evidence to make those terms harder to shake in later years. I want a clean program that wins by good honest football not cutting corners and trying to injure other players.

On top of the fact that it tarnishes the image of the entire organization it opens us up to the same type of ‘cheap’ play. It starts to foster the mumblings of “if they do it then we should too”. Well if your content with cheering on cheap hits like the one above I don’t want you hear you whining about cheap hits and illegal blocks when Groves, Carter, Roseman, Coleman, or Marks gets hit high-low and is taken out for the season, the year or their career is ended by a cheap shot. If your OK with that and feel comfortable with the fact that other teams will now be gunning for your guys since they are trying to injure their players then by all means cheer and yell at cheap shots but, I don’t want you cheering next to me, it’s embarrassing. Your encouraging these kids to prematurely end their careers and severely hurt our program with their loss. Cheer for the big legal hits and cheer for the great blocks. Don’t cheer for an illegal hit that can ruin a 20 year olds life.

Just play good, clean football and win.

Update: Looks like Tommy responded to the block and pretty much agrees with my opinion on the block and is saying it wasn’t intentional. Some quotes from Tommy on the topic

“We do not teach it. We will not teach it. We won’t tolerate it,” Tuberville said. “It was two freshmen, and they were trying like the dickens to block him. There wasn’t any malice in that. We talked to the people involved, and there was no malice at all, no trying to hurt anybody or intentionally do anything. We were just trying to block.”

“If you think it’s malice, where a guy’s trying to hurt someone, I’d take action,” he said. “But it’s just heat of the moment. It happens. I hate it happened to (Dorsey), because he came back to get his degree and finish out in college football. He’s a great kid, works hard and plays hard. There was no intent whatsoever to hurt him.”

Original Article link

Craig Stevens has heard the stories.

Josh Thompson has told him a few of them.

The senior’s message: Get ready, freshman. You’re about to go to Death Valley.

Stevens, Auburn’s redshirt freshman starting linebacker, will be making his first trip to Baton Rouge, La. Saturday when the No. 18 Tigers face-off against No. 5 LSU.

Associated Press
LSU fans are known for being some of the rowdiest.

It won’t be his first trip away from Jordan-Hare Stadium. Stevens has already been to Gainesville, Fla. and Fayetteville, Ark. He’s seen The Swamp. He’s heard the pig snorts.

But Tiger Stadium, on a Saturday night in October, is a little different.

“I heard a story about an 80-year-old woman mooning them a couple of years ago,” said Stevens. “They’ve been telling me about how they’re going to be shaking the bus when we get there, too.”

Thompson would know. He was there in 2005 when the Tigers lost 20-17 in overtime. He saw the wrinkled behind. He felt the bus shake.

“People are mooning you, people are throwing water at you, throwing bottles at you, beating on the buses,” he said.

And that’s just when the players arrive at the stadium.

“And then you get in the stadium, and they’re trying to spit at you and yell at you,” he said. “This is the most crazy environment I’ve ever been to.”

He doesn’t expect it to be any different Saturday night. After being ranked No. 1 in the country last week, LSU went to Kentucky, gave up 43 points, and lost by six in triple overtime. The Bayou Bengals will be back at home this weekend, where they’ve won 24 times in a row at night.

	Associated Press
	Tiger Stadium seats 92,400.

Thompson expects the crowd to be in rare form once again. But he’s not dreading the raucous atmosphere. He’ actually looking forward to it.

“I love that, personally” he said. “It gets me hyped up. It’s a great situation, a great environment. It’s just a great place to go play.”

Auburn has been one of the most successful road teams in the country over the last few years. The Tigers have won 14 of their last 15, and are 19-5 since 2003 in games played outside Jordan-Hare. Auburn has also won eight straight SEC road games including a win at No. 4 Florida earlier this season.

Against the Gators, Auburn was an 18-point underdog. The Tigers aren’t getting much more against LSU. Las Vegas had the Bayou Bengals favored by as many as 14 points earlier in the week. It’s now down to around 12.

“It’s great. I love it. Being the underdog is the best thing you can be,” said Thompson. “People don’t have many expectations for you and you go in there and show people how you can play.”

The Tigers have relished in the role of the underdog, particularly against No. 5-ranked teams. Auburn, when ranked, is 4-1-1 against No. 5 teams. It’s last win over a No. 5 came in 2004, coincidentally against LSU.

AP: Dave Martin
This won’t be Thompson’s first rodeo against LSU.

“Everybody’s going to be looking at LSU, but hopefully after this one they’ll be looking at us,” said Thompson. “Usually the winner of this game goes to the SEC championship, so this is win or lose all for us, because our goal is to go the SEC championship.

“We want to win this game, and hopefully that’s what will happen.”

It would certainly make for a good story.

Injury Report

The news on the injury front continues to get better for Auburn, according to coach Tommy Tuberville.

The Tigers welcomed back safety Aairon Savage to practice earlier this week, and the starter appears ready for action this weekend. He and a few more.

“Savage is looking pretty good. He’s back,” said Tuberville. “He’s not going to be 100-percent, but he’s pretty close.”

Also returning to more action are LB Merrill Johnson and DE Quentin Groves.

“Merrill Johnson is a lot better this week, and Quentin practiced (Wednesday),” said Tuberville. “(Groves) is not 100-percent, but he looked a lot better today than he looked last week.

“It looks like we have a lot more depth starting to come back.”

Starting LT Ryan Pugh (shin) appears the only player Tuberville is doubtful about. Center Jason Bosley, although still a little hobbled by a knee injury, is expected to play again this week.

	AP: Rob Carr
	Groves is still one sack shy of the Auburn record.

“Bosley is sore, but doing good. (Pugh) was out here walking around, but didn’t practice. He is doubtful,” said Tuberville. “He hasn’t practiced the last two days. He’ll make the trip. He’s doing pretty good on it, but when you miss the first two days it’s hard to learn the game plan.”

With Pugh out, former starter King Dunlap will likely get the nod.

“King has done fine, competing, doing good, working hard,” said the coach. “He had a little time off so he has fresh legs. It’s good to see him back out there. He’s jumping around, excited about being the starter again.”

Quick-Hitters:

***Auburn practiced for two hours Wednesday evening behind the Athletic Complex. The Tigers continued to do more 11-on-11 work. “We’re just looking for consistency there (on offense),” Tuberville said. “We’re trying to do more against our defense to try and give them a better look in terms of game situations. Hopefully it will help.”***Tuberville said the players haven’t lacked any emotion this week in practice. “Guys practiced hard. There was a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. “They are looking forward to it. They know it’s going to be a major challenge, but they always get up for games like this. “This is not a coaches’ game. This is a players’ game. They understand that.”***Ryan Shoemaker was pulled last week against Arkansas and replaced with Patrick Tatum. Neither of the two had a particularly impressive night against the Razorbacks. Shoemaker had three punts for a 37.7-yard average. Tatum averaged 39.5 yards on two punts. Both kickers received generous bounces on the punts. A starter for the LSU game won’t be named until just before kickoff.”They’re competing. Both of them are looking a lot better,” said Tuberville. “Hopefully they’ll get their minds back right. Either that, or keep getting the bounces.” Auburn will return to the practice fields Thursday morning. The Tigers travel to Baton Rouge Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. CT, and the game will be carried by ESPN.