danny brooke: 11:43
auburn losing means you guys drink more
Monthly Archive for December, 2008
Page 3 of 7
Former Alexander City (Ala.) Benjamin Russell star linebacker Eltoro Freeman will sign a National Letter of Intent with Auburn Thursday said the 5-foot-11, 220-pounder.
Freeman, who spent the past one-and-a-half years at Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss., spoke with new Auburn head coach Gene Chizik Wednesday and informed the coach of his plans.
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| Freeman was named the top linebacker in the Mississippi JUCO ranks as a freshman. |
“I talked to Coach Chizik and told him ‘War Damn Eagle!’” Freeman said. “I told him that I was going to sign with Auburn and there wasn’t any doubt about it. I’m so ready to be a part of the Auburn Family. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Freeman said his first conversation with Chizik went very well. Freeman believes Auburn found the right guy for the job.
“I know a lot of people say that they don’t like him for the job because of his record at Iowa State and this and that, but I believe in Chizik and I believe in Auburn University!” said Freeman. “I absolutely believe they hired the right guy. Me and Coach Chizik and the rest of the Auburn Family, we are going to get this thing back right.”
Freeman was hardpressed to hold back his excitement about Chizik and signing with Auburn.
“I heard Coach Chizik has coached three Thorpe Award winners, well damn, he better get ready to coach a Dick Butkus Award winner. It’s on now!” Freeman said. “We’re coming back. Me and the boys are coming! I’m ready! WAR DAMN EAGLE! I just can’t wait to be a part of the Auburn Family.”
Auburn has lost eight commitments, one of which it has since gotten back, since Tommy Tuberville’s resignation Dec. 3. More commits have said they are now looking at other schools. Freeman said he had a message for the decommitments and other potential recruits.
“If Auburn can’t get’em, we’ll beat’em…If we can’t get’cha, we’ll beat’cha,” Freeman said.
Freeman will be the second junior college signee of the Tigers’ 2009 class. Nick Fairley, a former Mobile (Ala.) Williamson standout defensive end, signed with the Tigers Wednesday. Fairley spent the 2007-08 seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss.
Both Freeman and Fairley will have three years of eligibility at Auburn.
Freeman redshirted in 2008 after helping lead Gulf Coast to a co-national championship as a freshman. That year, Freeman racked up 65 tackles, 43 solo, 17 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles. He received “Best Linebacker” award in Mississippi, and was named All-State and All-Region.
Dear Coach, here is how you win over the fan base:
1) Salvage our recruiting class: Tubs was putting together a top 10 class. If you can manage to get guys like Cotton and Robinson back on board, maybe the media will start focusing on your recuiting skills. If you do this I will start calling you John Conner, killer of the recruiting terminator they call saban.
2) Hire a coaching staff that will produce: if you take a look around the college football landscape, its not hard to notice that top name coordinator and assistant coaches can make all the difference when it comes to your teams production. Since your this “big defensive minded coach”, go get a coach like Kevin Wilson at Oklahoma, wouldn’t mine seeing that mixed spread-I/ace-form offense they run blowing light bulbs in scoreboards around the country at AU. And get guys who can recruit. 5 coaches that can recruit is sure better than 1. While your at it, steal some of bama’s recruits…wouldn’t hurt.
3) Put up points: I know we’re not going to get a chance to see the team until spring A-day. But seriously, we need to see offense. We need to see a reason to be excited about this team. Even if its A-day game, I wanna see some fireworks Chiz!
We are behind you. I am behind you. Auburntron is behind you. 100%.
War Eagle Coach! LETS GO!
Ronnie Brown, Porter Head to Pro Bowl
MIAMI (CBS4.com) ― Miami Dolphins starting running back Ronnie Brown, and starting outside linebacker Joey Porter both earned Pro Bowl honors on Tuesday. Brown has been the key component in the Dolphins’ now famed “Wildcat” offense, while Porter has notched 17 ½ sacks through the first 14 games of the season. But, arguably the most important player on the team, quarterback Chad Pennington, was snubbed.
Brown’s 827 rushing yards ranks 7th in the AFC through week 15. He has also added 10 touchdowns to his resume, including running and throwing for touchdowns in a week 3 blowout of the defending AFC champions, the New England Patriots. He, with the help of running back Ricky Williams led the revival of the single wing offense, now called the “Wildcat.”
Jay Ratliff goes from seventh round to Pro Bowl starter
3:12 PM Tue, Dec 16, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon
Why do I still have this feeling that we’ve really missed out on something great?
The latest black eye comes from our firing of Tuberville. A controversial move, but one that could have been easily overcome with a replacement by an up and comer or an established HC at a smaller, but successful program. So how did AU fare? But of course…we hired the best talent money could buy and got the most enthusiastic, well-respected, experienced name in the business, right? Somebody whose very name would silence the critics, and whose enthusiasm alone might be the high water to cover any coaching “stumps” he might have to overcome right? No! That’s to complex a task.
We hire a HC with a losing record (2-10) and ten game losing streak. And the result? We get clobbered by the media who reinforces exactly what we are trying to overcome: a national perception of being backwoods country ass idiots, leaders full of the old deep-south mentality, and a little brother syndrome fearful of the mighty Saban. Don’t forget PERCEPTION is reality to many – our top 15 recruiting class now looks like UAB’s wish list. Charles Barkley couldn’t be anymore right,
I just thought Turner Gill would be the perfect choice for two reasons: He’s a terrific coach and we needed to make a splash. I thought we had to do something spectacular to bring attention to the program. Clearly, if we’d hired a black coach, it would have created a buzz.
A Buzz? That’s right Charles we created a buzz. We created a media shit storm which is now making Auburn out to be the most racist school in the country. How do you think new recruits are going to react? How are WE supposed to react as fans and alumni? According to several Auburn fans around the country… we are supposed to “get over it”. Move on. Quit whining. Grow a pair. Sorry, but that doesn’t get it for me. I know we need to support Chizik cause thats the “right thing to do” or thats the “Auburn thing to do”. But I need a little more time before I jump back on that horse.
I’ve read lots of posts from those who say that AU will never have a recruiting advantage over AL because the media in the state will always promote bammer over AU; and, in the same breath, will tell you that recruiting is the lifeblood of a winning program. So we have to be even more clever in the way we handle our public perception. Give them something negative and you will hear about it for years. How many recruits are going to want to play for a school which is now being made out to be racist? What advantage is Gene 2 and 10 Chizik going to give Auburn?
Damage has been done. Thanks to one of our own, the national media is abusing Auburn football. Honestly, do you like being associated with that kind of public perception? I hate it. All of us are now guilty by association. How has Jacob’s action placed AU in the best possible light to the local TV sportscasters, radio talk show hosts, and internet article writers? How about YOUR friends, co-workers, drinking buddies, and every other SEC fan that makes it a point to say things about your AU hat, car tag, or t-shirt? Don’t kid yourselves, they make it personal if you are known for being passionate about AU.
Is any of this stuff really all that important when compared to much of life? No, not really. But if AU football is a big part of your family’s entertainment budget of time and money, you just got a SIXTH-SENSE-ending like surprise. And no, its not Bruce Willis thats dead at the end of the movie – its Auburn’s chances to succeed. People are angry and I dont blame them. AU is the laughing stock of college football…again. And again, it boils down to yet another coach related screw up.
So before you get on your high horse and question my loyalty as an AU fan, you need to find a new recipient for your all knowing wisdom. Why don’t you give it some to those responsible for embarrassing AU like they have with this hire? The goal was to find a head coach to fix an offense that couldn’t score enough points, to win ball games, and consistently compete for championships while recruiting the best players in the country. They managed to turn that simple task into a circus. I expect better from OUR staff, from OUR program, and from OUR Auburn family. When I “get over it”, I’ll let you know.
Sincerely,
~ Disapointed ~
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